Step-by-Step: How to create an NFT [Free & Paid]

NFTs, otherwise knowns as Non-fungible tokens, are unique cryptographic digital assets on a blockchain that are distinguished by their unique codes, metadata, and the factual knowledge that they can not be replaced by something else. NFT is a one-of-a-kind digital asset that can be anything, such as music, drawing, digital arts, virtual fashion items, digital collectibles, in-game items, and a lot more. The non-fungible nature of these digital files, whether it is a piece of art, music file, video, painting, or even real estate, makes trading, such as the buying and selling of this digital gold, so smooth and efficient by turning the files into tokens and securing them on a blockchain.

The increasing passion for learning  NFTs creation also draws the limelight towards how to create an NFT to simplify the creation of nft further.

If you're interested in how to create an NFT, there are a few key steps you'll need to follow.

1. Determine the Asset: First, you'll need to decide what type of asset you want to create an NFT for. This could be anything from a piece of digital art to a video game item or a collectible card.
2. Choose a Blockchain: NFTs are created and stored on a blockchain, which is essentially a decentralized ledger. Some popular blockchains for NFTs include Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Solana.
3. Create the NFT: Once you've decided on the asset and blockchain, you'll need to actually create the NFT. This typically involves using a specialized platform or service that allows you to upload your asset and mint it as an NFT. There are several platforms available, including OpenSea, Rarible, and Mintable.
4. Set the Parameters: When creating your NFT, you'll need to set certain parameters such as the number of tokens available, the price, and any royalties or commissions you'll receive when the NFT is sold or traded.
5. List the NFT: Once your NFT has been created, you'll need to list it on a marketplace or exchange so that others can discover and purchase it. Many NFT marketplaces exist, including the ones mentioned above as well as others like SuperRare, Foundation, and Nifty Gateway.

 

Different methods on how to create an NFT (Free and Paid)

There are various methods to create NFTs, some of which are free, while others require some level of investment. Here are some popular methods for creating NFTs:

1. OpenSea: OpenSea is a popular NFT marketplace that also offers a free NFT creation tool. With OpenSea, you can create and mint your own NFTs for free, but the platform does take a commission when you sell your NFTs.
2. Rarible: Rarible is another NFT marketplace that allows creators to mint their own NFTs for free. However, Rarible does charge a small fee to mint NFTs, and the platform also takes a commission when you sell your NFTs.
3. Mintable: Mintable is a platform that specializes in NFT creation and allows users to mint their own NFTs for a fee. The platform offers a range of tools and features, including the ability to create custom smart contracts and set royalties for each sale.
4. NFTify: NFTify is a platform that allows creators to create and sell NFTs without any coding skills. The platform offers a range of templates and tools to create NFTs quickly and easily, with a range of customization options available.
5. Solidity: For those with coding skills, Solidity is a programming language used to create smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. This means you can create your own custom NFT contracts, although this method does require a higher level of technical expertise.
6. 3D modeling software: If you're creating 3D artwork or virtual objects for your NFTs, you'll need to use 3D modeling software such as Blender or Maya. These software programs are typically paid, although some offer free versions or trial periods.

 

How to create an NFT for Free (Without gas fee)

It is not general knowledge that you can create and mint your nfts for free. The dearth and secrecy of this uncommon knowledge have stopped many creators and artists from creating their nfts and nft collections. However, some marketplace charges what we call (gas fee) for registration and non-fungible token contract, which ranges from 10$, 30$, to even $1000 depending on the marketplace and your preferred blockchain. This section will teach you two verified methods on how to create an NFT for free without paying any gas fee.

 

Method 1: The Polygon blockchain method

In this section we will cover how to create an nft using the polygon blockchain network that supports free minting. The polygon blockchain team redesigned a version of NFT minters that allows nft creators to create nfts for free without paying the gas fee. This redesigned free nft minter also comes with a lot of perks and functionalities such as soulbound, standard ERC-1155 and ERC-721, and embedded social media account signature into your nfts.

