Custom Print Order Brief Setup Guide

A custom print brief should record what the customer wants printed and how your team should interpret it. This setup uses text, layout, colour, and proof notes. It suits text-based custom prints that use approved designs, without assuming an artwork-upload or live-preview feature.

Setup tutorial · COLY · Updated 2026-09-07 · By Activory

Try the storefront example

Enter sample order details. Try each choice and use Phone width to check the form. This example shows the COLY fields; your theme supplies the product and purchase button.

Storefront example

This example uses COLY storefront code with sample data and the settings below. Your theme’s fonts and available width can change the result. Example links show their destination; purchase controls use a sample cart. Use the checks below to confirm the finished setup in your store.

Build it in COLY

The images below show the COLY form code with local sample data, captured on 2026-09-07. Shopify navigation and action bars are outside the cropped area.

1. Name the form

Open COLY → Forms and create a form. Enter Custom Print Order Brief in Form name. This name is for your admin. Set Status to Published when you are ready to save the finished setup.

COLY Form name set to Custom Print Order Brief and Status set to Published — Use a name that helps you identify the form in COLY. Select the image to view it at full size.

2. Add and configure the fields

Open the first field card. Choose its Field type, then enter the settings below. Select Add field for each further row. Keep the fields in the listed order. Leave Placeholder blank and Display fields based on quantity off for these examples. Keep Pricing rule at None, where shown, and option price adjustments off.

Open each field below to see its full settings and screenshot.

1. Text to print — Textarea

Set Field type to Textarea and Label to Text to print.
Select Is mandatory. Clear Hide by default.
In Helper text, enter: We will print this wording. Check spelling and punctuation.
Leave Minimum characters blank. Leave Maximum characters blank.

COLY Textarea settings for Text to print in Custom Print Order Brief — Match the label, helper text, and field settings shown here. Select the image to view it at full size.

2. Layout — Select field

Set Field type to Select field and Label to Layout.
Select Is mandatory. Clear Hide by default.
Leave Helper text blank for this example.

In Options, enter one choice per line:

Approved layout A
Approved layout B

COLY Select field settings for Layout in Custom Print Order Brief — Match the label, helper text, and field settings shown here. Select the image to view it at full size.

3. Print colour — Select field

Set Field type to Select field and Label to Print colour.
Select Is mandatory. Clear Hide by default.
Leave Helper text blank for this example.

In Options, enter one choice per line:

Black
White
Navy

COLY Select field settings for Print colour in Custom Print Order Brief — Match the label, helper text, and field settings shown here. Select the image to view it at full size.

4. Production instructions — Textarea

Set Field type to Textarea and Label to Production instructions.
Clear Is mandatory. Clear Hide by default.
In Helper text, enter: Instructions for our team. This text will not be printed.
Leave Minimum characters blank. Leave Maximum characters blank.

COLY Textarea settings for Production instructions in Custom Print Order Brief — Match the label, helper text, and field settings shown here. Select the image to view it at full size.

5. Proof contact email — Email field

Set Field type to Email field and Label to Proof contact email.
Select Is mandatory. Clear Hide by default.
In Helper text, enter: Email address for your order proof.

COLY Email field settings for Proof contact email in Custom Print Order Brief — Match the label, helper text, and field settings shown here. Select the image to view it at full size.

3. Review the field list

Select Collapse in each field card to check the labels and order. Required fields must show Is mandatory when you open them. The helper text should tell customers what to enter.

Completed COLY field list for Custom Print Order Brief — Check all 5 fields before you set the display rules. Select the image to view it at full size.

4. Choose product-page placement

Under Storefront placement, set Show this form on to Product pages. This matches the storefront example above.

COLY Storefront placement set to Product pages for Custom Print Order Brief — Use Product pages to collect details for the item the customer is buying. Select the image to view it at full size.

5. Limit the form to your test products

In Shopify, add the product tag custom-print-brief to your test product and save it. In COLY, open Display condition, set Attribute to Tagged with, then enter custom-print-brief in Matches with and select the matching option. Only add this tag to products that should use this form.

COLY Display condition set to Tagged with and custom-print-brief — The same tag must be present on the Shopify product and in this form rule. Select the image to view it at full size.

6. Save and check the storefront

Check the form fields and rules, then select Save in COLY. Open the test product template in the Shopify theme editor. Add Coly - Form fields near the purchase controls, keep the default field design for this example, and save the theme.

Open the tagged product in the storefront and enter test details. Add the item to the cart and check its submitted details. Complete the finished setup checks before you use the form on products for sale. See the COLY setup guide for the Shopify theme controls.

Example settings

Text to print: Required. Helper text: “We will print this wording. Check spelling and punctuation.”
Layout: Required; choices: Approved layout A; Approved layout B.
Print colour: Required; choices: Black; White; Navy.
Production instructions: Optional. Helper text: “Instructions for our team. This text will not be printed.”
Proof contact email: Required. Helper text: “Email address for your order proof.”

Sample data and content

Use these values for a test. Replace them with checked product data, published destinations, and offers that your store can supply.

Field label	Field type	Required setting	Configuration note
Text to print	Textarea	Required	Copy this wording into the design
Layout	Select	Required	Approved layout A; Approved layout B
Print colour	Select	Required	Colours available for this product
Production instructions	Textarea	Optional	Do not print this field
Proof contact email	Email	Required if proof is offered	Use only for the stated order process

How do I separate print text from production instructions?

Keep customer wording separate from production instructions. A note such as make it larger should not become printed text. Use fixed layout names that match your examples. If the customer expects a proof, state how your team sends it and whether approval is needed before production.

List the layouts and colours your production process supports. Show each layout example near its name.
Create separate fields for printable wording and internal instructions. Use helper text to explain the difference.
Define your proof process in the product description and collect an email only when it is needed for that process.
Test an order with punctuation, line breaks, and a production note that must not appear in the printed design.

Read the COLY setup guide for the full app controls and placement options.

Check the finished setup

Confirm the production team can distinguish customer text from instructions in the final order.
Verify that the email field is required only in the form path that needs a proof contact.
Check that the chosen print colour is valid for the selected product colour and material.

Common mistakes

Do not imply that the form generates artwork or sends a proof automatically.
Do not accept an unrestricted design request under a fixed-layout price without a review process.

Supported use

This plan collects product order details. It does not configure fees, stock, appointments, or shipping services. Check plan access for conditional fields. Test each purchase route in your theme and verify that the intended details reach the order before you accept custom work.

COLY features, current app plans, and COLY conditional logic explain the supported setup.

Browse all COLY tutorials. Read how the examples are made or report a correction.