ARTERNAL generates a complete presentation from your list in seconds. A few deliberate choices turn it into something that feels curated rather than system-generated. This guide uses the Suspended States presentation to show what we changed and why.
For step-by-step instructions, see Previews in ARTERNAL.
The starting point: the default presentation
A newly generated presentation follows one consistent pattern:
A cover with the list’s title and the artists from your list.
Pages for your works, each with the image on one side and the caption beside it. Where each image sits depends on the work’s proportions.
The first work by each artist uses an Artwork + Bio layout.
Each page shows the details the work has.
This is reliable and quick to share. But when every page looks the same, the presentation reads like a checklist.
By customizing the layout, you can introduce hierarchy, variation, and a stronger narrative flow.
Page 1: Cover
What changed:
A full-bleed installation image replaced the plain background.
The exhibition title became large.
The supporting text was kept minimal, and the placeholder text was replaced with real details.
As seen on page 1, the artwork fills the page and immediately draws attention.
Why it works: the cover sets the tone before a single caption is read. One strong image and a clear title invite the viewer in. If you’d rather give more context up front, add dates or a short line about the show. Just keep the image the hero.
Page 2: Artwork pages
The artwork page of the PDF uses a consistent artwork layout:
The artwork stays large.
Title, medium, size and price sit neatly beside it, in the same position on every artwork page.
On page 2 below, the sculpture is clearly presented with its title, medium, size, and price neatly organized.
Why it works: consistency makes a presentation easy to scan. Clients compare works faster when the details are always in the same place. Your Brand Profile’s caption format controls which details appear, so set it up before you generate a presentation to avoid editing caption by caption.
Page 4: The detail page
A detail page breaks up the artwork pages.
A tight crop of the surface was added between artwork pages.
A short line of text sits over the image.
On page 4, the focus shifts to a tighter crop with descriptive text layered subtly over the image.
Why it works: a close-up breaks the rhythm of repeated artwork pages and shows what’s hard to see at full scale, such as texture, material and the artist’s hand. Use one where a work rewards a closer look.
Keeping it unified
As the layouts vary, a few things stay constant:
the same fonts and text styles throughout
images sized to a consistent pattern
consistent margins
That consistency is what makes a varied presentation feel designed rather than assembled.
Page 12: The closing page
The final page shifts back to a more editorial layout, showing how a generated PDF can be transformed into a polished artist feature. The background uses a solid color instead of an image. An image of the artist is added alongside a short description.
What changed:
A blank page with a solid background color.
An artist portrait.
A longer introduction to the artist’s work, plus exhibition details.
On page 12, the combination of portrait and text creates a strong, thoughtful ending.
Why it works: ending on the artist leaves the viewer with context and a personal connection. A plain background gives the longer text room to breathe.
What changed overall
Compared with the generated version, the customized presentation has:
a strong cover instead of a standard title page
more variety in page layouts
a detail page that adds depth
an intentional ending
Pro Tips
Set your Brand Profile first. Your logo, fonts, colors and caption format apply when you create a presentation.
Duplicate a page you like to repeat its structure with a different work.
Preview often to judge the flow the way a client will.
Share a link while you’re still refining. Your client sees the latest version whenever they open or refresh it.
Related Articles
New to Previews? Start with Previews in ARTERNAL for a full walkthrough.
Suspended States PDF Example:
This example shows how a generated PDF can be refined into a more elevated presentation. View here