Show images by choosing variants using metaobjetcs / Dawn theme

Topic summary

An artist is trying to display product variant images for a custom “Paper type” option, similar to how Shopify’s built-in color swatches work.

Current Setup:

  • Color variants automatically show image swatches using Shopify’s standard product attributes/metaobjects
  • A custom “Paper type” metaobject was created with entries containing images
  • However, the paper type option displays as text/dropdown instead of visual swatches on the product page

Proposed Solutions:

  • One user suggests connecting the metaobject properly to product variants for functionality
  • Another notes that many themes only display image swatches for specific option types (typically “color” or “colour”) by default
  • If the Dawn theme doesn’t support swatches for custom options, this would require advanced theme customization

Status: The issue remains unresolved. One developer requested store URL details to provide a specific solution, while another offered paid customization services if theme modification is needed.

Summarized with AI on October 26. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Hi there!!

I’m figuring out how to ask this properly, it’s a little bit confusing.

CONTEXT:

I’m an artist and I’m offering different products with my images, for example for stickers people can choose between 2 options:

This option is automatically create by Shopify (metaobject/ standard product attributes) I’ve just create a new label with the option rainbow and put an image on it.

I’ve notice I can create more options for my products, and keep a better consistency on each one, so, I created a metaobjetc option called “Paper type” and add some entries with images (like color does).

Everything looks normal at this point, but when on the website it displays like this:

What I want to do?

I would love the option of paper display the images like the color option does. Is that possible? How I can do that?

Thank you :folded_hands:

1 Like

Hi @Shroomlorraine ,

You need to connect it to the variant for everything to work. Refer

Hello @Shroomlorraine
Welcome to the Shopify Community! Please share your store URL and password (if it’s password-protected), so I can check and provide you with the exact solution.

2 Likes

Hi @Shroomlorraine :waving_hand: Double check the metaobject is setup the same way and connected to variants.

But note some themes only show swatches/images for specific types of options, normally “color” or “colour”.

If a theme doesn’t have good swatch support then it’s an advanced theme customization.

If you need this customization then contact me for services.
Contact info in forum signature below :down_arrow: :down_arrow: :down_arrow:.
ALWAYS please provide context, examples: store url, theme name, post url(s) , or any further detail in ALL correspondence.

Hi @Shroomlorraine :raising_hands:

In case you’d like to display custom options such as Paper type using images - similar to how Shopify shows color swatches - you can easily achieve this with Easify Product Options, without editing any code or making deep changes to your theme.

Here’s an example I’ve created so you can see how it works:

  • This is the result:

  • This is the app setting:

In Easify, you can create options as Image Swatches, similar to the “Family Christmas Ornament” demo. Each option (such as paper type, color, or design style) can have its own image and be displayed directly on the product page, making it easier for customers to visualize and choose, instead of selecting from text-only buttons.

In addition to image swatches, you can also combine multiple option types such as buttons for size, color swatches, and text fields for personalization (for example, names or engraving messages). All options are displayed cleanly and consistently on the same product page, just like in the demo you’re viewing.

This solution doesn’t rely on Shopify’s default Color option, so you can apply image-based displays to any option you need. Setup in Easify is simple and intuitive, even without coding knowledge. If you’d like help setting up options exactly like this demo, the Easify team is always happy to assist.:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Hello @Shroomlorraine,

I hope you are doing well. Since you would like to show custom options such as paper type using images, similar to how Shopify shows color swatches, then you can try Inkybay – Product Personalizer app.

With InkyBay, you have the option of visually showing choices using image-based selectors inside the live preview, meaning your customers will really know what they’re choosing and won’t need to be reliant on text-only buttons.

With Inkybay’s Product Options, you can present size variants neatly on a single product page, either as a simple dropdown or as clearly visible swatches for a more visual experience.

Everything can be set up quickly without writing a single line of code, and all selected option details are automatically included in the Inkybay order file for smooth processing.