Filter swatches

Controls how color and image swatches appear in collection filters. Applies to both regular color swatches and swatches set up through Metaobjects.

Theme Editor → Theme settings → Filter swatches

Filters must be configured in Shopify Admin → Online Store → Search & Discovery before swatches will appear. See Shopify's guide on visual filters for setup instructions.

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Visual filters — find it faster, buy with more confidence

Text-based filters work. Visual filters work better. When a customer is searching for a blue coat, seeing a grid of color circles in the filter panel is faster and more satisfying than reading "Blue, Navy, Cobalt, Midnight" in a dropdown. Avante's filter swatch settings transform your Search & Discovery filters into a visual browsing experience.

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Color swatches

With Color swatches enabled, filter options matching your label appear as clickable color circles instead of text checkboxes. Customers spot the shade they want instantly — no reading required.

Grid — compact and scannable, fits more colors without scrolling. Best for stores with many color variants.

List — shows the color name alongside each circle. Better when subtle shades (cream, ivory, ecru) look too similar as small circles.

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Thumbnail swatches

For attributes where a color circle tells you nothing — material, pattern, finish, fabric — Thumbnail swatches use actual images as filter options. A customer filtering by "Linen" sees the texture, not just the word. This reduces filter-and-return behavior and builds purchase confidence before the customer even opens a product page.

Pro tip: The filter label must match your Shopify filter option name exactly.

Start with your most-browsed attribute — even one visual filter label meaningfully improves the collection page experience.