❓Cosmic Queries: FAQ & Troubleshooting

Even the most seasoned Sketchonauts have questions as they navigate the vastness of the SketchXpress Cosmos! And sometimes, even the best spaceships encounter a little cosmic turbulence. Fear not! Sparky is here at the Cosmic Query Comms Station, ready to answer your frequently asked questions and help you troubleshoot any common issues.

Sparky says: "Got a question? A query? A cosmic conundrum? You've warped to the right place! I’ve gathered all the most common questions from across the galaxy. If you don’t find your answer here, remember our community channels are always open!"

(Imagine an illustration of Sparky at a communications console, wearing a headset, with various question mark icons floating around. The console could have a screen displaying "FAQ Central".)

General SketchXpress Questions

Q1: What is SketchXpress in a nutshell?

• Sparky: SketchXpress is your creative launchpad for turning sketches into awesome AI-enhanced digital art and then minting them as valuable, secure NFTs on the Solana blockchain! It’s all about fun, fairness, and real value for your creations.

Q2: Who can use SketchXpress? Is there an age limit?

• Sparky: SketchXpress is for everyone! We have a super fun and safe Kids Mode for younger Sketchonauts (focusing on art creation without the crypto complexities) and a Pro Mode (18+ or with guardian permission) for those ready to dive into the full NFT minting and trading experience.

Q3: Do I need to know about cryptocurrency or NFTs to use SketchXpress?

• Sparky: For Kids Mode, not at all! For Pro Mode, some basic understanding of how a crypto wallet (like Phantom or Solflare) works will be helpful for minting and managing your NFTs. But don’t worry, this GitBook is designed to guide you through it!

Sketching & The Alche-AI Lab

Q4: My sketches are very simple. Can the AI still make something cool?

• Sparky: Absolutely! The Alche-AI, especially with ControlNet, is great at taking even simple scribbles and transforming them into something amazing based on your prompts. Give it a try – you might be surprised!

Q5: How do I get the best results from the AI Art Generator?

• Sparky: Great question! Start with a reasonably clear sketch. Then, write detailed and descriptive prompts. Tell the AI the style, mood, colors, and objects you want to see. Don’t forget to use negative prompts in Pro Mode to exclude things you don’t want. Check out our ✨ Alche-AI Lab Guide for more tips!

Q6: What if I don’t like the first image the AI generates?

• Sparky: That’s totally normal! AI art generation is an iterative process. Just tweak your prompt, adjust the parameters (if you’re in Pro Mode), or change the seed, and try generating again. Experimentation is key!

NFTs, Minting & Collections

Q7: What is an NFT?

• Sparky: An NFT (Non-Fungible Token) is like a unique, digital certificate of ownership for your artwork, recorded on a secure public database called a blockchain (we use Solana!). It proves you own that specific piece of digital art.

Q8: What do I need to mint an NFT on SketchXpress?

• Sparky: You’ll need your AI-enhanced artwork, a Solana-compatible wallet (like Phantom or Solflare) with a little bit of SOL in it (for the NFT price and tiny transaction fees), and to be in Pro Mode.

Q9: What are Base Price and Growth Factor for a collection?

• Sparky: When you create a new NFT collection in Pro Mode, you set these. The Base Price is the starting price for the first NFT. The Growth Factor determines how much the price increases for each subsequent NFT minted. We explain this in detail in 📈 The Price Trajectory Guide!

Bonding Curve & Economics (Value, Fees)

Q10: How is the price of an NFT determined on SketchXpress?

• Sparky: Before a collection graduates to Tensor, the price to mint a new NFT is determined by its bonding curve formula: Price = Base Price * (Growth Factor ^ Current Supply). It’s all automatic and transparent!

Q11: What is Token-Owned Escrow (TOE) and why is it important?

• Sparky: TOE is super important! It means when you mint an NFT, most of the SOL you pay goes into a personal, secure vault (an escrow account) that belongs only to that NFT. This gives your NFT real, direct SOL backing and makes the system much safer. We cover this in 🛡️ Your Secure Universe Guide.

Q12: What are the fees on SketchXpress?

• Sparky: We aim for transparency! There’s a small Mint Fee (e.g., 1%, configurable by pool creator) that goes to the Pool Creator when an NFT is minted. If you sell (burn) an NFT back to the bonding curve, there’s a small Sell Penalty (e.g., 5%, configurable) that also goes to the Pool Creator. For secondary sales on marketplaces like Tensor, standard Metaplex Creator Royalties (set by you!) apply. All covered in 💎 The Galactic Treasury Guide!

Security & TOE

Q13: Is SketchXpress safe from "rug pulls"?

• Sparky: We’ve designed SketchXpress with security as a top priority! The Token-Owned Escrow (TOE) system is a major defense against rug pulls because funds aren’t held in one central pot. Smart contracts are on-chain, and we aim for transparency. However, always practice good general Web3 safety habits!

Q14: Where is my NFT’s image stored?

• Sparky: Your NFT’s image and its metadata (description, etc.) are stored on IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), often via services like Pinata. This is a decentralized storage system, meaning your art isn’t just in one place that could disappear.

Tensor Migration & Rewards

Q15: What does it mean for a collection to "Graduate to Tensor"?

• Sparky: When a collection becomes really popular and the total SOL value in its TOEs reaches a certain threshold (e.g., 690 SOL), it can "graduate"! This means its bonding curve on SketchXpress freezes, and it becomes tradable on major Solana marketplaces like Tensor. It’s a big level up! See 🚀 Level Up to Tensor Guide.

Q16: Are there rewards for creators?

• Sparky: Yes! Pool creators get a 0.5 SOL award when their collection successfully graduates to Tensor! Plus, NFT creators earn Metaplex royalties on secondary sales. More in 🌟 Cosmic Achievements Guide.

Troubleshooting & Technical Issues

Q17: My transaction failed when trying to mint. What should I do?

• Sparky: Cosmic hiccups happen! First, check if you have enough SOL in your wallet for the NFT price and a tiny bit extra for Solana network fees (gas). Sometimes the Solana network can be busy; trying again in a few minutes often helps. If it persists, check our community channels for any platform status updates.

Q18: The AI generation is taking a long time.

• Sparky: Powerful AI magic can take a moment! Depending on server load and the complexity of your request (e.g., many steps), it might take a short while. If it seems stuck for an unusually long time, you can try refreshing or starting a new generation. Our backend uses a queue system, so your request is in line!

Q19: I can’t connect my wallet.

• Sparky: Ensure you have a Solana-compatible wallet extension (like Phantom or Solflare) installed and set up in your browser. Try refreshing the SketchXpress page. Sometimes, browser extension conflicts can occur; try disabling other extensions temporarily to see if that helps. Make sure your wallet isn’t locked!

Q20: The website/app looks weird or isn’t loading correctly.

• Sparky: Try a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R). Clear your browser cache and cookies for the SketchXpress site. Ensure your browser is up to date. If the problem continues, it might be a temporary issue on our end – check community channels for announcements.

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Still Got Questions, Sketchonaut?

If your query isn’t answered here, the SketchXpress Galaxy is full of helpful beings! Please reach out through our 🤝 Community Channels. We’re always here to help you on your cosmic art adventure!