Style Guides with color references offer the best of both worlds: flexibility and structure. They help you keep production moving while ensuring high-quality results. Think of them as the friend who’s both laid-back and reliable—always ready to adapt but still keeps things on track. A flexible Style Guide prevents bottlenecks, while a structured one creates predictable workflows, so you get the best of both.
Style Guide settings
Creative Force lets you decide how work units are managed when color references come into play. Here's how it works:
Pause and Wait for Color Reference: Work units stop at "Awaiting Color Reference" until the file is ready. Learn more about this option in the help guide.
Continue Without Color Reference: Work units move to post-production even if the color reference is missing.
For external post-production, Creative Force includes a placeholder file labeled "Color Reference Not Available," but this file won’t be saved as a reference.
For internal post-production, no placeholder file is sent.
Note:
If you choose Pause and Wait for Color Reference and the production type generating the reference is disabled, other production types will continue automatically. Efficiency for the win!
Action for managing Work Units
Sometimes, you need to push things forward, even without a color reference. Here’s how:
Bulk Processing Products Without a Color Reference
In the Production view, filter products by Step Status → Post-Production Step → Awaiting Color Reference.
Select the products you want to process.
Choose Actions → Process Without Color Reference to send them on their way.
Processing a Single Product Without a Color Reference
On the Production page, highlight the product, right-click, and select Process Without Color Reference.
Alternatively, on the Products page, highlight the product and use the three-dot menu available on each work unit to select this option.
Action for managing Color Reference files
Color reference files can be added, updated, or removed at any production step. Here’s what you can do:
Adding a Color Reference File
If there’s no file, go to the Overview tab of the product slide-in and click Add.
You can upload a local file or use a Color Reference URL. Click here for more details.
Updating or Deleting a File
If a color reference is already available, hover over the image to access the pencil icon. This allows you to:
View the file in full screen (a closer look never hurts).
Delete it if it’s no longer needed.
Replace it or add a new file from earlier steps or your local drive.