Selling Templated Products Using The Product Builder – Zenfolio NextZen | Support Center

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What this feature does

The Product Builder lets you create layered, customizable products your clients can personalize in the shop. You can stack a background, one or more “always-on” graphics, add photo and text placeholders, and control the layer order so photos appear behind or in front of design elements.

Clients will see an instant product preview thumbnail in the shop. For this product preview, Zenfolio auto-fills the placeholders using photos from the current gallery: we pick the first portrait and the first landscape to populate photo placeholders, so shoppers immediately understand what the product will look like when seeing the product thumbnails in your shop.

Each photo placeholder holds one photo at a time. Dropping a new photo on the same placeholder replaces the previous one. If a design needs multiple photos, add multiple placeholders. Placeholders can overlap and be rotated for creative layouts.

Products created in the builder are attached to a physical print vendor item for fulfillment. Note that double-sided items are currently limited to the print vendor that supports that capability.

The Product Builder has a lot of flexibility and creative potential. Because every design setup is different, we strongly recommend taking time to play around with the tool. Try building a few different product templates, experiment with backgrounds, overlays, and placeholders, and preview how they look in your storefront. This hands-on testing is the best way to get familiar with the workflow and discover new design possibilities before you roll out templates to clients.

Before you start

Prepare your design assets

Background Image(s): If you are creating a custom background image, ensure it is exported as a flat image format (for example, JPG). The background image will be positioned behind all other elements.
Foreground graphics: Export as transparent PNG files to allow photos to be visible through them and to interact with shadows or edges. These assets may include graphics, team or school logos, frames, borders, and similar items.

Decide your product size

It is important to select the final print size at the very beginning of your project, such as choosing a 5x7 inch dimension. By doing this, you can create foreground elements that contain transparent spaces for image placeholders that align perfectly with the chosen aspect ratio. This approach ensures that when the product is printed, the results will be clean and precise, maintaining the intended composition without any unwanted trimming or distortion. Taking the time to establish the print size upfront helps streamline the design process and guarantees consistency in the final printed materials.

Tip: All digital printers have a tiny amount of “drift,” meaning the paper can shift slightly as it moves through the machine. To avoid important parts of the photos being cut off, keep all important elements of the product (text, image placeholders, etc.) at least 1/4 inch inside the edge of the print area. This “safe zone” ensures your photo always looks centered and clean, even with minor printer movement.

Build Your Product Template

Creating the Product

In your Zenfolio account, click on the Selling icon on the left-hand side.
Open the Product Builder.
Click on the New Product button.

Product Builder 1.jpg

Create a clear and unique Product Name so that your clients will know exactly what they're purchasing.
Select the Product Type that will determine the size of the product you're creating.
Select or create a Product Builder Category.
Create a Category Description which will inform your clients of a more detailed explanation of the type of product they'll be purchasing.
Click Continue.

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Build Your Template

Select whether your product will be in a Portrait or Landscape orientation.

You may also modify the product type here. Please note that altering the product size or type will permanently erase any customizations made to the product template. If you are considering changing the product size or type, it is recommended to do so before proceeding further.

Add your Background layer. You may upload a custom background image you've prepared, choose a color, or leave the background blank. If uploading a custom background image, you can use the plus icon and choose from photos in your account or upload from your computer.
Use the Add Elements button to begin adding additional elements and layers into your template. Further details regarding each specific element are provided below

Note: By default, each element that you add will sit on top of all the other layers, until you reorder the layers.
Adjust the size of added elements to ensure they fit within the template and designated areas.

Reorder layers to establish depth within your product.

Example: Drag the placeholder images below a foreground PNG image layer so the photo tucks behind your graphic element. This is how you get “photo behind the graphic” effects.

Note: At this time there is an important limitation to layering image and text placeholders behind PNG image elements. See HERE for more information regarding this limitation.

Preview your template to see how it will look when clients are adding the product to their shopping cart.
Save your template once you've completed making changes.

Important Limitation on Element Layering

At this time, placeholders that sit beneath a foreground PNG layer cannot be interacted with if that PNG completely covers them. Even if the PNG includes transparent areas (such as the open space inside a frame graphic), clients will not be able to drag their photo into those placeholders.