 

Step 1: Select an NFT marketplace

Your choice of nft marketplace is the very first step of creating your nft. There are three categories of nft marketplace: curated platforms, Invite-only nft platforms, and self-service platforms.

The curated platforms have a higher standard of operations because it mainly focuses on high-quality digital collectibles and zero flexibility on their royalties. This platform is not advisable for creators looking for how to create an nft for free due to their strict mode of operations and high gas fee.

In the curated platform categories, we have platforms like SuperRare, KnownOrigin, and others.

The second one is the invite-only nft art platform, a less popular marketplace that includes platforms like Foundation and others. As its name implies, to create nft on this platform, you need another creator who has already published nft on this marketplace to invite you.

The last on this list is the well-known self-service peer-to-peer marketplace, a flexible and easy-to-use platform for free and paid nft creations. This marketplace allows you to create your nft the way you like with anything that suits you and whatever quality you desire.

We have platforms like Opensea, Rarible, and a host of others that fall into this category. However, since this section promises to explain how you can create an nft for free without a gas fee, we will work with opensea and Rarible in the self-service category to create your nft for free.

 

 

Step 2: Create a digital crypto wallet

We have varieties of platforms that allow the free creation of Ethereum wallets. I would recommend creating your Ethereum wallet on metamask or coinbase because they are the most popular, with an easy-to-navigate user interface. For this process, I will pick metamask to work with. A Digital crypto wallet is essential for this step-by-step process, so ensure that you securely note down your wallet recovery phrase after registration. The beauty of this free method is that you can leave the wallet empty without buying any cryptocurrency because of the gas-free polygon method we are using to create nft.

Let us get started on how you can set up your metamask wallet and add polygon network as your preferred blockchain:

Download a metamask extension on your chrome browser

Enter your password and register on metamask

At the top right corner of your metamask wallet, you will see an options menu tagged "Ethereum Mainnet." Click on that and scroll to the "Add network" option

A new tab will open that will ask for your custom network details. In this new column, please carefully fill it as follows:

• Network Name: Polygon
• New RPC URL: https://polygon-rpc.com
• Chain ID: 137
• Currency Symbol: MATIC
• Block Explorer URL (Optional): https://polygonscan.com/
• Click the Save button.

 

Step 3: Connect your metamask wallet to Opensea

Opensea is the world's largest decentralized peer-to-peer NFTs marketplace that enables the trading, buying, and selling of rare crypto collectibles and non-fungible tokens.

You need to connect your wallet (metamask, coinbase, or any one of your choice) to opensea to generate a profile for you on their platform.

You should follow the following processes to connect your Ethereum wallet to opensea:

• Go to the opensea website on your pc, or you can access that through the opensea app on your mobile phones or tablets
• You should locate and click the wallet icon at the top right corner of the opensea website page.
• If you are using the opensea application, you should click on the Profile button
• There will be a dropdown list of wallets that opensea supports. Select metamask as your preferred choice.
• Switch from the default Ethereum mainnet to the Polygon option on your metamask wallets
• Press the "Connect" button

 

Step 4: Create an Opensea collection and upload your items

If you are creating your nft on opensea, you must have your collection that will feature variations of your creatives.

The following steps and procedures will guide you towards the creation and setting up of your first nft collection for free:

• Click on the profile icon at the top right corner
• Select My collection
• Click Create
• Set up your collection by uploading a (350x350) logo image, a (600x400) featured image, and a banner image.
• Enter your collection name and description
• Customize the collection social media links
• Set your royalty percentage fee.

Opensea supports myriads of blockchains such as Ethereum, Klaytn, Solana, Polygon, and Arbitrum blockchains that you can select from. The Polygon blockchain is the standout blockchain that supports zero gas fees for your nft creation. Therefore, your preferred blockchain network should always be the Polygon option.

Having set up your nft collection on opensea, you can upload your digital arts, paintings, music, and others on opensea in a supported format to mint them as NFT.

