How to Work with Template Layers in Adobe Illustrator

See Adobe Illustrator: Tips and Tricks for similar articles.

Many designers start with a sketch, then scan it to recreate as vector art in Illustrator. Placing the sketch as a template has several advantages.

  1. Go to File > Place. In the dialog box, select the file and check Template, then click place. Place as Template
  2. To understand what the Template option does, go to the Layers Panel. Notice that a new layer named "Template..." was created underneath the existing layer/layers, and the template layer is locked. Placed Image and Layers Panel
  3. Click once on the template layer, then go to the Layers Panel menu and choose Options for "Template...Layers Panel Menu
  4. In the options, note with Template checked, Lock is on and Print is off, and both are grayed out. Also note that Dim Image is on. The whole purpose of using template layers is to make things easier to trace. Layer Options
  5. Remember that placed template images always land in the center of the document window. If you need to reposition the image, you can easily unlock the template layer temporarily by clicking the Lock icon to the left of the layer name in the Layers Panel. Just click in the empty space to lock the layer again once the image is repositioned. Layers Panel

Related Articles

  1. Creating an SVG logo
  2. How to Use the Gradient Tool in Adobe Illustrator
  3. How to Use the Gradient Mesh Tool in Adobe Illustrator
  4. How to Use a Photoshop File in Adobe Illustrator
  5. How to Use Live Paint to Color and Paint Artwork in Adobe Illustrator
  6. How to Put Type in Perspective in Adobe Illustrator
  7. How to Create Variable-width Stroke Profiles in Adobe Illustrator
  8. How to Create a Line Graph in Adobe Illustrator
  9. How to Create a Pattern Brush in Adobe Illustrator
  10. How to Use Isolation Mode in Adobe Illustrator
  11. How to Add Spot Color in Adobe Illustrator
  12. How to Use Draw Inside Mode in Adobe Illustrator
  13. How to Find and Replace in Adobe Illustrator
  14. How to Divide Basic Shapes into Component Pieces in Adobe Illustrator
  15. How to Work with Bezier Curves in Adobe Illustrator
  16. How to Create a Brochure in Adobe Illustrator
  17. How to Use the Shape Builder Tool in Adobe Illustrator
  18. How to Use the Group Selection Tool in Adobe Illustrator
  19. How to Check Spelling in Adobe Illustrator
  20. How to Use Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator
  21. How to Use Global Color Swatches in Adobe Illustrator
  22. How to Manage Artwork with Sublayers in Adobe Illustrator
  23. How to Import Illustrator Files Into Adobe Animate
  24. How to Create Shapes from Multiple Paths in Adobe Illustrator
  25. How to Adjust the Default Artboard in Adobe Illustrator
  26. How to Create a New Document in Adobe Illustrator
  27. How to Use a Color Group to Change Multiple Swatches in Adobe Illustrator
  28. How to Create a Package File from a Template in Adobe Illustrator
  29. How to Work with Hidden Characters in Adobe Illustrator
  30. How to Work with Template Layers in Adobe Illustrator (this article)
  31. How to Create Symbols for Mapping Artwork to 3D Objects in Adobe Illustrator
  32. How to Work with Threaded Text in Adobe Illustrator
  33. How to Convert Type to Outlines in Adobe Illustrator
  34. How to Use Draw Behind Mode in Adobe Illustrator
  35. How to Use Adobe Illustrator to Create Website Graphics
  36. How to Create a Custom Pattern in Adobe Illustrator
  37. How to Use Warp Design Elements in Adobe Illustrator
  38. How to Create Custom Graphics from Letter Shapes in Adobe Illustrator