In this Affinity Designer tutorial, we will build the square grid filler paper for our digital planner template kit. For this paper, both the vertical and horizontal lines will be 16 pixels apart.

In the last tutorial, we created horizontal writing lines that are 16 pixels apart and named the group of lines writingLines 16 apart. We can duplicate this group of lines and then we only need to create the vertical lines for the squared grid paper.

As with the writing lines filler paper from the previous tutorial, we will store this square grid filler paper element in the fillerPapers artboard. Then when you create a paper design that needs a square grid, you can just copy and paste the grid in to your new design.

Open your 002_digitalPlannerTemplateKit document in to Affinity® Designer.

1. In the fillerPapers artboard, right-click on the writingLines 16 apart group and choose Duplicate. Rename this duplicate group squaredHorizontal lines 16 apart (see screenshot).

Now we are ready to draw the vertical lines.

In the Context toolbar, set the Fill to null, the Stroke to 1 px and the Stroke Color to Black.


2. Draw the first vertical line 16 px from the left edge of the canvas. In the Transform panel X should be 16, the Y should be zero and the Height should be 792 pixels. (see screenshot)


3. Duplicate the vertical line and move it 16 pixels to the right of the first vertical line.


4. Click Edit - Duplicate to power duplicate the vertical lines across the canvas.

Let's group the vertical lines together and name the group squaredVertical lines 16 apart.(see screenshot)


5. Group the squaredHorizontal group layer and the squaredVertical group layer together and name it squareGrid 16 apart (see screenshot).

Save your work (File - Export as Template).

Create a Digital Planner Template Kit - Series Index

Screenshots used by permission of Serif (Europe) Ltd. This article is not endorsed by Serif Ltd.
Screenshots used by permission of Time Base Technology Limited.