IMG.LY vs Customer's Canvas Alternative

IMG.LY vs Customer’s Canvas

The best Customer’s Canvas alternative for a modern, full-featured creative SDK that delivers advanced design, video editing, and automation out of the box.

What Our Clients Say About Us

IMG.LY’s solution engineers did a deep dive on our business case and helped us implement a custom print kiosk UI.

André Albrecht

Digital Solution Manager

Brother

Our customers create over a million personalized postcards each year choosing from over hundreds of templates with IMG.LY’s SDK. It’s the only solution that allows us to build our own specialized, on-brand UI that integrates seamlessly with our platform.

Jeanine Zaalberg

Product Manager

Swiss Post

Our app has photo-editing at the very core of its experience and the editor has been invaluable in making that vision happen. There are no other tools on the market up to the quality of PE.SDK.

Toby Green

Lead Developer

Elbi

IMG.LY vs. Customer’s Canvas at a Glance

Primary Use Case

Unified SDK for embedding creative editing and automated asset generation in any application. Supports video, design, and print workflows through a single, extensible engine for both interactive and headless use cases.

Web-to-print platform enabling product personalization and automated print file generation. Combines browser-based editors with a server-side rendering engine for packaging, signage, and marketing collateral.

IMG.LY provides one system for editing and automation across media types. Customer’s Canvas focuses on web-to-print and product personalization for commercial print workflows.

Target Audience

Designed for developers and enterprises building creative tools, content automation systems, or print applications where flexibility and integration control are key.

Aimed at print service providers, marketing fulfillment platforms, and eCommerce vendors offering online product customization.

IMG.LY targets developers embedding creative workflows. Customer’s Canvas serves businesses offering web-to-print experiences.

Technical Approach

Modular SDK deployable across web, mobile, desktop, and backend environments. Offers visual editing, custom UI development, or headless automation under complete infrastructure control.

Cloud-based platform with optional on-premise deployment. Provides JavaScript SDK for embedding editors and APIs for automation. Core rendering engine requires Windows or macOS infrastructure.

IMG.LY offers full deployment freedom across client and server. Customer’s Canvas provides SaaS delivery with optional local hosting.

Advanced Design Editing

Professional-grade editor with vector, text, image, and layout tools supporting CMYK, Pantone, and print specifications. Enables multi-page layouts, precise typography, and consistent visual rendering for both editing and automation.

Two editing environments: Simple editor for guided customization and design editor for advanced layout work. Supports import of Adobe PSD, INDD, and IDML files with full color and preflight control.

IMG.LY combines print and digital design editing within one system. Customer’s Canvas extends Adobe-based workflows for print production.

File Format Support

Imports and exports a wide range of creative and production formats including JPEG, PNG, SVG, WebP, PDF, PDF X, MP4, and native template formats. Supports direct import of Adobe InDesign (IDML) and Photoshop (PSD) files for seamless integration with existing design workflows. Ensures consistent rendering and format parity across both interactive and automated pipelines.

Supports a broad range of image and print formats, including PSD, INDD, IDML, PDF, and EPS. Outputs high-resolution print-ready PDFs with spot colors and CMYK profiles.

Both platforms support Adobe file imports. IMG.LY extends compatibility beyond print to digital and video formats within a unified system.

Templating & Dynamic Editing

Templates automatically adjust layouts based on variable content. Editable regions and parameters defined via JSON or API configuration. Consistent structure across manual and automated workflows.

Template engine driven by Adobe imports with defined editable zones. Dynamic layouts respond to user input and external data sources for variable data publishing.

Both enable adaptive templates. IMG.LY offers a code-first, platform-agnostic system. Customer’s Canvas provides Adobe-centric variable templates.

Creative Automation

Headless rendering engine running on Node.js for fully automated asset creation. Integrates with APIs, databases, or spreadsheets to generate personalized output at scale.

