Help & Resources
Everything you need to know about planning your gallery wall. Learn how to manage inventory, arrange layouts, and export for installation.
Wall Setup
Start every project by defining the wall you're working with. Accurate dimensions ensure your on-screen layout maps to the real world.
Open guideInventory & Frame Management
GalleryPlanner treats every frame as a physical item in your inventory, ensuring you never lose track of dimensions.
Open guidePhoto Management
Import, drag-and-drop, cropping, and library management.
Open guideWorkspace Interaction
Canvas controls, layout tools, and editing behavior.
Open guideAuto-Layout Engine
Don't suffer from "blank wall syndrome." Let the algorithms do the heavy lifting.
Open guideSaving & Projects
Your work is saved automatically on your device. For portable backups and cross-device transfer, use .gwall files.
Open guideExporting & Sharing
When your layout is ready, export what you need for installation day. On desktop use the Export menu; on mobile use the Share tab.
Open guideAccount & Pro Access
A free GalleryPlanner account is what carries Pro bought on the web. Create it inside GalleryPlanner, with the same email you used at checkout.
Open guideMobile Experience
GalleryPlanner on phones and tablets is optimized for planning on the go with touch-first interactions and a streamlined interface.
Open guideShortcuts Reference
Keyboard commands for faster editing.
Open guideFrequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about GalleryPlanner.
Is GalleryPlanner really free?
Yes. Core planning is free forever with all creative tools. Pro adds extra features for serious planners — see What is GalleryPlanner Pro? for the full list.
Where are my photos stored?
On your device, in your browser. We never upload your images to a server, so your photos stay private. Nothing is backed up for you, so use Export Project to save a .gwall copy of important projects.
Can I use GalleryPlanner on my phone, tablet, or desktop?
Yes. GalleryPlanner runs in any modern browser on desktops, tablets, and phones. A GalleryPlanner app for iPhone is coming soon.
How do I print my layout?
Use Export (desktop) or the Share tab (mobile) to generate a print-ready Hanging Guide (PDF) with precise measurements. This feature requires GalleryPlanner Pro.
What if I switch computers or browsers?
Use Export Project to create a portable .gwall copy, then Import Project in any browser, on any device. The file includes all your walls, plus your frame inventory, photos, and analysis data. On mobile, tap the project name to open Project Switcher for Export/Import. One heads-up: files exported by the current version may not open in older versions of the app — if an import fails on another device, refresh GalleryPlanner there and try again.
What is a .gwall file?
A .gwall file is a portable project copy created by Export Project. It packages your entire project — every wall, your frame inventory, photos, and Smart Fill analysis data — into a single file you can store in Files, iCloud, Drive, Dropbox, or anywhere else, or share with another device. Import Project opens it on any device, in any browser. Compatibility is one-way: the current version opens .gwall files from any older version, but files exported by the current version may not open in older versions of the app.
How do I back up all my projects?
Your projects live in this browser on this device — nothing is uploaded to our servers, and backups are up to you. Pro users can use Export All Projects to save every project as .gwall files in one go, and Import Projects to restore them later. On the free plan, Export Project backs up your current project. Find these in the Project menu (desktop) or by tapping the project name to open Project Switcher (mobile). GalleryPlanner also shows an occasional reminder so your backup never falls behind.
Why did my project disappear?
Projects are saved in your browser on your device, not on our servers. So nothing syncs between browsers or devices, even on Pro (Pro only follows your account for access to features, not project data). In Safari on iPhone or iPad, the browser can also clear site storage if you haven't opened GalleryPlanner in a while, which can erase saved projects. The fix is Export Project: it creates a portable backup .gwall file you can re-import anywhere, so your work never lives in just one place.
How do I undo a change?
Press Ctrl+Z (or ⌘Z on Mac) to undo, and Ctrl+Shift+Z (or ⌘Shift+Z) to redo. On mobile, use the Undo and Redo buttons. GalleryPlanner keeps up to 50 levels of undo per project until you close the tab or app.
How do I change my wall size?
On desktop, click an empty spot on the wall so nothing is selected, then edit the width and height in the Wall Properties panel on the right. If the panel is hidden, click the small arrow tab on the right edge of the screen to open it again. On mobile, tap Edit with nothing selected.
Can I change between inches and centimeters?
Yes. You can switch between imperial (inches) and metric (centimeters) at any time in Wall Properties. Your preferred unit system is saved per project and remembered for new projects.
What are Wall Objects?
Wall Objects (Pro) put the real features of your wall on the canvas so your frames plan around them. There are 11 presets (windows, doors, fireplaces, TVs, light switches, thermostats, sconces, shelves, vents, headboards, and sofas), plus a custom size for anything else. On desktop, open the Frames panel, click Add Frame, then pick the Objects tab. On mobile, tap Library, then Object. Each object appears as a simple schematic drawing on the canvas and in exports.
How do I group frames together?
