Navigating LabelForge Software

Overview

LabelForge offers an easy way to create customized, attention-getting labels, with all the design tools you need to simplify the process of producing a label.

Navigating LabelForge

When you first open LabelForge, you will see the toolbar along the top of the screen and the object menu at the left side. The “label canvas,” blank for now, will appear in the main part of the screen.

LabelForge Toolbar

The toolbar at the top of the screen includes many of the controls that you will use to manipulate objects on the label canvas, as well as the basic commands to create a new label, save a design, open a saved label, and print.

1. New Label: Clear the current label canvas and start a new design.
2. Load Label from File: Find and open a saved label design.
3. Load Template: Browse pre-set label templates and layouts.
4. Save Label to File: Save the current label design.
5. Print Label: Select a printer to use and choose printer settings.
6. Label Setup: Select label dimensions and orientation, as well as other design options.
7. Copy: Copy the selected content, to be pasted into place later.
8. Cut: Remove the selected content, to be pasted into place later.
9. Paste: Place the Cut or Copied content onto the label canvas.
10. Undo: Cancel your previous change.
11. Delete: Delete selected object(s).
12. Rotate Item: Rotate selected objects 45° clockwise.
13. Increase Item Size: Enlarge the selected content, in the directions selected with “Choose Increase/Decrease Button Axis.”
14. Decrease Item Size: Shrink the selected content, in the directions selected with “Choose Increase/Decrease Button Axis.”
15. Choose Increase/Decrease Button Axis: Choose whether to change an object’s size vertically, horizontally, or proportionally (in both directions at once).
16. Center Horizontally: Align an object to the horizontal center of the label canvas.
17. Center Vertically: Align an object to the vertical center of the label canvas.
18. Help: Open a menu with buttons for help.
19. Minimize: Minimize the LabelForge Software screen.
20. Exit: Close the LabelForge program.
21. Zoom In: Increase magnification.
22. Zoom Out: Decrease magnification.
23. Zoom Context: Zoom in or out to fit the entire label canvas to the available viewing area.
24. Dimensions: Specify an object’s exact location on the label, adjust its size, rotate it to a specific angle, and adjust its layering with other objects.
25. Ruler Units: Change the rulers to show inches or millimeters.

LabelForge Object Menu

Most of the buttons in the Object Menu represent types of label content. The last two buttons, Sequence and Merge, offer controls for information that changes automatically from one label to the next. Click on any of the buttons to replace the Object Menu with a new, detailed menu for that object type.

1. Text: Choose a typeface, size, and styles, and then click the “Add Text” button to add new text to your label.
2. Symbols: Select a category, and then click on a desired symbol to add it to the label canvas.
3. Shapes: Select a shape, fill, line style, and line width, then click the “Add New Shape” button to place the shape on the label canvas.
4. Linear: Enter data and select a linear barcode type, then click the “Add New Barcode” button to place the barcode on the label canvas.
5. 2D Bars: Enter data and select a 2D barcode type, then click the “Add New Barcode” button to place the barcode on the label canvas.
6. Import: Add a custom image to your label design using an existing image file. LabelForge supports a variety of image formats.
7. Sequence: Set up a numeric “sequence,” which automatically counts up as you print a set of sequential labels.
8. Merge: Set up a “merge,” which automatically updates elements in a set of labels using information from a spreadsheet.

The Details Bar

The orange bar along the bottom edge of the screen is the Details Bar. This shows a description of any button that the mouse is hovering over or shows the details of any selected object.

• At the far right of the details bar, three icons may appear when an object is selected: The Smart Text icon indicates that the selected text object is using Smart Text controls to adjust its placement on the label.
• The Data Source icon indicates that the selected object uses an automatically updating Data Source and may change from one printed label to the next.
• The Locked icon indicates that the selected object is Locked in place and can’t be moved freely.

The Label Canvas

Initially, the label canvas will show a new, blank label, using the most recent settings. Usually, this will be a blank white rectangle, with rulers along the top and left sides.

ZOOM CONTROLS

The toolbar buttons showing a magnifying glass are the basic “Zoom” controls; zoom in (increase magnification) or zoom out (decrease magnification) to view your label design at different scales. (The label will still print at the same size.) Next, Zoom Context adjusts the zoom so that the label fills the entire window. If you are using a mouse with a scrollwheel, you can also scroll up to zoom in, and scroll down to zoom out.

File Controls

NEW, SAVE, AND OPEN

When you start the LabelForge program, the Label Canvas will show a new label using the most recent settings. You can also clear the current design at any point, and start a new label design with fresh settings, by clicking the New Label button on the toolbar. Other buttons on the toolbar allow you to Save your current design or Open a design that you had previously saved.

Only one label design can be open at a time; if you attempt to start a new label or open an existing label, you will be prompted to save any changes before continuing.

PRINTING YOUR LABEL

To print a label, click the Print button in the toolbar. This will bring up a standard printing window, where you can set printing options and choose a number of copies. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl + P will bring up the printing window, as well.

If your label design includes a Merge or Sequence, described later in this guide, you will see another window with options to print the current label only, the entire Sequence, or the entire Merge. If you choose to print the Sequence or Merge, then one copy of each label (from the Start position to the End position) will be printed.

EXITING THE PROGRAM

When you want to exit LabelForge, click the Exit button at the top right of the toolbar. If there are any unsaved changes to the current label design, you will be prompted to save them before continuing.

More Support Options

If you have any questions about using LabelForge label design software, get help from Graphic Products’ world-class support team by calling 800-788-5572 or visiting GraphicProducts.com. We’re here to help with all your labeling needs!