Server-side rendering via REST and SOAP APIs for batch generation of variable data assets. Supports VDP and data-driven artwork with configurable automation rules.

IMG.LY provides unified automation across design and video. Customer’s Canvas focuses on automated print production.

AI Capabilities

Offers layout intelligence and supports integration of custom AI models for design automation, asset recommendations, and dynamic layout optimization.

Provides AI-assisted template setup through design analysis and preflight checking. Current AI usage focuses on workflow optimization rather than creative generation.

IMG.LY supports flexible AI integration. Customer’s Canvas applies AI for production efficiency and quality control.

Video Editing

Timeline-based editing environment for layered video, audio, and graphics with full automation support. Enables both manual creation and programmatic video rendering.

Focused on static and print output; does not support timeline-based video editing or motion content generation.

IMG.LY includes complete video editing and automation capabilities. Customer’s Canvas is limited to static print and image assets.

Asset Management

Integrates directly with DAMs or custom sources. Assets stay within the user’s infrastructure with full ownership and data control.

Includes asset storage for product templates and media, with optional connections to external DAM systems. Asset management typically handled within Customer’s Canvas cloud.

IMG.LY provides infrastructure-level asset control. Customer’s Canvas relies on managed storage with optional integrations.

User Interface

Offers a prebuilt, customizable editor and APIs for creating fully bespoke UIs or embedding components selectively. Supports both interactive and headless workflows.

Provides two ready-made editors for different complexity levels, embeddable via JavaScript SDK. Customization focuses on layout and branding rather than deep functional changes.

IMG.LY supports granular UI customization and integration flexibility as well as prebuilt solutions for faster integration. Customer’s Canvas offers predefined editors.

White-Labeling

Delivered without branding. UI, themes, and components are fully customizable for OEM or enterprise deployments.

Available as a white-label solution with configurable branding and styling across editors and storefront integrations.

Both allow white-label deployment. IMG.LY includes complete UI and infrastructure rebranding.

Interactive Editing

Real-time editing with GPU acceleration across devices, offering identical visual output in browser, mobile, and desktop environments.

Web-based interactive editing optimized for desktop browsers. Rendering handled asynchronously for complex layouts.

IMG.LY delivers cross-platform, real-time interaction. Customer’s Canvas focuses on browser-based editing performance.

Multi-Layer Editing

Supports unlimited stacking of images, text, shapes, and video layers with blending, grouping, and masking. Consistent behavior across all environments.

Layer-based composition for static print layouts, primarily used for organizing editable zones and product elements.

IMG.LY provides full compositing and visual effects. Customer’s Canvas supports layout-level layer management.

Component Architecture

Modular design separating editor, rendering, and asset components. Extensible through plugins or custom integrations without altering core SDK code.

Component-based architecture with separate services (Editor, Backend, Uploader, Preflight). Integrations achieved via APIs and scripting.

IMG.LY offers lightweight modular extensibility. Customer’s Canvas provides service-based modularity.

Cross-Platform Support

Runs natively in web, mobile (iOS, Android), desktop (Electron, macOS), and Node.js environments with identical rendering results.

Browser-based platform compatible with major web frameworks; no native mobile SDKs provided.

IMG.LY offers full cross-platform parity. Customer’s Canvas is web-only.

Customizability

Deep customization through configuration files, APIs, and plugin extensions. Enables tailored workflows, UI layouts, and editing permissions.

Customizable branding, layout, and editing rules. Advanced logic implemented through scripting and API configuration.

IMG.LY supports deeper functional customization. Customer’s Canvas focuses on UI and rules-based configuration.

Extensibility

Plugin framework extending functionality across tools, asset sources, and rendering workflows while preserving upgrade compatibility.

Scripting and API layer for automation, integrations, and external data synchronization.

Both extensible. IMG.LY offers plugin-based expansion; Customer’s Canvas extends via scripting.

