Using Modified Design

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Can you modify a publication design and then use that modified design as a kind of a template so that all the other publication materials “match”, just as they do in the original design set? I started with the Accent box set, but have made major revisions (replaced shape in accent box with our logo, used stylized company name created in PhotoDraw instead of personal information set name in box beside logo, removed all but the borders around the logo at the top). Began with the business card and am now working on letterhead and envelopes, but find cutting and pasting and, basically, redesigning for each new publication piece very time consuming. Also, would feel more confident if all our publications “matched” when I’m done, as they would if we stuck to the exact designs Publisher provides.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

IreneLinda (obviously, a new user of Publisher!)

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If I understand correctly, you want to use this logo that you created and use it on multiple publications.
In the view menu, pull down “Go to Background” and place all your static items there, so that when you work in the forground, your logo, address, things that don’t change, remain untouched. Publisher also has the “save as template” option.
You can also save your logo as clipart by locking all the items in place, (lasso all item with mouse, you’ll see a puzzle piece and, click the lock) then right-clicking and copy the item into the favorites folder on the clipart disk. That way when you do create something new and are prompted to insert clipart, it will bring up the MS clipart dialog box and the favorites folder.

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Thanks for your super fast response! I’ve printed out your advice and will try it. To clarify further: what I’d like to do is make my modified design usable in the same way that a Publisher design set is. I did try saving the originally created business card (with logo, name, colors, etc.) as a template and then make an envelope out of it by changing the paper size, but the result was just a blank envelope! Guess I’m not sure how to use the template to create the next item!

If your original advice is the only way to do what I’m trying to do, that’s fine because I understand what you were saying. This note is to try and clarify my original intent to ensure that you had understood what I was trying to do.

As an addendum, am I best then just to forget using the Publisher design sets completely and simply create each item (card, letterhead, envelope) using the background and clipart folder ideas you’d suggested? I can see this could work if I locked all items in place (box, logo, name) and just inserted them as a package into the particular publication. Can they be unlocked once they are placed in a publication in case they need to be adjusted to fit the new item?

Hope this serves to clarify and not confuse!

Linda (IreneLinda)

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It does

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Aha! It all makes sense now! I had hoped that a modified item could create a whole new “personal design set”, but realize now, thanks to you, that it’s an item by item process, using the predesigned sets as inspiration! You have saved me a lot of time, Patti, and I really appreciate it. Will get myself a book since the one that came with the program is sadly lacking! The Help info is plentiful and helpful, but challenging to sort through when you aren’t quite sure what you’re asking – in MS terms!

Now I can complete the immediate task at hand more efficiently (and confidently!). Thank you!!

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