Choosing a pass type
Updated June 29, 2026
The pass type sets the overall shape of your pass: where the barcode sits, which images you can use, and how the fields are laid out. You choose it once when you create a template. Pick the type that matches what the pass represents, and the rest of the design falls into place.
The types at a glance
- Event ticket — concerts, conferences, matches, and screenings. Supports a large strip image behind the main field and a background image, which makes it the most visual type.
- Membership — gym, club, and association cards that people carry over time.
- Loyalty / store card — points balances, stamps, and tiers that update as a customer earns.
- Coupon — time-limited offers and discounts, often with a strip image for the deal artwork.
- Boarding pass — flights and transit, with a footer image strip above the barcode for travel-style layouts.
- Generic — anything that doesn't fit the categories above, such as an ID card, a parking permit, or a key. The most flexible starting point.
How to decide
Ask what the pass is for, not what it looks like:
- If it gets scanned once at a door, it's an event ticket.
- If someone keeps it and you update a balance, it's a loyalty or membership card.
- If it expires after a promotion, it's a coupon.
- If none of those fit, start with generic. You can always restyle it.
Not sure? The eight starter templates are each built on a sensible type already. Cloning a starter is the easiest way to inherit the right structure. See using the pass designer.
You can't change type later
The pass type is fixed once a template is created, because the image slots and layout depend on it. If you picked the wrong one, the quickest fix is to clone the correct starter and rebuild your design there. Templates you no longer want can be archived to keep your designer tidy.