Templates

Illustrator defaults to the settings last entered in the dialog box when you create a new file. This is useful, but invest a little time to make templates for yourself.

In each template create a rectangle and make crop marks. Place guides at 10 percent and 20 percent for Action safe and Title safe areas.

In Illustrator CS you can save a file as a template automatically.

• In Illustrator CS, go to File>Save As Template.

• Navigate to your Applications folder and select the AI program folder. Inside you'll find a templates folder, open it. Create a New Folder and call it Video.

• Name the file with it's pixel dimensions and make sure it has the .ait extension. Save it to the Video folder.

• To use a template, go to File>New from Template>Video Folder and choose one of your templates. You can also jump right to the templates folder by pressing Shift+Cmd+N (Shift+Ctrl+N).

It's not quite as easy in Illustrator 10 (or earlier) as you have to manage your own templates.

• Create a folder on your hard-drive for Illustrator Video Templates.

• In Illustrator, go to File>Save and navigate to your Illustrator templates folder

• Save the file with dimensions in the title.

• When you need to use the template open it, start designing, and go to File>Save As. Rename it and save it to your project folder.