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

# Template editor

> Open the visual badge editor, set the label size, place elements, preview with real attendee data, and save.

In TalkValue's template editor you design what each printed badge looks like on a visual canvas. You set a label size, drop text, image, QR, and rectangle elements on the canvas, bind text fields to attendee data, preview the layout with a real attendee, and save. Variants attach to specific ticket types so different attendees can get different badges.

<Note>
  **Before you start**

  * An event in Badge. See [Add an event](/badge/events/create).
  * Workspace **Admin** role to save template changes.
  * Optional: a paired Zebra printer at this laptop if you want to **Print test** from inside the editor. See [Connect a printer](/badge/printer-setup/webusb-connection).
</Note>

## Open the editor

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the templates list">
    Open the event from the Badge dashboard. On the event page, find the **Badge Template** card and click **Manage**, or use the event header to go to **Templates**. You land on the **Badge templates** page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the default template, or create a variant">
    The first card on the page is the **Default badge** that applies to every ticket type. Click it to customize. Click **New template** in the page header to create a variant that targets specific ticket names instead.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm you're in the editor">
    The editor opens in full-screen: a sidebar on the left for properties, a canvas in the middle showing the badge at scale, and a property panel on the right that shows when an element is selected.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Anatomy of the editor

The editor has a header strip on top and three regions below:

* **Header.** Event name, **Undo** and **Redo** (⌘Z / ⇧⌘Z), **Discard**, and **Save** (or **Create**).
* **Left sidebar.** **Name** (template name), Label size preset, ticket type picker for variants, the **Add element** row (Text / Image / QR / Rect), element list, **Preview as** selector, and the **Connect printer** button.
* **Center canvas.** A scaled-to-fit preview of the label. Snaps to a 2 mm grid; elements can be dragged and resized.
* **Right panel.** Element-specific properties when one is selected. See [Add elements](/badge/templates/add-elements) for the field reference.

## Set the label size

Open the **Label size** dropdown in the left sidebar. Pick from common Zebra presets:

| Preset   | Width    | Height   |
| -------- | -------- | -------- |
| 3 × 2 in | 76.2 mm  | 50.8 mm  |
| 4 × 2 in | 101.6 mm | 50.8 mm  |
| 4 × 3 in | 101.6 mm | 76.2 mm  |
| 4 × 6 in | 101.6 mm | 152.4 mm |

For non-standard media, type the width and height directly into the **Width (mm)** and **Height (mm)** fields below the dropdown. The canvas resizes immediately. Match this to the actual label stock loaded in your printer, or prints misalign. See [Calibration and troubleshooting](/badge/printer-setup/calibration-troubleshooting) if the layout doesn't match.

## Preview with real attendees

The **Preview as** combobox in the left sidebar pre-fills the canvas with sample data by default and lets you switch to any real attendee from the event:

* **Sample data.** A fake `Jane Doe — Acme Corporation` so you can see the layout before importing real data.
* **Attendee search.** Start typing in the combobox to search by name; pick an attendee to render every text element bound to attendee fields (name, company, ticket) with their actual values.

Use **Preview as** to spot-check that long company names wrap correctly, ticket bars stay readable, and QR codes scan at this label size.

## Save, discard, and undo

* **Save** (or **Create**) writes the template and routes back to the templates page.
* **Discard** confirms if you have unsaved edits, then routes back. The browser also prompts on tab close.
* **Undo / Redo** is ⌘Z and ⇧⌘Z.

## Print a test badge from the editor

Click **Connect printer** in the left sidebar, pick your Zebra model in the browser permission dialog, then click **Print test**. A single badge prints using the current **Preview as** selection. Click the device chip when done to release the printer so the staff station can claim it on event day. Full pairing reference: [Connect a printer](/badge/printer-setup/webusb-connection).

## Related

* [Add elements](/badge/templates/add-elements). Text, image, QR, and rectangle elements with their full property panels.
* [Printer settings](/badge/templates/printer-settings). Label size presets and per-printer calibration from the editor.
* [Connect a printer](/badge/printer-setup/webusb-connection). Pair a Zebra printer from the editor and from the staff station.
* [Events, attendees, templates](/badge/concepts/events-attendees-templates). How variants pick a template based on ticket name at print time.