CustyHelp Centre
Back to siteInstall Custy
Products
8 min to readLast update on 10 September 2026

Overview of the Design Lab

The Design Lab is the screen where shoppers decorate your product. They click Customize It on your store, make a design, then add it to the cart.

You set up the product in Custy first. Shoppers cannot break your store by designing. If they make a mistake, they can Undo or CLEAR ALL and try again.

What shoppers can do

On this screen, shoppers can:

  1. 1Add words and change how the words look
  2. 2Upload their own logo or picture
  3. 3Add a ready-made picture from your art library
  4. 4Design the front, back, and other sides you set up
  5. 5Change the shirt (or product) color when you offer colors
  6. 6Look at a preview, save the design, or download a proof
  7. 7Pick sizes and how many, then add the item to the cart

The main screen

Think of the Design Lab like a work table. The product sits in the middle. Buttons sit around the edges.

Most people only need three things: Add Text, Upload image, or Add Graphic. Then they drag the design into place. Use the numbered notes on the picture below.

Full Custy Design Lab screen with product in the centerFull size
The whole Design Lab. Top tools, add buttons on the left, product in the middle, sides on the right, size and cart at the bottom.
  1. 1

    Top tools

    SELECT ALL, Undo, Redo, Zoom, CLEAR ALL, EDIT LAYER, Preview, Save Design, and Download.

  2. 2

    Add design

    Add Text, Upload image, and Add Graphic. Those are the three main ways to decorate.

  3. 3

    Product preview

    The live product photo. The dashed box is where artwork may go (your print area).

  4. 4

    Choose color

    Color dots so shoppers can change the product color (when you offer colors).

  5. 5

    Product side

    Switch sides such as Front and Back.

  6. 6

    Size and cart

    SELECT SIZE & QUANTITY. Pick sizes and amounts, then add to cart.

Buttons along the top

These sit along the top of the Design Lab:

  • SELECT ALL: grabs every design piece on this side so they can move together. When it is on, it says DESELECT.
  • Undo: go back one step.
  • Redo: bring that step back.
  • Zoom out / Zoom in: make the product smaller or bigger on the screen.
  • CLEAR ALL: remove every design from this side. They can click Undo if they clicked by mistake.
  • EDIT LAYER: open a list of each piece on this side (see the next section).
  • Preview (eye picture): open DESIGN PREVIEW to see all sides before buying.
  • Save Design (disk picture): save the design to come back later.
  • Download: save a proof picture of the design.
Design Lab top toolbar with Select All, Undo, Redo, Zoom, Clear All, Edit Layer, Preview, Save, DownloadFull size
The top row of buttons.
  1. 1

    SELECT ALL

    Select every design piece on this side.

  2. 2

    Undo / Redo

    Go back one step, or bring that step back.

  3. 3

    Zoom

    Zoom out and zoom in.

  4. 4

    CLEAR ALL

    Remove all designs from the current side.

  5. 5

    EDIT LAYER

    Open the list of design pieces.

  6. 6

    Preview

    Open DESIGN PREVIEW.

  7. 7

    Save Design

    Save the design for later.

  8. 8

    Download

    Download a proof of the design.

EDIT LAYER (the list of pieces)

Click EDIT LAYER. A list opens. It shows every word, upload, and graphic on the current side.

  • Drag a row to change what sits on top.
  • Or use the up and down arrows if you prefer.
  • Delete one piece, or Clear All from this list.
  • If nothing is on the side yet, it says No elements added yet.
Layers panel open from EDIT LAYERFull size
EDIT LAYER opens the list. Reorder or delete design pieces.
  1. 1

    EDIT LAYER

    Button that opens this list.

  2. 2

    Layers list

    Each text, image, and graphic on this side.

  3. 3

    Reorder / Delete

    Drag to reorder, or delete one piece.

CHOOSE COLOR

If you set colors on the product in Custy, shoppers see CHOOSE COLOR with colored dots. Click a color to change how the product looks on screen.

