Setting up an ATAS chart from scratch takes time — picking the chart type, adding a volume profile, tuning colours, getting it readable. A good template skips all of that. You import it, and a clean order flow layout appears in a couple of clicks.
This guide covers what makes a good template, how to install one, and where to get some for free.
(Quick note: templates are a convenience, not trading advice. They set up your chart; the reading is still yours.)
What a good order flow template includes
A template is just a saved chart setup. A good order flow one keeps things clean and readable rather than cramming everything on. The essentials:
- A footprint or clean candle chart as the base.
- A volume profile with the Point of Control marked, so key levels are visible.
- Sensible colours — easy on the eyes, with buyers and sellers clearly distinct.
- A light and a dark version, so it suits your screen and lighting.
The best templates do less, not more. A clean layout you can actually read beats a busy one covered in indicators.
Why use a template instead of building your own?
Two reasons:
Time. A template turns a fiddly setup into a quick import. Great when you're starting out and don't yet know every setting.
A good starting point. Even experienced traders use templates as a base, then tweak from there. It's easier to adjust a clean layout than to build one from a blank chart.
You'll still want to learn what each part does — but a template lets you start reading order flow today instead of configuring settings all week. (For the manual version, see How to Set Up ATAS.)
How to install a chart template in ATAS
The general steps (menus can vary slightly by version):
1 — Download the template file. It'll be a small settings file for ATAS.
2 — Open ATAS and go to your templates/chart settings. ATAS lets you load and manage saved chart templates.
3 — Import the template file. Point ATAS at the file you downloaded.
4 — Apply it to a chart. Open a futures instrument and apply the template. Your clean layout appears, ready to go.
5 — Tweak if you like. Adjust colours or the profile period to taste. It's your chart now.
That's it — a minute or two versus an afternoon of setup.
A tip: keep it clean
Once you have a template, resist the urge to pile on extra indicators straight away. The reason a good template works is that it's readable. Add tools one at a time, only when you find you actually need them. A clean chart is easier to read and easier to trade.
Where to get free templates
You can grab a set of free ATAS chart templates — light and dark versions of a clean order flow layout, ready to import. They're a simple way to get a readable chart without the setup work, and a good base to build your own style on later.
You'll need ATAS itself, of course — the free trial is enough to import a template and start practicing.
The bottom line
A good ATAS chart template gives you a clean, readable order flow layout in a couple of clicks — a footprint or candle base, a volume profile with the POC, sensible colours, and light/dark versions. Import one, keep it clean, and spend your time reading the market instead of configuring it.
Ready to learn what you're looking at? Start with How to Read Order Flow for Beginners.