Creating a Design 

Customer's Canvas offers two methods for Designs. You can create a Design with InDesign or Photoshop and then import it into the system (see option a). Or you can create the entire design from scratch (see option b).

Creating a Design 

Option A. Import - InDesign / Photoshop

1. Select {Assets} and then select {Designs}

2. Click on {New}

3. Select {Import}

4. Double Click on your Design and skip to step 11 below if you would like to make adjustments to your design. 

Option B. Blank Design

1. Select {Assets} and then select {Designs}

2. Click on {New}

3. Select {Design File} 

4. Once uploaded you can use the {New} / {Folder} to organize your designs.

5. Click on the Design File.

6. Enter a Name e.g. Business Card.

7. Select a preset or if you do not see the one in the list that you would like you can select Custom. Default presets can be added, edited, and deleted in Settings. Select {Settings} and then select {Size Presets}.

8. Enter qty of Pages e.g. 2 sided then enter 2 pages

9. Add bleed or leave at 0 if you do not need a bleed. If you check off "Keep All Side The Same" as you enter a value in any field, the other fields will automatically update.

10. Click on {Create new}                                                                                                                      
    
    
    

11. It should look something like this:                                                                                                         
    
       

12. Additional pages can be added by clicking on the + (LH Side) If you would like to remove the page then right-click and select delete

13. Additional Layers can be added by clicking on the + (LH Side) and then name the layer. If you would like to edit the layer then right click and you can move the layer to a different page,  rename, show/Hide, Lock/Unlock or delete. (By default when you create a Design it will create a Foreground and Main layer. You can access the Background in the right hand panel, where you can select a color or image as the background).                                                                                                                

14. Name the page (RH Side) eg Front.

15. The page size can be modified from the drop-down or manually change page size by entering the width and/or height. The Orientation can be changed to Landscape or Portrait.  If you would like to Constrain proportions then click on the lock. You can apply this to all pages by clicking on the ellipse and select Apply for all.

16. You can add or edit the bleed by sliding the toggle to the right on Bleed and enter the bleed values. If you would like all the bleeds to be the same click on the Constrain proportions lock and then enter the value in one of the cells. You can apply this to all pages by clicking on the ellipse and select Apply for all.

17. You can modify the Margins by sliding the toggle to the right on Margins and enter the margin values. If you would like all the margins to be the same click on the Constrain proportions lock and then enter the value in one of the cells. You can apply this to all pages by clicking on the ellipse and select Apply for all.

18. You can add a background by sliding the slider to the right. Click on Color, then click on the box below and select a color, you can also adjust the percentage with the slider or enter a percentage. If you would like to add an Image select image and drag and drop the file. Supported files are AI, GIF, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PSD, SVG, and TIF. You can apply this to all pages by clicking on the ellipse and select Apply for all.

19. You can undo and redo changes by clicking on the undo or redo arrow in the top middle of the page.  Don't forget to save the changes as you go

20. Creating a placeholder and design elements. The purpose of creating a placeholder is to give the ability to add or change an image as well as to limit the size of the images they use to a box with specific dimensions. This is especially important when it's necessary to preserve a unique brand identity. Choose Main Layer > select the placeholder tool from the image button drop down in the top menu bar. Create a Placeholder of the necessary size > Left-Click on the uploaded icon inside the placeholder > select an image.      
    
    Note: Instead of showing an empty placeholder, you can place an image that prompts users to select their own image to replace it. To do this, we use the stub image button. Click on Behavior located to the right, then click on Placeholder and slide the Stub Image to the right. Next upload the image you would like to use.
    
    

21. Now, Let's add some lines to make our design a little more stylish. Select the Rectangle Tool on the top toolbar > make a narrow rectangle > use the Alignment buttons on the right toolbar to align the element > choose white for the fill color > click Border and change the width.

22. Right-click on the resulting line > select Duplicate > change the size and color.

23. To work with lines as a single object, press CTRL+G or select two lines > right-click > select Group Selection.
    
    Note: Design elements should only be used on the Main layer not the background layer. 
    
    

24. To add text click on the Text Tool and then click on the canvas. This will create a plain text box. You will see to the right all the options such as font, size, and color and you can right-click for more options. You can also click on the Text Tool and then drag a text box of your desired size on the canvas. This will create a bounded text box instead.
    
    Note: There are three primary methods for selecting a color: Use color picker, Adjust the CMYK settings, or select the available options.
    
    

25. To modify the backside for your design click on the second page located to the left under Pages. Unlock the main layer to add the necessary design elements.

26. Save and close the window.

To add a Schema go to {Assets} and then select Designs} right-click on the Design and add Schema. For more information regarding Data Schema please refer to the Data Schema article.