Ease of Integration

Comprehensive SDK documentation and reference implementations for all platforms. Full access during evaluation and enterprise deployment.

Developer portal with API docs, SDK examples, and integration guides for web and storefront systems.

Both offer strong integration resources. IMG.LY provides broader platform coverage.

Rendering

Flexible client-side or server-side rendering using identical engines. Enables distributed rendering under full infrastructure control.

Centralized server-side rendering through Customer’s Canvas services or local Windows-based servers.

IMG.LY supports distributed rendering. Customer’s Canvas uses a centralized rendering model.

Production Readiness

Proven across enterprise deployments generating millions of assets monthly. Includes enterprise support tiers and integration assistance.

Used by print service providers and global fulfillment platforms. Offers managed cloud environments and service-level support.

Both enterprise-ready. IMG.LY spans multiple industries; Customer’s Canvas focuses on printing and fulfillment.

Scalability

Scales horizontally across clients and servers with load balancing and asynchronous rendering. No batch size limitations.

Scales through server clusters or managed cloud environments. Batch generation performance depends on infrastructure.

IMG.LY offers unlimited scalability under user infrastructure. Customer’s Canvas scales within hosted or clustered environments.

Data & Storage

Fully controlled data handling within the user’s infrastructure. No required external storage or third-party dependencies.

Stores project and template data in the Customer’s Canvas cloud or local servers. Data ownership varies by deployment type.

IMG.LY guarantees full data control. Customer’s Canvas allows managed or local storage depending on plan.

Offline Capabilities

Operates fully offline after SDK load. Editing, rendering, and exporting available without connectivity.

Requires online access for most operations including rendering and data sync.

IMG.LY supports offline workflows. Customer’s Canvas is online-only.

Variable Data Publishing

Supports real-time and batch VDP using the same templates as user-facing editors. Unlimited scale on user infrastructure.

Built-in VDP engine populating templates from spreadsheets, XML, or APIs with structured data mapping.

IMG.LY provides flexible, scalable VDP. Customer’s Canvas offers structured VDP for print automation.

Pricing

Enterprise licensing based on deployment scope and usage volume. Evaluation includes full SDK access without user caps.

Tiered SaaS pricing with optional self-hosted plans. Costs scale with editor usage, output volume, and API calls.

IMG.LY offers feature-based enterprise licensing. Customer’s Canvas follows usage-based pricing.

Support & Documentation

Extensive multi-platform documentation, developer guides, and enterprise-level support with engineering consultation.

Developer portal, API docs, onboarding assistance, and dedicated account support for enterprise customers.

Both offer comprehensive support. IMG.LY emphasizes SDK and engineering guidance; Customer’s Canvas focuses on print workflow enablement.

Turnkey Solutions for Various Use Cases

Editors for video, social, print, and UGC workflows.

Focused on web-to-print and product personalization.

Advanced Editing Features

Full-featured design & video editor with layout tools, effects, and filters.

Primarily focused on static design for print. Limited editing functionality beyond layout.

Multi-Layer & Media Support

Advanced support for layers, smart layout, text, images, video, and shapes.

Layer-based design supported, but no video or multimedia editing.

Platform Support

Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, Electron, macOS.

Web-based; some mobile support via custom implementations.

Templating System

Smart templates with placeholders, layout rules, and dynamic content.

Strong static template support for personalization; limited dynamic automation.

Creative Automation

Headless API for batch generation, data-driven design, and generative AI.

Basic automation for product personalization; no generative design features.

Extensibility

Plugin architecture for custom tools and workflows.

Extensible via SDK/API but requires more low-level configuration.

Video Editing

Multi-track timeline with overlays, transitions, and audio support.

No support for video editing or motion graphics.

Design File Conversion

Import PSD, AI, and INDD with editable layers.

Supports PSD import with limitations; AI/INDD not fully supported.

Asset Libraries

Built-in integrations with Unsplash, Getty Images, and custom DAMs.

Asset management is possible via integration but not built-in.