I will list out the procedures to navigate these steps to mint your items as nft:

• Click the “Create” Tab
• Add your file
• Fill out the name column
• Fill out the external link
• Write your descriptions
• Set your pricing (minimum of $2)
• Insert the number of copies (quantity)
• First, Click on the unlock currency button, and then the approve button when the metamask pop-up comes up.
• Change the blockchain type to Polygon
• Click on the sign button in the same metamask pop-up.
• Now you have successfully created your first NFT with absolutely zero gas fee.

 

Method 2: Lazy minting (Free minting) method on Rarible

Rarible is another peer-to-peer self-service nft marketplace that incorporated special features called lazy minting on their website. This new feature comes with the mandate to crush any form of barrier that creators might face due to a lack of funds. Lazy minting gives every creator a shot at showcasing and monetizing their NFT at zero cost. This new feature shifts the burden of the gas fee to the buyers as against the traditional method whereby the creator pays the gas fee. This is possible because nft minting on rarible occurs at the point of purchase.

I will outline the step-by-step process of how to create an nft on raribles for free:

Step 1: Go to rarible.com

Step 2: Connect your wallet

Step 3: Select Metamask

Step 4: Submit your mail and collection name

Step 5: Click on “Create”

Step 6: Select Ethereum as your preferred blockchain

Step 7: Select if you are uploading Single or Multiple file

Step 8: Upload and Submit the marketplace information about your NFT

 

 

Step 9: Toggle on the free minting option

Step 10: Press the create item button

Step 11: Sign the authorization contract with your metamask wallet

Step 12: You have successfully created your NFT on rarible

You should note that raribles will charge a 5% fee on your final listing price. The lazy minting feature is currently available on the rarible default collection only for now.

 

How to create an NFT with gas fee (Paid)

There is a general misconception that only tech geeks can create and thrive with nft. The rapid pace at which nft has scaled numerous milestones since its inception has made so many people look into what this digital gold is all about. However, the concept and all the complex terminologies surrounding nft can be confusing for new adherents. You should not worry; this step-by-step instruction will walk you through the dos and donts of creating nft.

You might be wondering what a gas fee is and why it is necessary for you to pay before minting nft. This is the question that every beginner nft creator asks. Gas fee is a form of compensation paid by nft creators to blockchain miners for the energy and resources expended to validate transactions and add users to the various blockchain network. This is calculated in (gwei), a tiny fraction of Ether. If you are minting your nft through the Ethereum blockchain, the complexity of your transaction and traffic at the period of nft minting determines your gas price.

We have talked about how to create an nft using the polygon blockchain network that supports free minting; this section will take you through the step-by-step process of how to create an nft using the Ethereum blockchain network.

 

Step 1: Develop a useful concept

Most beginners nft creators overlook this step. Your choice of concept determines the success and failure of your nft. You can develop and prepare numerous useful and one-of-a-kind concepts such as memes, event tickets, virtual items, artwork, images, music, and so on in supported files.

 

Step 2: Create and Fund a digital wallet

Your digital wallet is your identity on the nft marketplace because no marketplace keeps user information. With your digital wallet, you will sign transactions, maintain the blockchain status quo, and get into numerous platforms.

Enjin, Trustwallet, Metamask, Coinbase, and alpha are the digital wallets you can create for this step-by-step process. I will guide you on Metamask because metamask is supported by Ethereum-based nft marketplaces like opensea and others. Metamask is easier to use and is available as an extension on chromium-based browsers such as chrome and firefox.

Opensea charges a one-time registration and contract approval fee. As an Ethereum-based service provider, you need to purchase Ethereum cryptocurrencies to pay for these costs.

