New Feature Alert: Frames!

[Heather]

Hi Creators,

Here's a dedicated thread to leave us feedback about the new feature we just launched, frames!

Check out our recent article to learn all about it:

https://community.zazzle.com/t5/creator-news/new-feature-alert-frames/ba-p/206434

Thank you!

Team Creator 

[KeegansCreation]

Lots of interesting options. I like that we can change the aspect ratio on many of them.

Will customers be able to adjust the placement of their photo without going into the design tool?

[wheresthekarma]

I wondered this too. I tried to mess around with a card I made and didn't see an option for that.

[Sara_H]

@KeegansCreation  @wheresthekarma I've just tested one - you need to make the frame the image template (not the photo you add)

then once you've added an image for the customer to replace, as long as you've set "Allow editing on the product page" - it appears under personalize it without going into design tool

[KeegansCreation]

That's good. 😀

[Anne]

@KeegansCreation How do you change the aspect ratio? I tried all sorts of things, but it keeps the same ratio.

[KeegansCreation]

Pull on the sides or the top.

[Anne]

@KeegansCreation  Thank you! However, that does not work for me.
I am on Windows 10, Chrome.

[KeegansCreation]

It works on some but not all of the frames. It works on the shapes but not the black rimmed photo frames.

[idraw]

Frames are under Elements--so might be to everyone's advantage to read what the royalty is for frames.

<https://help.zazzle.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037785973-Zazzle-Ambassador-and-Creator-Royalties-and-R...>

[Sara_H]

@idraw  according to the label the frames are royalty free with a drop down that says 

"use of this "royalty-free" element in a published product will not affect your royalty earnings"

[Windy]

QUOTE:  Can I make my own custom Frames?
Not at the moment. END QUOTE

We have always been able to make our own custom frames.

[Sara_H]

@Windy  I think you can still upload your own svg to use as your own frame and then mask an image as before  - I don't think that's changed (could be wrong though)

[James]

Correct. We're continuing to support the masking feature and the above is still possible. This FAQ answer refers to this Frames feature specifically. 

[Sara_H]

@Heather 

You may need to remove the three legged kettle grill silhouette as a similar shape is trademarked by Weber

[shelleyw]

Yes, I found this out the hard way years ago.  I had dozens of popular invites removed.  I had to recreate with a boring rectangular grill and start from scratch.  All is good now but I still see SO MANY of the weber shaped grills.  😞

[Heather]

Thank you @Sara_H - I will let our team know. 

[Connie]

This is an exciting addition! 

[Anne]

I also don't understand the black around the photos. I can't change the color or use another framing design? Or better, remove the black altogether? Thanks for help!

[TRW]

Curious to test this one out... 

[Barbara]

I can't figure out how to change the position or size of the photo within the frame. Once it's there, the photo seems inaccessible.

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[SheaPrints]

You can crop/resize/flip the photo using 'Adjust Image' (on the right side, under 'Filters').

[Cat]

Thank You! That's exactly what I was looking for!

[Cat]

This is my question as well. I can't figure out any way to do it. Do I have to edit my photo before I upload it?

[Anne]

I tried the multiple frame, but don't see an option to add an image anywhere:

I am just testing on a random product, in this case a badge. 
The single photo things seem to work fine, but I can't get the multiple image to work.
So I get the basic frames to work but flowers and multiple images not.
Really excited about the ones that DO work though. This is a really great addition to the design tool, thank you!

[Sara_H]

@Anne  Double click on the frame where the green image is and you'll see a dashed line

then you should be able to add an image

rinse and repeat double clicking on the others and adding images - don't forget with to make each frame a template object with each image added (eg - each frame within the multi-frame will need a separate image template)

Hope that made sense

[Anne]

Thank you so much, @Sara_H 
After 20 times double clicking I got it to open, but still can't scale the way I would like to. I guess I stick to the other ones available. This just happened to be the first one in sight. Oh well. Thank you for being the forum angel 🙂
That would be me, @Barbara . Apologies and great suggestion. 
I hope Zazzle will enable a delete post option.

[Barbara]

@Anne: Maybe @Sara_H  will write up a compendium of instructions...an idea that suddenly reminded me of the sticky posts we used to have in the old forum. I guess the new format doesn't have the capability, but if it does, then please, Zazzle, turn it on.

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[Sara_H]

@Barbara  I've only played with the frames and not published any products with them yet (waiting for the site to work lol) I don't think I know everything there is to know about them 🤣

[Anne]

@Barbara yes, instructions. As that is really Zazzle's work to do, I hope they will pay @Sara_H  well for offering these services 🙂

[Barbara]

I hope Zazzle writes up a clear set of instructions for the ins and outs of this because, otherwise, we'll be seeing the array of expected questions repeatedly both here and in Ask a Question and possibly other places. It would be a lot easier to link a person who's new to the process to a single place where they can find all the answers.

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[MaggieA]

Has anyone found out a way to group frames and use one singe image for multiple frames? 
Example; I would add letter frames to create the words "MY HERO" and instead of filling each letter with images I would like to have just one portrait behind all of them, showing part of that one portrait in all letters.

I can not get that to work, it places the image within just one of the letters.

[Sara_H]

@MaggieA  I tried to do this and it's a fail. 

This is what I did...

1. Placed all the frame letters and arrange as needed.

2. Added an image and sized up to cover all the letters.

3. Duplicated this image for each of the letters (copy/paste)

4. Place each image into a letter frame and resized them to the canvas

5. Made this frame the template

6. Added the image to the other framed letters and resized to fill and made sure the other letter frames have the same template (eg all image 1)

but when you replace an image - it doesn't keep the resized image -

not sure if it's something I did wrong or if that's how it's programmed

Maybe they'll fix it so it does keep the resize but I doubt it.

[James]

This affect can be achieved using an SVG and the Masking feature. I can't seem to get it to work from our shapes or Frames either, but I'm happy to note this would be a cool feature to add.  

[Sara_H]

@James Yes I know but was just testing to see if your new letter frames would work

[Anne]

@James Talking about added features: I think it would be great to add a drop shadow and/or a border, like with text. Thank you for considering. I think you guys did a great job with this frame feature!

[Cat]

Maybe I don't understand what you're asking for, but they recently added text stroke (outline) and drop shadow features to text. They're in the right hand panel under the anchor setting:

[Barbara]

I believe Anne is asking for the same ability as you describe, but what she wants is a drop shadow with the new frames.

@Anne:  I'm not sure about how they've constructed the frames, but if they're equivalent to masks, then shadows and outlines couldn't be added. The only way would be if you constructed those things yourself, and off the top of my head, I can't imagine how. In this case, you'd have to create all of it yourself in an image editor and as an SVG to be used as a mask and then a shadow or outline in a separate layer.

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[MaggieA]

Thanks Sara, I will try this out!

[Sara_H]

@MaggieA  it doesn't work - though it may do in the future