Glossary of Technical Terms
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2D product template
A customizable product template created using a product image.
How to create a 2D product template:
3D model
To enable 3D customization, you need a 3D model of your product, prepared according to our requirements. It must be exported as a GLTF file (including textures) and compressed into a ZIP file.
For more information, visit: 3D model preparation →
3D product template
A 3D product template is created using a 3D model. All print areas must be prepared in the 3D model and selected in the SC admin when setting up print areas.
Check out our preset products, available for free installation: Installing customizable products from presets →
Learn more about 3D product setup →
Collection
A collection is a type of graphic tag used for organizing assets.
While collections are not visible to customers in the graphic assets library on the editor’s front end, they help group assets by theme, style, product-specific needs, and other categories in the admin’s back end.
Learn more: Graphic assets tags →
Color mode
Smart Customizer supports three color modes: RGB, CMYK, and Pantone.
Learn more about each mode: Color modes →
Configurator
Configurator is a custom standalone solution used to modify product features, options, or add/remove components. Each solution is developed individually based on specific business needs.
Control Type
The print area switcher (Control Type) is automatically enabled for Print Area Set options in the product preview/edit window.
This feature allows customers to easily toggle between different print areas and can be customized with a title or a custom thumbnail.
For more information, visit: Print area controls →
Current price
The Current Price is set in the SC product template under the Product Details section. To enable this feature, Dynamic Pricing must be turned on.
- In the Standalone version, it represents the main product price.
- In the WordPress/Shopify version, it adds an extra price on top of the one set in the e-commerce platform.
For more information, visit: Pricing settings →
Customizable product preset
A free 2D or 3D product template available for all SC app users. Installation guides:
Customize button position
For Shopify and WooCommerce users, the "Customize Product" button can be positioned above, below, or replace the "Add to Cart" button. It can be set in SC admin Preferences.
Learn how: 3D model preparation →
Customize embed settings
If the app does not work by default, SC app settings may need manual adjustments in Preferences.
For more information, visit: Customizable elements for embed settings →
Preferences
A single set of preference settings applies to all products in the app.
Learn more about each option and customize it to fit your needs: General preferences →
Default product view mode
There are three available product preview modes:
- Preview – Displays a 2D/3D product preview.
- Edit – Opens the design editor window.
- Quick Mode – Shows a preview window with an "Upload Image" option for fast customization.
Learn more about each mode: Default preview modes →
Design preview mask
A design preview mask helps to define the design's visibility boundaries.
Everything that is drawn out of mask boundaries is not visible in a product preview.
It can be chosen in the app if it is standard (rectangle or circle), and if custom, uploaded.
For more information, visit: 2D product Design Mask →
Design Template
Design template is a predefined mockup of texts and visuals that help customers to start the customization quickly. You can use our presets or create your own.
For more information, visit: Design Templates →
Design Tools
Toolset part, where you can enable or disable custom checkboxes that determine how much freedom you want to give the user while creating a design.
For more information, visit: Custom toolsets →
Description
The product description includes essential details such as product specifications and print information.
It is set in SC Admin Product Template > Product Details for Standalone users and managed directly on product pages for Shopify/WooCommerce users.
Dynamic pricing
When creating an SC product template, you can choose to enable or disable dynamic pricing:
- If dynamic pricing is enabled, the product will use the prices set in Smart Customizer, including the "Current Price" and any option prices
- If dynamic pricing is disabled: for WordPress and Shopify users the product will only use the price set in the e-commerce platform; for Stand-Alone users no price will be displayed on the product page.
Editor window
A window where you or your customers create designs for printing.
Embed
Embed is a type of integration for the Stand-Alone Smart Customizer version.
This version works with an ordering form and can be embedded on any page.
Learn more: Embedding a product customization button →
File confirmation settings
When a customer adds a design to the cart, a file confirmation box appears. You can customize the text in this box based on your product's features or printing process.
Learn more: Confirmation box settings→
Graphic assets library
A graphic asset is a design element used for creating designs. It can be uploaded as either a vector or raster file. When uploading, you can choose whether the asset is visible only to you or also to your customers in the graphic assets library.
Learn more: Importing custom graphics→
Guidelines layer
The guidelines layer is an optional part of the product template setup. It helps ensure that important graphics and text remain within designated safe zones, preventing unintended cuts or margins. Additionally, it can be used to indicate bleed areas and provide important notes for accurate design placement.
For more information, visit: Setting up safe print area guidelines→
HEX
A color hex code is a six-digit code used to represent colors in digital design. Hex color codes start with a pound sign or hashtag (#) and are followed by six letters and/or numbers. In our app, when color is needed, it has to be added as HEX.
Usage example: Adding color variants to your customizable product→
Imprint layer
The imprint layer is an optional part of the product template setup, used for non-editable elements. It can include graphics such as logos, slogans, barcodes, manufacturing details, or print-related technical information.
This layer can be set to be exported in the print-ready file or be used for preview purposes only.
For more information, visit: Importing an Imprint layer→
Model color images
When adding color variations to a 2D product template, you must upload a separate image for each variation. This image should be the same Model image of the product but manually adjusted to match the new color.
Ensuring consistency in images helps maintain the correct display of the print area and other technical layers.
For more information, visit: Adding color variants to your customizable product→
Model image
Model image is used for technical 2D product template setup and is shown in the customization window.
For technical requirements and more information about 2D product templates, visit: Simple 2D product template setup→
Model mesh for coloring
When adding color variations to a 3D product template, you need to select the parts of the model that will be colored. You can choose multiple parts, but they can only be colored in a single color at a time.
