What really is the difference?
I'm seeing a lot of posts about issues with "frames" and also how to "mask" (even if the poster didn't use that exact word to describe what they wanted to do) and am confused over the different options Zazzle offers and what the end result to the customer trying to personalize the design might be.
In the Design Tool, when you click to add Elements, there are some basic "Configurable Shapes" at top then "Shapes" then "Frames".
* If from the 'Configurable Shapes' section you choose the one that looks like a square it is labeled as "Rectangle" in the Layers list.
* If from the 'Shapes' section you choose the one that looks like a square it is labeled as "Square" in the Layers list.
* If from the 'Frames' section you choose the one that looks like a square it is labeled as "Frame" in the Layers list.
All three choices let you adjust the size of the shape, in or out of proportion.
All three choices let you use the resulting shape as a mask for a template image.
 elements added |  after making them image templates |
The only difference I am seeing is one of convenience? If you use choose the 'Frame' option, the image you add is automatically sized to fit the frame and you don't have to manually select the image and shape layer together and click to Mask.
Outside of that small convenience, what is the advantage to using a Frame selection instead of a 'configurable shape' or 'shape' or your own .svg to make a mask?
Also wondering if with all the changes to the interface that I can't keep track of, are there going to be tech issues going forward with manually created masks? Is Z pushing using their Frames instead because it will have consequences down the road if you don't?
@ColsCreations This very same issue drives me nuts - for a number of days now and it seems to be getting worse for me, not better. I work hard on my designs until they work (I test them out in a different browser after listing). Then I transfer one to an other product and it's all out of wack again. And I don't mind that I will have to resize (sometimes) but some layers are locked and often out of order. It eats so much time to get it right and I tried all three ways. And why is there no round frame with clean edges?
I take my last question back. I swear it wasn't there when I looked for it some time ago but now it is. Sorry about that.
That's a good question. Here is a screenshot from @Heather from the creator news section about frames and masks. https://community.zazzle.com/t5/creator-news/update-to-image-templates-and-masks-for-easier-customiz... The whole thread is worth a read, but still leaves many questions.