This means that if you want clients to add their own images, image and text placeholders must remain on top of any foreground PNG layers. You can still use transparent PNG overlays for decoration, but be sure they don’t block the clickable areas of placeholders.

Designing Around the Layering Limitation

Since placeholders can’t be interacted with when they sit fully under a foreground PNG, here are a few ways to still achieve “framed” or layered effects:

Use Foreground Graphics with Open Edges
- Instead of a closed frame that is intended to sit on top of the entire placeholder, design your image element so that it sits around the edges of the image area (like a border), leaving the placeholder fully exposed.
- This way, the placeholder can be placed on top and remains clickable, while the graphic still provides a framing effect from behind.
Break Complex Frames Into Parts
- In Photoshop (or your editing tool), split the frame into separate elements (top, bottom, sides, corners).
- Upload each part as a separate PNG and position them above, below, or around the placeholder, rather than covering it entirely.
Use Decorative Overlays Above Only Where Interaction Isn’t Needed
- Keep image placeholders fully on top for drag-and-drop functionality.
- Place decorative PNGs partially overlapping placeholders (for example, a team logo in the corner, a ribbon across the bottom). These add depth without blocking interaction.
Flatten Graphics Into the Background
- If the overlay doesn’t need to sit above the subject (for example, a static border), bake it directly into the background image instead of uploading it as a separate foreground PNG.

Types of Elements for Your Template

Icon

Select from a diverse collection of icons in our Icon Library. Icons such as an arrow, flower, basketball, or Christmas tree can enhance the detail of your template.

These icons will be added as a permanent part of your product and cannot be changed by clients.

Image

Add elements such as transparent PNG graphics, decorations, logos, and similar items to your template. These elements can be utilized to create overlaying layers that add depth to your design. See HERE for information regarding a limitation with element layering.

These images will be added as a permanent part of your product and cannot be changed by clients.

Image Placeholder

Add a Image Placeholder in the designated area of the template where the client's chosen photo will be displayed. This placeholder will serve as a temporary visual marker, indicating the exact location and size of the image once it is uploaded or inserted. By incorporating this placeholder, the template will clearly show where the client's selected photo will appear, ensuring proper alignment and formatting within the overall design.

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Text

Add text that is universally applicable to all purchasers of this product, such as the year, school name, or general phrases like "Merry Christmas" or "Congratulations."

This text will be added as a permanent part of your product and cannot be changed by clients.

Text Placeholder

Provide text areas that the client can personalize according to their preferences. These customizable text fields will be displayed in the live shop preview, appearing alongside the image placeholders.

Tip: Set the default text to clearly inform the client of the required input for that field. For example, "Player Name Here," "Enter Student Name," etc.

Manage Product Templates

Once you've built product templates you can manage them from the main Product Builder page.

If you've created a lot of products you can use the search bar to search for a specific Product name.
Expand a Product Category to see all of the products contained within it.
Use the pencil icon to edit the Product Category details.
Delete an entire Product Category

Note: This action cannot be undone! Ensure you are only deleting a Product Category with the knowledge that all products contained within it will also be deleted.
Use the icon for a specific Product to see available options actions for that Product.
Use the pencil icon for a specific Product to begin editing the product through the same steps mentioned above in this guide.
Add the Product to a Price List to begin selling the Product.
Delete the selected Product.

Note: This action cannot be undone! Ensure that you are only deleting products that you will no longer want or need in your account.
Duplicate the selected Product.

Add Product Template to a Price List

Selecting Products for Your Price List

With your Products now created, you can add them to a Price List. This will enable your clients to start purchasing these Product Templates using photos from the Galleries associated with the Price List.

Navigate to the Selling page within your Zenfolio account.
Access the Price List section.
Choose an existing Price List to Edit, or create a new Price List.
Inside the Price List, click the Add from Product Builder button.