If you did not set colors, this section will not show. That is normal.

Choose Color swatches in the Design LabFull size
CHOOSE COLOR. Shoppers pick a product color from the colors you set up.
  1. 1

    CHOOSE COLOR

    Title for product colors.

  2. 2

    Swatches

    Click a color to change the product look.

  3. 3

    Selected color name

    Shows which color is active.

PRODUCT SIDE

PRODUCT SIDE shows each side you added (for example Front and Back). Shoppers click a side to design it. Under the product you may also see side buttons.

If a side is turned off for designing, they will see a message that this side is not enabled for customization. That means they cannot put art on that side. Your store is fine.

Product Side panel with Front and Back thumbnailsFull size
PRODUCT SIDE. Switch between Front, Back, and other sides you set up.
  1. 1

    PRODUCT SIDE

    List of sides the shopper can design.

  2. 2

    Side thumbnail

    Click to switch to that side.

Add Text

Under ADD DESIGN OBJECT, shoppers click Add Text. That button goes away and a small form opens on the left. The picture below shows that form after Add Text was already clicked.

They type words, pick a font and size, pick a text color, then click Add Text again to put the words on the product.

  • Type in the box that says Enter your text...
  • Pick a font (the list may say SELECT A FONT).
  • Set the size and TEXT COLOR.
  • Click Add Text to place it, or Cancel to close.
Add Text form in the Design Lab after clicking Add TextFull size
After you click Add Text, this form opens. Type words, pick font and color, then place the text on the product.
  1. 1

    Text box

    Where shoppers type their words.

  2. 2

    Font and size

    Choose font and font size.

  3. 3

    TEXT COLOR

    Pick a color for the text.

  4. 4

    Add Text

    Places the text on the product.

TEXT OPTIONS (after text is selected)

When a shopper clicks the text on the product, TEXT OPTIONS open on the right. This is where they change the words and how they look.

  • CONTENT: Edit Text Content to change the words. Duplicate makes a copy. Remove deletes the text.
  • PRINT & COLOR: pick PRINTING TYPE if you offer more than one way to print, and pick COLOR for the ink.
  • Font tools: SELECT FONT, FONT SIZE, Bold, Italic, Underline.
  • Size: WIDTH and HEIGHT. Flip H flips left-right. Flip V flips up-down.
  • Advanced tools: letter spacing, line height, outline and shadow, rotate, and move left/center/right or top/middle/bottom.
TEXT OPTIONS panel for selected text: content, printing, typography, and advanced toolsFull size
TEXT OPTIONS after text is selected. Top: content, edit text, printing type and color. Bottom: font, size, and advanced tools.
  1. 1

    CONTENT

    Duplicate or remove the text.

  2. 2

    Edit Text Content

    Change the words.

  3. 3

    PRINTING TYPE / COLOR

    Printing method and ink color.

  4. 4

    Font and size

    SELECT FONT, FONT SIZE, Bold, Italic, Underline.

  5. 5

    Advanced tools

    Spacing, outline, shadow, rotate, and position.

Upload image

Shoppers click Upload image. A window titled UPLOAD IMAGE opens.

  • Choose Upload A File or From URL.
  • Click Choose File (or paste a web link and click Load). Allowed file types: JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or WebP. Biggest size: 20MB.
  • Optional: crop the picture, put it in a shape, add a photo effect, or remove the background.
  • Click Continue (or Add Image) to put the picture on the product.

After the picture is on the product

Shoppers can click it to change size, flip, rotate, or printing type. Uploaded pictures keep their own colors. There is no color picker for uploads.

Upload image flow: button, choose file, then crop and continueFull size
UPLOAD IMAGE flow. Top: click Upload image. Middle: Upload A File and Choose File. Bottom: crop and mask, then CONTINUE.
  1. 1

    Upload image

    Click this to open the upload window.

  2. 2

    Upload A File / From URL

    Two ways to add artwork.

