React.js ImageEditor Integration

This guide is for React.js applications (Create React App, Vite, custom setups).For Next.js, see the Next.js ImageEditor Integration guide.

This page still describes the version 1 setup. In version 2 (@layermetry/media-editor 2.0.0) React is no longer pinned to 18.2.0 — React 18 and React 19 both work, and the editor also runs with no React at all, so Next.js 15 is fine.Follow Installation for the version 2 setup. This page is being rewritten.

Prerequisites

Node.js 18+

Node.js 18 or newer

React 18 or 19

React 18 or React 19 — both work. Version 2 does not pin React.

Installation

Install the SDK

npm install @layermetry/media-editor

Install Required Dependencies

npm install framer-motion lucide-react

Verify React Version

Check your React version:

npm list react

If you need to install React 18.2.0:

npm install react@18.2.0 react-dom@18.2.0

Basic Setup

Import SDK Styles

Add the SDK CSS to your application entry point:

import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom/client';
import './index.css';
import App from './App';

// Import media-editor SDK styles
import '@layermetry/media-editor/dist/index.css';

const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('root'));
root.render(
  <React.StrictMode>
    <App />
  </React.StrictMode>
);

import React from 'react';
import '@layermetry/media-editor/dist/index.css';
import './App.css';

function App() {
  // Your component code
}

Import the Editor

import { ImageEditor } from '@layermetry/media-editor';

ImageEditor Interface

Core Props

interface ImageEditorProps {
  // Required
  licenseKey: string;              // Your SDK license key (JWT)
  onClose: () => void;             // Called when user closes editor

  // Optional
  apiUrl?: string;                 // Override license validation API URL
  files?: File;                    // Initial image file to load
  callback?: (result: CallbackProps, extras?: EditorExtras) => void;
  theme?: Record<string, string>;  // Custom theme colors
  showThemeCreator?: boolean;      // Show theme customization UI
  headless?: boolean;              // Enable programmatic mode
  brands?: BrandDetails[];         // Brand presets
  defaultTemplate?: Template;      // Load template on start
}

View Callback Types

interface CallbackProps {
  base64: string;        // Exported image as base64 data URL
  width: number;         // Canvas width
  height: number;        // Canvas height
  template?: any;        // Scene data if template was used
}

interface EditorExtras {
  thumbnail?: string;    // Thumbnail preview
  format?: string;       // Image format (png, jpg, etc)
}

Step-by-Step Integration

Step 1: Create Your Component

src/components/ImageStudio.js

import React, { useState, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
import { ImageEditor } from '@layermetry/media-editor';
import '@layermetry/media-editor/dist/index.css';

function ImageStudio() {
  const fileInputRef = useRef(null);
  const [selectedFile, setSelectedFile] = useState(null);
  const [showEditor, setShowEditor] = useState(false);
  const [exportedImage, setExportedImage] = useState(null);

  // Continue to Step 2...
}

export default ImageStudio;

Step 2: Implement File Selection

const handleFileSelect = (e) => {
  const file = e.target.files?.[0];
  if (file && file.type.startsWith('image/')) {
    setSelectedFile(file);
    setShowEditor(true);
  }
};

const handleDrop = (e) => {
  e.preventDefault();
  const file = e.dataTransfer.files?.[0];
  if (file && file.type.startsWith('image/')) {
    setSelectedFile(file);
    setShowEditor(true);
  }
};

Step 3: Implement Callbacks

const handleExport = useCallback((result, extras) => {
  console.log('Export result:', result, extras);

  if (result.base64) {
    setExportedImage(result.base64);
    setShowEditor(false);
  }
}, []);

const handleClose = () => {
  setShowEditor(false);
  setSelectedFile(null);
};

const handleDownload = () => {
  if (exportedImage) {
    const link = document.createElement('a');
    link.href = exportedImage;
    link.download = `edited-image-${Date.now()}.png`;
    link.click();
  }
};

Step 4: Render the Editor

return (
  <div className="min-h-screen">
    {/* Upload UI */}
    {!showEditor && (
      <div>
        <input
          ref={fileInputRef}
          type="file"
          accept="image/*"
          onChange={handleFileSelect}
          style={{ display: 'none' }}
        />
        <button onClick={() => fileInputRef.current?.click()}>
          Choose Image
        </button>
      </div>
    )}

    {/* Image Editor */}
    {showEditor && selectedFile && (
      <div style={{ position: 'fixed', inset: 0, zIndex: 40 }}>
        <ImageEditor
          licenseKey="YOUR_LICENSE_KEY_HERE"
          apiUrl="https://your-api.com/social"
          files={selectedFile}
          onClose={handleClose}
          callback={handleExport}
          theme={customTheme}
          showThemeCreator={false}
        />
      </div>
    )}
  </div>
);

