Creating Custom Site Templates
To create a custom site template:
Create a new site based on one of the predefined site templates.
Modify the site.
Save the site as a template.
For example, to extend the standard Team Site template to include a Picture Library:
Create a new site based on the Team Site template. Choose Create → Web Pages → Sites and Workspaces, enter a title and address, and then click Create.
Add a Picture Library to the site. Choose Pictures → Create Picture Library → Picture Library, enter a library name, and then click Create.
Save the site as a custom template. Choose Site Settings → Go to Site Administration → Save site as template. Figure 3-2 illustrates the results.
Complete the Save Site as Template page and choose OK to create the template.
SharePoint saves the site as a template file and adds it to the Site Template Gallery list.

Figure 3-2. Saving a modified site as a new, custom template
Custom templates added to the Site Template Gallery appear in the templates list when you create a new site, as shown in Figure 3-3.
Viewing, Editing, and Deleting Template Files
The custom template file (.stp) in Figure 3-2 is actually a compressed cabinet file containing an XML template description. To see the contents of the template file:
Choose Site Settings → Go to Site Administration → Manage site template gallery. SharePoint displays a list of the custom templates.
Choose the ...