What This Article Covers
How the AI-FX image and the original photo are assigned to frames in a template
How to build a two-frame before/after layout in the Template Layout Creator
How to position and size each frame against your overlay design
How to attach an AI-FX filter to a finished template
What guests see in the Snappic app before and after the AI-FX finishes rendering
How to fix frames that show the wrong image or sit out of alignment
Before You Start
You need three things in place before you build the template.
• AI-FX Experience is enabled on your event.
• At least one AI-FX filter is added to your event in the AI-FX Experience section.
• An overlay file with two transparent areas — one for the AI-FX image and one for the original photo.
How Before/After Templates Work
A before/after output is a single template with two photo frames. Each frame is tied to a photo slot, and the slot determines which image appears in that frame.
When you add a frame, the Photo dropdown in the Frame Position & Size panel fills
in automatically. The first frame becomes Photo 1 and the second becomes Photo 2.
Frame | Photo slot | What appears in this frame |
First frame you add | Photo 1 | The AI-FX-generated image |
Second frame you add | Photo 2 | The guest’s original photo |
💡 | Tip: Design your overlay with the AI-FX area large and the original photo small. A small circle or rounded square in a corner reads clearly as a “before” thumbnail without competing with the AI-FX image. |
How to Create the Template Layout
Open your event in the Snappic Dashboard.
Click Edit on the AI-FX Templates card.
Click + Create New Template.
Select your output size from the CHOOSE A FRAME SIZE dropdown.
Click Upload Overlay and select your overlay file.
The Overlay Opacity slider is automatically set to around 40%.
⚠️ | Important: Reduce Overlay Opacity before you add any frames. At full opacity the overlay hides the canvas underneath, so you cannot see the transparent areas you need to draw the frames over. |
How to Add the AI-FX and Original Frames
Click + Add Frame.
The frame appears on the canvas numbered 1, with Photo 1 selected in the Photo dropdown. This frame holds the AI-FX image.
Click the frame on the canvas to select it.
Drag the corner handles to size the frame over the area where you want the AI-FX image to appear.
Click + Add Frame again.
The second frame appears numbered 2, with Photo 2 selected. This frame holds the original photo.
Drag frame 2 to the area where you want the original photo to appear.
Drag its corner handles to resize it.
💡 | Tip: For exact placement, type values into the X, Y, Width and Height fields and click Update instead of dragging. Center Horizontal and Center Vertical align the selected frame to the canvas. |
How to Preview and Save the Template
Click Preview.
Check that both frames line up with the transparent areas of your overlay.
3. Click Close.
4. Drag the Overlay Opacity slider back to 100%.
5. Click Save.
6. Enter a name in the Template Name field.
7. Enable Save layout with overlay.
8. Click Save.
How to Attach an AI-FX Filter to the Template
A saved template does nothing on its own. Attach an AI-FX filter so the app knows which effect to apply.
Add an AI-FX filter from the library (either a custom prompt filter or a pre-made filter from our library).
Find your saved template in the AI-FX Experience section.
Click AI-FX Filters on the template.
Select the AI-FX filter you want to attach.
Click Close.
Click Agree & save.
⚠️ | Important: Click Agree & save before you leave the AI-FX Experience page. Closing the AI-FX Filter window on its own does not save the filter to the template. |
What Guests See in the Snappic App
The template appears on the Pick Your Photo Frame screen alongside your other templates.
The guest selects the AI-FX template on the Pick Your Photo Frame screen.
The guest takes a photo.
Both frames show the original photo while the AI-FX renders.
The AI-FX image replaces the original in frame 1 once rendering finishes.
🚫 | Limitation: Immediately after the photo is taken, both frames show the original photo. The AI image only appears once rendering finishes and the output is sent to the gallery or delivered to the guest through their chosen sharing method. |
Troubleshooting
Why do both frames show the original photo?
The AI-FX has not finished rendering yet. This is expected behavior immediately after the photo is taken.
Wait for the output to reach the gallery or the guest’s chosen sharing method. If both frames still show the original photo after delivery, check that an AI-FX filter is attached to the template and that you clicked Agree & save.
Why are my frames not lining up with my overlay design?
The frames were positioned while the overlay was faded, and small offsets are hard to see at reduced opacity.
Open the template and click Edit.
Click Preview to see the frames against the overlay at full opacity.
Click Close, then select the frame that is out of position.
Adjust the X, Y, Width, and Height values and click Update.
Click Save.
Why can't I see my overlay design while I position frames?
The Overlay Opacity slider is set to 100%, so the overlay covers the canvas.
Drag Overlay Opacity down to around 40%, position your frames, then drag it back to 100% before saving.
Why does the AI-FX Filter window show no filters to select?
No AI filters have been added to the event. The AI-FX Filter window only lists filters that already exist on the event.
Go to the AI-FX Experience section.
Click Add AI-FX Filter and set up your filter.
Click AI-FX Filters on your template and select it.
Why does my saved template look faded or washed out?
The template was saved while Overlay Opacity was reduced. The overlay saves at the opacity shown on the slider.
Open the template, set Overlay Opacity to 100%, and save it again with Save layout with overlay enabled.
Why doesn't my new template appear in the Snappic app?
The changes on the AI-FX Experience page were not saved, or the app has not refreshed the event.
Go back to the AI-FX Experience section and click Agree & save.
Reload the event in the Snappic app.
Need Help?
Visit the Snappic Help Center or chat directly from your dashboard for live support.