Design Tool Help

From the basicts to advanced tips to create the perfect design every time!

Adding Text

To add text to your design simply click the "ADD TEXT" button at the top of the design tool. A popup window will appear in which you can enter your text. You can add multiple lines of text by pressing the enter key on your keyboard. Once you have added your text to your design surface you can then adjust the size, color, alignment and various other text effect options. See "Text Options" below for more information.

Text Options

The Text Editor Bar allows you manipulate text objects within the design tool. You can alter the message, change fonts and colors, and add special effects to your text. Along with these special editing tools, you’ll aslso find familiar options such as making your text bold or italic and alignment options for longer bits of text.

Adding Shapes & Clipart

To add shapes and/or clipart to your design simply click the "ADD SHAPE" button at the top of the design tool. A popup window will appear in which you can select a shape or clipart object. Once you have added your shape or clipart object to your design surface you can then adjust the size and color. See "Shape & Clipart Options" below for more information.

Shape & Clipart Options

The Clipart Color Editor Bar allows you to change the color of your clipart and shapes. Objects like shapes will only have one color that is able to be changed. More complex clipart images however, will allow you to change every color inside the clipart image as seen in the clipart color editor bar above.

Adding Images

To add an image to your design simply click the "ADD IMAGE" button at the top of the design tool. A popup window will appear in which you can upload an image. Alternatively, you can also choose, “Add an Image” from the popup window to choose from a collection of stock photos. Once you have added your image to your design surface you can then adjust the size and placement. See "Image Options" below for more information.

Image Options

The Add Image popup window allows you to drag and drop a .tiff, .png, .jpg, .gif, and .pdf file onto the window and onto your design surface. Similarly, you can also click, Add an Image” and choose a stock photo to be added onto your design surface. You are also able to create a QR code directly from this popup to be inserted onto your design surface. Users with accounts are able to upload their own images such as logos to be readily available to them at all times. To access your user files, select, “My Images” from the popup window.

Adjusting Size & Placement

To adjust the size and placement for any type of object there are three tools located in the bottom right corner of the design tool. The Canvas Align and Absolute Size tools are used for pinpoint accuracy in location and size of your object, while the Layers tool allows you to weave objects together and stack them on top of each other. Used together, you can create designs exactly how you envision them.

Size & Placement Options

Canvas Align

When you need pinpoint accuracy while adjusting your objects, the align tool is what you need. The design tool does allow you to drag your objects around the design surface for quick impromtu edits, but the canvas align tool exists to fine tune your design. The outside icons are used to snap your object all the way over to that location. Moving in one layer you are given the ability to move your objects one click at a time. The most inner layer looks like a plus symbol, this alignment options snaps your object to the exact center of your design surface. The bottom three icons are used to center your object horizontally and vertically while also giving you the ability to mirror your object along the y-axis.

Absolute Size

By default, your objects will maintain their sizing aspect ratio while dragging the size handles around on the design surface. When you need to override this functionality, unlink the height and width by selecting the chain button. This will allow you to enter precise values for the height and width. If you are ready to resume the default functionality of maintaing the aspect ratio just click the chain button again.

Layers

Complex designs may have anywhere from three to seven individual objects on the design surface. Often times you will want to stack those objects differently from the order in which you added them to your design. By default, new objects added to the design surface will land on top of other objects. To override this functionality you can drag the icon furthest to the right of the layer vertically. In addition to rearranging the layers on your design surface you can also clone a layer or delete a layer from the design surface using the trash can and clone icons.

Manipulating Objects

Manipulating objects happens almost exclusively on the design surface. Selecting an object will wrap that object by its bounds, allowing you to visualize the size of the objects, rotate, and resize the object all by clicking and dragging your mouse. In addition to resizing and rotaing objects, you can also move your object around the design surface by clicking and dragging. Just click and hold on an object and drag it around the design surface to reposition your object. For more precise respositioning use the Canvas Align and Absoliute Size tools in the bottom right corner of the design tool.

Manipulating Objects Options

Rotating

To rotate your object, select it by clicking the object with your mouse or manually select the object from the Layers tool. Once you’ve done that, a bounding box with blue squares and a rotate icon will appear around your object. Centered above your object is a rotate icon. Click and drag this icon in a circular motion to rotate the object around the center point of the object.

Resizing

To resize your object, select it by clicking the object with your mouse or manually select the object from the Layers tool. Once you’ve done that, a bounding box with blue squares and a rotate icon will appear around your object. In the corners, you will find four filled blue squares. Click and drag any four of these boxes to maintain the aspect ratio of your object while resizing your object. Your object will transform in size based on the opposite corner you clicked. For example, clicking and dragging the bottom right corner square will result in your object maintaining it’s position in the opposite corner, in this case the top left corner. On all four sides of your object, you will find four outlined blue squares. Click and drag any four of these boxes to ignore the aspect ratio of the object. Similar to the filled blue squares, resizing your object with the outlined blue squares will transform the object based on the opposite side you clicked.