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      How to Create and Use Templates

      Learn how to create and use PSD files as Templates in Slate. Walk through compatibility requirements, potential errors, and current limitations.

      What's in this article:

      What is a Template?

      A template is a PSD file that you can upload to Slate and edit from the mobile app or web creation studio. In a template, text layers are fully editable, and snap back into perfect place, size, and alignment.  Designers have the complete ability to lock or unlock layers depending on brand guidelines, and even implement swappable layers for graphics, logos, and more.  

      Are Templates Included in my Subscription?

      Templates are included in our Unlimited and Enterprise subscriptions tiers.

      NOTE: Contact your account manager or email support@slateteams.com if you have any questions about upgrading your account.

       

       

      Building a Compatible PSD

      • FONTS: Make sure any font used in your PSD is also loaded into your Slate brand dashboard.  These fonts will also need to have the same name to sync properly. Learn how to fix missing fonts here
      • ARTBOARDS: Only use one artboard in your PSD file. Learn how to fix multiple artboards here
      • COLORS:  When creating your PSD template, ensure you use the RGB color mode. Other color modes, including CMYK, are not supported. Learn how to fix CMYK colors  and not supported color options here
      • RATIOS: Templates need to be 9:16, 4:5, 1:1, or16:9. Learn how to fix your ratios here
      • TEXT EFFECTS: Do not use custom effects, such as outlines, custom kerning, or excessive line height adjustments in your file’s font layers. We do support custom tracking
      • SMART OBJECTS: Smart objects will be rasterized automatically once uploaded to Slate. Keep in mind, this could show some discrepancies from the original design. Any linked objects will not be brought into the Slate template. Learn how to fix smart objects here
      • RASTERIZING: Before saving and uploading, rasterize any font layers that you do NOT want to be editable in Slate
      • TEXT BOXES: Make sure the file’s editable text boxes are the max width your creators will need. Think highest possible score, or largest name you would use in these boxes. Use 8's and 0's as placeholders for numerical data, as they are a little wider than other numbers. 
      • BLENDING MODES: Blending modes are not supported in Slate templates. Using a PNG layer with opacity will work instead, but we realize you can’t always recreate the same effect. We are looking into if/how we can support blending modes in future. Learn how to fix blending options here
      • TRANSPARENCY: Make sure you remove the placeholder media used in design and make it a  transparent area. Templates will go on top of your media, so the photo or video will need a cutout to show through.
      • LAYERS: Get the message "PSD does not contain any layers"? Learn how to fix missing layers here
      • MASKS: Masks are not supported in Slate templates. To fix this, convert it to a smart object, and then rasterize the layer
      • COLOR AND FONT QUANTITY:  We can only support one color and font per text box within a template. If you wish to use multiple colors or fonts in your design, break them into separate text boxes
      • TEXT ALIGNMENT: To control text running in different directions,  convert it to point text by right clicking on the layer, and selecting 'Convert to Point Text'

      Uploading a Template

      1. Check that your PSD file is compatible with Slate (specifications above)
      2. Login to the your Slate web dashboard.  Select the 'Templates' tab on the left hand navigation bar
      3. Drag and drop your PSD file(s) into the workspace or select “+” and choose your file(s) to upload
      4. Once your files are uploaded, check to see if any errors appeared. This will be a small red triangle located next to your PSD file name. As you open it, it will show you what layer specifically contains the error
      5. Publish your changes by selecting 'Publish changes' located at the bottom left of your screen

       

      Potential Errors When Uploading a Template

      • If you upload a PSD that contains fonts that are not in your brand dashboard, you will get a processing error alerting you what fonts are missing.  You will see a popup and red triangle next to your template name in your dashboard.  To fix this, add the fonts to your dashboard and reprocess the template.

      NOTE: If you see the missing font error, but the font(s) is uploaded, you likely have more than 1 version of a font on your device. The easiest way to fix this is to make sure the exact version of the font in the dashboard is installed on your computer. Download the missing fonts from your Slate account and install if necessary.  Switch the font layer in the PSD to this new downloaded and installed font. Save, and upload this PSD to your Slate dashboard. 

      • Other processing errors could happen if the PSD is not the correct ratio, contains multiple artboards, or contains unsupported effects/elements. If you receive a processing error but are unsure of what the issue is, email support@slateteams.com with a description of your problem and we will get back to you ASAP.
      • If a font layer isn’t showing up in Slate after the PSD is uploaded, the font layer may be getting cut off.  To fix this,  expand its size.

