Preview Setup

Last updated: May 5, 2026

This is where you create the preview of your product — the mockup that shoppers will see on your store.

The preview combines the elements from your print file with a product image to create a realistic representation of your final product.

What you do in this step

In this step, you:

  • Define the background of your preview

  • Position and scale your design to match the product

  • Adjust how elements appear on the product

  • Add visual variations that don’t affect the print file (e.g., colors, materials)

The goal is to create a realistic mockup of your product.

How the preview relates to the print file

The preview and the print file are separate.

  • The print file defines what gets produced

  • The preview defines how your design appears on the product

Changes made in the preview:

  • Do not affect the print file

  • Only affect the visual representation of your product

Set up your preview

Add a background

Start by defining the background of your preview. You can choose between:

  • Background color

    • Use a solid color as your background

    • All elements are placed on top of it

    • Add your product images as elements and position them behind your design layers so they don’t cover your artwork. You can use dynamic images to create variations (colors, materials, etc.)

    • This is the recommended approach for most use cases

      use background color.png

  • Background image

    • Upload a product image to use as your mockup

    • The image becomes the canvas of your preview

    • It cannot be selected, moved, or resized

    • All elements are placed on top of it

    • Works similarly to a base file in the print file

      use background image.png

Learn more about using background images here.

Adjust your design to match the product

Once your background is set, your design elements will appear on the workspace.

Important

If you used a base file in the print file, it will not appear in the preview.

To reflect those fixed elements in your mockup, it’s best to use a background image that already includes them.

These elements will likely need adjustment to match the product image.

You can:

  • Move elements

  • Resize them to match the product proportions

  • Rotate or skew them to fit perspective

  • Adjust colors, textures, and opacity for realism

  • Hide elements using the eye icon in the layer panel

All adjustments made here only affect the preview, not the print file.

adjust elements on preview.png

Tip

To move or resize multiple elements at once, hold Shift and select them together. This helps you keep the overall placements consistent with your print file.

Learn more about adjusting your design in the preview here.

Add visual variations to your mockup

You can enhance your preview by adding elements that don’t affect the print file.

For example:

  • Product colors

  • Materials or finishes

  • Fabrics

These are typically added using dynamic images, allowing shoppers to choose different visual options.

added ribbons.png
In this example, a dynamic image layer is used to add ribbon options to the ornament. The shopper can choose different ribbons, but this does not affect the print being produced.

Tip:

You can add as many dynamic images as you'd like. They are great to create mix and match products, where customers can choose different materials or colors for different parts of the products.

Learn more about using dynamic images on your previews here.

Once your preview is set up, you’ll have a clear and realistic mockup of your product. When ready, click Next to review your template and finalize it.