Specification
Last updated on
Sep 22, 2026
Learn about the technical requirements for submitting InDesign templates to Adobe Stock, including file formats, packaging, and image specifications.
Before submitting InDesign templates to Adobe Stock, verify your files meet the technical requirements for file format, document setup, text formatting & styles, and layout formatting. These specifications ensure templates open correctly for customers and provide a professional editing experience.
Files that do not follow these requirements will be refused during moderation.
InDesign Template File specifications
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|
Requirement |
|
File format |
.indt (InDesign template format) |
|
Plugins or Add-Ons |
No third-party plugins or add-ons accepted |
InDesign template files must be saved as .indt rather than .indd. The .indt format ensures templates open as untitled files, preventing customers from accidentally overwriting the original template.
Page and layer organization
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Specification |
Requirement |
|
Page sizes |
Standard paper and screen sizes only |
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Page limit |
Approximately 20 pages maximum (suggested guideline) |
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Alternate layouts |
Use to provide multiple size variants (for example, US Letter and A4) |
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Elements outside pages |
Not permitted |
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Layer organization |
Group by: Text, Placeholder Images, Graphic Elements, Background |
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Layer structure |
Organize each page/screen with separate layer groups |
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Mixed category types |
Not permitted (for example, do not combine social media and stationery in one file) |
Print template specifications
Use these specifications for brochures, business cards, invitations, flyers, packaging, posters, stationery, print presentations, print magazines/books/journals.
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Specification |
Requirement |
|
Colorspace |
CMYK |
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Resolution |
300 ppi (embedded images must match) |
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Bleed |
Recommended for all print layouts with edge-to-edge color or design elements |
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Bleed setup |
Use File > Document Setup (do not add manual crop marks or bleed lines) |
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Margins |
Keep text and images clear of margins unless intended to bleed |
Screen and digital template specifications
Use these specifications for web banners, web forms, web UI kits, mobile UI kits, social media kits, digital presentations, and digital magazines/books/journals.
|
Specification |
Requirement |
|
Colorspace |
RGB |
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Resolution |
150 ppi (embedded images must match) |
Text requirements
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Specification |
Requirement |
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Font source |
Adobe Fonts only |
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Text state |
Must remain editable (no outlined text) |
|
Text threads |
Required for large text sections spanning multiple boxes or columns |
Customers expect to edit and customize all text in templates. Outlined text cannot be edited and will result in refusal.
Text threads connect the flow of text between multiple text boxes in multi-page layouts. This allows customers to edit large amounts of text without manually adjusting each text frame. See Threading text in InDesign for implementation details.
Text and object style requirements
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Style type |
Purpose |
Usage |
|
Paragraph styles |
Control font, size, spacing, color, alignment, lists |
Apply to all body text, titles, and large text areas |
|
Character styles |
Control font, size, color for small text portions |
Use for bold text, highlights, or color changes within paragraphs |
Note
All text must be assigned a paragraph style, character style, or both.
Paragraph styles control more attributes than character styles (alignment, bullets, spacing). Character styles modify specific portions of text while preserving the paragraph style formatting.
Object styles
Object styles control the design and behavior of graphics, shapes, and text frames, including:
- Color and transparency
- Text wrap
- Inset spacing
- Stroke and fill attributes
Apply object styles so customers can quickly and consistently make changes to all objects assigned to that style. Refer to Object styles in InDesign for implementation guidance.
Style overrides
Avoid style overrides, which occur when attributes are changed outside the assigned style rather than within the style definition.
|
Override type |
Indicated by |
How to avoid |
|
Text override |
Plus sign (+) next to the style name |
Update attributes within the paragraph or character style panel |
|
Object override |
Plus sign (+) next to the style name |
Update attributes within the object style panel |
Always update text and object attributes within their assigned styles, or create new styles entirely, rather than making direct changes to individual elements.
Image requirements
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Specification |
Requirement |
|
Image linking |
Not Acceptable |
|
Image embedding |
Must be created by the contributor (3rd party content is not acceptable) |
|
Accepted formats |
.jpg, .png, .tif |
|
Prohibited formats |
.psd, .ai |
|
Image resolution |
Must match document resolution (300 ppi for print, 150 ppi for screen/digital) |
Adobe Stock InDesign templates are single files and do not support packaging external assets. Linked images will not appear for customers who download your template.
Template Contributors may include embedded images and assets in templates if they own the content.
Embedded images must use .jpg, .png, or .tif formats only. Other app formats, .psd and .ai, are not accepted because customers may not have access to all Creative Cloud apps.
For screen/digital templates at 150 ppi, embedded images must also be 150 ppi. For print templates at 300 ppi, embedded images must also be 300 ppi.
Swatch requirements
|
Specification |
Requirement |
|
Swatch colorspace |
Must match document colorspace |
|
Spot colors |
Not permitted (CMYK or RGB only) |
|
Pantone swatches |
Not permitted |
Print templates using the CMYK colorspace must have only CMYK swatches. Screen/digital templates using the RGB color space must use RGB swatches only.
Swatches are named and saved colors, tints, gradients, and patterns that allow customers to track and change colors across the entire document.
Master page requirements
|
Element |
Should be on the master page |
Should not be on the master page |
|
Page numbers |
Yes (use auto-pagination feature) |
N/A |
|
Running headers |
Yes |
N/A |
|
Repeating background colors |
Yes |
N/A |
|
Body text |
No |
Yes (will cover design elements) |
|
One-time elements |
No |
Yes (will repeat incorrectly) |
Place repeating elements on master pages that can be applied to spreads and pages within the layout. Do not place body text or elements that should appear only once on master pages.
Auto-pagination for page numbers
Use InDesign's auto-pagination feature for page numbers in multi-page documents. Select Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number to create auto page numbers indicated by the letter A in the text frame.
Template File Package requirements
Each InDesign template submission must be packaged as a single ZIP file containing exactly three elements:
|
Element |
File name |
Specification |
|
Template file |
[filename].indt |
500 MB maximum |
|
Thumbnail image |
Thumbnail.jpg |
2048 x 1424 px, RGB, 72 ppi minimum |
|
Preview image |
Preview1.jpg |
2048 px width x 1536-6144 px height, RGB, 72 ppi minimum |
Filenames for thumbnail and preview images are case-sensitive and must match exactly as shown.
