Customising the Dwell theme - there are no options to add the collection image, title and description unlike in the Debut theme that I’m currently using. Is there a way to add collection banner image, the title and description intro? I tried to add a title but it copied to all other collections.
Have attached screenshots showing what options are available with Debut theme I’m using, and what the Dwell theme offers (or doesn’t offer).
Thank you in advance for any assistance/advice.
Hi!
In Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 themes like Dwell, collection pages are built from a template and any sections you add are shared across all collections that use that template. This is why adding a title in the theme editor shows up on every collection — you’re editing the template, not the individual collection.
To display a different banner image, heading and description for each collection you have two options:
Use dynamic sources: Many OS 2.0 sections (including the Image Banner) allow you to bind the heading, sub‑heading and image to a dynamic source such as the current collection’s title, description or image. When you add an Image Banner section to the collection template, click the “Insert dynamic source” icon next to each field and choose Collection title, Collection description and Collection image. This way the banner will pull the appropriate data for each collection automatically.
Create separate collection templates: If your theme doesn’t support dynamic sources, you can create multiple collection templates and assign them individually. In your theme editor go to Collections > Create template, add an image banner or rich text section with the specific content for that collection, then assign that template to the collection in the Shopify admin. This lets you have custom headings and images per collection.
Alternatively, you can modify the theme code to output {{ collection.image }} and {{ collection.description }} in the header of the collection page. This requires editing the main-collection-banner.liquid or the collection.json template to include markup like:
{% if collection.image %}
<img src="{{ collection.image | image_url: width: 2000 }}" alt="{{ collection.title }}">
{% endif %}
<h1>{{ collection.title }}</h1>
<p>{{ collection.description }}</p>
Place this in a new section or snippet and include it in your collection template.
The Search & Discovery app or a third‑party app isn’t required. Using dynamic sources or custom templates should give you control over the banner image, title and description on each collection page.
Compared to Debut, newer themes give you more flexibility and more granular approach.
Collection title is not controlled by a checkbox in a main collection page section, but added as a separate section/block.
Use of dynamic sources is the key part here:
This will allow you to show different content on different pages sharing the same template.
Thank you Andy for your advice and suggestions, I did try adding the code you gave - which did kind of work - the collection banner image/title & introduction showed, but I had not control over them - there was no actual ability to adjust the banner size to be uniformed across all the collections, neither change size or postion of title and intro. The code embedded into the whole collection rather than a separte feature which can be adjusted separately. So had to delete that, but thank you kindly for your suggestion.
Got it — you’ve switched from Debut → Dwell (Shopify Online Store 2.0 theme) and found that collection pages in Dwell don’t have built-in settings for displaying the collection image, title, or description. That’s a common issue with modern minimalist themes like Dwell — they often rely on dynamic blocks or custom sections instead of the legacy layout Debut used.
Let’s walk through how you can add a collection banner image, title, and description intro — without duplicating content across collections.
Problem Summary
In Debut, each collection page automatically pulled:
{{ collection.image }} (collection banner image)
{{ collection.title }} (collection name)
{{ collection.description }} (rich text intro)
And you could toggle these on/off in the Theme Editor.
In Dwell, those dynamic placeholders aren’t in the default collection.json template, so:
You can’t toggle them on in the editor.
If you add a static section (like a “rich text” block), it appears on all collections, not just one.
Option 1: Use the “Collection Banner” Section (if available)
Before editing code, check this:
Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize.
Navigate to Collections → Default collection.
In the sidebar, look for an option to “Add section” → Collection banner or Image with text overlay.
Some Dwell versions include a hidden “Collection banner” section; you can add it manually.
If you find it:
Set the image source to Collection image (not a static image).
Toggle on dynamic text: {{ collection.title }} and/or {{ collection.description }}.
Save.
If it’s missing, go to Option 2.
Option 2: Add Code for Collection Banner (Theme File Edit)
You can re-add Debut-style behavior with a small Liquid snippet.
Go to
Online Store → Themes → ⋯ → Edit code
Open the file:
templates/collection.json (or templates/collection.liquid if Dwell uses liquid templates).