White-Labeling & UI Customization

Fully white-labeled UI with theme and layout control.

Limited UI customization; configuration-driven with fixed editor layout.

Web2Print Designer

Elevate your Web2Print application with best-in-class Design Editor.

Learn More Open Showcase

Creative Automation

Automate & scale content creation with ease.

Learn More Open Showcase

Variable Data Printing

Enable mass-personalization in your design & print workflows.

Learn More Open Showcase

Photo Prints

Provide seamless design experience and inspire users with easily personalized templates.

Learn More Open Showcase

Print Personalization

Streamline personalization for your print products.

Learn More Open Showcase

Apparel Designer

Whether t-shirts, hoodies or caps, build for any use case, deploy on any platform.

Learn More Open Showcase

FAQs

What is the best Customer’s Canvas alternative?

If you're building more than a print editor, such as social content tools, UGC platforms, or creative automation products then IMG.LY is a great alternative. It brings design, video, automation, and deep customization together in one SDK.

What are the key differences between IMG.LY and Customer’s Canvas?

Customer’s Canvas focuses on web-to-print personalization and static layout tools. IMG.LY covers broader creative workflows with video editing, automation, dynamic templates, and a fully customizable, white-labeled UI.

Which platform is better for automation and scalability?

IMG.LY is built for scale, with APIs for batch generation, headless design workflows, and dynamic content insertion ideal for automation-heavy use cases.

Can both platforms handle layered design files like PSD or Illustrator?

Customer’s Canvas supports PSD with some layer limitations. IMG.LY supports PSD, INDD, and AI with full layer-based editing.

Which solution offers more flexible UI integration?

IMG.LY provides full control over the UI—everything from layout to theming is customizable. Customer’s Canvas offers configuration options, but less flexibility for custom interfaces.

Is either platform suitable for mobile or cross-platform apps?

IMG.LY supports native mobile (iOS/Android), desktop (Electron, macOS), and web. Customer’s Canvas is primarily web-based, with limited mobile support.

Do either solution supports generative AI or headless design workflows?

Only IMG.LY supports generative workflows, dynamic placeholders, and automation via API. Customer’s Canvas focuses on static template rendering with limited automation.

IMG.LY vs Customer’s Canvas

What makes IMG.LY the best Customer’s Canvas alternative?

Full Customization & White-Labeling

Extensibility & Plugin System

Creative Automation

Openness & Interoperability

What Our Clients Say About Us

IMG.LY vs. Customer’s Canvas at a Glance

Features

IMG.LY

Customer’s Canvas

Notes

Primary Use Case

Target Audience

Technical Approach

Advanced Design Editing

File Format Support

Templating & Dynamic Editing

Creative Automation

AI Capabilities

Video Editing

Asset Management

User Interface

White-Labeling

Interactive Editing

Multi-Layer Editing

Component Architecture

Cross-Platform Support

Customizability

Extensibility

Ease of Integration

Rendering

Production Readiness

Scalability

Data & Storage

Offline Capabilities

Variable Data Publishing

Pricing

Support & Documentation

IMG.LY

Customer’s Canvas

Turnkey Solutions for Various Use Cases

Advanced Editing Features

Multi-Layer & Media Support

Platform Support

Templating System

Creative Automation

Extensibility

Video Editing

Design File Conversion

Asset Libraries

White-Labeling & UI Customization

Everything you need

Key Capabilities

Editing

Adjustments

Effect & Blur

Element Snapping

Blend Modes & Grouping

Undo & Redo

Printing

Cutout Lines

CMYK/ Spot color support

Templating

Design Templates

Text Variables

Placeholders & Lockable Designs

Configurable Presets

Customizability

Build Custom UIs

Theming

Media Libraries

Toolbar Customization

Internationalization

Export Options

Check Out Other Use Cases

Web2Print Designer

Creative Automation

Variable Data Printing

Photo Prints