      Help Videos

      Having an uploading error? Check out one of these help videos to fix your processing error: 

      Is your error not listed here? Please check the above list of PSD parameters or reach out to either the online Support Chat or support@slateteams.com

      Swappable Asset

      Help streamline editing templates with swappable layers. Switch logos or graphics all within one template available on Web, iOS, and Androis. Here's how:

      Swapping Assets on Web

      ScreenRecording2024-07-01at10.10.15-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter

      1. Login to the your Slate web dashboard.  Select the 'Templates' tab on the left hand navigation bar
      2. Drag and drop your PSD file(s) into the workspace or select “+” and choose your file(s) to upload
      3. From the templates drawer, open the file and select 'Layers' from the right hand toolbar
      4. Select 'Layer Swap', and select any of your layers inside your .PSD file you wish to swap in or out when creating 
      5. Click 'Create'
      6. If you want creators to move, edit, or resize a layer, leave it unlocked. Any layers you wish to not be able to be moved  by a creator, select the lock icon next to the layer
      7. When creating, a user can now click on the swappable layer in the creation studio and select 'Swap" to replace it with any of the selected layers

      NOTE: When creating a template you intended to swap assets in,  consolidate those swappable assets into a folder in your Photoshop file to help you configure it into Slate later.

      Swappable Assets on Mobile

      1. Screen_Recording_20240808_170414_Slate-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converterOpen your mobile app and select 'Templates'
      2. If needed, added your media and size into place by selecting the 'Edit' tab
      3. Select the layer you would like to swap
      4. From the drawer that populates, select the graphic you would like to swap into place
      5. If it is an unlocked layer, feel free to move it, change the text size, or change color
      6. If needed, select 'Reset' to put the layer back to it's default position
      7. Swap any other layers in the template needed, and click 'Share'

      Locking Layers on Web

      Templates can be flexible and built exactly as you wish the team to use it. You have the option to leave layers locked or unlocked on web giving the user two different experiences. When inside "Layers" in your .PSD file, you can toggle any layer to the locked or unlocked position by selecting the lock icon next to the layer. 

      ScreenRecording2024-07-01at10.21.11-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter (2)

      Locked Layers: These layers have no flexibility in size or placement. These graphics and text boxes will be exactly where you designed them to be, and can't be changed by a creator.

      Unlocked Layers: When a layer is left unlocked, a user can change font size, placement, and adjust text as needed. This gives a creator full flexibility to change the design, and is great for things like quote graphics with varying lengths and text needs. 

      Using Templates in Web Creation Studio

      1. Open your Slate dashboard and click 'Create Content' in the top right corner
      2. Select 'New Project'
      3. Choose the ratio you would like to work in at the top of the screen.  You will only see templates available to use that you have uploaded in the size of your active workspace
      4. Open the templates drawer and select which template you would like to use
      5. Select 'media' and add in the photo or video you wish to use. You can resize the media by dragging the green bar that appears around the edges of your photo or video
      6. Tap on any editable text boxes to change the copy.  These text boxes will snap back to place when you're finished editing
      7. Once ready to export, select 'Export' at the top right of the screen. Name your file and select what file type you’d like your content to be and click ‘Download’

      Using Templates in the Mobile App

      RPReplay_Final1711142504-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter

      1. Open your Slate mobile app
      2. In the bottom navigation bar, select the 'templates' drawer
      3. Choose the template you want to use to start creating your content
      4. Add in media by tapping on the ‘media’ button on the bottom toolbar
      5. Resize media into the space by double tapping the image or video, and pinching in or out to place it in the desired location. Double tap again to lock it in place
      6. Tap on any editable text boxes to change the copy.  These text boxes will snap back to place when you're finished editing
      7. Add any additional text, graphics, or audio to your content
      8. Export your content by selecting the ‘share’ button on the bottom toolbar

      Available on:

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      FAQs:

      Q: Can I swap graphics on a template? 

      A: You can! With swappable assets, you can replace graphics with anything else selected within the PSD. 

      Q: Can I use an Adobe Font on a template?

      A: To use a font, you must have an .otf , .ttf, .woff, or .woff2 file to load into your Slate web dashboard. We don't currently offer an integration with Adobe Fonts. 

      Q: Can I add dropshadows, outlines, custom line heights, or custom kerning to my text I want to edit?
      A: No, this functionality isn’t supported at this time. Only fonts that natively include outlines, drop shadows, etc in the original font file will work in templates. To note, we do support custom tracking. 

      Q: Can I upload custom sized templates?

       A: No. Although you can create in a custom workspace on web, filters and templates are only supported in the sizes listed above (9:16, 1:1, 4:5, or 16:9).

      Q: Can I control layering in the mobile app?

      A: No, you don't have the ability to send things forward or back, and assets lay as they were designed. Therefore, templates will always be on top of media.