Quick start
Install the app, create your first custom product, add the Design Now button to your theme, and place a test order — roughly 30 minutes end to end.
You can go from installing Customezo to a live custom product and a test order in about 30 minutes, in seven steps. This guide follows the Setup guide card on your Customezo dashboard. The dashboard tracks the same seven steps and marks each one done as you complete it, so you can leave and come back at any time.
Before you start
You need:
- A Shopify store where you can install apps and edit the published theme.
- At least one product you want to make customizable — or a product idea, if you plan to start from a Customezo template.
- Your artwork requirements in mind: what size does the print area need to be, and how will it be produced (DTF, laser, embroidery…)?
Step 1 — Connect your store
Install Customezo from the Shopify App Store and approve the permissions. The app opens inside your Shopify admin under Apps → Customezo and the first setup step, Store connected to Customezo, is completed automatically.
On first open you are asked to choose a plan. You can start on the free plan and upgrade later — see Plans & billing.
Step 2 — Create a custom product
Go to Products → Create product and pick one of the three paths:
| Path | Use it when | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Import from Shopify | The product already exists in your store. Recommended. | Import from Shopify |
| Start from a template | You want a ready-configured product type (t-shirt, mug, poster…). | Create from a template |
| Canvas product | The whole sheet is printable and there is no product photo — DTF, transfers, stickers. | Canvas products |
If in doubt, choose Import from Shopify: variants, prices and images stay in sync with your store, and the Design button metafields are set for you.
Step 3 — Configure the designer on the product
Open the product and choose Open Print Area Designer. For each side of the product you:
- Add the side (Front, Back, Left sleeve…) and mark it required or optional.
- Choose the background — real photos per color variant, or one transparent mask filled with each variant’s color.
- Optionally enter the real product size and align the product frame, so print areas are set in true centimetres or inches.
- Enter the print width and height, press Set print area, position it on the photo, and apply it to the variants it should cover.
The checklist at the top tells you what is still missing. When it turns green, every side has a background and a print area.
Full walkthrough: Print Area Designer.
Set the print method first
Assign a print method to the product before you fine-tune sizes. The method decides the export DPI, so the print-file dimensions shown in the Print Area Designer are only accurate once it is set.
Step 4 — Publish the product to Shopify
If you created the product inside Customezo (from a template or as a canvas product), it does not exist in your store yet. Press Publish to Shopify on the product page: Customezo creates the Shopify product with its variants and images and activates it.
Products imported from Shopify are already published — just make sure the designer is enabled and the product status is Active.
See Publishing & sync.
Step 5 — Add the Design Now button to your product page
Open Online Store → Themes → Customize, go to a product template, and add the Design Now block from Customezo’s app blocks. Position it near the Add to cart button and style it to match your theme.
Step-by-step, with every setting explained: Storefront setup.
Legacy themes
If your theme uses a legacy Liquid product template, Customezo cannot verify the block automatically. Add the block, then use I’ve installed it on the setup step. Detection replaces the manual confirmation as soon as Shopify reports it.
Step 6 — Enable Customezo Cart UX
In the same theme editor, open App embeds and enable Customezo Cart UX. This adds the Edit design and Preview links to cart line items so customers can change a design before they check out.
The dashboard’s Theme status card shows whether the Design button and Cart UX are detected in your published theme, and has a Re-check button.
Step 7 — Place a test order
- Open the product page on your storefront and press Design Now.
- Add some text and an image, switch sides, and watch the DPI badge and print-area warnings.
- Add to cart, check that any customization fees appear, then complete a test order.
- Open Orders in Customezo — your design order appears with previews, print files and an order summary.
When the order arrives, the last setup step is marked complete.
What to do next
- Charge for extra sides, add-ons and effects: Pricing & fees.
- Reward larger orders: Bulk discounts.
- Put your logo and colors in the designer: Designer branding.
- Give shoppers a head start: Design templates.
- Tighten quality rules for production: Print methods.
- Offer your own clipart and backgrounds: Design Gallery.
- Send customers a design summary or a proof to approve: Proof approval & customer e-mails.