Ever wonder how to create a custom Facebook frame? Facebook has hooked us up with a new awesome tool! But, more on that later…
Custom Facebook Frames
You’ve seen them and there is a good chance that you have used them. It may have been putting up a Texas flag over your profile picture in support of people suffering from “Hurricane Harvey”, or maybe using a purple ribbon frame on your Facebook story in support of Alzheimer’s Association.
The awesome “Facebook Camera Effects” tool that Facebook launched is awesome! You can use software like Photoshop to design your frame. But if you want it to work as a camera effect you need to realize that it is made for both landscape and portrait mode. So you will want to make sure it is not a complete overlay or it won’t look right when it gets to anything outside of the “Facebook Profile” which is the only square use for the tool.
If you decide to use Photoshop I’d also recommend keeping a 100% transparent background (.png) for the main use. You can do frames with your logo, taglines, quotes, and a bunch of other stuff. Your limitations are your imagination and Facebook guidelines for the “Camera Effects Tool“.
Now, let’s look over the
“Facebook Camera Effects Platform Policies“
(These are copied from the main policy page for the camera effects and frame platform.)
{**Only edits in 16 policies for custom Facebook frames was for grammar.**}
- Complies with our Community Standards, and all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations.
- Complies with our guidelines in the Facebook Brand Resource and Permissions Center.
- Is suitable for consumption by the Facebook general user base (i.e., thirteen and above).
- Does not promote illegal products, services or activities, or content that is inappropriate, misleading, deceptive, or unsafe.
- Does not promote prescription or recreational drugs, tobacco products and related paraphernalia, unsafe supplements, weapons, ammunition or explosives.
- Does not promote online gambling, online real money games of skill, or online lotteries.
- Does not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other personal or proprietary rights.
- Does not promote adult products or services (ex: nudity, depictions of people in explicit or suggestive positions, or activities that are overly suggestive or sexually provocative).
- Is not shocking, sensational, disrespectful, or excessively violent.
- Does not contain low-resolution elements, such as illegible text.
- Does not discriminate against, harass, provoke, or disparage people.
- Does not exploit controversial political or social issues for commercial purposes.
- Does not include effects that block or cover most of the image.
- Does not portray nonexistent functionality, such as a play button.
- Does not include any links off Facebook, such as scannable codes or QR codes.
- Does not include any commercial or ad-like content, including but not limited to promotions, sweepstakes, banner ads, product placement that includes branding, and sales offers.
Now that we have covered that it is time to create a custom Facebook frame …
How to Make a Custom Facebook Frame
Before we start making the frame let’s look at the “Creative Specs” & “Recommendations” for the frames & camera effects. (Specs & Recommendations from Facebook Help.)
Creative Spects
- Use an image editor to create the elements of your frame. Each element must have a transparent background.
- Upload your elements as separate PNG files.
- The max file size is 1mb.
- Art should be 100% original.
Recommendations
- Keep it simple. Position your art around the edges to frame the photograph.
- Place text or graphics at the bottom and/or top of the page, rather than in the middle.
How to Create a Custom Facebook Frame in 5 Steps
- Research
- Create
- Design
- Submit
- Promote Use & Enjoy
Research – When you are starting out you need to do some research.
Do the research, especially if you are putting this frame together for your business. The first thing you need to look at is the frames your friends/followers are using. If what you design isn’t something people would use, you’re wasting your time. Look into colors, layouts, interests and things like that. When you move forward you should have an idea as to what you are wanting to create.
Create – This is where you will create the different elements of your frame.
You can do this with Photoshop or whatever other software you wish. You can create a full piece or many pieces. Keep in mind that you will have the designer/studio for your frame in the next step. So all you will be doing is focusing on creating the elements you want to use in your facebook frame. Don’t forget that each element needs to be a .png file with a 100% transparent background.
Design – Designing your custom Facebook frame with the “Facebook Frame Studio“.
This is the fun part! Actually laying out the design for your frame! Once you are logged into the Facebook Frame Studio you will be able to upload your elements.
Submit – Submitting your Facebook frame for use by users of Facebook Camera.
Submitting your custom Facebook frame is easy as clicking “Submit” once you finish designing your frame inside the “Facebook Frame Studio”.
Promote, Use & Enjoy – Once your frame has been approved you need to promote, use and enjoy!
It’s not easy to grow a brand when you create something for marketing and never use it. It’s like spending hours building a successful Instagram account & not using the account. So if you are the face of your business … use the frame for your own personal profile. Use your custom frame on your Facebook page.
Create a Custom Facebook Frame Video Tutorial
I am working on some things to get a tutorial together in video form. I plan to have the video up within the next week or so. Please check back to see the video and any other updates here.
Last Updated: September 17, 2017
