Articles on: Upload Photo & Effects
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Add Border to Artwork Layers

You can give your customer's uploaded photo a fun, sticker-style makeover!


Photo Border used to be an image effect for Photo Upload layers only. It is now a standalone Border option on the layer toolbar, available on image layers such as Photo Upload, Static Image, Clipart Category,... Learn more in Introducing Artwork 2.0.


Continue reading this Article to learn more about setting up this feature on your Store.


Creating the Upload Photo layer with Photo Border effect


  • Go to Artwork editor > add a Upload photo layer
  • On the toolbar above the canvas, click Border
  • Turn on Enable photo border



You can choose either:

  • Contour cut: Automatically creates a border that follows the exact outline of the uploaded photo.
  • Custom shape (for Photo Upload only): The border follows the edge of the shape you set in Crop into a custom shape.
Custom shape needs a shape image. Select the Photo Upload layer, open Personalization Settings, turn on Crop into a custom shape, and upload a solid black PNG with the same ratio as the layer.




The following list explains what each of these settings does:

  • Border color: Sets the color of the outline around the uploaded photo.
  • Border size: Sets the thickness of the outline around the uploaded photo.
  • Display border on: Please view the detailed explanation here.

In short, this setting controls whether the generated border is included in the final print file or used only for visual reference.


👉 Mockup Preview & Order Design: Use this if your product actually needs a printed border (e.g., a white outline on a dark shirt). The border will be visible to the customer and included in the final design file sent to the fulfiller.
👉 Mockup Preview only (hide on Order Design): Use this for products like stickers or acrylic charms where the fulfiller handles the cutting. This gives the customer a realistic "sticker-look" preview without adding an unnecessary printed border that might interfere with the supplier's automated cutting software.
👉 Order Design only (hide on Mockup Preview): The border will be included in the Order Design sent to the fulfiller, but hidden from the Mockup Preview.


  • Add a thin line around the border: Adds a fine stroke in the same color as the border to enhance the photo's visibility. It is particularly useful when using dark border colors that might otherwise blend into the background.


You can combine Photo Border feature with other Image Effects options, such as Remove Background, Face Cutout, and more!



Adding a Border around a Group of Layers


A border belongs to the Layer you set it on, so when several Layers form one shape, each Layer gets its own border and the border also runs along the edges inside the group:



Select the Group instead, and you get one single border around the outside of the whole Group:



  1. In the Artwork editor, select the Layers in the Layer panel and press Ctrl (Cmd) + G to group them.


  1. Select the Group. Group border appears on the toolbar above the canvas, next to Mask.



  1. Click Group border and turn on Enable photo border. Choose Contour cut or Custom shape. All the settings above work the same way, now applied to the whole Group.



For a Group, Custom shape follows the Group's Mask, so it stays grayed out until you turn Enable mask on for that Group.


IMPORTANT: Group border only appears when every Layer inside the Group can take a border — hidden Layers and Layers in nested groups included. A text, vector, Maps, Route Maps, Star Maps or Moon Phase Layer anywhere in the Group hides the option.


  • A Layer that already has its own border keeps it, and the Group border is drawn around the outside. Turn it off yourself if you only want the outer border.
  • Turning the Group border on or off never moves or resizes the Layers inside.
  • Duplicating a Group copies its border. Ungrouping removes it.



Creating the Campaign


Once you're happy with your settings, be sure to launch it to your Storefront!



For example, here's how your campaign will look once customers upload their photo



Important things to keep in mind:


The borders thickness on each uploaded photo may appear different from one another!


In the example above, you might notice slight differences in the border size around each uploaded photo.


If you upload multiple photos, the border thickness might look slightly different on each one. This happens because the border is sized based on each photo's original dimensions.


Don't worry — the borders will stay proportional to each photo, even if their sizes vary.

Updated on: 05/11/2026

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