Getting started with a Tempo template request? You’re in the right place. This guide walks you through everything you need to know before submitting a request to Lytho’s Professional Templating Services. From understanding what’s possible to gathering the needed materials, we’ll help you make informed decisions so your templates are built right the first time: fast, flexible, and ready to use.


When building out your Project Collection in the DAM we’ll need details about your: 



Artwork and Supporting Materials

Please include the following:

  • InDesign Packages (use only locally installed fonts, not web-based fonts)
  • Multiple design versions shown as layers in one InDesign file or submitted as separate files
  • Fonts (if not packaged in the InDesign file)
  • Images or assets used as placeholders
  • Images that could appear in templates (if the image variables will reference tags or the entire DAM, adding each asset to the Collection isn't necessary)



Template Behavior

Not sure where to start? Check out this article on Template Building Blocks: What’s Possible with Tempo. It’s not exhaustive, but it can help spark ideas.


Provide a visual reference in your DAM Collection (such as a PDF with comments or an annotated layer in InDesign) that clearly shows:

  • Which elements should be dynamic (text, images, colors user can update)
  • What kind of interaction the user will have with them
  • See Creative Brief Intake Example.pdf as an example


Please include the following for each editable object in the annotated PDF or in a separate document:

  • Field/Variable Name 
  • How will users enter or pick their content?
    • Type it in (free text)
    • Pick from a dropdown
    • Comes from a spreadsheet
    • Choose image from the DAM (tagged images)
    • Not sure


Other behaviors not visually obvious (such as element movement, color changes, images that user can manually reposition, character count limits)



Data and Variables

Do you have your template variables mapped out? 

  • Yes – Please upload a spreadsheet to your DAM Collection with clear column headers (such as Last Name, Logo, Background Color).
  • Not yet


If you have spreadsheets that explain project goals—like versions, output formats, artwork sizes, or content variations—please upload those as well.


If we’ll be building a data merge template, please upload the spreadsheet that will be mapped to the content if available. See Sample Data.xlsx as an example.



Metadata & Permissions (Optional)

If available, tell us about:

  • Template permissions (who should have access to the templates)
  • Tags to apply to the templates for searchability (could be things like “Flyer,” “Event,” “HR”)
  • Template publish and expiration dates