Customizing Show Design: Backgrounds, Fonts, and Visual Style

Mia Loha

Mia Loha

— 4 min read
Customizing Show Design: Backgrounds, Fonts, and Visual Style
Photo by Slidebean / Unsplash

Make your shows visually stunning with Star's design customization options. This tutorial covers everything from basic color changes to advanced per-entry styling.

Time required: 15 minutes

What You'll Learn

  • Understanding the design hierarchy
  • Setting show-wide defaults
  • Customizing individual entries
  • Working with backgrounds (colors, images, videos)
  • Typography customization
  • Design best practices

Prerequisites

  • An existing show with entries
  • Basic familiarity with Star

Understanding Design Hierarchy

Star's design system works in layers:

App Defaults
    ↓
Show Design (overrides app defaults)
    ↓
Entry Design (overrides show design)

App Defaults: Built-in styling when nothing is customized
Show Design: Your settings for a specific show
Entry Design: Custom styling for individual entries

Each layer overrides the one above it.

Part 1: Accessing Design Settings

Show-Level Design

  1. Open your show
  2. Look for:
    • Settings gear icon
    • Design button
    • Three-dot menu → Design
  3. The design panel opens

Entry-Level Design

  1. Open your show
  2. Tap on a specific entry
  3. Find Design or Customize option
  4. Entry design panel opens

Part 2: Background Options

Option 1: Solid Color

The simplest background:

  1. Choose Color
  2. Preview and save

Tips:

  • Dark backgrounds (navy, black, dark gray) work best for projected lyrics
  • Light backgrounds work for printed materials
  • Consider your venue's lighting

Option 2: Background Image

  1. Select Background → Image
  2. Choose source:
    • Upload: From your device
    • Media Library: Previously uploaded images
    • Stock Photos: Search Unsplash, Pexels, etc.
  3. Select an image
  4. Adjust settings:
    • Fit: Cover (fills space) vs. Contain (shows full image)
    • Position: Center, top, bottom
    • Opacity: Dim the image for text readability
  5. Save

Image tips:

  • Use high-resolution images (1920x1080 minimum for projection)
  • Avoid busy images that compete with text
  • Nature scenes and abstract patterns work well
  • Consider the mood: sunrise for hopeful songs, stars for contemplative

Option 3: Background Video

  1. Select Background → Video
  2. Upload a video or select from library
  3. Configure:
    • Loop: Video repeats continuously
    • Mute: Audio disabled (usually preferred)
    • Opacity: Dim for readability
  4. Save

Video tips:

  • Use slow, subtle motion (clouds, water, particles)
  • Avoid abrupt scene changes
  • Keep file size reasonable for loading speed
  • Test on actual projection equipment

Part 3: Text Overlay Settings

Text must be readable over any background.

Text Color

  1. Find Text Color or Font Color
  2. Select a color that contrasts with your background:
    • White text on dark backgrounds
    • Black text on light backgrounds
    • Avoid yellow, light gray on white
  3. Save

Text Shadow

Adds depth and improves readability:

  1. Find Text Shadow option
  2. Enable or configure:
    • Color: Usually black or dark gray
    • Blur: Soft vs. sharp shadow
    • Offset: Direction of shadow
  3. Test with your background

Background Overlay

A semi-transparent layer between background and text:

  1. Find Overlay or Text Background
  2. Enable and configure:
    • Color: Black for dark overlay, white for light
    • Opacity: 30-70% typically works well
  3. Save

This creates a "reading band" even with busy backgrounds.

Part 4: Typography

Font Selection

  1. Find Font or Typeface
  2. Browse available fonts:
    • Sans-serif: Modern, clean (Arial, Helvetica, Open Sans)
    • Serif: Traditional, formal (Times, Georgia, Merriweather)
    • Display: Decorative (use sparingly)
  3. Select and preview

Font tips:

  • Sans-serif fonts are easier to read at distance
  • Use one font per show for consistency
  • Avoid decorative fonts for lyrics (hard to read)

Font Size

  1. Find Font Size or Text Size
  2. Options vary:
    • Presets: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large
    • Slider: Continuous adjustment
    • Pixel value: Exact sizing
  3. Preview at actual display size if possible

