Adjust Photos and Apply Image Effects

Use the Adjustments drawer for exposure, contrast, and color, and the Effects stack for filters like black and white, blur, borders, remove background, and more.

This guide shows you how to fine-tune a photo and apply image effects inside the Design Studio. It is for merchants who have already placed an image on a surface and want it to look right before customers personalize the product. If you are still adding photos, start with add images and photos.

Every image you select has two sub-drawers in its properties: Adjustments and Effects. Adjustments handle exposure and color. Effects add filters, borders, blur, and AI tools. You can use both on the same image.

Open the Adjustments drawer

The Adjustments drawer holds the sliders that tune light and color. Each slider is non-destructive, so your original image stays intact and you can change any value at any time.

Select the image

Click the image on the canvas. Its properties open in the right-hand panel.

Open Adjustments

In the image properties, click Adjustments. The drawer opens with the full set of sliders.

The Adjustments drawer, open for a selected image.

Drag the sliders

Adjust the controls to taste. The drawer includes:

  • Exposure for overall brightness.
  • Highlights and Shadows to recover bright areas or lift dark ones.
  • Whites and Blacks for the brightest and darkest tones.
  • Temperature and Tint to warm, cool, or color-correct the photo.
  • Vibrance to lift muted colors without oversaturating skin tones.
  • Sharpness to add edge detail.
  • Vignette to darken the edges and draw the eye to the center.
  • Spot colors to reduce the number of distinct colors in the image.

The canvas updates live as you drag, so you can see the result before you commit.

Apply image effects

Effects are filters and tools that change how the image looks. They sit in their own drawer, grouped into categories, and stack on top of the adjustments you have already made.

Open the Effects drawer

With the image still selected, open the Effects drawer in its properties.

The Effects drawer, showing effect categories and the stack of applied effects.

Pick an effect from a category

Effects are organized by category so you can find the right one fast:

  • Filters: black and white, sepia, portrait sketch, and watercolor mask.
  • Tones: a color adjust effect with warm, cool, faded, vibrant, and muted presets.
  • Blur: soften the whole image.
  • Artistic: AI style, which restyles the photo.
  • Decorative: border, outline, and texture overlay.
  • Pro tools: remove background, face cutout, and enhance.

Click an effect to apply it. It then appears in the applied-effects stack, where you can adjust or remove it.

Stack and tune effects

You can apply more than one effect. Each applied effect shows in the stack. Effects that have settings expand so you can tune them inline. Remove an effect from the stack when you no longer want it.

Pro tools that run with AI

A few effects need a network round-trip to apply because they run with an AI model: AI style, remove background, face cutout, and enhance. These take a moment longer than the instant filters, and the panel shows a processing state while they work.

These effects need a usable AI provider connected to your workspace. If none is connected, the panel shows a notice and the effect will not apply.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Adjustments and Effects?

Adjustments are sliders for light and color, like exposure, temperature, and vibrance. Effects are filters and tools, like black and white, blur, borders, and remove background. You can use both on the same image.

Are these changes permanent?

No. The adjustment sliders are non-destructive, so your original image stays intact and you can change any value at any time. Effects can be removed from the applied-effects stack.

Why does an effect say it cannot apply?

Some effects, like remove background and enhance, run with AI. They need a usable AI provider connected to your workspace. The panel shows a notice when none is connected.

Can I apply more than one effect?

Yes. Each effect you apply appears in the applied-effects stack, and effects that have settings expand so you can tune them.

Next

Once your image looks right, decide whether shoppers can edit it. See make fields customer editable.

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