How to use Smart Templates

Smart Templates help you create clear, scientifically accurate workflow figures more quickly and easily.

An Smart Template is a pre-built, customizable workflow figure designed specifically for 11 protocol types, including ELISA, western blot, flow cytometry, PCR, IHC, gene editing, cytotoxicity assays, and more. experiments. Instead of building your protocol step by step from scratch, you start with a structured template that is already formatted for common workflows. Before adding it to your canvas, you select key options such as the type, detection method, and view. The template then generates a layout based on your selections.

After you place it on the canvas, the template remains interactive and responsive. It automatically rearranges steps when you resize it and keeps step numbers and alignment updated as you edit. This helps you focus on your scientific content while the layout and formatting stay organized and consistent.

Try Smart Templates 

Please note in order to access smart templates, you will need to ensure you are working in the new canvas. To opt in to the new canvas, please see this article.

Adding Smart Protocols to your Illustration

1. You can add a Smart Template by searching for it in BioRender, either in the editor or in the template gallery.

   Example of ELISA Smart Template

   

2. Click on one of the Smart Templates ⚡ in the Gallery to open up the configuration modal.
   • Select the view you need.
   • Choose the type.
   • Select the detection method.
   • For certain parameters, more options will be revealed.
   • Review the preview to confirm the visualization meets your needs.
3. Click Add to Canvas or Add to New Slide to begin fine-tuning the template.

Example of ELISA Smart Template

💡 Tip: Configuration is meant to get you most of the way there - you can still make small edits after placement.

How to edit your Smart Template on the canvas

If you have added an Smart Template with a specific view, you will be able to use our enhanced editing experience to update these templates.

What you can do different in Smart Templates

• Change layout: Dragging the border of the Smart Template width-wise will automatically adjust the layout to fit the maximum steps widthwise before starting a new line. 
• Resize content: Dragging at the corner of the Smart Template will allow you to resize the content while maintaining the aspect ratio
• Add steps: Insert steps and the layout adapts to keep consistent spacing and layout format
• Adjust alignment: You can choose to left-align or center-align your figure 
• Change your incrementor: Choose amongst different incrementors (e.g. 1,2,3; i,ii,iii; a,b,c)
• Add a header: give your protocol a title that responds to any adjustments

Example of ELISA Smart Template

💡 Tip: Try resizing first to find a layout that fits your figure, then fine-tune step content.

How to edit a Step within your Smart Template

1. Begin editing: click on the Smart Template and then click once more to select a specific step

2. Reorder your steps: click on “Move left” or “Move right” to reposition the step, notice that the steps automatically re-number

   

3. Horizontally resize individual steps: drag the handle on right hand side of the step bounding box to increase the horizontal space for your icons

   

4. Drag icons into your step: with the Search open, you can drag icons into a given step to add them to the step

   

5. Modify text: You can add any text that you want within your illustration. To maintain styling, click within the text to modify before deleting the placeholder text

   

6. Copy + Paste: You can copy and paste steps, a pasted step is always added to the right of the actively selected step. If you click on the parent Smart Template, the pasted step is added at the end. If you don’t have any items selected, the step is added as a grouped object 

💡 Tip: You can drill down into icons within your step to get even more granular control over the illustration.

How to add steps in your Smart Template

1. Click on the Smart Template.
2. Click on a step.
3. On the contextual menu above, click on “Add Step Before” or "Add Step After".
4. A new step is added at the end of the protocol.

Example of ELISA Smart Template

Deleting Steps in your Smart Template

1. Click on the Smart Template.
2. Click on the step that you want to delete.
3. On the contextual that appears, click “Delete Step”.
4. That step is deleted and any steps following will take the deleted steps place and be re-numbered.

Example of ELISA Smart Template

💡 Tip: Deleting a step will shift all content to the right and automatically re-number all left over steps. 

Duplicating steps in your Smart Template

1. Click on the Smart Template.
2. Click on the step that you want to duplicate.
3. On the contextual that appears, click “Duplicate Step”.
4. To the right of your currently selected step, a copy of the current step will appear.

Example of ELISA Smart Template

💡 Tip: The duplicate function is particularly useful when you have to make small changes to an existing step. Remember you can click into the duplicated step in order to make your changes.

Frequently asked questions

What are Smart Templates?

Smart Templates are configurable templates that you set up before adding to the canvas, and that continue to behave intelligently once placed (auto-layout, responsive resizing, and auto-updating step numbers).

Who has access to Smart Templates?

Smart Templates are available to Premium users.

How do I find Smart Templates?

Search for “Smart Template” in the BioRender Editor. Smart Templates are designed to appear prominently in search results.

Can I use Smart Templates with other protocols or figure types?

Smart Templates are available for 11 protocol types, including ELISA, western blot, flow cytometry, PCR, IHC, gene editing, cytotoxicity assays, and more.

If I add a step, what can I put into it?

You can edit the step like any other content in BioRender - update the labels and text, and tailor it to your workflow.

Does reordering steps update the numbering?

Yes. Step numbers update automatically when you reorder steps.

What happens when I resize the template?

Depending on how you resize the Smart Template, it will either scale all images to be larger while maintaining the same layout (i.e. corner drag), or it will trigger the steps of your protocol figure. To rearrange, drag the left or right handles to adjust the width. 

Can I duplicate a step in a Smart Template?

Yes. You can duplicate your current step and then make small changes to the duplicated step without impacting the parent.

Ready to try it?

 Try Smart Templates  

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