Select two or more frames, then right-click and choose Group, or press Ctrl+G (⌘G on Mac). Grouped frames move, lock, and delete together. To ungroup, right-click and choose Ungroup, or press Ctrl+Shift+G (⌘Shift+G).
What does the STAGED badge on a frame mean?
The amber outline means a frame is on the canvas but not fully on the wall — it's parked to the side, or hanging over the edge, while you decide where it goes. Frames big enough to fit it also show a small STAGED badge. Drag the frame fully onto the wall and the cue disappears. Wall Objects show the same cue. Auto-Layout includes staged frames by default, so nothing you've parked gets left out.
What is Guided Setup?
Guided Setup is a five-step walkthrough that builds your first wall with you: pick a wall size and color, add frames, choose an Auto-Layout, then optionally add photos and let Smart Fill match them to frames. It opens automatically when you start a new project on desktop or mobile, unless you've turned it off in Settings. Skip it anytime, replay it later from the Help menu on desktop or the Menu on mobile, or turn off future auto-launches in Settings.
Can I plan with IKEA frames or other store-bought frames?
Yes. The Brands tab in Add Frame has presets for IKEA, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and CB2 frames with the real outer size built in, plus the mat opening when the frame comes with a mat, so what you plan matches what arrives. IKEA presets are free; the other three brands are part of Pro. Our IKEA frame size guide (/learn/ikea-frames-gallery-wall-sizes) lists every current US size.
Do I need to create an account?
No. You can plan without an account. Buying Pro uses your account, so Pro follows you to any browser.
How do I delete my account?
On a computer, click your profile picture in the top-right corner and choose Delete account. On a phone or tablet, open the menu, tap the Signed in as card, and choose Delete account. Your account settings open on the Security page: scroll to the bottom, click Delete account there, and confirm. This ends Pro on your account, including any Pro Pass saved to it. Your projects and photos stay on your device. If you signed in with Apple, you can also remove GalleryPlanner from your Apple Account: on iPhone, Settings → your name → Sign in with Apple; on the web, account.apple.com → Sign-In & Security → Sign in with Apple.
What happens if I buy a Pro Pass while one is still active?
Nothing is lost. Your new pass stays unactivated, and the Pro dialog shows it as ready. Once your current pass ends, activate it from the Pro dialog, or just use a Pro feature and it activates automatically.
Can I plan for multiple walls at once?
Yes. With Multi-Wall Projects (Pro), a single project can hold more than one wall — a hallway plus a staircase, or a whole room — all sharing one photo library. Free includes one editable wall per project; Pro lets you add as many walls as you need (projects with more than one wall are view-only without Pro). Exports cover every wall in the project — the Hanging Guide gives each wall its own section. Multi-Wall Projects is separate from Multi-Project Editing, which lets Pro users edit several projects.
Can I copy an existing project?
Yes. Duplicate Project (Pro) creates a complete copy of your current project — walls, frames, and photos — with "(copy)" added to the name, and opens it right away. On desktop, open the Project menu and choose Duplicate Project. On mobile, tap the project name to open Project Switcher, then tap Duplicate. It's a safe way to try a bold rearrangement without touching the original.
What exactly is Smart Fill?
Smart Fill is an AI-powered engine that analyzes your photo library for composition, color, and resolution to place the best matches into your frames automatically. It is available on both free and Pro plans. Pro includes the Whole-wall balance feature. Toggle "Wall photos only" to reshuffle just the photos already on your wall instead of pulling new candidates from your library.
How do I measure for a staircase wall?
In Wall Properties, select a Staircase wall type (Ascending or Descending), then set the Rise percentage to match your measured slope.
How do I adjust brightness and contrast on a photo?
Select a frame with a photo, then open the Photo panel (desktop) or the Levels tab of the Edit sheet (mobile). Use the Brightness, Contrast, and Midtone sliders to balance how each photo reads on the wall. Pro users can tap Auto Level for one-click tonal optimization based on the visible cropped region of the photo.
How do I import a lot of frames at once?
On desktop, open the Frames panel, click Add Frame, then pick the Bulk tab to paste a comma- or line-separated list of dimensions (e.g. "8×10, 11×14, 16×20"), or download the CSV template, fill in dimensions, color, mat color, label, and quantity, and upload it. On mobile, tap Library, then Bulk. The CSV columns match the Pro Shopping List Export, so you can round-trip a frame inventory between projects.
How do I hide the frame size labels?
On desktop, open Settings in the header and click Frame Labels. On a phone, open Settings from the menu and turn off Frame Labels in the Canvas section. It hides or shows the dimension labels on empty frames and the size label that appears under a selected frame with a photo, so they don't distract from the layout.
How do I reset a photo back to its default crop?
Select the frame, then click Reset Crop in the Photo panel on desktop, or tap Reset on the Fit tab of the Edit sheet on mobile. The photo recenters at 100% zoom relative to the mat opening.