Sometimes, what would really save your bacon (and turn a profit) is instant access to a ready-made layout for a project — something you don’t have to create, but still gets the job done.

One option is StockLayouts. They provide fully customizable templates for QuarkXPress, and other applications, either on CD or downloaded from their website.

The templates were designed by award-winning graphic designers and include royalty-free stock photos and original artwork, and a defined color palette.

Everything is suitable for commercial printing, and fonts are specified but not included. Templates include brochures, newsletters, stationery, postcards, ads and menus for a variety of businesses.

Each CD contains dozens of layouts and is priced between $249 and $399, while individual layouts cost $29–$99. You can see the designs and download a free sample template from their website.

Another option is Chuck Green’s “Ideabook”, which Planet Quark mentioned back in January. It’s a book and a CD that contains more than 300 prebuilt projects. Grab one and go!

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet is a contributing editor for Design Tools Monthly, the executive summary of graphic design news. He is also the morning editor and reviews editor for The Mac Observer and iPodObserver.com, and contributing writer for Layers Magazine and Photoshop User. He writes the InBrief column for InDesign Magazine, and is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X,” from Peachpit Press

When Jeff isn’t writing about the graphic design world, he’s talking about it on the Design Tools Weekly podcast with co-host Jay Nelson. He also talks about Apple and the Mac world every week on The Mac Observer’s Apple Weekly Report.

Jeff studies, tests and reviews new software and technologies for the Macintosh community as well as the design and print industries. He is a former Pre-press specialist, and has nearly 25 years experience with computer technology. Jeff trains, lectures and consults on techniques for more efficiently using Mac OS X in creative environments throughout the country.

In the rare moments when he can get away from his MacBook Pro, Jeff spends his time climbing and biking in the Colorado mountains.