# Accept and show customer uploads on custom design forms

Add a File Upload field to a custom design form, see which file types and sizes it accepts, and learn how shoppers' files show on the customiser stage.

- Source URL: https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/ai-sign-designer/17608121-accept-and-show-customer-uploads-on-custom-design-forms/
- Markdown URL: https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/ai-sign-designer/17608121-accept-and-show-customer-uploads-on-custom-design-forms.md
- Category: AI Sign Designer
- Last updated: 2026-10-15

## Article

Add a **File Upload** field to a custom design form. Shoppers then send their artwork to you. The shopper sees the file in the form. The shopper also sees the file on the customiser stage on a desktop screen, or on a tablet or phone when the customiser has how-it-works steps. This article is for merchants who collect logos and design files with a custom design form.

## Before you start

-   Your customiser must show a custom design form on the **Custom** tab. For the conditions, read [Custom Design Forms](../../ai-sign-designer/custom-design-forms/).

-   The form must have the **Custom designs** form type.

## Add a File Upload field

1.  Click **Customisers** and select your customiser.

2.  In the customiser menu, go to **Features → Forms**.

3.  Select your custom design form.

4.  In the **Fields** section, click **Add new field**.

![The Fields card of a custom design form. The list shows an Email field and a File Upload field, with the Add new field button below.](/help/intercom-docs/help-centre-images/e3587fc52669bda22ef3cc8102567ef3556e83d409abb5b0047b230a04d08022.png)

_Example: the Fields card of a form that has an Email field and a File Upload field named Your image._

1.  Select **File Upload**. If the form uses **+Shopify Sync**, select **New field** first, then select **File Upload**.

2.  Set the options in the field window:

    -   **Label text**: Enter the field title.

    -   **Description** (optional): Enter a short instruction. It shows under the title.

    -   **Placeholder** (optional): Enter the text for the drop zone.

    -   **Accept Multiple Files**: Select it to let the shopper attach more than one file. Clear it to allow one file.

    -   **Required Field**: Select it when the shopper must attach a file.

![The File Upload field window. It shows Label text, Description, Placeholder, Accept Multiple Files and Required Field.](/help/intercom-docs/help-centre-images/289a5290a62b2e2799645fd7878a204d7cf4b5d7b067ca352376e81a7b47c4e6.png)

_Example: the window of a File Upload field with the Label text Your image._

1.  Click **Done**.

2.  Click **Save**.

In the admin, a form can have only one **File Upload** field. When a form has this field, the **File Upload** choice in the **Add new field** menu is not available.

## Accepted file types and limits

The field accepts these file types:

-   Images: PNG, JPEG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP and SVG.

-   Documents: PDF.

-   AI and EPS files: accepted when the shopper's browser reports the file as PostScript (application/postscript). If the browser reports another type, the field shows the file type error message.

The field checks the file type that the shopper's browser reports for each file. It does not check the file extension. If the browser reports a type that is not in this list, the field shows the file type error message.

Sign Customiser stores each file that the shopper attaches to the **File Upload** field in the format that the shopper sent, and does not change it. The exception is a PNG, JPEG or WebP file that the AI sign designer passes to the form. The browser may have re-encoded that file or reduced its dimensions first. The file type stays the same, except for a WebP file in a browser that cannot save WebP. That browser can return PNG data under the .webp name.

These limits apply:

-   **One file**: 10 MB.

-   **All files in one form**: 20 MB.

-   **Number of files**: One file. More files when **Accept Multiple Files** is selected.

Sometimes a shopper chooses a file type that the field does not accept. An error message then shows under the field label. A file that is too large causes an error message in the same way. The shopper must remove the file before the form can go.

## What the shopper sees

In the form, the shopper sees the drop zone. The drop zone shows your **Placeholder** text. Below that text, it shows the **Accepted Files Label**. By default, this label lists the accepted file types. After the shopper picks a file, the form shows the file name, the file type, the file size and, for an image file, a small preview. The X button removes the file.

