{"slug":"layout-designer-howto","title":"Layout Designer Overview","description":"This article explains how to create and manage booth layouts using Marketspread’s Layout Designer.","section":"market","sections":["market"],"tags":["layout,map,interactive,editor"],"aliases":[],"author":"Support","updated":"2026-09-10","published_datetime":"2020-01-28T12:00:00.000Z","promoted":true,"related":[],"links":["configuring-booth-fees-with-terms"],"images":{},"video":null,"source_commit":null,"body_format":"markdown","nav":{"section":"market","group":"Lay out your space","next":{"slug":"full-map-creation-walkthrough","title":"Build a map layout"}},"related_articles":[],"body":"### Overview\n\nThe Layout Designer lets you create the physical layout, or map, of your market or expo along with the related booth details and configuration settings.\n\nTo get started, go to: **Event Configuration → Layouts**\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/01-image.jpg)\n\nThis will take you to the **Layouts** section, where you will see both **Activated Layouts** and **Layout Templates**.\n\n- **Activated Layouts** are already linked to a market or expo season and are currently in use.\n- **Layout Templates** are saved layouts that can be linked to a season later, before that season is activated.\n\nIn the example below, there is one layout template and one activated layout for the **Sunny Market 2025** season.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/02-image.jpg)\n\n### Create a New Layout Template\n\nTo create a new template, click the blue **+ Add** button to the right of the **Layout Templates** section header.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/03-image.jpg)\n\nThis opens the **Layout Editor**, a grid-based map design tool that lets you create anything from a simple booth map to a more detailed and customized layout.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/04-image.jpg)\n\n!!! tip\n    - Use your mouse wheel or trackpad to **zoom in or out**.\n    \n    - To move around the layout, hold **Alt** on a PC or **Option** on a Mac, then click and drag.\n   \n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n### **General Layout Settings**\n\nThe global layout settings appear in the **Layout Inspector** on the right side of the editor. This panel is visible when no specific map element is selected.\n\n#### **Layout Name**\n\nThe first thing you should do is name your layout.\n\nBy default, the layout name will appear as **New Layout** in the top-right corner. Click the name to edit it.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/05-image.jpg)\n\nIn the example below, the layout name was updated to **Sunny Market - 2026**.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/06-image.jpg)\n\nOnce the layout has been renamed, you can click **Save** or **Save & Close,** in the top-right, at any time.\n\n### Layout Inspector Features\n\n**Add Tax to Booths**  \nWhen enabled, tax is added to the calculated booth price when an assignment is made.\n\n**Render Assignment Names**  \nWhen enabled, vendor names are shown on assigned booths instead of booth IDs. If disabled, booth IDs are shown.\n\n**Redact Assignments**  \nWhen enabled, other users cannot see vendor assignments in the layout.\n\n**Hide Unassigned IDs**  \nWhen enabled, booth IDs are hidden for unassigned booths. \n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/07-image.png)\n\n### **Create your Map**\n\n#### **The Booth Element**\n\nBooths are the core element of your layout. They also store booth pricing information used in stall assignments.\n\n!!! note\n    To learn more about booth pricing, see the related screencast tutorial on [Configuring Booth Fees with Terms](https://articles.marketspread.com/v1/articles/configuring-booth-fees-with-terms).\n   \n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nTo add a booth, click the **booth element** in the far-left side of the top toolbar. It appears as a square with a **B** in the center.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/08-image.jpg)\n\nIn the example below, 10 new booth spaces were added by clicking the booth element 10 times.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/09-image.jpg)\n\nBooths are more than just shapes on the layout. Each booth contains metadata that defines its size, attributes, and pricing.\n\nTo edit a booth, click it to open the **Booth Inspector** on the right side.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/10-image.jpg)\n\n#### Booth ID\n\nEach booth is assigned a **Booth ID**. By default, booths are numbered sequentially starting with **1**.\n\nYou can rename booth IDs using letters, numbers, or a combination of both. In the example below, booth **2** was renamed **Band**.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/11-image.jpg)\n\n#### Space Size\n\nBy default, all booths are created as **10 x 10**, which is the most common booth size.\n\nYou can update the **width** and **depth** of each booth in the Booth Inspector. In the example below, the **Band** booth was updated to **20 x 20**.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/12-image.png)\n\nThe layout grid is drawn to scale. Each background square represents **5 feet by 5 feet**.\n\nBooths can also be resized by dragging the edit handles directly on the layout. This will automatically update the width and depth in the inspector.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/13-image.jpg)\n\n#### Booth Orientation\n\nTo rotate a booth, drag the rotation handle connected to the booth by a line.\n\n!!! tip\n    Hold the **Shift** key while rotating to snap the booth to clean 45-degree increments.\n   \n\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/14-image.jpg)\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/15-image.png)\n\n#### Amenities\n\nYou can assign amenities to individual booths. These amenities can be shown to vendors when booth preferences are enabled in season settings.\n\nTo assign amenities, select a booth and check the applicable amenity boxes in the Booth Inspector.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/16-image.jpg)\n\n#### Other Booth Adjustments\n\n**Font Size and Font Weight**\n\nUse the **Font Size** and **Font Weight** settings in the Booth Inspector to control how the booth ID is displayed.