Studio: Professional visual design editor

The Studio is the built-in visual editor in Polimake Studio that lets you create professional designs directly on the platform, with no need for external tools. With the Studio, you can design anything from simple posts to complex compositions, all synced with your calendar and content.

Opening the Studio

The Studio can be opened in different ways depending on your workflow.

From existing content

If your content already has an associated design:

1. Go to the content page by clicking on it
2. Find the "Open in Studio" or "Edit design" button
3. Click and the Studio will open with the design loaded
4. Edit the design as needed
5. Save, and the changes sync automatically with the content

Creating a new design

If you want to create a new design for a piece of content:

1. Open the content where you want to add the design
2. Click "Create design" or "New design"
3. The Studio opens with a blank canvas
4. Create your design from scratch
5. Save, and the design is associated with the content

From boards

You can also open the Studio from a board:

1. Open the board where you want to work
2. Click "Open Studio" if available
3. Create or edit designs directly from the board's context

Studio preview

Before opening the Studio, you can see a preview of the design if it already exists:

• Thumbnail: See a thumbnail of the design
• Information: Design type, dimensions, last modified
• Quick access: Click to open it in the Studio

Available design tools

The Studio includes a complete set of professional design tools.

Selection tools

• Selection: Select and move elements
• Multiple selection: Select several elements at once
• Selection marquee: Drag to select multiple elements

Drawing tools

• Rectangle: Draw rectangles and squares
• Circle: Draw circles and ellipses
• Line: Draw lines and strokes
• Path: Create custom shapes with points
• Text: Add text to the design

Editing tools

• Transform: Resize, rotate, and distort elements
• Align: Align elements with each other
• Distribute: Distribute elements evenly
• Group: Group elements to move them together
• Ungroup: Separate grouped elements

Color tools

• Color picker: Choose colors for fills and borders
• Color palette: Access saved palettes
• Gradients: Create and apply gradients
• Transparency: Adjust the opacity of elements

Text tools

• Typography: Select fonts and styles
• Size: Adjust the text size
• Alignment: Align text left, center, or right
• Line spacing: Adjust the space between lines
• Spacing: Control the spacing between letters

Elements and layers

The Studio works with a system of elements and layers that lets you create complex compositions.

Element types

Rectangles (Rect)

• Use: Frames, backgrounds, basic shapes
• Properties: Size, position, fill color, border, rounded corners
• Example: A background rectangle for an Instagram post

Circles (Circle)

• Use: Decorative elements, icons, points of interest
• Properties: Radius, position, color, border
• Example: Colored circles to highlight information

Text (Text)

• Use: Titles, descriptions, copy
• Properties: Font, size, color, alignment, line spacing
• Example: A post's main title with brand typography

Images (Image)

• Use: Photos, graphics, illustrations
• Properties: Size, position, opacity, cropping
• Example: A product photo as the main element

Paths

• Use: Custom shapes, illustrations, diagrams
• Properties: Control points, curves, fill, border
• Example: A custom shape for a logo or icon

SVG

• Use: Vector icons, logos, scalable graphics
• Properties: Color, size, transformations
• Example: Social media icons or brand logos

Groups (Group)

• Use: Group multiple elements
• Properties: The elements within keep their individual properties
• Example: Group a title, subtitle, and description to move them together

Layer system

The Studio organizes elements into layers:

• Layer order: Elements are stacked on top of one another
• Layers panel: View and manage all layers in a side panel
• Reorder: Move layers up or down to change the order
• Visibility: Show or hide layers without deleting them
• Locking: Lock layers to prevent accidental changes

Managing layers

1. Open the layers panel (usually on the left or right side)
2. See all layers listed in order
3. Click a layer to select it
4. Drag layers to reorder them
5. Use the icons to hide, lock, or delete layers

Practical example: You're designing a post with a background, an image, text, and decorative elements. You organize the layers like this: background (bottom), image (middle), decorative elements (mid-upper), text (top). This ensures the text is always visible above everything else.

Exporting designs

Once your design is ready, you can export it in different formats.

Export formats

• PNG: High-quality raster image, ideal for social media
• JPG: Compressed image, useful for reducing file size
• SVG: Vector format, perfect for scaling without losing quality
• PDF: Vector document, useful for printing or presentations

Export process

1. Finish your design in the Studio
2. Click "Export" or "Download"
3. Select the desired format (PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF)
4. Choose the quality/resolution if available
5. Click "Export"
6. The file downloads to your computer

Export settings

• Resolution: Adjust the resolution based on the use (web, print, etc.)
• Size: Export in different sizes if you need multiple versions
• Quality: For JPG, adjust the compression
• Background: Include or exclude the background as needed

Automatic export

In some cases, the design is exported automatically:

• On save: If configured, the design is exported when you save
• On status change: When content moves to "Approved," it can be exported automatically
• Sync: The design syncs with the content in Polimake Studio

Tip: Export at high resolution if you plan to use the design in multiple places or sizes.

Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts make working in the Studio much faster and more efficient.

