Plate templates let you define a reusable plate layout once and copy it across multiple plates , changing only what needs to change. If you're running the same base setup across many conditions, templates let you avoid repeating well assignments each time.
🎥 Prefer to watch? Check out our Plate Templates video below – or continue reading for a written guide.
Plate types vs. plate templates
When you create plates using a plate type, you start from an empty grid every time and assign all well properties from scratch. With a plate template, you design the layout once and mark each property as either:
Set. Fixed across all plates copied from this template (e.g. organism, media).
Variable. Specified per plate when you create them (e.g. treatment, sample).
Create a plate template
In the experiment Overview, find Plate type & templates, toggle to Plate templates, scroll down and click + New plate template in bottom. Give it a name and select a plate format.
Assign well properties as you would in the plate designer. For each parameter, choose whether it is set or variable:
Set properties are pre-filled on every plate created from this template.
Variable properties must be set each time you create plates. Reshape will prompt you to specify them.
Click Create template when done.
Use a template in an experiment
In your experiment's Overview tab, switch the plate type to your new template. Then click Create plates and set how many plates you need.
For set properties, wells are already assigned, nothing to do. For variable properties, Reshape prompts you to specify the value for each plate (e.g. which treatment or sample applies). Once all variables are resolved, click Create plates. They're now ready to be run.
Tip: Templates are especially useful when screening a library: same base layout, one variable swapped per plate.
Start your job
From the Plates tab inside the experiment, select your plate(s) and click Create job to link them to the Imaging Device and start the run.
→ See [Starting a new job] for the full walkthrough.