Digital Planners: 4 Easy Ways to Create Your Own Using a Planner Creator

Digital planners don’t have to be pre‑made. This guide shows how to create your own planner using a simple, realistic design system.

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Why digital planning is taking off

Digital planners are essentially tablet‑friendly versions of paper planners you use inside apps like GoodNotes or Notability. The appeal is obvious:

• easy editing (erase, duplicate, rearrange)
• reusable pages (undated planners don’t expire)
• a huge range of templates, stickers, and styles
• the convenience of carrying everything on one device

If you’re a digital planner user, you already know the joy of planning with a stylus.

If you’re a planner maker (or want to become one), the bigger opportunity is to create something that’s truly yours — your own pages, your own look, and visuals that present your work professionally.

What does “Digital Planner Creator” mean?

A digital planner creator is not a finished planner file.

It’s a realistic design system (assets + templates) that helps you:

1. build your own planner pages (layouts, dividers, tabs, inserts)
2. present them inside a realistic planner scene for product listings and marketing

Think of it like a studio toolkit: ringbinder elements, paper inserts, tabs, pockets, textures, stationery, and shadows — photographed realistically so your results look polished and premium.

Who this is for (and who it’s not for)

This is for you if…

• you want to create your own digital planner (pages, sections, layouts)
• you sell on Etsy / Creative Market and need listing images that look professional
• you want realistic, editable assets (not flat illustrations)
• you enjoy customising colours, tabs, pockets, inserts, and stationery props

This is not for you if…

• you want a ready‑to‑use planner you can import and start using immediately (no editing)
• you don’t want to customise anything

Introducing the Free Digital Planner Creator Starter Kit (Open View)

To help you get started without committing to a full collection, I created a free Starter Kit that gives you a simplified (but real) taste of the workflow.

What’s included

1) Open View Planner file (Photoshop / Affinity Designer / Procreate)

• add your own page design to the insert
• edit divider‑tab text
• change a few key colours (planner base, rings, tabs, pockets)

2) Stationery Starter Pack

• pen
• sticky note
• paper clips

3) Bonus PNG: monthly layout

• drop it onto the insert if you don’t have a page design ready

What’s simplified (on purpose)

To keep this starter kit easy:

• the background texture + overlay are fixed
• the file focuses on the “core moves” you need to learn: insert → tabs → colours → export

What you can create with the Starter Kit

Here are 4 practical outcomes you can make quickly:

1. A custom digital planner you can actually use in GoodNotes or Notability
2. A listing hero image for a planner product (Etsy / Creative Market)
3. A product preview of your planner pages inside a realistic binder
4. Marketing visuals for Instagram / Pinterest (same file, different crops)

How to use the Starter Kit (quick workflow)

Step 1 — Add your page design to the inserts

• Find the Inserts group
• Look for a placeholder such as “YOUR DESIGN HERE”
• Place your design, resize, and position it to fit

Step 2 — Update divider tab text

• Open the Divider Tabs group
• Select the text layer (often labelled “Your Text”)
• Type your section names (e.g., Monthly, Notes, Goals, Budget)

Step 3 — Change colours (optional)

• Find layers named “Change … Color”
• Update the planner base / rings / pockets / tabs to match your brand palette

Step 4 — Export a listing‑ready image

• Export as PNG for best quality (or JPG for smaller file size)
• Use this export as your hero image, then crop variations for extra listing images

Software notes (choose what you already use)

• Photoshop: easiest if you’re already comfortable with Smart Objects
• Affinity Designer: great PSD alternative (especially on iPad)
• Procreate: ideal if you love working with layers and quick edits

Tips for better results

• Keep your insert design high‑resolution (blurry inserts make everything feel cheap)
• If shadows feel too strong, reduce shadow opacity
• If colours don’t change, make sure you’re selecting the “Change … Color” layer (not the photo layer)
• Start simple: one tab set + one insert + one colour palette → export

Want the full toolkit?

The Starter Kit is a small sample.

The full Digital Planner Creator Collection includes more views, more assets, and more styling options so you can create:

• multiple planner angles for richer listings
• full scene layouts (not just one view)
• a wider range of props, pockets, tabs, and paper types
• more flexible backgrounds and overlays for different moods

Download the free Starter Kit

Subscribe to get instant access

Get the Free Digital Planner Creator Starter Kit (Open View) delivered to your inbox. You’ll receive the editable Open View planner file (Photoshop, Affinity Designer, Procreate), the Stationery Starter Pack, and the Monthly Layout PNG, plus the Quick Start PDF so you can create your first result in minutes.

FAQ

Is this a finished digital planner?

No — it’s a creator toolkit that helps you build and present your own planner pages.

Can I use it for Etsy listings?

Yes. The whole point is helping you export a clean, listing‑ready hero image.

Do I need Photoshop?

No — the Starter Kit includes files for Photoshop, Affinity Designer, and Procreate.

Can I change the background?

In the Starter Kit, the background texture/overlay is fixed to keep things beginner‑friendly.

Final thoughts

If you’ve been thinking about creating your own planner pages (or selling them), this Starter Kit is the fastest way to understand the workflow — without guessing.

Download it, do one simple edit, export one listing image, and you’ll immediately see what’s possible.