# Set up a brand

Add a brand's colours, fonts, logos and layout rules so Mestra can build its formats.

Add a brand once, then build every campaign for it.

> **Before you start:**
>
> - You need the **Editor** or **Owner** role. Viewers can look but not change.
> - Your plan limits how many brands you can hold: 1 on the trial and on Starter, 5 on Team, 20 on Agency. The sample brand doesn't count.
> - Have the brand's logo files ready. Each must be PNG or SVG, 2 MB or smaller.

1. Sign in to the web app and open **Setup** > **Brands**.
2. Select **New brand**.
3. Enter a short **Code** (the key), above the tabs. Start with a letter or number. Then use letters, numbers, dots, dashes and underscores, up to 64 characters. Mestra puts it in file names, so keep it tidy.
4. On the **Brand** tab, enter the **Name**.
5. Under **Brand colours**, select **Add a colour** and enter each colour as `#RRGGBB`.
6. Under **Fonts**, select **Add a font** for each font the brand uses. Add a **QR base URL** if the brand's formats carry a QR code.
7. Open the **Rules** tab. Set the **Logo minimum width** (a percentage of the page width), **Logo clear space** (a percentage of the logo width), **Headline maximum lines**, **Grid** and **Minimum gap**.
8. Select **Save**. It is the same for a new and an existing brand, and it is off until you change something. A new brand needs a **Code** first.
9. In the **Logos** card, upload a **Primary** logo. Add an **Alternate** logo if the brand has one. Mestra uses whichever logo stands out more on the artwork.
10. InDesign only: open the **Advanced** tab and add **InDesign file paths** (rows of **Variant** and **Path**) for the logo files the panel uses. Figma and Canva use the logos you uploaded.

A new brand shows "Save the brand to add logos." until you save it once.

Minimum type size isn't a brand rule. You set it on each format. A campaign can also override a brand's rules. See [Brands](https://withmestra.com/docs/concepts/brands/) for how the two fit together.

The plugins still call brands "Centres". It's the same thing.

## If something goes wrong

| You see                                                                | What it means                               | What to do                                                                                                                  |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "That key is already taken."                                           | Another brand uses that code.               | Choose a different **Code**.                                                                                                |
| "Someone else changed this. Reload to see their changes."              | A colleague saved first.                    | Reload the page, then make your change again.                                                                               |
| "Colours are written #RRGGBB."                                         | A colour isn't in the right form.           | Re-enter it, for example `#1A2B3C`.                                                                                         |
| "Logos must be 2 MB or smaller." or "Logos must be PNG or SVG."        | The logo file is too big or the wrong type. | Export a smaller PNG or an SVG.                                                                                             |
| "Your plan includes 1 brand. Upgrade on the Billing page to add more." | You've reached your plan's brand limit.     | Remove a brand, or ask an owner to upgrade. See [Plans and billing](https://withmestra.com/docs/how-to/plans-and-billing/). |

## What's next

- [Run a campaign](https://withmestra.com/docs/how-to/run-a-campaign/) to build formats for this brand.
- [Brands](https://withmestra.com/docs/concepts/brands/) explains what a brand holds.
- [Invite your team](https://withmestra.com/docs/how-to/invite-your-team/) so others can edit brands.