equinux Mail Designer Pro 2 User Manual
Mail Designer Pro 2
Contents
.......................................................The Design Chooser 4
..................................Mail Designer Pro 2 at a glance 5
Adding masks 17
Adding a mask 18
Filling a mask with your image 18
Adding your own logos and signatures 19
Optimizing your Image Area 19
....................................................The contents window 6
.....................................................Your first mail design 9
...................................................Creating a new design 9
.........................................Working with layout blocks 9
Layout blocks: working with text and image areas 9
Adding layout blocks 10
Removing layout blocks 10
Adding space in-between layout blocks 10
Duplicating layout blocks 10
Adjusting the size of areas within a layout block 11
Choosing a background for all text areas 13
Choosing a background for a single text area 13
Applying a background to a text column 13
.........................................Working with image areas 15
Adding graphics and shapes 15
Duplicating objects 15
Adding animated graphics 15
Adding Video Placeholders 16
Editing objects 16
Resizing an object 16
Rotating objects 17
Using objects with text 17
Adding photos 17
.........................................................Working with text 19
Editing a text area 20
Copy and Paste Style 20
To copy and paste a text style 20
Paste text and keep style 20
Add lists to text areas 20
Using a predefined Font Set 21
Editing text in an image area 22
.......................................................Working with links 22
Creating a text link 22
Creating an image link 23
.....................Optimizing your template for Mobile 24
......................................Working with Layout Blocks 24
Add dedicated layout blocks for the mobile version 24
Hide certain layout blocks 25
Detaching certain layout blocks 25
.........................................Working with Image Areas 25
Editing image areas 25
....................Using retina images with your design 26
Deactivating retina images for your template 26
2
.....................................Working with Text and Links 26
...................................................Sharing your designs 38
....................................................Preview your design 26
Open the preview window 27
Changing the preview device 27
Setting up a custom preview device 27
Refreshing the preview window 28
.................................................Collaborative working 29
.......................Review changes and add comments 29
See document changes in the Log 29
.........................................................Lend a document 30
..........................Preparing your design for sending 31
...........Setting up Mail Designer Pro 2 for sending 32
Configuring the Design Delivery Account 32
Configuring a standard email service 32
Configuring a generic email service 32
Sending emails via Mail Designer Pro 2 33
Adding attachments to your message 33
.......................................................Export your design 38
Share as Mail Designer Pro 2 Document 38
Share via Email 38
Print your document 38
..................................................................HTML Export 39
Offering your newsletter on the web 39
Export to other Email Marketing Tools 39
............................Exporting a Design to MailChimp 41
Uploading a design to MailChimp 42
Using placeholders with MailChimp 42
MailChimp placeholders explained 43
.............Exporting a Design to Campaign Monitor 45
Uploading a design to Campaign Monitor 46
Using placeholders with Campaign Monitor 46
Campaign Monitor placeholders explained 47
.............................................Appendix: Compatibility 48
Compatibility examples and tips 48
....................................Advanced design techniques 34
Aligning single objects 34
Aligning a group of objects 34
Aligning objects from different layout blocks 34
Edit images in third party applications 34
Combining graphics 35
Moving objects to the front or back 36
Grouping designs elements 36
.................................Appendix: Keyboard Shortcuts 49
3
The Design Chooser
Create a new mail using a Design Idea or pick one of your saved designs to send.
Any mail designs you
create will show up here
Access the design categories you have created
Choose a design idea
as a starting point for
your design
Access templates from
Design Blueprints
Use the zoom slider to
take a closer look at the
designs
Start working on a new
design based on the
selected design idea
4
Mail Designer Pro 2 at a glance
Add images, edit text and re-arrange your layout – in the main document window.
another Mail Designer Pro 2 user
Hit ‘Send’ to send your
design
Switch between mobile
and desktop version
Grab a layout block by
its handle and just drag
‘n drop to rearrange
your layout.