On a desktop screen, the **Custom** tab also shows each file on the customiser stage:

-   One file shows large and in the centre. Several files show side by side. The file name is below each file.

-   A PDF, AI or EPS file has no image preview. It shows a badge with the file extension.

-   Your how-it-works steps hide while an accepted file is attached. They show again when the shopper removes the file.

-   A file with a type that the field does not accept does not show on the stage.

On a tablet or phone, the shopper sees the file in the form. If the customiser has how-it-works steps, the file also shows on the stage.

### Scene backgrounds behind the file

The stage can show your scene background behind the file. All of these must be true:

-   The shopper uses a desktop screen.

-   The customiser is not a lightbox.

-   **Enable Preview Images** is selected under **Features → Scene Editor - Background Images**.

When these are true, the stage can also show background controls at the bottom right. If you allow customers to upload background images, the stage shows an **Upload Background** button. Its text is the **Upload Background** label that you set under **Features → Scene Editor - Background Images** (default: Upload Background). The stage shows the background choices only when there are two or more images to choose from. A photo that the shopper uploads counts as one image. Your own backgrounds do not count when each preset size has its own linked background and the customiser does not offer custom sizes. For more information, read [Scene Editor](../../customise/scene-editor/).

## Change the file messages

You can change the text of the file messages. The text applies to all forms of the customiser.

1.  Go to **Features → Forms**.

2.  In the **Form Settings** card, find these fields:

    -   **File Single File Size Error Message**: This message shows when one file is over 10 MB.

    -   **File Total File Size Error Message**: This message shows when all files together are over 20 MB.

    -   **File Type Error Message**: This message shows when the field does not accept the file type.

    -   **Accepted Files Label**: This text shows inside the drop zone, under the Placeholder text.

3.  Enter your text.

4.  Click **Save**.

The default text of **Accepted Files Label** is "Accepted file types include JPEG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, GIF, BMP, SVG, PDF, AI and EPS." To translate these messages, read [Translate custom forms](../../customise/changing-the-language-in-your-custom-forms/).

![The Form Settings card with the fields File Single File Size Error Message, File Total File Size Error Message, File Type Error Message and Accepted Files Label.](/help/intercom-docs/help-centre-images/881b22213d37cd78b7754731d3c07b2db7b7308131d298c7a4cbeba8c045a3cc.png)

_Example: the file messages in the Form Settings card of a customiser. Your customiser can show other text._

## Where you find the files

The files come with the submission. Click **Quotes** in your admin and select the submission. Each file appears in the **Files** section. The **Original filename** column shows the name that the shopper's browser sent. It shows a dash when Sign Customiser recorded no name.

## The AI sign designer accepts fewer file types

The AI sign designer has its own upload. It accepts PNG, JPEG, WebP, SVG and PDF files. An SVG can be up to 5 MB. The browser compresses a PNG, JPEG or WebP file first, so a larger photo can be used, but the compressed file must be up to 5 MB. A PDF can be up to 25 MB. The AI sign designer does not accept GIF, BMP, AVIF, AI or EPS files. For more information, read the [AI Sign Designer Guide](../../ai-sign-designer/ai-sign-designer-guide/).

Sometimes, when **Send designs that cannot be made automatically to the fallback form** is on (the default) and you select a fallback form, the AI sign designer sends a shopper to that form. If the shopper already uploaded a file to the AI sign designer, the form then holds that file. When the setting is off, a design that cannot be made automatically does not go to the fallback form. The shopper can try again or use another image. The fallback form needs a **File Upload** field and a required **Email** field.

If the Store has no AI credits and you select a fallback form, the shopper sees the fallback form instead, whatever this setting says.

## Related articles

-   [Custom Design Forms](../../ai-sign-designer/custom-design-forms/)

-   [AI Sign Designer Guide](../../ai-sign-designer/ai-sign-designer-guide/)

-   [Scene Editor](../../customise/scene-editor/)

-   [Upload background images](../../features/upload-background-images/)

-   [Translate custom forms](../../customise/changing-the-language-in-your-custom-forms/)