> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pulze.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Template Editor

> Build and change templates visually: groups, element slots, label colours, blend modes and opacity, with a live preview.

In the template editor you shape a template the way you'd shape the Layers panel: add groups, drop render elements into them, and set each item's label colour, blend mode, opacity and visibility.

Open it from [Templates](https://docs.pulze.io/layerwise/templates.md):

* the **pencil** on one of your own templates edits it,
* **Duplicate and edit** on any template (including built-in and cloud ones) edits a copy.

![The template editor with the layer stack, the element palette and the live preview](https://mintcdn.com/sourcelinekft/z3vWbLeBmT4OoYjW/images/layerwise/lw_editor_overview.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=z3vWbLeBmT4OoYjW\&q=85\&s=fec89696adeba104d550fee48babaa61)

The template editor

* **The stack** (middle). The template from top to bottom, just like the Layers panel.
* **Properties.** Press a row to edit it in place, as with LIGHTING above.
* **Render elements** (right). The element palette of the template's engine. Drag chips into the stack.
* **Preview** (top left). A live sketch of the structure: groups in their label colour, elements in green, dimmed when hidden or transparent. Click a plate to select its row.

## Template settings

At the top: the template's **name** and the **bit depth of new documents** (8, 16 or 32 bits) built from it.

## Groups and elements

**Add a group** and name it. Each group has:

* **Group name.** Name a group like a mask (`#Wood`, `[LUMA]Alpha`) to make it a [mask target](https://docs.pulze.io/layerwise/masks.md#where-the-masks-go). It's marked with a *Mask target* icon.
* **Label colour.** Its colour in Photoshop's Layers panel.
* **Blend mode.** Any Photoshop blend mode, including *Pass Through*.
* **Opacity** and **visibility** (the eye).

**Add render elements** by dragging chips from the palette into the stack, or click a chip to add it at the selected position. The search field filters the palette, and elements already in use are ticked. Each element slot has its own blend mode, opacity and visibility, for example *Linear Dodge (Add)* for light passes.

Elements missing from the engine's list are marked **Not in the element list**. They still work in the template, but LayerWise won't recognize their files until you [add them](https://docs.pulze.io/layerwise/render-elements.md).

## Arranging

* **Drag** rows to move them. Drop on the top part of a group to put the item above it, on the middle to put it inside, or on the bottom (of a collapsed group) to put it below.
* Or use the buttons: **Move up**, **Move down**, **Move into the group above**, **Move out of this group**, **Duplicate** and **Delete**.
* Collapse and expand groups with the chevron.

![Dragging a render element chip from the palette into a group in the template stack](https://mintcdn.com/sourcelinekft/z3vWbLeBmT4OoYjW/images/layerwise/lw_editor_drag.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=z3vWbLeBmT4OoYjW\&q=85\&s=5419f4b05ad77e4145932da5cbad83cf)

AO dragged from the palette into the GRADING group

## Keyboard shortcuts

| Shortcut | Action |
| - | - |
| **Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z** | Undo |
| **Ctrl+Shift+Z** or **Ctrl+Y** | Redo |
| **Ctrl+S / Cmd+S** | Save |
| **Del** | Delete the selected item |
| **↑ / ↓** | Select the item above / below |
| **Alt+↑ / Alt+↓** | Move the selected item up / down |

## Save

Press **Save template**. LayerWise warns you if the template uses elements that aren't in the engine's list. If you try to leave with unsaved changes, it asks first.

## Duplicate a template

**Duplicate and edit** opens an unsaved copy called *"\<name> copy"*. The editor shows **Not saved yet**, and the save button reads **Save duplicate**: it adds the copy to your templates and leaves the original untouched.

> [!TIP]
>
> Built-in and cloud templates are read-only. Duplicate them to make your own version.


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.