Introduction
Template instructions let you embed AI guidance directly inside a template, so anyone who generates from that template gets output that follows your rules. Instead of copying and pasting the same detailed prompts each time (writing guidelines, company context, and so on), you can bake them into the template itself as stored context. They also make it easy to keep certain cards unchanged during generation. Rather than typing "don't edit card 17," you can simply lock the card in the template.
🔷 Note: Template instructions are currently in Beta, so the feature may not be available in every workspace yet.
What are the two levels of instructions?
There are two places you can add instructions to a template.
Template-level instructions: Overall guidance for the whole template, such as "this is a sales proposal; keep the tone formal and always fill in the pricing table." These are edited in the Template settings side panel, under the Instructions tab.
Card-level instructions: A small sticky note on the top-right of each card where you can write per-card guidance, such as "summarize the customer's goals in 3 bullets here." Each card can also be marked Locked 🔒, which tells the AI not to modify that card at all.
Instructions are saved invisibly as part of the template document itself. They travel with the template, including when someone saves a copy as a template, and they never appear in the generated deck.
How do I add instructions to a template?
🔷 Note: Instructions only affect AI generation from the template. They do nothing if someone duplicates the template and edits it manually.
Step 1: Open your template for editing
Open the template you want to update in the editor.
Step 2: Add template-level instructions
Open the Template settings side panel and select the Instructions tab. Add your overall guidance here, such as tone, structure, or company context.
💎 Pro Tip: Template-level instructions also power the AI-suggested prompt pills on the Remix screen, so clear instructions here improve suggestions too.
Step 3: Add card-level instructions
Click the sticky note control on the top-right of any card to write per-card instructions. Use the lock toggle to mark a card as Locked 🔒 if the AI should leave it untouched.
🌀 Insight: Press Esc to save your sticky note, or Cancel to discard your changes. If you delete a card-level instruction, an Undo toast appears so you can restore it.
How do instructions shape AI generation?
When a user generates from your template, Gamma reads all the instructions out of the template and includes them in the AI prompt. The overall instructions come first, followed by a card-by-card list, with locked cards flagged as "do not edit." The instructions shape what the AI produces but are never visible in the final generated deck.
FAQs & Common Issues
Why don't I see the Instructions tab or sticky notes in my workspace?
Template instructions are in Beta and are rolling out gradually, so not every workspace has access yet.
I locked a card, but a teammate still edited it. Why?
Locking a card is a hint to the AI during generation, not an editing restriction for humans.
Anyone can still edit a locked card manually after duplicating or generating from the template.
Do instructions apply if someone just duplicates my template?
No. Instructions only affect AI generation from the template.
Manual duplication and editing ignore both instructions and locks.
Is there a limit to how much I can write in my instructions?
Instructions count toward the AI prompt's token budget.
Extremely long instructions on a large template can crowd out other context, so keep them focused and concise.
Will my instructions show up in the generated deck?
No. Instructions are an invisible markup layer saved on top of the template and never appear in the final output.