You can follow these processes to purchase Ethereum on metamask:

• Go to the metamask homepage
• Press the Buy ETH button
• Enter your credit card, apple pay, or bank transfer
• Click the Buy Now button
• Your metamask account balance will be updated

Step 3: Connect your Metamask wallet to the Opensea marketplace

Having purchased ETH cryptocurrency on your metamask wallet, there is a need to connect your wallet to the opensea nft marketplace, which can be achieved by the following processes:

• Go to the opensea website on your pc, or you can access that through the opensea app on your mobile phones or tablets
• You should locate and click the wallet icon at the top right corner of the opensea website page.
• If you are using the opensea application, you should click on the Profile button
• There will be a dropdown list of wallets that opensea supports. Select metamask as your preferred choice.
• Check if the metamask pop-up bears the Ethereum mainnet at the top center
• Press the "Connect" button

Step 4: Create an NFT collection and upload your items

Your nft collection depicts your NFTs artistic style, which will consist of a number of your nfts that are defined by their distinct attributes and sight variations.

The following process should be followed to how to create an nft collection on opensea:

• Click on the profile icon at the top right corner
• Select My collection
• Click “Create a collection”
• Set up your collection by uploading a (350x350) logo image, a (600x400) featured image, and a banner image.
• Enter your collection name and description
• Customize the collection social media links
• Set your royalty percentage fee.
• Select Ethereum as your preferred blockchain

 

This can also be regarded as minting, whereby you turn your art, images, music, and meme into nft simply by uploading to nft marketplace. This is an easy-to-do process that is bereft of any form of technicality.

All you have to do is follow the below-listed process accordingly:

• On the opensea homepage, hover to the top right corner and click on “Create” button.
• Upload your item file
• Add details such as name, descriptions, and external link
• Select your collection
• Describe your nft textual traits (properties)
• Fill in the numerical traits that show as progress bars, like strength or speed level
• Fill the stat column
• Decide if its lockable or unlockable content
• Toggle the Explicit and sensitive content button to your choice
• On the supply, you need to put the number of copies you want to mint
• Leave the blockchain column as Ethereum since we are working on the paid version
• Click the Create Button

 

How do I sell my NFTs?

Selling NFTs can be a great way to monetize your creative work, but it's important to understand the process and the different options available to you. Here are some steps to follow if you want to sell your NFTs:

1. Choose a Marketplace: There are many NFT marketplaces available, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some popular options include OpenSea, Rarible, SuperRare, and Nifty Gateway. Research each platform and choose the one that best aligns with your goals and values.
2. Mint Your NFT: Before you can sell your NFT, you'll need to mint it on the blockchain. This typically involves using a platform or service that specializes in NFT creation, such as OpenSea or Rarible. When you mint your NFT, you'll set parameters such as the number of tokens available, the price, and any royalties or commissions you'll receive when the NFT is sold or traded.
3. List Your NFT: Once your NFT has been minted, you can list it for sale on your chosen marketplace. Make sure to create an eye-catching listing that includes a detailed description of the NFT and any relevant information such as the inspiration behind the piece or its creation process.
4. Promote Your NFT: To increase the chances of selling your NFT, it's important to promote it on social media and other channels. Share your listing on Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms, and consider reaching out to NFT influencers or collectors who might be interested in your work.
5. Fulfill the Sale: When someone purchases your NFT, you'll need to transfer it to their wallet. This process typically involves using a cryptocurrency wallet and can be a bit complex, so make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Once the transfer is complete, you should receive the payment in cryptocurrency or fiat currency, depending on the marketplace's policies.

 

Summary

There are various methods to create NFTs, some of which are free, while others require an investment. Popular free methods include using OpenSea and Rarible, which are NFT marketplaces that allow creators to mint their own NFTs without charge. Both platforms charge a commission when you sell your NFTs. Mintable is another platform that specializes in NFT creation and allows users to mint their own NFTs for a fee. It offers a range of tools and features, including the ability to create custom smart contracts and set royalties for each sale. NFTify is a platform that allows creators to create and sell NFTs without any coding skills, while Solidity is a programming language used to create smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain for those with coding skills. 3D modeling software such as Blender or Maya is needed to create 3D artwork or virtual objects for NFTs. The best method for you will depend on your level of expertise, budget, and specific needs. It is important to research and understand the technical and legal aspects involved in creating and selling NFTs.