Use Pedigree Backgrounds, Borders, And Custom Artwork
Add layered artwork, decorative frames, custom image borders, and recolorable masks while keeping document content readable in preview and export.
Add layered artwork, decorative frames, custom image borders, and recolorable masks while keeping document content readable in preview and export.
About 18 minutes
Desktop: Open Rabbits, open a rabbit profile, choose View Pedigree, choose Appearance, then use Borders or Background.
Mobile: Open Rabbits, open a rabbit profile, choose View Pedigree, choose Appearance, expand the designer sheet, then use Borders or Background.
- Open View Pedigree, select the intended document type, choose Appearance, then open Borders or Background.
- For uploads, prepare PNG, JPEG, or WebP artwork no larger than 100 MB. A recolorable mask should use transparent PNG or WebP artwork.
- Keep important text away from artwork-heavy areas, especially when using a custom border with narrow safe insets.
Overview
- Borders decorate the page edge. Background layers sit behind the document content. They can be used together.
- Pedigree and Birth Certificate keep separate global artwork settings. A pedigree can also use a This rabbit only override for that rabbit's artwork and frame.
- The editor preserves uploaded artwork for online and offline use when synchronization succeeds; check the upload status before leaving if the connection is unstable.
When To Use
- You want a subtle logo watermark, seasonal decoration, or full-page background.
- You want a decorative built-in border or your own full-color frame.
- You have transparent mask artwork that should inherit the selected border color or gradient.
Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1
Follow this action exactly in the Use Pedigree Backgrounds, Borders, And Custom Artwork workflow.
For a built-in border, open Borders, use the category chips to narrow the choices, and select a frame. Border opacity changes visibility, Border inset moves supported frames inward, and Border weight changes supported line-based frames. Some artistic masks also offer Flat or Tonal artwork variants.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 2
For a custom full-color border, select Custom and Image frame, then choose a PNG, JPEG, or WebP. The image keeps its original colors and crops proportionally around the page edge.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 3
For a tintable custom border, select Recolorable mask. Add the required Landscape mask and, when available, an optional Portrait mask. The transparent mask shape uses the selected border color or gradient. Content-safe inset values reserve top, right, bottom, and left space so document content does not sit under heavy artwork.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 4
Open Background to add Background Layer 1 and, when needed, Background Layer 2. Layer 1 is the primary artwork; Layer 2 can add a second decoration or texture above it while still remaining behind document content.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 5
Set Opacity to keep text readable. Cover fills the page and may crop the image; Contain keeps the entire image visible and may leave open space. Quick placement choices include Watermark, Center, Full Page, Corner, and Subtle.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 6
For precise placement, use Drag & Resize on a pedigree preview or use the Scale, X Offset, and Y Offset sliders. Finish Manipulation when the layer is positioned. These controls change the artwork transform, not the document dimensions.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 7
When editing a pedigree for one special rabbit, turn on This rabbit only before changing its background or frame. Reset to Global removes that rabbit-specific override and returns it to the shared pedigree appearance. Birth certificates use their global certificate appearance instead.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 8
Wait for Saved before closing when you uploaded or removed artwork. Upload interrupted or Upload failed means the media still needs attention; retry after connectivity returns rather than assuming the preview-only copy is permanent.
- The page should remain in the same workflow and be ready for the next step.
- You should be ready to continue to the next step.
Step 9
Review Landscape and Portrait previews when your output may use both. Download or print only after checking that text remains readable and the border does not cover important fields.
- The selected border and background layers appear behind readable content and match the downloaded or printed document.
- Rabbit-specific pedigree artwork affects only that rabbit, while global pedigree and certificate appearances remain available for other documents.
- The selected border and background layers appear behind readable content and match the downloaded or printed document.
- Rabbit-specific pedigree artwork affects only that rabbit, while global pedigree and certificate appearances remain available for other documents.
You're Done When
- The selected border and background layers appear behind readable content and match the downloaded or printed document.
- Rabbit-specific pedigree artwork affects only that rabbit, while global pedigree and certificate appearances remain available for other documents.
Common Mistakes
- Using Cover when the entire artwork must remain visible; use Contain instead.
- Using an opaque background at full strength and making text difficult to read.
- Uploading a full-color picture as a recolorable mask instead of using Image frame.
- Turning on This rabbit only and then expecting the same artwork on every pedigree.
- Leaving immediately while an uploaded asset still says Preparing, Uploading, interrupted, or failed.
If Something Still Looks Wrong
Why is part of my background cut off?
Cover fills the page by cropping overflow. Choose Contain, use a quick placement, or adjust Scale and offsets.
Why did my border change color?
A recolorable mask uses the selected border color or gradient. Use Image frame when the artwork must keep its original colors.
Why does only one rabbit have this background?
This rabbit only is enabled for that pedigree. Choose Reset to Global to remove the override, or turn off the override before editing the shared appearance.
Why is content covered by my custom mask?
Increase the Content-safe inset for the affected page edges, reduce the border inset or artwork weight where supported, and verify both orientations.
When To Contact Support
- The workflow does not match the guide even after you confirm you are in the correct section.
- Saving or loading fails repeatedly in this area of the app.
Still Stuck?
If the guide got you close but the app still does not match what this tutorial says should happen, contact support and mention the article title, the exact step where you got stuck, and what you saw instead.