How to allow customer to upload an image that gets automatically converted to a circle?

[Mistica]

I know there are easy ways to do this...but I must be missing some basic vocabulary and knowledge which does not help.
So if a customer has a rectangle image, how do we create the photo area that will convert it.
I know I can spend hours poking holes in background images...but I am sure there is a better way.
Help anyone?

[KeegansCreation]

What you want is masking in the design tool. Here's how:

1) Uphold your placeholder image and make it a template set to Fill.

2)Make circle from the elements on the left side of the design tool. 

3)Resize your placeholder image until it is as close to the edges of the circle as you can get it without going inside the circle.

4)Move the placeholder image layer directly above the circle layer.

5)Shift-select both layers and click on the mask tool on the top far right of the design tool.

6)Done. Having a clipping mask in the design tool is unique to Zazzle. I love it.

[Mistica]

Thank you sooo much.
I can't wait to try it. about #3.... so is the place holder supposed to be outside of the edges of the circle rather than inside it?   I am assuming each has their own layer.
I will definitely try this real soon...after brunch.

[KeegansCreation]

Yes, the placeholder needs to be ever so slightly outside the edges of the circle. If you let it be inside there will be an unsightly sliver of empty white space at the circle edges. And yes, each has its own layer. The placeholder layer goes above the circle when you mask. I advise starting with it below to make it easy to see when you have resized the placeholder to slightly outside the circle edges,

[Mistica]

Can anything be used as the circle such as a heart etc...or must the origin of the shape be the Elements tool only? I have Affinity Photo. I see it has some cute shapes.
Plush... just brush strokes might work?

[KeegansCreation]

They can be any shape that is SVG. If Affinity Photo can export vector shapes as SVG, then you can. I used a narrow diamond shape I exported from Adobe Illustrator as SVG. 

I don't think brush strokes will work since they are generally pixel, not vector. But if Affinity Photo has some vector brush strokes and they can be exported as SVG then that will work. SVG is the only requirement.

[Mistica]

Thank you. I will give it a try. There is an export SVG. 
Maybe png or. jpg can be converted to SVG? I guess I will give it a try.

[idraw]

good affinity svg tute—
https://designbundles.net/design-school/how-to-make-an-svg-in-affinity-designer

Converting PNG to SVG - Affinity | Forum
https://forum.affinity.serif.com › 69818-converting-pn...
PNG and JPG are raster based images. To be able to save them as editable vector objects to SVG they must be first converted to paths/shapes ...

Convert Raster or Image to Vector Shapes
Instructions on how to convert a jpg file to a svg file - Affinity ...

and/or
How do I convert PNG to SVG in Photoshop?
1 Open the PNG in Photoshop.
2 Edit and save file as PSD file.
3 Use File, Export as and indicate the format SVG

How to convert a PNG to a SVG — Adobe Illustrator Tutorial
1 Step 1 : Open the PNG image in Illustrator. Open the PNG image using Ctrl+O for Windows & Cmd+O for MAC or by going to File → Open → Choose the file. ... 
2 Step 2 : Select Image Trace. ... 
3 Step 4 : Select Expand

Tutorial for adobe  illustrator—
https://medium.com/@annnajohn/how-to-convert-a-png-to-a-svg-adobe-illustrator-tutorial-56ebf4f6a1b5

[Mistica]

Thank you. I will save the notes in my evernote.

[Mistica]

Yay!  Thank you so much. I love that you can adjust the placeholder after hitting the ask icon way to the right.
Where I can I find out what the icon left to it called "group" do?

[Windy]

I am not sure exactly what you are asking, but if you mean what does the group icon do, try selecting two objects and then selecting that icon. Now the two objects act as one object and can be moved around in your design as one unit.

[Mistica]

Thanks. I see that the newly great element is labeled as "group" I used the upper right icon called Mask to bring the 2 together. To it's left there is an icon called Group. Not a crisis....just curious as to it's function.

[Mistica]

Thank you. I just saw this. I was still on the masking kick so didn't even think that it is unrelated. Thanks again.