For more information, visit: Adding color variants to your customizable product→
Option list style
When setting up a product template with multiple options (e.g., print, color, size, or custom), you can choose the display style for each category on the front product page.
For more information, visit: How to change the print options list style→
Option preview thumbnail
When setting up a product template with multiple options (e.g., print, color, size, or custom), you can upload thumbnails for these options on the front product page.
For more information, visit: How to change the print options list style→
Order form
The order form is used in the Stand-Alone Smart Customizer version and should always remain activated. It appears in the final step, where customers provide all necessary information to place an order after completing product customization. The form can be personalized to fit business needs.
For more information, visit: Order form settings→
PPI
PPI (pixels per inch) is the number of pixels contained in a digital image. 300 PPI is the optimal printing resolution for digital printing presses. It can be adjusted in Product Print area options.
Preview mode
Preview Mode is one of the default product view options. When customers open the customizer, they see the product and, if assigned, a list of design templates on the left.
For more information, visit: Default product view interface modes→
Price format
You can customize the price format to fit your market needs. Set any currency, choose the currency symbol, adjust its placement, and define the number of decimal places.
For more information, visit: Pricing settings→
Price increase
When setting up product options, you can add price increases for specific choices. Ensure that “Dynamic Pricing” is enabled in Product Details, as it is required for prices to display on the product page.
Print Area
The print area is a key part of the product setup where you define the size and placement of the design for customization. It is set differently for 2D and 3D product templates and will be exported as a print-ready file:
- For 2D product templates, you can set the size and placement directly in the system.
- For 3D product templates, the print area must be created within the 3D model and then selected in the system. The size should match the 3D model or be proportionally adjusted to maintain accurate print display.
Print area 3D view angle
The 3D view angle setup ensures that the selected print area rotates to face the viewer for a seamless experience. You can also customize the default zoom level and set a maximum zoom based on your product's size.
For more information, visit: Setting up 3D product view angles →
Print area mesh name
When creating a 3D product template and setting up the print option, you must select the 3D model mesh used for printing. This mesh should be prepped in advance within the 3D model and organized as a separate layer.
For more information, visit: Setting up a 3D customizable product →
Print-ready file
Customer-created designs are generated as print-ready files in the SC admin. You can customize the app’s preferences and toolset settings to match your file requirements. For Shopify and WooCommerce users, these files are also accessible through their platform’s order information.
For more information about the print-ready file settings, visit: Print-ready file settings →
Where to find print files: Customer prints→
Print set
If your product has more than one print option, you can make it as a set. This is useful if you want to offer different print options and set varying prices for each product variation.
Learn more: Setting up multiple-print areas →
Product details
Product details are product template setup basic part which includes main information about the product.
Product image
The product image is the main visual representation of your product:
- For stand-alone users, it appears on the custom URL product page.
- For users on other platforms, it is used for organizational purposes within the SC admin only.
Product options
When setting up a product, the following customization option groups are available:
- Print Group – This group is created automatically when a new product is added and includes one inner default print area option.
- Size Group – An optional group that can be added only once.
- Color Group – An optional group that can be added only once. When added, it includes one inner default color option.
- Custom Option – An optional group for custom options, allowing multiple custom groups to be added.
Note: Each group can contain as many inner options as needed.
Quick mode
Quick Mode is one of the default product preview type options, designed specifically for products where uploading an image is the main customization option.
The customer can click on "Your Image" in the preview window to upload and preview their image directly on the product.
Learn more: Default product view interface modes →
Rule (1/N; N/N)
When setting up options in the Product Template settings, you must choose a selection rule to define how customers interact with the options:
- 1/N – Your customer must select exactly one option from the group.
- N/N – Your customer can select one, multiple, or even none of the available options.
SC customizable product URL
SC customizable product URL is a type of solution for the Stand-Alone Smart Customizer version.
This URL includes a customized product and an order form, serving as an inquiry.
Learn more: How to create a URL for a customizable product →
SKU
A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique identifier used to manage material stock levels. When setting up a product template in the SC admin for Stand-Alone, you can define SKU codes for both the product and its options.
When a customer places an order, a generated SKU is included along with other order details.
Stand-Alone
Besides integrations to e-commerce platforms The Stand-Alone Smart Customizer App version offers two autonomous solutions:
- Individual customizable product URLs.
- Embedding product customization onto an existing web page using a button.
Learn more: Stand-Alone installation and usage cases→
Toolset
A toolset is a collection of predefined app features that can be managed individually and assigned to different products and design templates. The app includes a default toolset upon installation, and you can add or remove multiple toolsets as needed.
Learn more: Creating toolsets→
Top layer
The top layer is a non-editable layer that goes on top of the design, primarily used for essential decorative details such as product shadows, reflections, stitching, and other visual effects.
For more information, visit: Top layer for 2D customizable product→
Units
It is possible to work with a metric or imperial unit system in our app.
For more information, visit: Unit system→
User interface translations
Smart Customize user interface texts can be translated to any language. You need to do it manually, but it gives freedom when translating to use more specific titles or descriptions to your product.
For more information, visit: User interface translations→
Variation
When creating a product template, the Variation 1 category is automatically generated. Within this category, all options configured during setup can be enabled or disabled.
You can also add additional variations:
- For Standalone users: Different product variations can be easily shared via custom URLs.
- For Shopify and WordPress users: Different variations can be assigned to separate products or product variations.
Learn more: Customizable Product Variations→
Video guide
You can provide a video guide to help customers understand the customization process. Use the default help video included in the app or upload your own for a more personalized experience.
For more information, visit: Video guide→