Using Templates

Browsing Templates

1. From your dashboard, click Browse Templates or go to /templates.
2. You'll see templates organized by category. Scroll down to explore different industries.
3. Click on a template card to see a preview. You'll see what the badge looks like and what elements it includes.
4. Click Use This Template to open it in the editor.

Template Categories

Choose from 8 categories of professional templates:

What's Included in Templates

Each template comes pre-designed with:

• Color scheme: Professional colors tailored to the industry or event.
• Layout: Positioned text fields, photo zones, and decorative elements.
• Fonts: Carefully selected fonts that match the template's style.
• Logos & decorations: Industry-specific icons, borders, and design elements.
• Badge size: Optimized for standard ID card sizes (2" x 3" or similar).

Customizing a Template

Once you've applied a template, you can customize every element:

Changing Text

1. Double-click any text element to edit it.
2. Type your new text (e.g., your company name instead of "Your Company Here").
3. The text is automatically saved.

Changing Colors

1. Click on an element (text, shape, or background) to select it.
2. In the right panel, click the color field.
3. Choose a new color from the palette or pick a custom color.

Replacing Images

1. Click on the image placeholder in the template.
2. In the right panel, click Upload.
3. Select a new image from your computer.
4. Drag to reposition or resize the image within the frame.

Removing or Adding Elements

• To remove an element, click it and press Delete.
• To add new elements, use the tools in the left toolbar (Text, Image, Shapes, etc.).
• See the Editor Guide for full details on adding elements.

Changing Fonts

1. Click on a text element to select it.
2. In the right panel, open the Font dropdown.
3. Choose a new font from the list of 20+ professional fonts.

Templates + Data Import

You can use templates with the data import feature to create multiple personalized badges:

1. Apply a template to your badge design.
2. In the editor, open the Data panel from the left toolbar.
3. Upload a CSV or Excel file with employee data (names, titles, IDs, etc.).
4. Map the CSV columns to badge fields using AI suggestions.
5. Preview each record and batch export all badges as a single PDF.

Template Tips & Best Practices

• Start with the closest match: Don't start from blank. Find a template similar to your vision and modify it.
• Keep it simple: Good badge design is clean and readable. Don't overcrowd with elements.
• Use high-quality photos: Photo zones work best with clear, well-lit headshots.
• Test before printing: Export a PDF and verify it looks right before printing hundreds of badges.
• Save your design: After customizing a template, save it to your dashboard so you can reuse it.
• Lock important elements: Once you've finalized decorations and logos, lock them to prevent accidental changes.
• Use consistent colors: Stick to 2-3 colors for a professional look. Use the color palette to stay consistent.

Saving & Duplicating Templates

After customizing a template:

• Your design is automatically saved. You'll see it on your dashboard.
• Click Duplicate on the dashboard to create a copy and modify it further.
• Give designs descriptive names (e.g., "2024 Company Picnic - Blue" vs "Badge #1") so you can find them later.