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Over one hundred Studio users attended our Design in 5 Webinars this past month. While not a new concept (we have been recommending templates since Studio was first introduced), Design in 5 can take your client presentation to a new level. Using a pre-drawn template saves time and gives the treatment a backdrop or setting which makes the design easier to visualize.

In the client's home, after you have measured and discussed a general theme, sit down with your laptop, open Studio and select the template that most closely matches a wall in the client's room. Save the file to your client's folder and then drag on your first treatment idea. Duplicate the page, delete the original idea and try another. Do three or four different pages if desired; this should take only a few minutes per page. Then present the designs to the client by clicking on page 1, page 2, and so on. Once the client has made a choice, you can go back to your office to add fabric, trim, color and accessories, and email the finished design to the client. Duplicate the rendering and add dimension lines and text to supplement the workorder.

Shortly after taking the webinar, Connie V. decided to use the Design in 5 concept with a client and was thrilled with how quickly and easily she could create her renderings.

Connie's comments: "I just finished several renderings for a whole house of projects, and I want to say that the recent webinar that I did on Tuesday, the Design in 5 helped me tremendously!!!! Though I've been doing a lot since I started with Studio, now a year ago, I'm amazed at how much things just came together after this session."

And for workroom owners, it's helpful to sketch out for the designer, to scale, the treatment ideas discussed. Long points, short points, proportions and shape can be fine tuned. Most workrooms are scheduled six to eight weeks out; this sketch becomes a valuable reference tool when fabrication of the project starts. It can also be used for the installer, to indicate rod placement, treatment height, obstructions to factor in, etc., as well as verifying style, fabric and hardware selections for each room to be installed.

During May we have uploaded many templates that you may find useful, from a typical 14 x 9 wall with two double hung windows to more elaborate door/window configurations on a 16' high wall. We invite you to visit The Lounge and avail yourself of these templates. Customize them to the typical dimensions and styles in your market area, with your logo and business information, and copyright.

Try incorporating the "Design in 5" method into your client presentation, you'll be delighted how quickly and easily it is to show your design ideas with a more professional approach, and most important, close those sales!

These pre-designed templates have been created for you; simply download templates from “The Lounge”, our online forum. We have created 8’, 9’ and 10’ Templates. The template sizes include the floor, wall, crown, and baseboard. If your client does not have crown simply delete! Deleting is so much quicker than adding these image details to each design. Save the templates 8', 9' & 10' Wall Templates from "The Lounge" > once the template thread opens double click on the Attached Folder > click Open > double click on the .mms template > this will open the file in Studio.

Once the template opens in Studio click File > Save As > under My Studio Designs, create a new folder > name the folder Templates > save all your template sizes under this folder. If you need a refresher course on creating new folders, read February's newsletter – Learning to Work with Computers 101 (Session One).

Add your company’s logo, address, phone number, etc. Once you have customized the templates with your company information click Save.

When you are ready to begin designing, press Ctrl+O (open) > locate your saved template > double click to open the template in Studio > click File > Save As… > rename the template with your client's name > begin designing. By renaming the file, you will be able to keep the original template file and create a new file to be used for your client.

Want to learn more about Minutes Matter Studio? "10 Ways to Increase Your Profits with Studio" at the CHFI Conference Philly- October 4 - 7. We will show you easy ways to remember all of the tips and tricks for making the most of a graphic design software.