Template vs option set vs product
These three objects are easy to mix up. Keep this distinction in mind:| Object | What it holds | What it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Template | Layers on a canvas (the look) | What does the product look like by default? |
| Option set | Fields the customer fills in | What can the customer change? |
| Product | A Shopify item linked to a template + option set | Which SKU is this personalization for? |
When to create a new template
Create a new template when the visual layout changes. Reuse an existing template when only the inputs change.- Same mug art, different text prompt? → same template, new option set.
- Same mug art, now with a photo slot instead of a text slot? → same template, new option set (bind to the image layer).
- Brand-new product with a completely different artwork? → new template.
How templates are organized
From the sidebar, Design Templates shows every template in your account. The listing supports:- Search by name.
- Duplicate — copy an existing template as a starting point.
- Trash — soft-delete; recoverable from Design Templates → Trash until you purge.
What’s inside a template
- Canvas size — width × height in pixels, set when you create the template and adjustable later from template settings.
- Layers — the real content. Text, images, shapes, QR codes, frames, groups. See Layers.
- Mockup (optional) — a realistic product photo the storefront preview will warp your design onto. See Mockups.