New design tool does not allow customers to adjust an image?

[Anne]

So I think I finally found something that looks like a new design tool. 
As I have a LOT of products that have a top image and a photo template underneath (this allows for border frames and makes sure the image of the customer does not overlap the frame or creates an "empty space"), I was curious to see how these hold up.
I found that a customer apparently does not have access to the "adjust image" feature.
So if they would like to move the image a bit to the right or left, they can't.

To my horror this also seems to be the case with the new frames, even if they are on top of everything.

This ability to move and adjust was always available in the "old" mask options. I can't believe this has been removed.
I tested in Brave and Firefox (logged out) on Windows 11.
Can anybody please tell me I am wrong here?

[Connie]

No, you are not wrong- that functionality doesn't seem possible in the new design tool. In fact, you can't even freely adjust rectangles and other elements without keeping the aspect ratio. So if a customer wants to make a square into a rectangle, it's impossible. They also can't change an existing frame or add a frame to a plain image. For example, maybe there's a plain square image, but a customer wants a brush stroke frame. There's no way to change the frame. 

Zazzle implied that eventually they are going to force this new tool on us designers. This is a huge mistake, because there is such limited functionality. I filled out their form giving them this feedback, but I don't know if it'll make a difference. Maybe if everybody fills out the form they might get the hint?!

[SheaPrints]

I can adjust the width and height of 'Configurable Shapes' (called 'Dynamic Shapes' in the customer tool) and 'Frames', but not 'Shapes'. It's the same in both the new customer design tool and our classic design tool.

I see what you're saying about the frame styles. A customer has to choose a frame style from 'Elements' and then upload their own photo. They can't change an existing frame. It was better with the old mask feature, where you could unmask a photo to make changes, but now they become "frames" once you create them!

[Anne]

Thanks, @Connie That's just awful.
I think it is quite an achievement from the programmers to enable this and they should be proud of it. Taking all features away does not make sense. I increasingly get the feeling Zazzle is going back to the DOS era. (for younger folks: this is what the internet looked like in the nineties of the last century :-))

[SheaPrints]

If a photo is in a frame (from Elements), double-click the photo on the design area to select it. Then click 'Crop' (at the top). You can then adjust the size and position of the photo within the frame. You can also do that with masked images and cropped images by selecting them in the design area. However, there's a problem if your photo has been grouped, locked or layered under something. I have this problem with many of my designs!  Is that what you mean?

[Anne]

Sorry if I did not explain it clearly, @SheaPrints 
I am referring to a self-created frame:

In this example the image of the lady can be replaced and the layer above it has a metallic style frame with a drop shadow. Placing the woman above the (what I refer to as frame) would be very difficult. It would most certainly cut off part of the design or leave a blank border or something. 
https://www.zazzle.com/your_photo_industrial_metallic_steampunk_planner-256056391469074074

[SheaPrints]

I see what you're saying. I also use this kind of frame/aperture device a lot – the new 'Best Practices For Designing Templates' call it, a 'shield with cutouts':
https://help.zazzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/36158448898967-Creator-Best-Practices-for-Designing-Templa...
Zazzle suggests locking the frame/shield to ensure the photo is selectable in the design area. You've done that, so I could select your photo. But, the customer needs to know they have to click 'Crop', to adjust the photo's size and position within the frame. That keeps its position safe. As you said, simply selecting and moving the photo can lead to unwanted gaps! It needs to be clearer for the customer.

[Anne]

Quarter fell a bit late. 😀 I can find what you say about "crop", but I can only move the image with Ctrl+arrow, no handles. Of course customers would never imagine that "crop" stands for "move" or "position". The selecting and moving of the photo is not possible at all as far as I can see. So we only have the "crop" workaround, which the majority of customers won't find. Great.

[SheaPrints]

After I click 'Crop', I can click-and-hold the photo to drag the image for re-positioning, or I can click-and-drag a corner handle to enlarge it. I tried Ctrl+arrow after clicking 'Crop', and it behaves as if I hadn't clicked 'Crop'! – the photo is no longer kept within the frame. Hmm, it's not as simple as it used to be for a customer!

[Anne]

Thanks, @SheaPrints !

[Anne]

I also just found that customers now can't align images any more. This is another serious problem. I'm trying to create a business card with social media icons, but that will clearly become a mess if a customer does not know how to delete (as we still only have "change" as official option) an image, nor has access to the proper design tool.

[SheaPrints]

The align feature for text or elements is found in 'Formatting'. However, the symbols for 'Evenly space layers vertically' and 'Evenly space layers horizontally' are the wrong way around. I've reported it a few times, so hopefully it will be fixed!

[Anne]

Thank you for your help trying to figure things out, @SheaPrints 
Formatting. ??? What a strange word to use.
I can't select 2 layers, even if I move them to the top in the layers panel.
Fit and fill don't work properly either.
And you're right, reporting anything does not help, only wastes your time. I started to make a (long!!!) list of issues I have with these so called "best practices", but decided against this effort.
At least we now understand why there are no sales any more.
Thanks again.

[Cat]

FWIW, I was able to change and adjust the image just fine. If you're going to use cutout layers like this, they suggest locking the layer - that way when the user clicks on the screen it selects the image and not your cutout layer.

I do agree that it's a little bit confusing for the user to adjust the image. I think they should replace the word "crop" with "adjust" to make it easier to understand. 

BTW - where is this form where we can give feedback on the new tool?

[SheaPrints]

@Cat
Here is a link to the post and form:
https://community.zazzle.com/t5/creator-news/new-design-tool-experience-now-available-to-all-custome...
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5nqyk5HkbqEioY00jGdaYV7B12eaQ82U6tuScwqWwsrZQqw/viewform

[Cat]

Thanks! 😉

[DancingPelican]

I had a customer chat message late last night asking me to adjust her image for her. There was no product link or info and no customer name, just this one phrase "please adjust picture" so I could not determine from her chat if she had ordered something or was working with a a product she wanted to order. I referred her to customer care and she replied that my contact info popped up when she place her order. I sent her a graphic showing her how to contact customer care. I wonder if they will align her image for her or instruct her how to align it and have her reorder. Will have to wait and see.

[jophb]

I have gotten a ridiculous amount of customer messages this past week asking me for things I can't control, I wonder if something changed. One mentioned it was very confusing trying to contact Zazzle.

[DancingPelican]

Looking on the bright side, it's good to have customers!

[jophb]

For sure!