Theme Customization

Creating a Custom Theme

const customTheme = {
  // Backgrounds
  'background.primary': '#0f172a',
  'background.secondary': '#1e293b',
  'background.tertiary': '#334155',

  // Text
  'text.primary': '#ffffff',
  'text.secondary': '#cbd5e0',

  // Brand colors
  'accent.primary': '#3b82f6',
  'accent.secondary': '#06b6d4',
  'accent.hover': '#60a5fa',

  // Borders
  'border.default': '#334155',
  'border.subtle': '#1e293b',

  // Components
  'button.primary': '#3b82f6',
  'input.background': '#1e293b',
  'toolbar.background': '#0f172a',
  'canvas.background': '#1a202c',
};

Applying the Theme

<ImageEditor
  licenseKey={licenseKey}
  files={selectedFile}
  onClose={handleClose}
  callback={handleExport}
  theme={customTheme}
  showThemeCreator={false}
/>

Complete Example

View Full Component Code

src/components/ImageStudio.js

import React, { useState, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
import { ImageEditor } from '@layermetry/media-editor';
import '@layermetry/media-editor/dist/index.css';
import './ImageStudio.css';

const customTheme = {
  'background.primary': '#0f172a',
  'background.secondary': '#1e293b',
  'text.primary': '#ffffff',
  'accent.primary': '#3b82f6',
};

function ImageStudio() {
  const fileInputRef = useRef(null);
  const [selectedFile, setSelectedFile] = useState(null);
  const [showEditor, setShowEditor] = useState(false);
  const [exportedImage, setExportedImage] = useState(null);

  const handleFileSelect = (e) => {
    const file = e.target.files?.[0];
    if (file && file.type.startsWith('image/')) {
      setSelectedFile(file);
      setShowEditor(true);
    }
  };

  const handleExport = useCallback((result) => {
    if (result.base64) {
      setExportedImage(result.base64);
      setShowEditor(false);
    }
  }, []);

  const handleClose = () => {
    setShowEditor(false);
    setSelectedFile(null);
  };

  const handleDownload = () => {
    if (exportedImage) {
      const link = document.createElement('a');
      link.href = exportedImage;
      link.download = `edited-image-${Date.now()}.png`;
      link.click();
    }
  };

  return (
    <div className="image-studio">
      {!showEditor && (
        <div className="upload-container">
          <input
            ref={fileInputRef}
            type="file"
            accept="image/*"
            onChange={handleFileSelect}
            style={{ display: 'none' }}
          />
          <button onClick={() => fileInputRef.current?.click()}>
            Choose Image
          </button>
        </div>
      )}

      {showEditor && selectedFile && (
        <div className="editor-overlay">
          <ImageEditor
            licenseKey="YOUR_LICENSE_KEY"
            apiUrl="https://localhost:3030/social"
            files={selectedFile}
            onClose={handleClose}
            callback={handleExport}
            theme={customTheme}
            showThemeCreator={false}
          />
        </div>
      )}

      {exportedImage && (
        <div className="preview">
          <img src={exportedImage} alt="Edited" />
          <button onClick={handleDownload}>Download</button>
        </div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

export default ImageStudio;

Next Steps

Video Editor

Learn how to integrate the VideoEditor component

FAQ

Common issues and troubleshooting

Need help? Contact us at support@layermetry.com

Get Started

React.js Integration

Next.js Integration

Troubleshooting

React.js ImageEditor Integration

Prerequisites

Node.js 18+

React 18 or 19

Installation

Basic Setup

Import SDK Styles

Import the Editor

ImageEditor Interface

Core Props

Step-by-Step Integration

Step 1: Create Your Component

Step 2: Implement File Selection

Step 3: Implement Callbacks

Step 4: Render the Editor

Theme Customization

Creating a Custom Theme

Applying the Theme

Complete Example

Next Steps

Video Editor

FAQ

​Prerequisites

Node.js 18+

React 18 or 19

​Installation

​Basic Setup

​Import SDK Styles

​Import the Editor

​ImageEditor Interface

​Core Props

​Step-by-Step Integration

​Step 1: Create Your Component

​Step 2: Implement File Selection

​Step 3: Implement Callbacks

​Step 4: Render the Editor

​Theme Customization

​Creating a Custom Theme

​Applying the Theme

​Complete Example

​Next Steps

Video Editor

FAQ

Prerequisites

Installation

Basic Setup

Import SDK Styles

Import the Editor

ImageEditor Interface

Core Props

Step-by-Step Integration

Step 1: Create Your Component

Step 2: Implement File Selection

Step 3: Implement Callbacks

Step 4: Render the Editor

Theme Customization

Creating a Custom Theme

Applying the Theme

Complete Example

Next Steps