Welcome to Backdrop Buddy

This program guides you from enquiry through measurements, layout, pricing, customer approval, workshop records and handover. Everything saves locally and can sync through your protected cloud workspace. v43 also adds habitat-system planning for waterfalls, fog and mist, lighting, access points and other integrated upgrades.

1️⃣Answer simple questions
2️⃣Check the automatic plan
3️⃣Tap any ? for a plain-English explanation
4️⃣Download polished customer PDFs
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Help

Good morning

What would you like to do?

Build the business, one beautiful enclosure at a time.

Choose the gentle step-by-step wizard or open the full project sheet. Both create the same measurements, cut plan, quote, workshop plan and professional customer documents.

🪨🦎
🪄

Guided Wizard

One easy question at a time. Best when learning or working carefully.

Start guided →
📋

Detailed project sheet

Every field on one clear page with live answers and helper notes.

Open full sheet →
🔨

Today in the workshop

Continue builds, tick off stages and see what is due next.

Workshop →
📨

Send a quote request form

A simple customer form for measurements, photos and design wishes without revealing workshop methods.

Open customer form →
Active jobs
0
Not yet completed
Waiting for approval
0
Quotes to follow up
In the workshop
0
Building or curing
Quoted value
$0
Open job totals

Jobs needing attention

New job

Answer one screen at a time. Your work saves automatically.

Guided WizardEnquiry

Who is this backdrop for?

Only the customer name and a job name are needed. Everything else can be filled in later.

Tip: use a job name that describes the animal, size or style so it is easy to recognise later.
Customer and job
Use a name you will recognise in the jobs list.
Animal details
This helps the program provide more useful platform and build reminders.
kg

Enter the enclosure measurements

Choose whether the customer measured inside or outside. The usable inside size is calculated automatically.

Measure the narrowest actual opening. Door tracks, braces and old silicone can matter more than the advertised enclosure size.
Which measurements were supplied?
Enclosure size
mm
mm
mm
Who supplied or checked the measurements?
This is recorded on the approval sheet so everyone knows whether a final physical fit check is still required.
Calculated usable inside size
1,200 × 600 × 600 mm
Width × height × depth
Advanced measurement allowances
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
Always check the real enclosure before final cutting. Door tracks, braces, vents and silicone beads can make the opening smaller than the stated tank size.

Choose the backdrop pieces

Tick the pieces being built. Their cut sizes update automatically.

The side-panel depth automatically subtracts the rear blueboard, render and fitting allowances.
Panels to make
Rear backdropThe main back wall.
Left side panelAllows for the rear foam thickness.
Right side panelAllows for the rear foam thickness.
Build style
mm
mm
Automatic support backing for joined large panelsIf a finished backdrop panel cannot be cut from one blueboard sheet, Studio splits it into buildable foam sections and automatically allows plywood backing sheets in the quote and cut plan. Confirm the final grade, thickness and fixing method before construction.
How will the finished backdrop reach the customer?
Choose the real handover path. Quotes, charges, checklists and customer documents adapt automatically.
$
$
Extra carved features

Automatic panel cut list

Before carving

Blueboard sheet layout

Automatic cutting plan and offcut guide

Add platforms and basking shelves

Add each shelf, choose where it appears, and tell the program how it will be supported.

Use the layout presets for a fast starting point, then drag platforms in the preview to show the customer the approximate position.
Platform safety: the program gives conservative guidance, not an engineering certification. Reinforce load-bearing shelves and physically test them well above the expected animal weight before use.

Fast layout presets

Use one, then edit anything

Customer layout preview

Drag a platform to reposition it
The preview helps agree on approximate platform positions before work begins.

Build the customer price

Material quantities are estimated automatically. Adjust the labour or add special charges when needed.

The suggested hours include complexity from side panels, platforms, caves, ramps and cut-outs. Always adjust for your real process.
Labour and pricing
$
%
%
Custom-order deposits help cover design time and materials.
Waive the deposit for this quoteThe quote will clearly record that the business chose not to require a deposit.
$

Quote notes and assumptions

Customer-facing notes print on the quote; internal notes never do

Extra quote items

Optional charges or credits
See the material cost breakdown

Review and finish

Check the important details, save the job, then create whichever paperwork you need.

Record approval and payments here so the dashboard, invoice and customer history stay accurate.

Quick documents

Print or save as PDF
💬
Customer quotePrice, deposit, inclusions and terms.
✅
Design approvalMeasurements, layout and customer sign-off.
📐
Workshop cut sheetPanels, platforms, materials and checks.
🔨
Workshop job cardBuild stages and production checklist.
🧾
Invoice / receiptDeposit, payments and balance.
🧼
Care guideInstallation, curing and cleaning advice.
🛡️
Warranty certificateWorkmanship support, claim steps and consumer rights.
📝
Terms & acceptanceFull project terms and customer signatures.
📏
Measurement guideSend before the customer measures their enclosure.
⚖️
Load-test recordRecord physical platform testing.
🤝
Handover checklistInstallation and customer sign-off.
🧰
Self-install guideProject-safe steps for customer installation.
🗺️
Placement mapLabelled components, orientation and dry fit.
📦
Packing & dispatchCondition, labels, packages and tracking.
🔎
Delivery conditionCustomer receipt and package inspection.
⚠️
Transit issue formDamage, missing parts and evidence.
🕒
Curing logCoat dates, conditions and cure checks.
Customer approval
Design has been approvedOnly tick after the customer confirms measurements, layout and colours.
Record a payment
$
Payment history
Curing and release gate
The business should not release or install the build until the current product instructions have been checked and the required cure and ventilation period has passed.
hours
Use the longest relevant manufacturer period plus the business buffer.
Current labels / technical sheets checkedConfirm the entered cure times match the exact products and conditions used.
Final cure and release inspection passedNo tackiness, uncured joints, loose material or concerning odour; safe-use date explained to the customer.
Collection, delivery or dispatch record
Complete only what applies. The customer pack separates business installation from customer self-installation.
kg
mm
mm
mm
Live workshop checklist
Tick these off during the build. The workshop board shows the same list.

