Template Guidelines

Making templates is easy - you use Freeway as you normally do, but instead of saving a regular Freeway file, you save a special file that can be reused and distributed. We will be presenting a number of Freeway user created templates in this section of the site to be downloaded and shared – for free. Remember, we have final say on which templates are included in our list.

There are some important points to bear in mind when creating a template for inclusion on the Softpress site.

Consider Your Audience

If you intend both Freeway Pro and Freeway Express users to be able to use your template, it must be built in Freeway Express. Remember the limitations of Freeway Express when designing your template. If in doubt, check here.

Images

Only use images to which you have copyright. Images and other media from sources such as "Stock Photo" sites should not be used, unless their licenses specifically permit their distribution in design templates – if in doubt, use a different image.

Buttons should have a single enclosing Item

When creating buttons, it is helpful if the construction of the button is obvious to the end user. If a button is made up of a number of elements, they should be grouped and the parent item should be extended for clarity. If the button is a rollover, then the Action should be applied to the grouping item. In this example, the button and the text are grouped, and the parent item is wider by a few pixels.

Buttons should have single link

If you have a button made of many items, add the link to the enclosing item. Doing this makes it easier for the user to remove or change the link.

Rollovers should not have multiple text layers

It is best of you can avoid multiple text layers in rollovers - this is because it is hard for the user to edit both text layers. This text layer should be at the top.

Images with shadows are best output as PNGs

You will get better results if your images with dropped shadows are output as 24-bit PNGs. Check your file sizes, though!

Actions

Only use the Standard Freeway Actions that ship with Freeway.

Name buttons & Items where possible

It is a good idea to give the items that are important on the page meaningful names as this will help the user locate them in the site pane.

Fonts

You may have hundreds of fonts on your system, but not everyone will have Space Walk Light Condensed. Try to keep to fonts that ship with Mac OS X.

Avoid 100% Graphic text

Generally graphic text is best avoided unless it is for visually important text like headlines, logos or company names. A site comprising of mostly graphic will not be searchable, and it will not be accessable to people who rely on assistive devices for web browsing.

Credit

You may place credit on your template. However, it must be removable.

Template Content

Your template must not contain sexually explicit material, or material that will cause offense to others. Again, we have final say on which templates are included in our list.