Why multi-side is harder than it looks
Most personalizers handle one canvas. They make you 'fake' multi-side by either (a) creating separate variants ('front only', 'front + back') or (b) using one combined mockup that smashes both sides into a single image. Neither produces clean print files.
What you actually want: customers see each side separately, type different text for each, and your printer gets one print file per side with the right text on each. That requires real multi-canvas support, which is what we'll set up.
Step-by-step setup
- Install PIMW Product Personalizer. Multi-side preview is a built-in feature. Install the app from the Shopify App Store.
- Upload a mockup for each side. In the personalizer editor, upload a mockup image for each side you want customers to personalize: front, back, left, right. Each becomes a separate canvas tab on the product page.
- Add text fields per side. On each side's canvas, add the text field(s) the customer can fill in. You can name them per side ('Front text', 'Back text') so the output is unambiguous.
- Lock placement, allow text changes. Position each text field where it should sit in the print area, then lock the position. Customers can change the text and font but can't drag the text out of the print zone.
- Set per-side pricing if needed. If the back-side print costs extra (common with apparel), enable per-side pricing. The price increment shows on the cart as a separate line.
- Test the preview switching. Open the product, switch between front and back tabs, and confirm each updates the right canvas. Add to cart and verify both sides' text appear on the line item.
- Verify per-side print files. Place a test order and check that the order has separate print files for each side. Your printer needs them as separate artwork, not one combined file.
How to name the sides
Be specific. 'Side A / Side B' is confusing. 'Front / Back' is fine for apparel and mugs. For signs and plaques, name them by orientation: 'Top panel / Bottom panel' or by content: 'Family name / Address'. Customers shouldn't have to guess which side they're personalizing.
If you're selling something with 4+ sides (a multi-panel sign, a four-sided cube), label by content not position: 'Mom / Dad / Kids / Pets' makes more sense than 'Side 1 / 2 / 3 / 4'.
When per-side pricing is worth it
If your real cost is the same for one side or two (e.g. you bought a two-sided print press that runs both passes regardless), bundle both sides into the base price. Charging extra for the back side just slows checkout for no margin gain.
If the back side costs you real money (extra apparel printing pass, second engraving setup), charge for it, and explain why. 'Add back-side print: +$5' with a tooltip showing the back preview is honest and customers don't push back.
What your printer actually needs
Print partners (and your own production) need each side as a separate print-ready file. Two common requirements:
- One PNG per side at the partner's required resolution, named by side (front.png, back.png).
- One PDF with multiple pages: page 1 is front, page 2 is back. Easier to email.
PIMW Product Personalizer generates both formats automatically. The choice depends on your partner. Printful and Printify expect separate files per print area; in-house production often prefers a single PDF.
Stop faking multi-side with variants
PIMW Product Personalizer's real multi-canvas support lets customers personalize each side with live preview and gives your printer a clean file per side. Install free.
Install PIMW Product Personalizer. Free See the multi-side comparison →Frequently asked questions
How many sides can a single product have?
Up to 8 sides per product in the current version. Most use cases need 2-4; eight is enough for 4-sided cube products and multi-panel signs.
Can different sides have different field types?
Yes. One side can have a photo upload, another a text field, another a color picker. Each side's fields are independent.
Does the cart show all sides?
Yes. Each side's text and any uploads appear on the cart line item and the order, so fulfillment can see everything at a glance.
Can I require the customer to fill in every side?
Yes. Each field has an optional/required setting. You can require front text but make back text optional, for example.
How does this work with Printful's print areas?
PIMW Product Personalizer maps each side to a Printful print area (front, back, left sleeve, right sleeve, etc.) and sends the right file to each. No manual remapping per order.
Is PIMW Product Personalizer free to install?
Yes. PIMW Product Personalizer is free to install from the Shopify App Store. The Free plan includes 1 personalizer template on up to 2 personalized products; paid plans (Basic $7.99, Pro $13.99, Unlimited $24.99 per month, each with a 3-day free trial) raise the template, step, and product assignment limits. Every plan includes unlimited custom orders with no per-order fees. There is no upfront fee and no credit card required to install.
How long does PIMW Product Personalizer take to set up?
Most stores set up their first personalized product in under 15 minutes. The Shopify App Store install takes about 60 seconds; adding text fields, photo upload, color swatches, and live preview to a product takes 5-10 minutes. Catalog-wide rollout (50+ products) uses bulk-apply templates and typically takes 30-60 minutes total.
Does PIMW Product Personalizer work with Shopify Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Shopify Plus?
Yes. PIMW Product Personalizer works on every Shopify plan including Basic, Shopify, Advanced, Plus, and Shopify Starter. The core personalization fields, live preview, and order capture work on every tier.
Does PIMW Product Personalizer slow down my Shopify store?
No. PIMW Product Personalizer uses Shopify's storefront block architecture, which loads only on personalized product pages and doesn't add render-blocking scripts site-wide.
Does PIMW Product Personalizer work with Printful, Printify, Gelato, and other POD partners?
Yes. PIMW Product Personalizer writes the customer's personalization to standard Shopify line item properties, which Printful, Printify, Gelato, and other major print-on-demand apps read. The data flows through Shopify's standard order pipeline, so any partner that reads line-item properties (which all major POD apps do) receives it with the order.
Does PIMW Product Personalizer support Shopify Markets, multiple currencies, and multiple languages?
Yes. Field labels translate per language, upcharge prices can be set per currency, and the personalizer fully supports right-to-left languages including Arabic and Hebrew. The personalizer also handles Unicode for Cyrillic, CJK (Chinese/Japanese/Korean), Greek, and accented Latin characters with appropriate font fallback.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources referenced in this article. We link to official platform documentation and standards bodies rather than secondary summaries so you can verify claims directly.