What is Template Layer?

In design automation, a template layer is a single element in your design that can be independently controlled. Each layer has a name and a type, and can be overridden with new content when generating a variant.

Layer types:

• Text layers: Accept string values. Used for headlines, descriptions, prices, names.
• Image layers: Accept image URLs. Used for product photos, avatars, logos, backgrounds.
• Shape layers: Can have their fill color, border, and visibility modified.
• Background layers: The base layer that can be swapped or recolored.

Layer naming conventions:

Good layer names are descriptive and consistent:

• headline, not "Text 1"
• product_image, not "Image 3"
• cta_button_text, not "Button"
• background_color, not "Rectangle"

How layers map to API fields:

When you import a Canva design into Layerre, each named layer becomes a field in your API request:

Template layers: headline, subtitle, product_image, price
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API request data: { headline: "...", subtitle: "...", product_image: "...", price: "..." }