  3. 3

    Choose File

    Pick a JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, or WebP file.

  4. 4

    Crop & Mask

    Optional crop, shapes, and photo effects.

  5. 5

    CONTINUE

    Places the image on the product.

Add Graphic

Add Graphic opens your art library (the window says ADD GRAPHIC). Shoppers pick a group, search if they want, and click a graphic to put it on the product.

After it is on the product, they can change size, color (for library art), printing type, flip, and rotate, similar to text.

Add Graphic button, then ADD GRAPHIC library with categories and searchFull size
ADD GRAPHIC flow. Top: click Add Graphic. Bottom: pick a group, search, then click a graphic to place it.
  1. 1

    Add Graphic

    Opens the art library.

  2. 2

    GRAPHIC CATEGORIES

    Groups of clipart.

  3. 3

    Search

    Search graphics by name.

  4. 4

    Graphic tile

    Click to place on the product.

Preview, Save Design, and Download

Preview opens DESIGN PREVIEW so shoppers can check every side before they buy. From there they can also download a proof.

Save Design asks for a name and email. After they save, they get a link they can Copy to open the design later. You can find saved designs under Orders in Custy.

The Download button on the top also saves a proof picture of the design.

Preview icon and DESIGN PREVIEW modal with sides, Download Proof, and CloseFull size
DESIGN PREVIEW flow. Top: click the eye (Preview). Bottom: check each side, Download Proof, or Close.
  1. 1

    Preview

    Eye button that opens this window.

  2. 2

    Preview sides

    See each side of the product.

  3. 3

    Download Proof

    Save a proof picture.

  4. 4

    Close

    Go back to designing.

SAVE YOUR DESIGN

Click the Save Design button on the top. Enter a design name and email, then click Save Design.

When it works, they see DESIGN SAVED with a link and a Copy button. There is no separate Share button. They share by copying that link. Your store is not changed by saving a design.

Save Design icon, SAVE YOUR DESIGN form, then DESIGN SAVED with copy linkFull size
Save Design flow. Top: click Save. Middle: enter name and email, then Save Design. Bottom: copy the link.
  1. 1

    Save Design icon

    Opens the save form from the top bar.

  2. 2

    Name, email, and Save Design

    Enter details, then click Save Design.

  3. 3

    Copy link

    After save, copy the link to open the design later or share it.

SELECT SIZE & QUANTITY and Add to Cart

At the bottom, shoppers click SELECT SIZE & QUANTITY. A window opens. They pick sizes and how many of each, see the totals, then click ADD TO CART.

CONTINUE DESIGNING takes them back to the design screen. On a phone, they may see CHECKOUT. That opens the same size and quantity window.

If they try to add to cart with no design, a friendly reminder asks them to Add Design or Continue Anyway. Nothing is broken.

SELECT SIZE & QUANTITY button, then SIZE & QUANTITY modal with Add to CartFull size
SIZE & QUANTITY flow. Top: click SELECT SIZE & QUANTITY. Bottom: pick sizes and quantities, CONTINUE DESIGNING, or ADD TO CART.
  1. 1

    SELECT SIZE & QUANTITY

    Footer button that opens this window.

  2. 2

    Size and quantity

    Pick each size and how many of that size.

  3. 3

    CONTINUE DESIGNING

    Go back to the design screen.

  4. 4

    ADD TO CART

    Send the customized product to the Shopify cart.

Helpful warnings

Sometimes the Design Lab shows a warning. That protects your print quality. It does not mean your store is broken.

You can turn these warnings off in Custy Settings for your store, so shoppers do not see them. Open Settings and check the warning options (such as low-quality picture and outside the print area).

  1. 1Design is outside the print area. Move the art inside the dashed box
  2. 2Picture looks soft or low quality. Upload a larger, clearer file, or make the picture smaller on the product
  3. 3Too many colors for this printing type. Use fewer colors to match the limit you set