Designer Guide

How to Upload a Photo Card

Follow the steps below to set up your photo card correctly for the You Said It dashboard. The most important part is making sure the area where the customer's photo will appear is fully transparent in your front artwork.

File 1

Your front artwork with a transparent cut-out where the customer's photo will show.

File 2

A demo image showing how the card should look once a photo has been placed behind the artwork.

Recommended format

Use a PNG at 300 DPI for the front artwork so the transparent area is preserved.

Step-by-step guide

1

Create your front artwork

Export the front design with the area for the customer's photo left transparent. This file should be saved as a PNG at 300 DPI.

  • The photo window must be truly transparent, not filled with white.
  • PNG is required because JPG files do not support transparency.
  • Check the cut-out is positioned exactly where you want the customer's photo to appear.
PNG export settings with transparent background selected
Set the background to transparent when exporting your front artwork.
Example of card artwork with transparent heart cut-out area
Your front artwork should contain a transparent cut-out where the customer's photo will show.
2

Create a demo image

Next, add a royalty-free or placeholder photo behind your artwork to show how the finished card will look. This becomes your demo image.

  • The demo image should line up with the transparent cut-out from your front artwork.
  • Only use an image you have permission to use.
  • This file helps customers understand the finished design before uploading their own photo.
PNG export settings with white background for demo image
Export the demo image with a normal background.
Example of completed demo image with sample photo placed behind frame
The demo image shows exactly how the card should look with a photo in place.
3

Prepare both files

Before uploading, make sure you have both files ready:

  • Front artwork: PNG with the transparent cut-out.
  • Demo image: the preview version showing a sample photo behind the artwork.

You will upload both of these during the product setup process.

4

Select the photo card option

When your files are ready, go to your dashboard and choose the Personalised Photo Card option.

Dashboard showing the personalised photo card option
Select Personalised Photo Card from the available card types.
5

Upload your files

On the upload screen, add each file to the correct place:

  • Upload the artwork with the transparent cut-out to the left upload option.
  • Upload the demo image to the right upload option under Upload Demo Image.
Upload screen showing where to upload the main image and demo image
Make sure the transparent artwork and the demo image are uploaded to the correct fields.
6

Preview and continue

Once everything looks correct, click Next. You can then fill in the rest of the card details just as you would for a standard card.

7

Submit for review

After submitting, our team will review your design. You will also be able to see the card on your profile page, where you can test how it looks before it goes live.

Card details screen for completing the rest of the product listing
Complete the product details as normal before submitting your card for review.

Helpful tips

Use transparency, not whiteThe customer's photo will only show through properly if the cut-out area is transparent.
Keep your quality highUse high-resolution artwork so the card looks sharp when printed.
Double-check alignmentMake sure the demo image lines up neatly with the transparent opening in your artwork.
Use a safe sample imageOnly use royalty-free or approved placeholder photos in your demo image.

This page was rewritten and structured from your original guide so it is clearer and easier to follow for designers.