Pageflex Studio: Creating Your Own uDesignIT! Document

Training

Updated at June 17th, 2025

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Not only will MarketingIdeasForPrinters.com build uDesignIT! documents for you, we also give you the opportunity to have access to the exact same tools we use to build those documents. You can now have total control over the creation of variable data documents from start to finish. This total control is provided by one software application: Pageflex Studio.

Think of Pageflex Studio as a page layout application built specifically for variable data. With Pageflex Studio at your disposal, you will be able to build uDesignIT! documents for your customers from start to finish. For more information, please contact MarketingIdeasForPrinters.com by e-mail or by calling us at 800-736-0688.

Have you already purchased Pageflex Studio? MarketingIdeasForPrinters.com would like to provide you with the following information to assist you in creating your own uDesignIT! (powered by Pageflex) documents. The training information below, coupled with the official Pageflex Studio documentation, should provide you with all the information necessary to allow you to build your own uDesignIT! variable data documents. (The training information presented here reflects the use of Pageflex Studio, version 9.0.5.) Let's get started!

Step 1 - Build Your Reorder Forms Library Item

Create a New Reorder Forms Library Item and add the questions you wish to ask (Text Input elements). These elements will collect your print buyer's input and pass on the input to uDesignIT! to be used for the variable data functionality. Add a uDesignIT! Preview element to show the results of your print buyer's entries in real-time. Please note that the ability to allow your print buyers to upload variable images and the ability to display real-time previews requires the presence of a completed Pageflex Project within the uDesignIT! document.

Watch the video: (4 minutes 25 seconds)

Step 2 - Prepare your Production-Ready PDF from your Original Document

From InDesign or wherever you've built your original document, create a production-ready pdf that can be used as the artwork for laying out the variable information in Pageflex. You will also need to create a shell file which has none of the variable information for the finished template, only the printed elements that will not be variable such as the logo.

Step 3 - Download and Install Pageflex Studio onto your Windows Computer

Please download and install Pageflex Studio if you haven't done so already. If you purchased it from MarketingIdeasForPrinters.com, the download link can be found on the uDesignIT! panel of any Order Form or Reorder Form when editing.

Step 4 - Create Your Pageflex Project, Document Templates, and Variables

Using Pageflex Studio, create a new project (File > New > Project). It is not important at this stage to mark the checkbox for the "Create initial template and job" option. Templates and jobs may be created in the future as needed.

Create a new template (File > New > Template). Set the width, height, and orientation of your finished document and click OK. Save your template (File > Save Template As...). It is best to name your project the company name and the templates the names of the documents. For example, the project name would be RedSwipeCo.pf and the template name would be BusinessCard.xdt or Letterhead.xdt. Because you only have one project file that can be associated with multiple template files in a folder, the project file is best left as just the company name. The name of the project file will also be the name of the zip file when you package it. You will now pull in your Artwork file to use as a guide to place your text. Create the text that will be variable and set the text styles (Text > Define Styles...) and line the text you've created up with that on the Artwork. Create Variables by clicking the Variables tab, and then click the new variable < >* button. The variable name needs to be exactly the same as the name of the question label for the print buyer input element on your website, without spaces or special characters. (Example: A question named "First Name:" would lead to a variable named "FirstName".)

A few reminders:

Variables should be defined with the "Kind:" setting set to Plain Text or Image (as appropriate).
Variables receiving the results directly from the print buyer's input on the Reorder Form should have the "Source:" setting set to Constant.
Variables whose results depend on the condition of other elements should have the "Source:" setting set to Rule, with the proper rule definitions applied to the rule.
Check box options should be left at the default setting unless you know you need to change them.

Assign variables by highlighting the text or image that the variable should replace. Then click the Apply Variable button. (This is a down arrow pointing to a red box.)

Watch the video: (16 minutes 14 seconds)

Step 5 - Create Your Pageflex Preview and Production Jobs

In the Pageflex Studio project, click on the Jobs tab and then click the Add Job button.

Create a real-time JPG preview job using:

Job Name: (Use the name of your choice.)
Data Source: Leave set to (none)
Template: Identify the template you desire to use to create this job's output
Format: Bitmap

After choosing the Bitmap format, click the Properties... button that follows the Format choice. Apply the following properties:

Bitmap Format: JPEG
Quality/Compression: 15
Color Matching: Leave unchecked
Adjust size using: Width
Width: 600 pixels

Click OK to save the Bitmap properties, then click OK again to save the Preview Image job.

Create the production job output using:

Job Name: (Use the name of your choice.)
Data Source: Leave set to (none)
Template: Identify the template you desire to use to create this job's output
Format: Portable Document Format (PDF)

After choosing the Portable Document Format (PDF) format, click the Properties... button that follows the Format choice. In the Fonts tab, set fonts to Embed All Fonts. Other settings may be applied as needed to fit your production workflow.

Click OK to save the Portable Document Format properties, then click OK again to save the Production job.

Create an optional PDF preview job using:

Job Name: (Use the name of your choice.)
Data Source: Leave set to (none)
Template: Identify the template you desire to use to create this job's output
Format: Portable Document Format (PDF)

After choosing the Portable Document Format (PDF) format, click the Properties... button that follows the Format choice. In the Fonts tab, set fonts to Embed All Fonts. Other settings may be applied as desired.

Click OK to save the Portable Document Format properties, then click OK again to save the Production job.

After all desired jobs are created, create a Pageflex Packager Zip file. In Pageflex Studio choose the Make Packager Zip option (File > Make Packager Zip).

Watch the video: (2 minutes 37 seconds)

Step 6 - Add Your Pageflex Project to Your Website

On your website, edit the Reorder Forms Library item for which this Pageflex Project has been created. Go to the item's uDesignIT! panel, click the panel's Edit button, then browse for the Packager Zip file created in the previous step. After the Packager Zip file has been added, identify the Proof and Production jobs.

If any variable images were defined in the Pageflex Studio document template, add one or more uDesignIT! Image Upload elements, making sure to label the image upload item in a manner consistent with the variable that was defined for the image.

Watch the video: (1 minutes 42 seconds)

Step 7 - Try It Out in the Real World!

Everything is ready! It's time for you to test your work and enjoy the results!

Watch the video: (48 seconds)

Pageflex Studio: Creating Your Own uDesignIT! Document

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