Taming the Shopify Prestige Theme: Custom Collection Templates Unraveled

One cozy afternoon, lemonade in hand, we found ourselves browsing through the Shopify forums like archaeologists unearthing digital mysteries. Funny enough, that's when we locked eyes with a plea for help so earnest, it felt like a note in a bottle—this brave soul trying to articulate the quandary of customizing collection templates in the Prestige theme like asking a cat to fetch. The Prestige theme, favored for its elegance and sleekness, drew them in, promising a world of beauty for their store. But alas! Much to their chagrin, they discovered that it operated a bit differently than the trusty Dawn theme they'd grown accustomed to.

Understanding the Prestige Puzzle

Let's journey together into the heart of this theme conundrum. Imagine Joe—everyman and Shopify store owner extraordinaire—bewildered as his beloved Prestige theme refuses to bend to his will; he can’t assign a unique design for each collection page. Meanwhile, his Dawn theme sat smugly in the corner, flaunting its ability to customize collection pages with ease. Confusion reigned. But here’s a plot twist: not all hope is lost; Shopify themes flourish under the art of customization.

The Epiphany: Separate collection templates don't come ready-made in Prestige. We must harness the power of duplicating templates and custom sections. Sound daunting? It's not. And so, the saga continues...

Tailoring Prestige: A Step-by-Step Adventure

Step 1: Duplicate the Collection Template

We begin where all great journeys do: a brief foray into unknown lands. Open your Shopify admin, and navigate to Online Store > Themes. Mari—our guide through these mystical digital terrains—would remind us: click on the Actions button next to your current theme, daringly choose Edit Code. Here, in the kaleidoscopic world of snippets and assets, we conjure a new template.

Find your way to the Templates folder and click on Add a new template. Choose collection as the template type, name it something evocative yet sensible, like "collection.custom." This is our canvas.

{% comment %}
  Custom Collection Template created for unique design needs
{% endcomment %}

{% section 'collection-custom' %}

Step 2: Craft Your Section

Creating something from nothing (or near nothing) stirs a special magic—look for the Sections folder. Add a new section entitled collection-custom. This file mirrors the standard collection template initially but will become our masterpiece of design distinction. Paste from the default collection section, then start weaving in elements specific to each collection’s narrative.

{% schema %}
  {
    "name": "Custom Collection",
    "settings": [
      {
        "type": "image_picker",
        "id": "custom_banner",
        "label": "Collection Banner"
      }
    ]
  }
{% endschema %}

<div class="custom-banner">
  <img src="{{ section.settings.custom_banner | img_url: 'medium' }}" alt="{{ collection.title }}">
</div>

<h1>{{ collection.title }}</h1>

Step 3: Assigning and Testing Your Masterpiece

Patience here, dear adventurer—it’s time to put discoveries to practice. Return to your Shopify admin, click on Products > Collections, and choose a collection you wish to customize. In the Theme template dropdown, say the magic words—select "collection.custom."

Once saved, your collection revels in newfound individuality. Cast an eager eye upon your online store to witness your handiwork in action.

Banners of Your Own

Joe, our hypothetical hero, no longer gazes longingly at Dawn. Prestige bows to the same customization, thanks to your unyielding will. Each collection page shines with its banner—like beautiful snowflakes, each unique yet part of a greater whole—a true testament to our collective ingenuity and some trial and error.

Fiddling with the nuances of Shopify's customization feels like tinkering under the hood—setting some asides, and a few exasperated huffs—yet there’s joy in the journey itself. We're left with that announcement-banner-floating-on-cloud-nine feeling.

Marry your design to your spirit. Each venture into code brings discovery, patience, and creativity—an adventure worth embarking on.

Final Words

Change is a wild horse, but it's ours to wrangle. With shared wisdom, a little elbow grease, and a sprinkle of humour, Shopify becomes a blank canvas. Joe's journey—and ours—is far from over, but with today's triumph we're reminded: each problem is a puzzle, eagerly waiting for solution-minded souls like us to solve it.

Onward, to our next venture, lemonade at the ready!