\n\nIn the example below, the font size was set to **36** and the weight was changed to **bold**.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/17-image.jpg)\n\n**Fill**\n\nUse **Fill** to change the booth color.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/18-image.jpg)\n\n**Outline**\n\nUse **Outline** to change the booth border color.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/19-image.jpg)\n\n**Outline Size**\n\nUse **Outline Size** to change the thickness of the booth border.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/20-image.jpg)\n\n**Outline Type**\n\nUse **Outline Type** to choose between a solid or dashed border.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/21-image.jpg)\n\n**Outline Radius**\n\nUse **Outline Radius** to round the booth corners. The default value is **5**, which creates a subtle rounded edge.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/22-image.jpg)\n\n### **Graphical Elements**\n\nIn addition to booths, the Layout Designer includes other elements you can use to build out your map, including:\n\n- **Rectangle**\n- **Circle**\n- **Triangle**\n- **Straight Line**\n- **Draw Path**\n- **Freehand Draw**\n- **Text**\n- **Icons** such as buildings, outdoor items, trees, vehicles, and more\n\nThese elements can be moved, resized, rotated, and styled using the inspector on the right side.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/23-image.jpg)\n\nYou can also use the toolbar to **undo**, **redo**, and manage changes as you build your layout.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/24-image.png)\n\n### **External Elements**\n\nThe Layout Designer also allows you to upload custom graphical elements.\n\nThe best file type to use is **SVG** because it scales well and works best for zoomable maps. You can also upload **JPG** or **PNG** files.\n\nTo add a custom graphic, use the **external element** tool in the top toolbar.\n\nCustom elements can be rotated and resized like any other layout element.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/25-image.jpg)\n\nYou can also use a **Camera Marker** to mark camera locations at your event.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/26-image.png)\n\n### **Precision Controls**\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/27-image.jpg)\n\nClick the **Object Explorer** button, shown above, to open the Object Explorer panel on the left side of the layout screen.\n\n#### Lock Elements to the Canvas\n\nAll elements in your layout can be locked to the canvas. When an element is locked, it cannot be moved or selected. This is especially useful when building the base background of your map and you want to avoid making accidental changes.\n\nYou can lock elements from the **Object Explorer**.\n\nClick the **Object Explorer** button to open the panel on the left side of the layout screen.\n\nFor example, if your layout contains three elements, you can lock any one of them individually in the **Object Explorer**, as shown below. \n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/28-image.jpg)\n\nIn this example, the green rectangle is being locked.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/29-image.png)\n\nOnce the green rectangle is locked, it cannot be selected or edited unless it is unlocked again in the **Object Explorer**.\n\n#### Hide Elements on the Canvas\n\nElements can also be hidden using the **Object Explorer**.\n\nClick the **eye icon** next to an element to hide it from view.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/30-image.png)\n\nIn this example, the red circle still exists in the layout, but it is no longer visible on the canvas and will not appear on the published map.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/31-image.png)\n\n#### Send Elements Forward or Backward\n\nElements in your layout can be layered in front of or behind other elements by moving them forward or backward.\n\nThis can be done using the **Bring to Front** and **Send to Back** buttons.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/32-image.png)\n\nIn the example below, there are two elements: a green rectangle and a blue triangle. As shown, the blue triangle is positioned on top of the green rectangle.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/33-image.png)\n\nTo send the blue triangle behind the green rectangle, click the blue triangle and then click the **Send to Back** button highlighted below.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/34-image.png)\n\nNotice that when the blue triangle is sent to the back, it also moves lower in the **Object Explorer** list. This list reflects the front-to-back order of elements on the canvas.\n\n### Precisely Position Elements\n\nYou can move elements with greater precision than standard click-and-drag controls.\n\nTo move an element **1 pixel at a time**, select it while holding the **Ctrl** key, then use the arrow keys on your keyboard.\n\nTo move an element **5 pixels at a time** (equal to one small canvas square), hold the **Shift** key and use the arrow keys.\n\nThis is especially helpful when you want to fine-tune placement and alignment.\n\n### Find Elements Quickly\n\nThe **Object Explorer** can also help you quickly locate elements on your canvas.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/35-image.png)\n\nIn the example below, a red circle is positioned outside the visible area of the canvas.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/36-image.png)\n\nTo locate it, click the **center icon** on that element’s row in the **Object Explorer**. In the example below, the zoom level was adjusted to show both the original view and the located element that was previously off-screen.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/37-image.png)\n\nThis feature is also useful for finding elements that may be hidden underneath other elements. In the example below, the blue triangle is actually buried beneath two other elements.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/38-image.png)\n\nAgain, clicking the **center icon** lets you quickly locate the blue triangle on the canvas.\n\n![](https://articles.marketspread.com/images/layout-designer-howto/39-image.png)"}