Template-Based Printing

Templates are what turn a raw photo into a polished, branded print. They let you add backgrounds, logos, and layouts — so every print looks professional without any extra effort.

What Is a Print Template?

A print template defines how your printed photo will look. Think of it as a design blueprint that controls:

Where the photos go — One big photo, or multiple poses arranged together
The background design — Your branding, logos, borders, event name, hashtags — anything you want behind the photos
The paper size — 4x6 cards, 2x6 strips, or other sizes

You design the template once, and ALIVE applies it automatically to every print.

How Templates Work

A guest takes photos in the booth
ALIVE places the photos into the template layout
The background design is layered behind the photos
Everything is combined into a single, polished image
The final image is sent to your printer

The result: a professional, branded print — every single time.

Photo Layouts

Templates support different photo layouts depending on what you're going for:

Single photo — One photo fills the entire print (great for 4x6 cards)
Multi-photo strips — 3 or 4 photos stacked vertically (classic photo strip style)
Custom arrangements — Photos arranged in creative layouts with your branding

Background Designs

The background is where your branding lives. It sits behind the guest photos and can include:

Client logos
Event names and dates
Decorative borders and frames
Hashtags and social handles
Any custom artwork

For the sharpest prints, make sure your background image matches the paper size. A blurry background means a blurry print.

Print Modes

Standard (Borderless)

The image fills the entire paper edge to edge — no white borders. This is the most popular mode for photo cards.

Strip Tiling

For photo strips, ALIVE can tile two copies of a strip side by side on a single sheet. A 4x6 sheet becomes two 2x6 strips that guests can tear apart. One print, two keepsakes — and your paper cost stays the same.

[screenshot: Strip tiling showing two 2x6 strips on a 4x6 sheet]

Automatic Scaling

ALIVE automatically adjusts the template output to match your specific printer. The same template produces great results across different printer models — you design once, and the app handles the rest.

Tips

Design at high resolution — Use high-quality background images so your prints come out sharp
Test before events — Print a test copy to make sure your template looks right on paper
Keep it clean — Templates with too much going on can distract from the guest's photo
Match the paper size — Make sure your background design matches the paper size you're printing on

A great template makes your prints look premium. Spend time getting your design right — it's one of the biggest things that sets professional operators apart.

What's Next?

Live Print Preview — See how your template looks before printing
Supported Paper Sizes — Paper options for your templates

Updated on: 17/03/2026

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