Customer jobs

Every saved job, quote and build in one place.

Documents and customer messages

Select a job, then create professional paperwork or copy a ready-written update.

Which job?
🧾Save a job first, then its documents will appear here.

Business reference and safety library

Printable internal guides and customer handover forms
Important: these are practical business templates. Product-specific labels, technical data sheets and safety data sheets always take priority.
🦺
Workshop safety guideDust, chemicals, hot tools, PPE and emergency checks.
🧪
Chemical registerProducts, SDS links, hazards and review dates.
⚖️
Platform load-test recordPhysical test and final inspection evidence.
🕒
Curing and coating logRender, paint, sealer and ventilation record.
🤝
Installation & handoverCustomer sign-off and enclosure checks.
🛡️
Care & workmanship certificateAftercare, inspection and support terms.
🛒
Stock shopping listRequired packs grouped by supplier.
📝
Incident / defect recordRecord hazards, customer concerns or product faults.
💬
Quoting checklistPrivate checklist for complete, profitable and clear quotes.
🔍
Final quality checklistFit, finish, cure, platforms, records and handover.
🧭
Warranty claim guideA calm step-by-step process for concerns and defects.

Customer records

Contact details, job history, spending and balances without maintaining a separate spreadsheet.

Workshop board

See the active builds, tick off stages and keep production notes in one place.

Active builds

🔨Select a job to open its workshop checklist.

Business insights

A simple view of enquiries, sales, balances, profit estimates and the styles customers choose.

Owner help and quick reference

Private workshop and business guides for refreshing a process without searching through the whole program.

OWNER USE
Keep trade methods private: these internal sheets focus on checks, decisions and records. Customer documents describe the requested result and care obligations without listing proprietary construction methods or recipes.
💬

Quoting a new job

Customer information, measurement confidence, scope, exclusions, price, deposit and approval checks.

📏

Measurement verification

A fast order-of-operations for openings, tracks, braces, wall thickness and dry-fit allowances.

🔨

Production sequence

From approved design through cutting, reinforcement, coatings, curing and final release.

📦

Materials and batches

Buying packs, checking labels and TDS/SDS, recording batches, stock rotation and real usage.

🔍

Final quality control

Fit, finish, heat clearance, gaps, platform testing, cure evidence, photos and handover.

💰

Pricing and profit

Materials, waste, labour, overhead, design complexity, contingency and margin checks.

🧭

Customer concern workflow

Make the area safe, collect facts and photos, inspect fairly, document the remedy and follow up.

🗂️

Records and photos

What to retain for quotes, approvals, products, curing, testing, handover, payments and portfolio use.

🧾

Quote revisions and variations

Freeze each issued quote, record acceptance, and use formal change orders instead of silently changing approved work.

⏱️

Time, expenses and real profit

Record actual workshop time and direct costs so the business can compare the quote with the true result.

🔐

Privacy and complete backups

Use the convenience PIN, protect customer files and download regular backups including attachment files.

📨

Customer enquiry form

A clean customer-facing form that asks only what is needed to quote and design the job.

Professional boundaries

Product instructions win

The exact product label, technical data sheet and SDS take priority over generic timings or workshop habits.

Do not promise engineering ratings

Record the intended animal, reinforcement and practical load test. Do not state a universal shelf capacity without qualified engineering.

Keep customer terms fair

Use clear scope and proportionate cancellation costs. Do not use terms that attempt to remove automatic consumer rights.

Use written approvals

Measurements, colour direction, layout changes, variations, deposits and delivery arrangements should all be recorded.

Materials, purchasing and stock

Buy materials in real retail packs, use them in practical workshop units, and charge jobs fairly for only what they consume.

How it works: a 20 kg render bag becomes 20,000 g of stock. Jobs can be estimated, charged and deducted in 100 g increments while the screen still shows the balance in easy pack terms.

What should be purchased?

This combines active jobs that have not already had stock deducted.

Low-stock guide

Coverage values are planning defaults, not product guarantees. Update them from the exact product technical data sheet and from the business's measured usage.

Bring a purchase into stock

$

Manual stock adjustment

Use this for a stocktake, damaged product, spills, expired material or correcting an earlier entry.

Quick pack guide

This is a chemical register and link library, not a replacement SDS. Keep the current manufacturer or supplier SDS for every hazardous chemical used or stored, and follow the exact product instructions.

Business settings

Add the details that should appear on quotes, invoices and care sheets.

Brand identity

Custom Reptile Backdrops

Hand-built enclosure backgrounds and habitats

A small transparent PNG works best.

Business details

Pricing defaults

$
%
%
%
days
Prices include Australian GSTTurn off if the business is not registered for GST.
%

Customer terms, care and warranty defaults

Template warning: these settings create practical Australian small-business documents, but they are not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer. Do not edit them to remove Australian Consumer Law rights.
months
This voluntary period does not limit automatic consumer guarantees.
hours
hours
A temporary safety hold only. The exact product instructions still must be checked.

Professional setup check

Fix these before issuing live customer documents

Backup and moving computers

Download one backup file containing settings, jobs and stock. Keep it somewhere safe.

About this version

Backdrop Buddy Studio v14.0
Two project builders, professional quote terms, deposit waivers, cure-release controls, expanded care and warranty documents, customer intake forms, owner reference sheets, pack-based stock purchasing, workshop records, photos, payments, insights and backups. Data stays in this browser unless exported.