Show or hide the layout, distance indicators or rulers.
Show the Log for your templateShare your template by email or lend it to
Open a device preview
Check your template
for any issues
Change the background
color or add a background pattern and give
your design a whole
new look.
5
The contents window
Drag and drop new layout elements, graphics, text objects, placeholders, background patterns and photos into your design.
To add a layout
block to a design,
just drag and drop
it into your design.
You‘ll see a preview
how your template
will appear in the
Desktop and Mobile
version of your
template.
Drag graphics to
your design and
double-click the
text to write your
own.
Choose a shape
you want to add to
your template.
Choose an animated graphic into
your design. You
can use one animated graphic for
every image area.
6
Choose a video
placeholder and
drag it into your
template. Add then
a link to a Youtube
or Vimeo video.
Use masks to
add picture
frame
effects, or to
resize or crop
your images.
You can also
replace placeholders later in
Mail.
Choose a text style,
drag it into your
design and then
double-click to
write your own text.
Switch to background mode and
drag in the texture
you prefer.
7
Add your own
pictures from
iPhoto, or your
logos and signature from a folder.
8
Your first mail design
To get you started, we’re going to design a new email step-
by-step, explaining the options in detail as we go.
Creating a new design
Working with layout blocks
First, make sure you can see the layout by clicking
the “Layout” button in the toolbar. Click the Layout
button to show or hide the frames around the sta-
tionery’s layout blocks.
Mail Designer Pro 2 includes several “Design Ideas” – common email layouts
that can be used as a starting point for a new email. You can also start with a
template from templates purchased In-App. Just double-click a design in the
chooser window to create a new design based on that Design Idea.
You’ll notice a translucent tab attached to the left
side of each block. Those are the layout block “han-
dles”, each individual layout block has one. You can
rearrange a layout block by grabbing its handle and
dragging the layout block into another position.
Layout block “handles”
Layout blocks: working with text and image areas
Mail Designer Pro 2 offers layout blocks that have text areas, image areas or
both. A text area can only contain text, while an image area can contain im-
ages, photos, shapes, masks and styled text.
Layout block with two image areas Layout block with text areas
The design will open in a new window, ready for you to start editing.
A layout block with text, text with
background and image area
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Layout block with text and image areas
Adding layout blocks
Click the “Contents” button to open the Contents panel. This contains all the
design elements you can add to your Mail Design. Go to “Layout Blocks”,
choose one and drag it to your design. The other layout sections will slide
out of the way so you can drop in the new layout block.
We need to add space in-between these two layout blocks
Go back to the Contents panel and drag the spacing layout block in-
between the two content layout blocks.
You can then fine-tune the size of the divider by
dragging the line above or between it - it should look right with about 30
pixels between the two layout blocks.
Drag a layout block into your design.
The other layout blocks will slide out of the way and you can drop the new
layout block into place.
Removing layout blocks
Click the “x” icon on the layout block “handle” to delete a
layout block.
Adding space in-between layout blocks
Click “x” to delete
You'll notice that your new layout block is very close to
the top of the next layout block. This makes the design feel a bit cramped, so
we need to add a bit of space in between the two blocks.
Duplicating layout blocks
If you are setting up multiple similar layout blocks, it may be easier to dupli-
cate an existing layout block instead of choosing your font and color options
again.
There are two ways you can duplicate layout blocks.
‣
Click the selection tab at the side of a layout block and choose “Edit > Duplicate” from the menu bar
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Click the selection
tab to choose a
layout block - then
choose Duplicate
from the Edit menu
‣
Hold down the option key on your keyboard and click and drag a layout
block.
In an image area, drag the dividers to adjust the height of the area.
Drop it into position to create a copy of that layout block. Then edit your text
and other options accordingly.
Adjusting the size of areas within a layout block
You can also adjust the width and height of layout blocks, or of sections
within a layout block as well.
Just drag the dividers to adjust the width of a section within a layout block.
