DocumentationAdvertisingCreative Guide

Manage ad templates in Creative Studio

Last update: October 16, 2026

CREATED FOR:

  • User

Create, import, and manage display and video ad templates for use in ad generation sessions.

The Creative Studio > Templates view

The Templates tab provides quick actions to create or import new ad templates.

The Templates tab also lists your existing ad templates at the bottom of the page as individual cards (the default) or as tables/lists. The ad template list includes tabs for All, System Templates (which your Adobe Account Team uploads to your account), and User Templates. By default, ad templates for all of your advertisers are shown. To view only ad templates for a specific advertiser, select from the advertiser list at the top of the page.

Available actions

Creation:

Actions on your existing templates:

Generate an ad template using AI template-generate

Beta feature

Use AI in Creative Studio to convert an existing static display ad image into an editable display ad template. A three-step wizard helps you generate and review the template, request changes using natural language, and open the template editor to make manual changes and save the template.

Prerequisites

You need a static image ad in a Creative Library. This workflow selects ads from your libraries; it doesn’t upload a new image directly in the generation dialog.

Step 1: Generate and review the template

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. (Optional) Select an advertiser from the advertiser list at the top of the page to view that advertiser’s libraries.

  4. In the Use AI to Generate a New Display Ad Template box, click Generate.

  5. In the Generate New Ad Template dialog, select Generate from Existing Standard Ad Image if it isn’t already selected.

  6. Select the library containing the image ad from the Ad Library list.

  7. Hold the cursor over the image ad card and click Use this Standard Ad.

    Generation begins automatically, using the selected ad’s width and height.

  1. Review and refine the generated template.

Step 2: Review and refine the template template-review

  1. Wait for generation to finish, and then review the template preview and the Layers panel, when available.

    Check the text, images, and layout before using the template. The layers shown here are for review; make manual changes in the template editor.

  2. (Optional) Request changes to the generated template:

    1. In the Ask the AI for any changes field, describe the changes you want. For example, enter Change the headline to "Limited Time Offer" and the button text to "Shop Now".

    2. Click Regenerate.

    3. Review the updated preview. Repeat as needed.

  3. When you’re ready to continue, click Use this Ad Template.

    The generated template opens in the display template editor.

Step 3: Edit and save the template template-save

TIP
The AI assistant uses an open-source font library to find a close match for the font in your ad. To use your own font, upload it to the Assets tab or from the template editor, and then replace the generated font in the editor.
For best results, replace the AI-generated logo with your original, pixel-perfect logo in the template editor.

  1. In the template editor, review the generated elements and make any remaining changes using the template editor controls.

  2. Click Save.

  3. In the Update Template dialog, enter or update the Template name, select the Advertiser, and optionally add tags.

  4. Click Update to save the template and return to the Templates view.

    To save a separate copy instead, click Save As New.

You can then use the template to generate ad variations.

Troubleshooting troubleshooting

Issue
What to do
No libraries or image ads are listed when generating from an image
Check the selected advertiser and Ad Library. If the library has no standard ad images, select another library containing an existing static image ad.
Image-based generation fails or the image can’t be converted
Review the displayed message, click Back to library, and select an image ad to try again.

Create an ad template manually template-create

Create a blank display or video template using the template editor.

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. In the Create New Ad Template box, click Create, and then select Display Ad Template or Video Ad Template.

  4. (Display ads) Select the ad template size, and then click Continue.

  5. Configure the template settings using the controls in the template editor.

  6. (Optional) To download a copy of the template as defined, click … > Download.

    The file is downloaded according to your browser’s normal procedure.

  7. Save the template:

    1. Do either of the following:

      • Click Save.

      • To save the template as a draft, click … > Save as Draft.

    2. Enter the Template name, select the Advertiser, optionally select existing tags or add new tags to the template, and then click Save.

Import HTML5 ad templates templates-import

Upload one or more pre-built HTML5 templates that are packaged as ZIP files. Templates are validated on import; import fails if the HTML exceeds 200,000 characters, the CSS exceeds 60,000 characters, the template contains more than 5,000 DOM elements, or the template includes unsupported script tags.

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Select the advertiser at the top of the page.

  3. Click the Templates tab.

  4. In the Upload HTML5 Templates box, click Upload, and then select Display Ad Template or Video Ad Template.

  5. Select one or more ZIP files from your device or network.

  6. In the Import Templates dialog:

    1. Select an Advertiser.

      If you already selected a specific advertiser at the top of the page, that advertiser is preselected.

    2. (Optional) For each file, edit the Template Name.

      The file name is used by default.

    3. (Optional) To add more files, click Add more and select additional ZIP files. Specify the Template Name for each additional file.

  7. Click Import Templates.

NOTE
If import fails, simplify the template or contact your Adobe Account Team.

Edit an ad template template-edit

Display ad templates only.

IMPORTANT
The AI agent can’t change the template layout, element positions, spacing, or typography. Make any structural changes in the template editor before you generate content.

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card or table row and click … > Edit Template.

  4. Edit the template layout or elements using the controls in the template editor.

  5. (Optional) To download a copy of the template as defined, click … > Download.

    The file is downloaded according to your browser’s normal procedure.

  6. Save the template:

    • Click Save.

    • To save the template as a draft, click … > Save as Draft. Enter the Template name, select the Advertiser, optionally select existing tags or add new tags to the template, and then click Save.

Generate ad variations from a display ad template ad-variations-generate

Display ad templates only.

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card or table row and click … > Generate Ad Variations.

    The Ad Variations Generator opens with the template pre-loaded.

  4. Use the AI chat interface to generate and refine ad content. See “Manage standard ads in Creative Studio” for the complete workflow.

Add or remove labels for an ad template template-labels

Display ad templates only.

Labels help you organize and filter user templates. You can’t add labels to system templates.

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card or table row and click … > Edit Labels.

  4. In the Edit Labels dialog:

    • To add a label, either select an existing label or enter a name in the input field and click Add Tag.

    • To remove a label, click X next to the label tag.

  5. Click Save.

Preview an ad template template-preview

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card.

  4. Do either of the following:

    • (Card view) Click the Preview template icon, or click … > Preview.

    • (Table view) Click … > Preview.

  5. For video templates, click Play .

Download an ad template template-download

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card or table row and click … > Download.

    The template downloads as a ZIP file according to your browser’s normal procedure.

Add or remove an ad template as a favorite template-favorite

Card view only

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card.

  4. Do either of the following:

    • To add a template as a favorite, click Favorite .

    • To remove a template as a favorite, click Favorite .

Delete an ad template template-delete

  1. In the main menu, click Creative Studio.

  2. Click the Templates tab.

  3. Hold the cursor over the template card or table row and click … > Delete.

  4. In the confirmation message, click Delete.

Template editor controls template-controls

Both the display and video template editors provide a toolbar above the canvas to undo changes and adjust the view, panels on the left to add assets and elements, and a Layers panel on the right to manage layers. The tools for editing selected elements and controlling timing and playback differ between display and video templates.

Undo changes and adjust the canvas view

The general actions toolbar sits above the editing canvas in the ad template editor and is split into two parts (left and right).

Display ad templates

Control
Description
Undo
Undoes the last action.
Redo Redo
Redoes the last undone action.
Links
Opens a panel to manage the click-through URLs attached to elements in the template.
Zoom controls
Click Zoom out or Zoom in to adjust the canvas magnification (10%-150%, in 10% increments). Click the zoom level label — which shows Auto when the canvas fits automatically, or a percentage when set manually — to open a menu with options: Auto-Fit Page, 100% Zoom, 50% Zoom, Zoom In, and Zoom Out.
Ad size
Shows the current ad dimensions (for example, 300 × 250). Click to open the size picker, which offers six commonly used IAB standard sizes as cards, plus a dropdown with all 19 standard IAB display ad sizes. The default size for new templates is 300 × 250 (Medium Rectangle).
Open Layers panel
Opens the Layers panel. Appears only when the Layers panel is closed.

Video ad templates

Control
Description
Undo / Redo Redo
Undoes or redoes the last action.
Zoom controls
Click Zoom out or Zoom in to adjust the canvas magnification. Click the zoom level to open a menu with options: Auto-Fit Page, 100% Zoom, 50% Zoom, Zoom In, and Zoom Out.
Open Layers panel
Opens the Layers panel. Appears only when the Layers panel is closed.

Add assets and elements

The left panel allows you to add ad assets and elements to the template. Click an icon to open its content panel; click the same icon again to close it.

Display ad templates

Icon
Description
Search
Search across all asset types in your library.
Upload
Upload images or font files into the editor for use in the current template. You can upload up to 20 files at a time.
Templates
Browse ad templates from your Creative Studio library to use as a base layer or reference element.
My Assets
Browse all assets you’ve uploaded in the Creative Studio Assets tab.
Images
Browse only the image assets you’ve uploaded in the Creative Studio Assets tab.
Text
Add a text element to the canvas, including any custom fonts you’ve uploaded.
Elements
Add shapes and layout elements such as buttons and rectangles.

You can drag an item from any panel directly onto the canvas, or click it to place it at a default position.

Video ad templates

Icon
Description
Search
Search across all asset types in your library.
Upload
Upload image, video, audio, or font files (TTF, OTF, WOFF, WOFF2) into the editor for use in the current template. You can upload up to 20 files at a time.
Templates
Browse ad templates from your Creative Studio library.
My Assets
Browse all assets you’ve uploaded in the Creative Studio Assets tab.
Images
Browse only the image assets you’ve uploaded in the Creative Studio Assets tab.
Video
Browse only the video assets you’ve uploaded in the Creative Studio Assets tab.
Audio
Browse only the audio assets you’ve uploaded in the Creative Studio Assets tab.
Text
Add a text element to the canvas, including any custom fonts you’ve uploaded.
Elements
Add shapes and vector elements.

You can drag an item from any panel directly onto the canvas, or click it to place it at a default position.

Edit selected elements

Click an element on the editing canvas to select it. Depending on the template type, one or more toolbars appear with controls for that element.

The controls vary by element type.

Display template editing toolbar

Control
Element types
Description
Properties
All
Opens a panel to edit the layer name; mark the layer as dynamic (swappable during ad generation); and set a click-through URL (links only). Below that, choose a Default, Hover, Click, or Focus state to style the element for that interaction state, then adjust styling — typography (text and links only), decorations (fill, border, corner radius), dimensions, position — based on the element type.
Effects
All
Opens a panel where you choose a Default, Hover, Click, or Focus state to apply effects to for that interaction state, then adjust Transform, Transition, Box Shadow, Filter, Blend Mode, and Cursor sections. Text elements also include a Text Shadow section.
Animations
All
Opens a panel to set the layer’s enter and exit time on the timeline, and to configure Entrance Animation, Loop Animation, and Exit Animation presets with duration and easing. Includes Copy, Paste, and Reset actions.
Crop
Images
Opens a toolbar to crop the image. Select an Aspect Ratio preset (or Free), then click Apply or Cancel.
Position
All
Opens a menu with Move options (Forward, Backward, To front, To back), Align to Page options (Top, Left, Middle, Center, Bottom, Right, Fit Vertically, Fit Horizontally, Fit to Page), and, for non-image elements, Layer Level Alignment options (the same six alignment options, plus Fit to Content).

Video template editing toolbar

Control
Element types
Description
Shape
Shapes
Sets shape-specific options.
Cutout controls
Images
Adjust the cutout type, offset, and smoothing.
Group / Ungroup
Multiple selected elements, or a group
Groups the selected elements together, or ungroups a selected group.
Combine
Compatible shapes
Combines selected shapes into a single shape.
Audio replace
Audio and video
Replaces the audio track with a file from your asset library.
Typeface, Bold, Italic, Font size, Align horizontal, Advanced
Text
Adjusts the font family, weight, size, horizontal alignment, and other advanced typography settings.
Image / Video
Images and video
Sets the fill image or video source for the element.
Trim
Video and audio
Opens trimming mode to set the clip’s start and end points.
Volume (Volume)
Video and audio
Adjusts the audio level.
Playback speed (Playback speed)
Video and audio
Adjusts the playback rate.
Crop (Crop)
All
Crops the element to a custom area.
Rotation and flip controls
All
Rotate or flip the selected element.
Stroke (Stroke)
All
Sets the border color and width.
Text Background
Text
Adds a background color behind the text.
Animations
All
Adds or edits entry, exit, or loop animations.
Style
All
Opens a menu with Adjustments, Filter, Effect, and Blur options.
Shadow
All
Adds or edits a drop shadow.
Opacity
All
Sets the element’s transparency level.
Position
All
Adjusts the element’s size, position, and rotation numerically.
Editing panel
All
Opens or closes an editing panel for the selected element with more editing capabilities.

Detailed element properties for video templates

In the video template editor, click Editing panel in the toolbar to open an editing panel for the selected element with more editing capabilities. The editing panel appears to the left of the canvas and is separate from the Layers panel, which lists the layers in the template.

Individual elements

When you select a single image, video, shape, or text element, the editing panel shows the applicable sections below.

Panel section
Tool
Controls
Layer
Alignment and layer positioning
Aligns the selected layer to the left, horizontal center, right, top, vertical center, or bottom. The arrangement menu changes its front-to-back stacking order. These controls position the layer itself; they don’t justify text within the layer.
Rotate & Flip
Enter a rotation angle in degrees. Use Flip horizontal to mirror the layer horizontally or Flip vertical to mirror it vertically.
Opacity Opacity
Makes the selected layer more or less transparent.
Blend mode Blend Mode
Changes how the selected layer’s colors combine with the layers behind it.
Transform: Position & Size
Opens additional controls for the layer’s position and dimensions. Availability depends on the selected layer’s transform permissions.
Shape
Shape options Shape and shape-specific properties
Changes the shape and its available properties, such as points, sides, inner diameter, line width, or corner radius. The controls depend on the selected shape.
Vector: Edit Path
Enters vector-editing mode to edit the shape’s path, when available.
Character
Typeface Typeface, Text style text style, Bold bold, Italic italic, and Font size font size
(Text layers) Changes the font family, font style, and size of the selected text.
Align left / Align center / Align right Text alignment
(Text layers) Aligns text within its frame to the left, center, or right, or detects the alignment automatically.
Advanced text settings Advanced text settings
(Text layers) Opens additional typography settings.
Fill
Fill Fill controls
Changes the selected layer’s color, image, or video fill. The controls reflect the current fill type and open its settings. For text, changes the text color.
Stroke
Stroke Stroke controls
Enables or disables the outline and changes its color, width, style, and placement. Additional controls appear when the stroke is enabled.
Text Background
Text background Background controls
(Text layers) Adds or changes the background behind the text.
Animations
Animation Presets
Opens animation presets for the selected layer, including entrance, exit, and loop animations.
Appearance
Adjustments Adjustments
Changes visual properties of the selected layer.
Filter Filter
Applies a visual filter to the selected layer.
Effects Effect
Applies an effect to the selected layer.
Blur Blur
Applies a blur to the selected layer.
Shadow Shadow
Adds or changes the selected layer’s shadow.
Multiple selections and specialized elements

When you select multiple elements, a group, a cutout element, or an audio clip, the editing panel shows the selection-specific sections below. Multiple elements, groups, and cutouts also retain the Layer section.

Panel section
Tool
Controls
Layer
Alignment and layer positioning
Aligns multiple selected elements or a group. The arrangement menu changes their front-to-back stacking order.
Rotate & Flip
Rotates or flips the selected elements or group.
Opacity Opacity
Makes the selected elements or group more or less transparent.
Blend mode Blend Mode
Changes how the selected elements’ or group’s colors combine with the layers behind them.
Transform: Position & Size
Opens controls for the selected elements’ or group’s position and dimensions. Available controls depend on the selected elements.
Selection
Group Group / Ungroup Ungroup
Appears below Layer for multiple selected layers or a selected group. Groups selected layers so they can be managed together, or separates a group into individual layers.
Settings
Cutout clip / Cutout overlay Cutout controls
(Cutout layers) Appears below Layer. Selects the cutout type and adjusts its offset and edge smoothing.
Audio Properties
Trim Trim, Volume volume, and Playback speed playback speed
(Audio layers) Sets the clip’s start and end points, audio level, and playback speed.

Edit elements directly on the canvas

Display ad templates
Action
Description
Replace
(Image elements only) Opens the Images panel so you can replace the image with one from your asset library.
Move forward Move forward
Moves the element one step forward in the stacking order (toward the front).
Move backward Move backward
Moves the element one step backward in the stacking order (toward the back).
Duplicate Duplicate
Creates a copy of the element.
Delete Delete
Removes the element from the canvas.
Rotation handle
Click and drag the handle above a selected element to rotate it. Hold Shift while dragging to snap the rotation to 15-degree increments.

You can also click and drag a selected element to reposition it, and click and drag the handles around it to resize it.

Video ad templates
Action
Description
Edit text
(Text elements only) Switches to text editing mode so you can type and format text directly on the canvas. In text editing mode, a secondary menu provides Text color, Bold, Italic, and Text variables (template placeholders).
Replace
(Image elements only) Opens the asset library so you can swap the image.
Bring forward
Moves the element one step forward in the stacking order.
Send backward
Moves the element one step backward in the stacking order.
Duplicate
Creates a copy of the element.
Delete
Removes the element from the canvas.
… > Flip horizontal
Flips the element horizontally 180 degrees.
… > Flip vertical
Flips the element vertically 180 degrees.
… > Copy Element
Copies the element to the canvas clipboard.
… > Pastes Element
Pastes the copied element.

You can also click and drag a selected element to reposition it, and click and drag the handles around it to resize it.

Control timing and playback

Both display and video editors display a timeline panel at the bottom of the canvas.

Display ad templates

The timeline shows a track for each layer on the canvas, spanning the time range the layer is visible based on its enter and exit animation timing. Drag a track’s start or end handle to adjust its enter or exit time, or drag a track to reorder layers. Click the ruler or drag the playhead to move to a point in time.

The timeline toolbar includes a Duration field (0-60 seconds), Play/Pause, a current time / total duration display, a loop toggle, Timeline Scale zoom controls, a Fit View button, and a collapse/expand toggle.

Video ad templates

The timeline shows all video and audio clips in the template. Use the timeline to review how clips are arranged in time and to trim clips by dragging their start and end handles. You can’t add a new clip directly on the timeline; add it from the left panel or canvas instead, and it then appears as a clip on the timeline.

Manage layers

The Layers panel on the right side of the canvas lists all elements in the template and lets you manage their order, visibility, and properties. For display templates, click Open Layers in the canvas toolbar to open it. For video templates, the panel is open by default.

Click any layer to select the corresponding element on the canvas.

Tabs (display ad templates only)

Display templates have two tabs at the top of the Layers panel:

  • Dynamic — Lists only the layers that can be swapped during ad generation, such as images and text that the AI agent can replace. This is the default view for generating ad variations.
  • All — Shows the complete layer hierarchy for the template, including structural containers. Use this view to inspect or reorganize how elements are nested.

Video templates show all layers in a single list with no tabs.

Per-layer actions

Hold the cursor over a layer to see the following actions.

Action
Description
Rename layer Rename layer
Lets you enter a new layer name in the panel.
Lock layer Lock layer / Unlock layer Unlock layer
Prevents or allows the layer from being moved, edited, or reordered.
Hide layer Hide layer / Show layer Show layer
Hides or shows the layer on the canvas. Hidden layers are preserved in the template but don’t appear when the template renders.
Drag to reorder Drag to reorder
(Display ad templates only) Drag the reorder icon to change the layer’s position in the stacking order. The layer must be unlocked to reorder it.

Panel footer

Action
Description
Duplicate selected layer Duplicate selected layer
Creates a copy of the selected layer.
Delete selected layer Delete selected layer
Deletes the selected layer.
Group selected layers (video templates only)
Groups two or more selected layers into a single group. Appears only when two or more layers are selected. You can ungroup grouped layers or remove individual layers from the group using the controls on the group row.
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