Creating a template

Before you can generate documents, you need a template. Automette supports three template types — visual canvas, Word documents, and Typst markup — each suited to different kinds of work. If you're not sure which one fits your use case, start with Choosing a template engine.

To create one, go to the Templates section in the sidebar and click New Template.

Generate with AI

Describe what you want to create — the AI asks a few clarifying questions, then builds a working template for you. Works for all three template types: it picks visual canvas for graphic designs and Typst for document-style PDFs automatically. If you want to force one or the other, expand Advanced before submitting.

Prompt starters are shown if you're not sure where to begin: Certificate, Invoice, YouTube Thumbnail, ID Badge, and others.

This is the fastest path to a first draft.

Start from the library

The template library has ready-made templates for common use cases — invoices, certificates, social posts, worksheets, payslips, and more. Selecting one copies it into your account as a starting point. The layout, fields, and content are all editable from there.

A good choice if your use case is close to something in the library and you'd rather tweak than build.

Build from scratch

If you know exactly what you want, you can build directly without AI or a starter. Choose the path that matches your template type:

• Blank canvas — opens the visual editor with an empty page. For image-first designs: social posts, banners, certificates.
• Typst editor — opens a blank Typst file. For precise, consistent PDFs: invoices, reports, payslips.
• Upload a Word document — upload a .docx file with {{field_name}} placeholders already marked. Automette reads them and creates fields automatically. The quickest path if you already have a Word template you want to automate.

Template settings

The Settings tab in the Typst and Canvas editors lets you configure options that apply every time the template is used:

• Name and description — shown on the Generate form and in the dashboard
• Output formats — which file types to generate (PDF, PNG, JPG, WebP)
• File visibility — public (permanent CDN link) or secure (short-lived presigned URL)
• Filename pattern — default output filename, e.g. {name}_{date}. Overridable per API call. If not set, defaults to {template}-{datetime}-{random}.

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