Locate the main section for the collection (often main-collection.liquid under sections/).
At the top of that file (above the product grid), insert this block:
{% if collection.image %}
{% if collection.description != blank %}
{{ collection.description }}
{% endif %}
Save the file.
Add a bit of CSS for spacing (optional):
.collection-banner {
margin-bottom: 2rem;
text-align: center;
}
.collection-banner__image {
width: 100%;
max-height: 400px;
object-fit: cover;
}
.collection-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 2rem;
}
.collection-description {
max-width: 700px;
margin: 0 auto;
color: #555;
}
Add that to Assets → base.css or theme.css (whichever exists).
Now when you open any collection page:
It should show the collection’s image, title, and description (only for that specific collection — not across all).
Option 3: Use Dynamic Sources (Shopify 2.0)
If Dwell supports dynamic sources in sections:
In Customize, open a Collection page.
Add a “Custom Liquid” or “Rich text” block.
Click on the text field → “Connect dynamic source” → choose Collection title or Collection description.
Save.
This pulls the correct data per collection (instead of repeating static text).
Option 4: Separate Templates per Collection (for unique banners or intros)
If you want different layouts or static content per collection:
In the Theme Editor, open a collection → click the dropdown at the top → “Create template”.
Name it e.g. collection-jewelry or collection-mens.
Add custom sections or text blocks for that one.
Assign that new template to the relevant collection in Products → Collections → Edit collection → Theme template.
This way, you can have unique hero images or text for some collections and reuse the default for others.
Pro Tip: Use “Collection Image” as the Banner Source
Make sure each collection has an image set:
Products → Collections → [Select Collection] → Collection image
That image will automatically populate your new banner snippet above.
Quick Recap
Task Method
Add collection banner image Use {{ collection.image }} in code
Add title {{ collection.title }}
Add description {{ collection.description }}
Avoid repeating content Use dynamic variables, not static text
Make unique layouts per collection Duplicate templates (Shopify 2.0 feature)
If you’d like, I can generate the exact code snippet styled to match your Dwell theme’s typography and spacing (using your theme’s CSS classes).
Would you like me to tailor that snippet for Dwell’s layout?
Thank you Tim, I think I understood what you mean, but I don’t see anything like the screenshots you have posted. I think I’m out of my depth here, it’s too complicated for me. But thank you kindly for your response.
Thank you Gino for this very comprehensive breakdown of possible solutions. Your summary of the problem is correct. Option 1 - no collection banner or image with text overlay. Option 2 - inserted the codes you gave via copy & paste - but don’t think I done it properly. Option 3 - right now I cannot locate dynamic sources in the dwell theme, option 4 - creating separate collections templates - that was suggested by another, but that seems a lot of fussing just to get a collection title/description etc - rather than it being automatically pulled as in debut theme. Thank you for your offer to create exact coding etc, but it’s probably best I leave this instead of trying to do it myself through the kind advice of you & others. Hopefully, someone with more capabilites than myself, will find your offered solutions helpful. Thank you again.
You absolutely do not need any theme code edits.
You can do:
Add a Hero section above “Collection”. It can also be another section, like “image with text” or similar
In the Hero section settings, select “Dynamic source” for Image and select Template=>Collection=>Image
Leave only Heading block on Hero section and for “Text” setting of this block select Dynamic source: Template=>Collection=>Title
Then select this dynamic source reference in “Text” input and mark it up as H1
Done. You have the same display as you had with Debut.
if you dont mind i can do that for you and make work seamlessly or what do you think about it?
here is my contact on whatsapp +1 (917) 374-4792 i await your response
Tim - thank you ever so much… mission accomplished! Providing step-by-step screenshots helped me implement what you had previously tried to advise Worked a treat - exactly as you said. Initially tried using a Hero banner but was difficult to have clear text on images - tried image with text instead and perfect - nice & clean - indeed, better than debut layout. Thank you again for taking the time to help me.
100% this! Thanks so much for this solution, which of course opens up so many options for other things. 
