Customize your pictures with graphics, pre-made themes, filters, and more using the options in your Preset settings.
If you choose to allow it, participants can also make their own edits after capturing their photo(s).
⚠️ Not all features are available on all plans—see notes throughout or feature comparison chart at the end for details on availability.
Photo Design Panel Preview
Layout Options
Choose from a variety of layouts, from traditional photo strips to motion-based effects like GIFs or video.
Still Layouts
Single-frame or multi-frame photo layouts
Classic, static image formats
Motion Layouts
Video layout available on Core & up
GIF: 2–6 frames, customizable playback speed. Countdown resets before each frame.
Live GIF: 6-frame, high-speed loop with countdown only before the first frame — feels more like a short video.
Rebound: A short looping clip that plays forward and backward (like Instagram Boomerang).
Video: Capture 5–120 seconds of video (with audio). Includes trim tools; editing options are more limited.
Choose Layout Feature
Enable this feature to let participants select their layout after tapping to start.
Current layout options: Single 1x1, GIF, Live GIF, and Rebound
Disabling this feature will default all participants to your selected layout
📍More layout options may be added in future updates.
Layout Customizations
Fine-tune the appearance and structure of your pictures.
Basic Customizations
Crop: square, circle, portrait, or landscape
Filters: choose from a wide range of photo effects
Margins & Corners: use sliders to adjust border width and corner roundness
Margin Colors: Set background color using a color picker or hex code
Advanced Customizations
Pro & Select Plans Only
Frame Rotation: Rotate frames 90º, 180º, or 270º for a creative twist
Glam Filter
Smooth and enhance skin with our Glam tool, which reduces the appearance of blemishes, lines, and imperfections.
Choose your default filter method and intensity:
Glam works better on lighter skin tones
Glam-more is optimized for darker skin tones
For best results, enable participant access to this filter so guests can select what works best for them.
Background Blur
Available on Core & up
Add a blur effect to the background of your pictures, helping to keep the focus on your participants.
Use the slider tool to adjust blur intensity
Enable Auto Blur, which uses environment detection to apply the best blur setting automatically
Optionally, let participants adjust the blur themselves on the editing screen after capture
Custom Graphics
Add your own graphic elements to the layout for a polished, on-theme experience. Learn more & see sizing requirements in our Graphic Design Guide.
Logos
Positioned above, beside, or below the layout
Additional space is created so logos never cover part of the photo
Overlays
Multiple overlays per event available on Core Plan & up
Displayed over the photo like a watermark or decorative frame
Used often to add logos in corners or create branded borders
Margin Backgrounds
Replace the solid color margin with a custom graphic or background image
Themes
Choose from a library of free, in-app themes that apply:
A custom start screen
A matching overlay
Themes are often based on holidays, parties, and common event types (e.g., weddings, Halloween) and can be used with your own custom graphics.
📍 Themes are only available from within the HALO app at this time (not from the online dashboard).
Background Replacement
Available on Core & up
Replace the background behind participants using our Background Replacement tool, found in its own panel within your preset settings.
Upload multiple virtual backgrounds to give participants a choice before capturing their photo, or use just one background to apply to all pictures.
Background selection happens before the session begins
No physical backdrop is required, but using a green or blue background can improve accuracy and overall image quality
Edit Tools
After capturing their photo(s), participants will be taken to an editing screen. Edit tools are fully customizable — you can enable or disable these depending on your event’s needs.
Participants can take actions including but not limited to:
Retaking their picture (always enabled)
Adjusting crop and filter
Adding props or stickers
Select alternate layouts
📍Some editing tools may be automatically enabled or disabled based on your other settings. For example, the layout editor won't appear if participants are only capturing a single-frame photo.
Props & Stickers
Custom props and stickers are available on Plus plan & higher. Hundreds of pre-made props are available on all plans.
Add interactive graphics to the edit page with props and stickers.
Props
Use face detection to automatically size and position props (e.g., glasses, hats, mustaches) on participants’ eyes, mouths, and other facial features.
Stickers
Participants can drag, drop, and resize stickers anywhere on the photo.
Feature Availability
| Lite | Core | Plus | Pro | Select |
Still & Motion Layouts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Video Layout |
| ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Basic Customizations | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Advanced Customizations |
|
|
| ✔️ | ✔️ |
Glam Filter | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Background Blur |
|
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Custom Graphics | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Multiple Overlays |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ | |
Themes | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Background Replacement |
| ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Digital Prop Packs | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Custom Props & Stickers |
|
| ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |