Template guidelines

When you work with templates, consider the following guidelines:

• Use descriptive group and layer names: Group and layer names in a template should describe each object’s function. For example, text objects in a titling template might be named “Main Title,” “Starring,” “Guest Star,” and so on. If you use visual elements in the template’s composition, their layer names should describe their function—“Background Texture,” “Divider,” and “Main Title Background,” for example. Descriptive layer names are especially important if others use the template.

• Create alternate versions of a template for each resolution you need: If you regularly create projects for a variety of output formats, you can build different display aspect ratios into a single template. For example, when you create a template with a 16:9 aspect ratio, you can add an alternate version customized for 3:2 displays. For more information about creating alternate display versions in a single template, see Add multiple display aspect ratios to a template.

• Place all media files used in a template in a central folder: To avoid problems with offline or missing media, move all media files for the template into a central folder on your computer before you begin the working on the project. Although customized templates are saved in the /Users/username/Movies/ folder on your computer, media added to the template remains in its original location on disk. A central location for all media resources ensures that files are not lost. Alternatively, you can use the File > Save As command, and use the Collect Media option. For more information, see Save, autosave, and revert projects.