Creating template sets

Template sets appear in the Web themes section of the Clipart Gallery. This page describes how to produce template sets. You would normally do this for templates sets you want to distribution to other people but you may find it useful for sets created for your own use. Look in Web themes to see example template sets.

Creating a template set

1. We suggest creating a single document containing all the elements. (For example a horizontal divider, heading, button bar.) Save this in case you need to make edits in the future (for example by changing the basic colors).

2. Create a folder named after the theme on your computer.

3. Save each part of the template as a separate file in this folder. Call the files Horizontal Bar, Vertical Bar, Heading, Paragraph, Logo, Letter, Horizontal divider, Vertical divider, and so on.

It is often better to mark up with the live stretching turned off. Turn it back on to test the button. This way you know when everything is in the right place and nothing will extend while you move and edit the button in creation.

Tips

Remove groups from text as ascenders and descenders in grouped text can cause the button to extend when you don't want it to.

Don't use molds as these don't stretch.

Avoid blended smart shapes - this can give unexpected results.

Don't just pick the default bar settings. If the item is a title or paragraph heading then pick Buttons are all 'independent sizes' as this is faster than 'all the same size'.

If a button has jagged edges or ovals then scaling may be better than extending. Try expanding it with both types - which looks best?. If you pick one of these options you can adjust it to not extend in one direction or extend one way and scale the other by using the Name Gallery after you have used the Bar Tool to create the button.

Remove unused layers. They may be background layers in the wrong place or imported layers.

Is the drawing overly complex? This slows down rendering and extending. Simplify if required, particularly if the shape isn't visible or is hidden by another shape.

Use the Button & NavBar Tool to create extending headings and paragraph headings. Rename these named items from "Button1" to "Heading" and the like in the Name Gallery so you can use the Name Gallery to identify objects.

Does the button has an "indicator" on it (like a blob to the left) that you don't want to extend, but you do want to move and remain in its relative location. Then make this item a group and remove all other groups from this button. When creating the button bar tick the option of Groups to not stretch.

Save after each button is complete and works - this saves tears something goes wrong later.

Are Named colors used in the document (recommended for easy editing later). Are they well named?

Dark shadows on buttons may overlap and give dark marks down the edge. Blurring the shadow more removes this.