Basic editing shortcuts

Copy, cut, and paste

• Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac): Copy the selected element
• Ctrl+X (Cmd+X on Mac): Cut the selected element
• Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac): Paste the copied element

Delete

• Delete: Delete the selected element
• Backspace: Delete the selected element (alternative)

Undo and redo

• Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac): Undo the last action
• Ctrl+Y (Cmd+Y on Mac): Redo the undone action
• Ctrl+Shift+Z (Cmd+Shift+Z on Mac): Redo (alternative)

Tool shortcuts

Hand Tool

• Spacebar: Toggle the hand tool to move the canvas
• Hold the Spacebar: While holding it, you can drag the canvas
• Release the Spacebar: Return to the previous tool

Note: The hand tool is useful for navigating large designs without having to zoom constantly.

Selection shortcuts

• Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac): Select all elements
• Escape: Deselect all elements
• Shift+Click: Add/remove an element from the selection

Transform shortcuts

• Arrow keys: Move the selected element (small pixel increments)
• Shift+Arrow keys: Move the selected element (large pixel increments)
• Ctrl+Drag (Cmd+Drag): Duplicate an element while dragging it

Layer shortcuts

• Ctrl+] (Cmd+]): Bring the layer to the front
• Ctrl+[ (Cmd+[): Send the layer to the back
• Ctrl+Shift+] (Cmd+Shift+]): Bring the layer forward one level
• Ctrl+Shift+[ (Cmd+Shift+[): Send the layer back one level

Save shortcuts

• Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on Mac): Save the design
• Note: The Studio may have autosave, but it's always good to save manually

Full list of shortcuts

To see all available shortcuts:

1. Open the Studio
2. Look for "Keyboard Shortcuts" in the menu
3. A panel opens with all available shortcuts
4. Some shortcuts may vary by platform (Windows/Mac/Linux)

Tip: Print or save the list of shortcuts and keep it handy while you're learning. Over time, you'll use them automatically and work much faster.

Properties and details panel

The properties panel lets you adjust every aspect of the selected elements.

Basic properties

When you select an element, the panel shows:

• Position: The element's X and Y coordinates
• Size: The element's width and height
• Rotation: The rotation angle
• Opacity: The element's transparency (0–100%)

Shape properties

For shapes (rectangles, circles, etc.):

• Fill: The element's fill color
• Border: Border color, thickness, and style
• Rounded corners: Corner radius (rectangles only)
• Shadow: Add shadows to the element

Text properties

For text elements:

• Font: Type family
• Size: Text size
• Color: Text color
• Alignment: Left, center, right, justified
• Line spacing: Space between lines
• Letter spacing: Kerning and tracking

Image properties

For images:

• Cropping: Adjust which part of the image is shown
• Filters: Apply basic filters (brightness, contrast, saturation)
• Opacity: Control transparency
• Blend: Blend mode (normal, multiply, etc.)

Layers panel

The layers panel shows:

• Layer list: All the layers in the design
• Order: Drag to reorder
• Visibility: Eye icon to show/hide
• Locking: Lock icon to lock/unlock
• Name: Double-click to rename layers

Best practices

Organization

• Name your layers: Use descriptive names for layers (e.g., "Main Title," "Background," "Product Image")
• Group related elements: Group elements that always move together
• Use guides: Enable guides to align elements precisely
• Keep it tidy: Organize layers logically (background at the bottom, text at the top)

Design

• Use a consistent palette: Keep brand colors consistent
• Coherent typography: Use a limited type system
• Uniform spacing: Keep spacing consistent between elements
• Visual hierarchy: Use size, color, and position to create hierarchy

Performance

• Optimize images: Use appropriately sized images, not overly large ones
• Limit complex effects: Too many effects can slow down the editor
• Save frequently: Even with autosave, save manually at key points

Troubleshooting common issues

The Studio won't open

• Verify that you have write permissions on the content
• Make sure the content is in a project you have access to
• Refresh the page and try again

Changes aren't saving

• Check your internet connection
• Make sure you have write permissions
• Look for error messages in the interface
• Try saving manually with Ctrl+S

The tools aren't responding

• Verify that you have an element selected if needed
• Make sure you're in the right mode (editing vs. viewing)
• Refresh the page if the problem persists

The keyboard shortcuts aren't working

• Verify that you're not typing in a text field
• Make sure you're using the correct combination for your operating system (Ctrl vs. Cmd)
• Some browsers may intercept certain shortcuts

Conclusion

Polimake Studio's Studio is a powerful tool that lets you create professional designs without leaving the platform. Master the basic tools first, then gradually incorporate advanced features like layers, keyboard shortcuts, and exporting.

The key is to practice and get familiar with the workflow. Start with simple designs and increase the complexity as you get more comfortable. Keyboard shortcuts will make you work much faster, so take the time to learn them.

Remember that the Studio is integrated with the rest of Polimake Studio, so your designs sync automatically with your content and calendar. This makes the whole process smoother and more efficient.

For more information on how to organize your designs, check out our boards guide, and to manage the content you create, see our content management guide.