In a text area, you can adjust the height by adding or deleting lines of text.
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Choosing a background
There's a paint roller icon in the lower left corner of the window. Click it to
switch to the background editing mode. When choosing a background, you
will see two areas: the background of your text areas in the middle of your
design and the surrounding background area:
Drag a color or texture to this area to
set your main background
Drag a color or texture to the inner
area of your design,
to choose a background for your text
areas
Color picker
Click the paint roller
icon to switch between background
and layout views
Choose a texture or color
Click the 'Textures' or the 'Colors' icons to
choose a background texture or a single
background color to apply to your design.
Choose a texture or color
To apply a background color
Click the "Color" bucket icon to open the color picker window. Click a color
or drag it onto the background to apply it.
Click the magnifier glass in the ”Colors” window and pick any color
form your desktop.
To apply a background texture
For our email, we're going to use a light grey background wallpaper texture.
Click the paint roller icon to switch to background mode:
Next, click the textures icon to bring up the Contents panel and open the
background textures. Then drag a texture to your background to apply it.
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Applying a background to a text area
You can also choose a background texture or background color for the text
areas in your design.
Choosing a background for all text areas
Switch to background mode by clicking the paint roller icon in the bottom
left corner of your design. Apply a background to the middle area to apply it
to all of the text areas in your design.
Choosing a background for a single text area
Choose a layout block area and click the background paint roller icon for
that layout block. Now you can choose to apply (or remove) a background
for just that text area.
Applying a background to a text column
Custom backgrounds
You can also use one of your own photos or texture images as a
background: choose the “Photos” section in the Contents panel and
drag your photo or texture image to the background to apply it.
Alternatively, drag in an image from the Finder, or copy and paste a
image to set your background.
Some text areas can be assigned a separate back-
ground. This can be used to create sidebars
with links or other at-a-glance information.
Text areas that support backgroundsare highlighted in orange in the Con-
tents panel.
A layout block with a text area that
uses a custom background
Applying a background to an image area
You can also change the backgrounds of image areas individually. Select an
image area and click the paint roller icon to switch to background mode.
Then drag a background texture or color into the image area to apply it.
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Creating transparent background effects
If you would like to create design effects by giving some layout blocks a
“transparent” background, try this:
‣
Click the paint roller icon in the bottom left corner of your document
‣
Choose the middle background for all text areas
‣
Right-click and choose “Delete Background” from the shortcut menu
Now all of your text areas will appear with no background. Leave back-
ground selection and now selectively apply a background to all layout
blocks, expect those that you wish to remain “transparent”:
‣
Choose layout blocks, except those that are to appear “transparent”
‣
Click their individual paint roller icons
‣
Apply a background
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Working with image areas
Image areas can contain images, photos, shapes, masks and stylized text – so
you can really let your creativity flow.
Image areas are highlighted in blue in the Contents panel:
Layout block with text and image areasLayout block with an image area
You can drag graphics, shapes, masks, photos and stylized text to these areas
in your design. Mail Designer Pro 2 will highlight those areas where you can
drop images into.
Adding graphics and shapes
To add graphics or shapes, simply choose one from the Contents panel and
drag it into an image area in your mail design.
Duplicating objects
You can duplicate objects by choosing Edit >
Duplicate from the menu bar. Alternatively,
you can also hold down the option key and
drag the object to place a duplicate in your
design.
Adding animated graphics
Mail Designer Pro 2 comes with a variety of animated graphics. Drag the
animated graphic you want to use in your design from the Animated
Graphic section into your template.
As long as the animated graphic you have added is selected, you will see the
animation of the graphic.
Hold down the Option key and
drag to duplicate an object
Graphics and other objects
Mail Designer Pro 2 includes graphics that you can use to spruce up your
email design. These include sales promotion artwork as well as border de-
signs.
You can also add custom gif files you‘ve created in your design. Simply drag
the file into an image area.
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