Draft custom order - image insertion

Store Design
1

Why can’t we insert an image into a custom product when creating a draft order?

We often get requests from customers who want one of our standard products but in a custom size, which means we need to create a custom line item in the draft order with a different price. However, Shopify doesn’t let us attach an image to that custom product in the draft order or in the email sent to the customer.

This makes the order look unprofessional and confusing, especially when the customer is expecting to see the product image before paying.

Is there a workaround for this? Or any plan to improve this feature?

2

That’s really not correct. Think about it — if I’ve got a Shopify store selling custom screens, it’s only logical that a draft order would include the exact same products, just in sizes not listed on the website. Why on earth wouldn’t I be able to add an image? Even a simple smiley face would be better than that bland grey placeholder customers see on their invoice.

You let us write custom descriptions, so why not allow us to add a custom image? Who’s the bright spark that thought showing customers a blank box instead of what they actually ordered was a good idea?

3

Hello @ProCut You’re absolutely right—Shopify’s current draft order system has a limitation: custom line items (those manually entered without linking to a product in the catalog) do not support images. This can be problematic when you’re offering modified or bespoke versions of your standard products, as the customer doesn’t see a visual confirmation of what they’re purchasing.

Why this happens
Draft orders were designed primarily for quick manual invoicing and not full product merchandising. Since custom line items don’t reference a product object in Shopify’s database, there’s no backend field for an image to be stored or displayed.

Workarounds
Here are a few practical workarounds to consider:

  1. Use a hidden product
    . Create a product in your catalog specifically for custom sizes.

. Keep it unpublished so it’s not publicly visible.

. Use product options or metafields (or an app like Infinite Options) to clarify the custom dimensions.

. Add a suitable image to this hidden product.

. Then, in the draft order, add this product instead of a true “custom item.”

This allows the image to appear in the invoice and draft order preview.

  1. Attach image manually in email
    If you’re manually sending the invoice:

. Use the “More actions” → “Send invoice” option, and manually attach or embed an image in the body of the message (requires HTML editing or a custom email template app).

. Alternatively, use a Shopify app like Order Printer Pro or Draft Order Pro, which lets you design custom invoices with image fields.

  1. Use an app for draft orders
    Apps like:

. Draft Order Pro

. Custom Draft Orders

. Better Draft Orders

…offer more advanced features including custom product images, better formatting, and enhanced communication options.

Is Shopify planning to improve this?
There’s no public roadmap from Shopify showing a planned enhancement for this specific limitation in draft orders. However, you can submit a feature request directly via the Shopify Community or through your Partner Dashboard if you’re a Shopify Partner.

Thank you :blush:

4

Thanks for your reply and the detailed suggestions — I do appreciate the effort. But I have to be honest: the current setup just doesn’t cut it for how we operate.

We offer 55 different privacy screen designs, and roughly 30% of our orders are bespoke sizes. These aren’t entirely custom products — they’re just size variations of items already listed in our store. Draft orders are essential for handling these requests quickly and efficiently. But when customers receive an invoice with no image — just a dull grey placeholder — it looks unfinished and unprofessional.

If Shopify allows us to add a custom product description, then why not a custom image as well? A simple “Select Image” button on the draft order page would completely solve the problem. This isn’t some fringe request — it’s a basic, practical need for stores like ours doing genuine business.

What’s even more frustrating is being pointed toward third-party apps — many of which cost extra — to solve what is clearly a Shopify design limitation. Why should we be forced to pay for an app just to make our invoices look halfway decent? We’re not trying to do anything fancy — just show customers what they’re actually buying.

I really believe Shopify needs to revisit this. A small change here could make a big difference for thousands of merchants handling tailored products.