Select the Product Category.
Select the Product Type.
Choose the Product Templates you wish to include.
If you intend to offer Print Products, use this option to select the paper types.
If you wish to offer this Product Template as a Digital Download, you may select this option as well.
Select the Product Category under which the client will view this product. The Sub-Category will be generated based on the Product Category set in the Product Builder.
Click Done once you have completed your selections of the products you wish to add.

Pricing Products and Assigning the Price List

After selecting the products you wish to add to the Price List from the Product Builder, you will need to establish the pricing for these products. Since these are customer-built Product Templates, Zenfolio's Smart Pricing tool will not be applicable. Therefore, you are required to set the prices for Product Builder products manually.

Locate the Product Builder products within your Price List.

In the Selling Price column, specify the amount you wish your clients to be charged for these products.

Note: Each individual Product Template will be accompanied by its own set of paper types and/or digital download options. If you have selected multiple templates to be included as products, ensure that you review and set the prices for all added products accordingly.

Once the prices have been set, if this Price List is not yet assigned to your Gallery, click the Assign to a Gallery button.
In the subsequent window, locate and select the Gallery or Galleries to which you wish to assign the Price List.
Click Save.
Ensure that you also Save the Price List itself.

What your customers experience

Within the Gallery’s shop view, the initial product preview thumbnail is automatically populated using photos from the Gallery. The initial portrait and first landscape photographs are selected to showcase the design.
Customers have the option to personalize the product by dragging a photograph onto each designated image placeholder. Only one photo is permitted per placeholder; any existing photo will be replaced when a new one is dropped.
Clients may adjust the photograph within the placeholder by moving, resizing, and rotating it to achieve the desired composition prior to adding the item to the cart. The cart provides a clear preview of the customized product.

Tips and Best Practices

Design with layers in mind: break complex Photoshop files into background and separate transparent PNG elements so you can control depth in the Product Builder.
Match aspect ratios: set placeholders to the final print ratio to avoid unintended cropping.
Use multiple placeholders for multi-photo designs: it is not possible to place more than one photo in an individual placeholder. Add separate placeholders instead; you can overlap them.
Place foreground accents last: after you position placeholders, bring foreground PNGs above them to get a professional “under the frame” look. See HERE for information regarding a limitation to element layering.
Preview in a real gallery: check the shop preview behavior on both portrait-heavy and landscape-heavy galleries so the auto-fill makes sense for your clients.

FAQ

Is it possible to overlap photo areas and other elements?

Yes, elements may overlap, and you have the capability to rotate them into various positions. Please use the layer order to determine which element appears above another. Keep in mind, when an element is positioned behind another, it may not be directly selectable within the template. To select an element that may be hidden behind another, you may use the layer organizer to choose the element or move it above other elements to make necessary adjustments. See HERE for more information regarding a limitation with element layering.

Why can't my clients drag and drop their photos into the provided image placeholders?

It is possible that PNG transparent image elements are positioned above the image placeholder, obstructing access to the placeholder. Currently, if any element completely overlays an image or text placeholder, even if transparent areas allow the placeholder to be visible, the overlaying layer will still restrict interaction with the placeholder element. See HERE for more information and tips regarding this limitation with element layering.

How does the shop product preview thumbnail determine which photos to display?

The system will automatically populate the available placeholders of the template using photos from the Gallery. The system selects the first portrait photo and the first landscape photo as required.

Can clients place more than one photo in a single placeholder?

No. Inserting a new photo into an existing placeholder will replace the current photo. To allow clients to add multiple photos within a product template, additional placeholders must be added to the template.

Where are these products fulfilled?

Templated products are printed by the print vendor associated with the price list to which the product is assigned. The products you create can only be included in a vendor's price list if that vendor offers the specific type of product through Zenfolio's print services.

Why was part of my template cropped in the final print?

It is likely that the template you created did not account for potential drifting that occurs during digital printing. All digital printers experience a slight amount of “drift,” meaning the paper can shift slightly as it moves through the machine. To prevent important parts of the photos from being cut off, it is essential that all critical elements of the product (such as text and image placeholders) be positioned at least 1/4 inch inside the edge of the print area. This “safe zone” ensures your photo remains centered and clean, even with minor printer movement.