Q: How do I know where the circle/oval is in my template?

A: Label templates are simply tables within a document and designed for use with Microsoft Word. As such the cells in the table are rectangular. You will only see the gridline of the rectangle cell that reflects where the label is die-cut on the actual label sheet. To show a circle/oval in this cell or in all cells on the page, you can draw one using the drawing toolbar (in older versions of Word) or on the Insert tab (in recent versions). Select Oval, if there isn’t a circle listed. The circle can be removed completely prior to printing if you do not wish it to show.

Using a PDF template & Printing from Photoshop

We had this question today and felt it was something others might find useful:

If you are using the pdf template in Photoshop to set up your labels, import the pdf as MEDIA BOX (not bouding box). Design your labels within the template, when it's time to test print...make sure you leave CENTER IMAGE checked (it's an 8.5 x 11 image so centering it on 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper is ideal). Make sure you do not checkmark SCALE TO FIT...this tells your printer to take your 8.5x11 image and shrink it down to fit within the 8 1/2 x 11 page margins in the printer default. This will completely throw your label printing off.

You might get a message telling you that what you are printing is larger than the allowed printable area and that "clipping may occur"...go ahead and click PROCEED. This does not necessarily mean any part of your design will be clipped, just the area of the 8.5 x 11 image that interferes with the printer margins.

As always, print on white paper first and hold the test print up to your sheet of labels to see how you are lining up. Make necessary adjustments and print again until you are comfortable with your alignment.

How to Change the Orientation of Text (Word 2003)

Change the orientation of text (based on Microsoft Word 2003):

You can change the text orientation in drawing objects, such as text boxes, shapes, and callouts, or in table cells so that the text is displayed vertically or horizontally.

Click the drawing object or table cell that contains the text you want to change.

On the Format menu, click Text Direction.

Click the orientation you want.

Split a cell to center text in two sections on label

(comes in handy for folding hangtags):

 

Click in a cell, or select multiple cells that you want to split.

On the Table menu, click Split Cells.

Select the number of columns or rows you want to split the selected cells into.

For folding hangtag HTD5-2R, select the first row and choose to split into 2 rows. This will allow centering of text on both sides of the tag. Repeat this for the third row:

For HTD2-4R, the same idea applies, choosing columns to split instead of rows.

  

Alternatively you can use Word textboxes. Place these where desired.

Printing PDF Templates

When you select a PDF template to print, please make sure you choose NO PAGE SCALING instead of SHRINK TO FIT in your printer properties box. Most printers are defaulted to "shrink to fit" which means that if what you try to fit is larger than the printable area set up by your printer, what you are trying to print will be scaled down. This will cause the PDF template to print incorrectly and not match up with your sheet of labels.

Look for the "X" on all HANG TAG sheets...

When printing on our hang tag sheets, please look for the "X" marking the top left margin. Make sure all of the hang tag sheets are the same direction before feeding them through your printer. As always, we suggest printing on white paper first. Hold your printed white paper up to your hang tag sheet against a bright light to see how you are lining up before printing on your hang tag sheets. Make necessary adjustments, print on white paper again - repeat until you are confident with the alignment. THEN, print on your hang tag sheets ;-).