Zazzle Design Tool 101 - Desktop Version

This article covers the Design Tool on a computer. For phones, see Zazzle Design Tool 101 - Mobile and App Version.

Opening the Design Tool

The Design Tool opens in a new browser tab. Your product page stays open in the original tab.

• Product with a design: click Personalize this design (or Edit this design).
• Blank or Create Your Own product: click Add your design.

Parts of the Design Tool

1. Top bar – steps, undo/redo, preview, and the button to move on.
2. Left toolbar – everything you can add or change.
3. Side panel – opens when you click a tool in the left toolbar.
4. Bottom bar – zoom, settings, help, and sharing.
5. Sides – click Front, Back, or another side to switch to it.

Your design sits in the middle. Click anything on it to select it.

Top bar

1. Save & Exit – leave the Design Tool. Choose where to go: back to the product page, back to browsing, or to your Saved Designs.
2. Steps – Design, Options (size, paper, and other choices), and Review. Some invitations also have a Moment step (see below).
3. Undo / Redo – reverse or repeat your last change.
4. Preview – see your design on the product.
5. Next – go to the next side or step. The button names where it goes, for example Next: Design Back or Next: Review.

Left toolbar

The tools you see depend on the product. Use the arrows at the top and bottom of the toolbar to see more.

• Edit – change the text and photos the designer set up for you. This is the fastest way to personalize.
• Add Text – add a new text box.
• Uploads – upload your own photos and images, from your computer or your phone.
• Background – pick a background color or image.
• Templates – browse other layouts for this product.
• Elements – shapes, lines, frames, graphics, and QR codes.
• Icons – small graphics you can add.
• Options – size, paper, and other product choices.
• Moment – enter your event details once and we fill them into your design.
• Layers – see every item in your design, change their order, and unlock locked items.

Toolbar above your design

When you select something, a toolbar appears above your design. The buttons change based on what you selected.

Image selected:

• Change image – swap in a different photo.
• Remove BG – remove the background behind the main subject.
• Eraser – erase parts of the image by hand.
• Crop – trim the image.
• Duplicate and Delete (icons).
• – / + – make it smaller or larger.
• Fit – fit the whole image inside the design area. This can leave empty space.
• Fill – fill the design area. Parts of the image may be cut off.
• Alignment – align, flip, resize, and rotate.
• Effects – aspect ratio, transparency, patterns, filters, and removing white.

Text selected:

• Edit text – change the words.
• Font and Font size.
• Text color – includes an eyedropper and print-friendly colors.
• Bold, Italic, and Text align.
• Duplicate and Delete (icons).
• Alignment – align, flip, resize, and rotate.
• Effects – transparency, shadow, outline, spacing, curved text, and vertical text.

For step-by-step help, see Working with Text and Working with Images - Desktop.

Bottom bar

1. Zoom out
2. Zoom level – pick a zoom percentage.
3. Zoom in
4. Settings – turn guidelines, snapping, rulers, dark mode, and more on or off.
5. Help – keyboard shortcuts, what the guidelines mean, and a link to the Help Center.
6. Orientation – switch the current side between horizontal and vertical.
7. Share – get a link to share your design.

Guidelines

Guidelines show you where your design will print and where it may be trimmed.

• Bleed line (gray dotted line) – the outer edge. Extend backgrounds and patterns to this line so no white edges show after trimming.
• Visible area (gray solid line) – what will show on the finished product. Anything near this edge could be cut off.
• Safe area (green dashed line) – keep important text and photos inside this line.

To show or hide all guidelines, open Settings in the bottom bar.

Working with items in your design

• Select – click an item.
• Select several – hold Shift (or Ctrl) and click each item, or drag a box around them.
• Deselect – click an empty spot.
• Move – drag the item. Use the arrow keys for small moves.
• Resize – drag a corner handle to keep the shape. Drag a side handle to stretch it.
• Rotate – drag the round rotation handle.
• Duplicate – click the Duplicate icon in the toolbar.
• Delete – press Delete on your keyboard, click the trash icon, or right-click and choose Delete.
• Group – select several items and click Group to move them together. Select the group and click Ungroup to separate them. To edit one item in a group, double-click the group or click Edit Group.

To see all shortcuts, click Help in the bottom bar, then See keyboard shortcuts.

Saving and finishing

• Your work is saved automatically. If you're signed in, find it later under Saved Designs in your account.
• To leave, click Save & Exit and pick where to go.

To order:

1. Click Next until you reach Review.
2. Check the list under Things to review. Click any item in a warning to jump to it and fix it.
3. Click Add to Cart.

Add to Cart grayed out? A sample photo from the designer still needs replacing. Look for the red Placeholder image warning and click the photo listed under it.