Size guidelines:

  • Phone (personal reference): Medium is fine
  • Tablet on music stand: Medium to Large
  • Projected (small room): Large
  • Projected (large room): Extra Large

Text Alignment

  1. Find Alignment options
  2. Choose:
    • Left: Standard for reading
    • Center: Common for lyrics and titles
    • Right: Rarely used

Line Height/Spacing

If available:

  • Tight: More text visible
  • Normal: Standard readability
  • Loose: Easier to follow line to line

Part 5: Per-Entry Customization

When to Use Entry-Level Design

  • Scripture readings: Different feel than songs
  • Special songs: Unique atmosphere needed
  • Announcements: Church branding
  • Transitions: Blank slide or image only

Enabling Entry Override

  1. Open the specific entry
  2. Go to Design
  3. Find Override show design or similar toggle
  4. Enable it
  5. Entry-specific options become available

Configuring Entry Design

Once override is enabled:

  • Set entry-specific background
  • Choose different text colors
  • Adjust font size
  • All settings independent of show defaults

Example: Scripture Reading Override

Show default: Dark blue background with white text

For scripture reading:

  1. Open the scripture entry
  2. Enable design override
  3. Set background: Parchment texture image
  4. Set text color: Dark brown
  5. Increase font size slightly
  6. Save

Now scripture looks distinct while other entries use show defaults.

Part 6: Design Templates (If Available)

Some Star versions offer templates:

Using Templates

  1. In design settings, find Templates
  2. Browse available options:
    • "Minimal Dark"
    • "Nature Calm"
    • "Modern Worship"
    • "Classic Hymnal"
  3. Tap to preview
  4. Apply to copy settings

Creating Templates

  1. Configure a show's design exactly how you want
  2. Find Save as Template option
  3. Name your template
  4. Apply to future shows

Part 7: Preview and Testing

Preview in App

Most design changes show live preview:

  • Make a change
  • See it immediately
  • Adjust as needed

Test Presentation Mode

Before the actual event:

  1. Apply your design
  2. Enter Presentation Mode
  3. Navigate through entries
  4. Check readability at actual viewing distance

Test on Actual Equipment

For projection:

  1. Connect to the actual projector/display
  2. Display several entries
  3. Walk to the back of the room
  4. Verify text is readable

Part 8: Best Practices

Readability First

Beautiful design means nothing if people can't read:

  • High contrast between text and background
  • Large enough font for viewing distance
  • No busy backgrounds behind text

Consistency

  • Use one background style per show (or per section)
  • Stick to one font
  • Keep text sizes consistent across similar entry types

Mood Matching

  • Reflective song? Darker, calmer background
  • Celebration song? Brighter, more dynamic
  • Scripture? Classic, reverent feel

Simplicity

  • When in doubt, go simpler
  • Solid dark backgrounds with white text always work
  • Save elaborate design for special occasions

Technical Considerations

  • Large images = longer loading
  • Videos use more battery
  • Test offline to ensure content cached

Quick Design Recipes

"Clean and Simple"

  • Background: Solid dark navy (#1a1a2e)
  • Text: White (#ffffff)
  • Font: Sans-serif, Large
  • Shadow: Enabled, subtle

"Nature Worship"

  • Background: Soft nature image (50% dimmed)
  • Text: White with shadow
  • Font: Sans-serif, Extra Large
  • Overlay: 40% black

"Classic Hymnal"

  • Background: Cream/parchment color
  • Text: Dark brown
  • Font: Serif, Medium
  • Shadow: Disabled

"Modern/Youth"

  • Background: Loop video (subtle particles)
  • Text: White, bold
  • Font: Sans-serif, Large
  • Shadow: Strong

Troubleshooting

Text is hard to read

  • Add text shadow
  • Add background overlay
  • Increase contrast
  • Increase font size

Background image won't load

  • Check file size (reduce if huge)
  • Verify upload completed
  • Check internet connection
  • Try a different image

Design looks different on projector

  • Projectors vary in brightness/contrast
  • Increase contrast for projection
  • Test before events
  • Have a fallback design

Next Steps

Your shows look great. Now:

  • Create templates for reuse
  • Develop your church's visual identity
  • Train others on design standards

Read more