With Mediaflow Design Templates, you can easily and efficiently create localized and brand-secured communication materials. The templates can be accessed both from within Mediaflow and from a Media Portal.
Workflow for Creating Design Templates
To get started with design templates, they need to be programmed by us at Mediaflow. Design templates are handled by Mediaflow's Professional Services department. The templates are tailored to your needs and documents. The process of programming the templates begins after the initial meeting and once we have received your materials. We start by analyzing the materials, provide feedback with any questions, and give a time and cost estimate. We offer advice on how the templates can be designed in the smartest way based on the given conditions. We only begin work on the template after you have approved the time and cost estimate we send based on your materials. Since we assist our customers in order, the time required for a template to be completed may vary, but it typically takes a few weeks. Once the template is ready for initial testing, you will find it in Mediaflow under the folder Design Generator/Templates to be approved. A normal proofreading process is included, but if changes require us to reprogram the template, an additional cost will be incurred. For example, if you later decide that a circle, which in the original material only indicated right-side placement, should also be able to appear on the left.
To ensure the process is as efficient as possible, we ask that you compile a written response. The templates will then be adjusted based on any corrections. Once a template is approved by you, you can publish it in your Media Portal. After publication, you can contact support for general inquiries or the Professional Services department if you want to modify your templates or request new ones. The process then starts over.
Design assets
To ensure a smooth process, we request that your design assets is as clear as possible. We need the following from you for each template:
1. Graphic Assets
We need an Adobe InDesign document with all linked materials, such as fonts and images, in a zip file for each template. Design templates do not support Adobe Fonts included in your Adobe subscription, so we need the fonts "physically" in Truetype or OpenType format. You can read more about the languages and characters supported by the Design Generator here. Upload the zip file in Mediaflow under the folder InDesign documents and assets, which we have created within the Design Generator folder.
2. Order Specification
The order specification contains instructions on what should be editable and any additional comments regarding colors, selections, etc. This is best done using InDesign, where you can create multiple pages showing different layout options and add comments. Alternatively, comments can be provided in a PDF.
Consider all the features you want the template to have so that we can provide an accurate time/cost estimate from the beginning and avoid additional costs.
Order Specification Checklist
Below is information on what you need to consider when preparing your materials.
General Information about the Template
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What should the template be named?
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Which elements should be toggleable in the document?
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Are there different variants/layouts in the template? Specify these by creating multiple pages showing these options, e.g., large image and small image.
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Will the template be used for print, press, or as a PNG/JPG?
Colors
We need to know which colors should be used in the template, especially if they need to be selectable. These are unique to each template and can be included in the materials, document, or text. Do you have specific color themes, e.g., two different shades that must be linked?
Exempel:
Mediaflow-blå
CMYK: 70, 28, 5, 0.
HEX: #4698CB
Images
Users can be allowed to choose images. If an image should be selectable, it is usually done by allowing the user to choose images from Mediaflow, but only from the folders you permit in the Design Generator (free image selector). All allowed images are available in all templates. Users can crop images freely, with a low-resolution warning to ensure quality. Images and image selection can be programmed in the Design Templates as follows:
Fixed images: These images are embedded in the template and cannot be changed by users.
Static image selector: Users can choose from a set of pre-programmed images but cannot crop them.
Free image selector: Users can choose from selected images within designated folders in your Mediaflow account.
Option for users to upload their own images.
Graphic Elements
You can make color tiles, circles and other graphic elements selectable.
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Should users be able to hide an element? If so, what should be the consequence (e.g., another element disappearing)?
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Should users be able to change colors? If so, specify the colors in CMYK and RGB in InDesign's color palette.
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Should elements be movable, e.g., between right and left? Include examples in your InDesign document.
Text Fields (Single-line)
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Should users be able to hide the text field completely? What should be the consequence?
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What should be the default text in the field when the template opens?
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Should users be able to change text color? Specify colors in CMYK and RGB.
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Should the text size be adjustable? Specify available font sizes (e.g., 12, 14, 16 pt for S, M, L options).
Text Fields (Multi-line)
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Should users be able to hide the text field completely? What should be the consequence?
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What should be the default text in the field when the template opens?
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Should users be able to change text color? Specify colors in CMYK and RGB.
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Should the text size be adjustable? Specify available font sizes (e.g., 12, 14, 16 pt for S, M, L options).Ska man kunna dölja textraden helt? Vad bli påföljden? Ska något annat släckas eller flyttas?
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Should text be aligned at the top, bottom, or centered?
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What is the maximum size for the text block? Define max rows or height in mm.
Dynamic Text Blocks
These function like multi-line text fields but allow users to choose between different paragraph styles (e.g., subheadings and bullet lists). Paragraph styles can only be applied to entire paragraphs, not individual words within a sentence.
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Specify which paragraph styles should be available and their names. Include examples in your InDesign document.
Other Selectable Graphic Elements
It is possible to let the user change elements other than images, graphic elements and texts.
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Specify which elements should be selectable and include them in your document, e.g., in different layers or on different pages.
Smart Choices
Smart choices can make the template more dynamic by hiding and showing different elements. Examples:
Examples:
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Different layout variants (large image/small image)
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Language selection
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Element placement (right, left, centered)
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Number of cooperation logos
Language and Character Support for the Design Generator
Designgeneratorn har stöd för ett begränsat antal tecken enligt standarden Windows-1252. Windows-1252 är en teckenkodning för det latinska alfabetet och stödjer The Design Generator supports a limited number of characters according to the Windows-1252 standard, which includes Swedish, English, and other Western European languages such as German, Finnish, French, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, and Spanish (excluding the IJ character in Dutch and the č character in Slovenian).
A complete list of supported characters can be found here:
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows-1252
ℹ️ Font Character Support
Note that for these characters to display correctly, the font used in your template must also support them.