Add custom inserts to on-demand product orders
Updated June 7, 2026
Give every shipment a personal, branded touch by adding a custom insert to your on-demand product orders
Inserts are printed on-demand on premium matte card stock. Use them for thank-you notes, personal messages, or branded cards with QR codes.
How does it work?
Once you set up custom inserts, every order that contains at least one supported product will include your insert in the packaging. Each insert costs $0.25, and you'll see the charge in that order's cost breakdown.
Custom inserts also ship with Third-Party Logistics (3PL) orders at $0.37 per order. See the Fourthwall 3PL fulfillment service guide for full 3PL packaging details, and the Custom branding and labeling article for the full packaging comparison by fulfillment type.
Only one custom insert is added per order.
Art file requirements
Your insert design should meet the following specifications:
- Landscape (default): 6 x 4 inches (15.24 x 10.16 cm), 1,800 x 1,200 px at 300 DPI (Dots per inch)
- Portrait: 4 x 6 inches (10.16 x 15.24 cm), 1,200 x 1,800 px at 300 DPI
- File type: PNG or JPEG
Safe zone
The printed card has a small 3/8" (about 1 cm) white border around all edges. Keep important content, such as text, logos, and QR codes, at least 3/8" inward from every edge so the border does not cut into your design. Background colors and patterns can extend to the full bleed area.
Setting up custom inserts
Go to Settings > Custom inserts in your dashboard.
Turn on the Add custom insert toggle. The switch turns blue when enabled.
Click Upload image and select your file.
Crop tool
After you upload an image, a crop tool opens. Drag and zoom to position your design within the card's aspect ratio (landscape or portrait). When the framing looks right, click Confirm to apply it.
Custom insert preview
Once confirmed, you'll see a preview of your insert and a toggle showing it's active. Click Save to finish.
The dashboard preview displays your insert image at a reduced scale (max 400 px wide) with a simulated white border. This does not affect print quality or size. Your design prints at the full 6 x 4 inches (landscape) or 4 x 6 inches (portrait).
Unsupported products
Custom inserts are NOT available for the following products:
- Stationery and stickers
- Wall art (posters, framed posters, and canvas prints)
- Water bottles
- Mugs
- Pet accessories
- Home decor (holiday decor, blankets, candles, pillows and pillowcases, magnets, and tableware)
- Non-printful products
Creative ways to use custom inserts
Custom inserts aren't just for thank-you notes. They're a great way to connect with supporters, promote new content, or boost repeat orders.
- Upsell memberships. Include a "Members-Only" invite card with a QR code that links to perks, early access, or a free trial.
- Podcaster sponsorships. Turn your insert into a mini "ad read" featuring your current sponsor. Add a QR code linking to their offer or exclusive content.
- Interactive thank-you cards. Add a handwritten or printed signature, or include a QR code that leads to a short thank-you video. You can also share how each purchase supports you or your work.
- Promo codes and auto discounts. Use a QR code that automatically applies a discount at checkout for the next purchase. Update codes over time to align with new campaigns.
- Early access or secret drops. Add a password or QR code that unlocks a hidden product page or exclusive collection. This creates a "Vault Access" or "Backstage Pass" feel for supporters.
- Seasonal or collectible inserts. Create themed or numbered cards (e.g., "1 of 4 seasonal series") to encourage fans to collect or trade them.
- Social prompts. Add a "Tag us on social" call-to-action to encourage user-generated content.
- Product tutorials. Include a QR code linking to a styling guide or setup video.