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- DISK LABEL CONSTRUCTION SET
-
- In this archive, you'll find LABEL-TEMPLATE, an IFF Hi-res ILBM screen. It
- contains 4 templates for creation of diskette labels on your printer. Brief
- docs are presented on the TEMPLATE screen. You can use this to create high
- quality disk labels on the labels that come with your disks, or on a sheet of
- blank self-adhesive paper. Using the blank self-adhesive stock is faster and
- easier, but more expensive. I would suggest using labels with removable
- adhesive, like AVERY #S6496. A box of 40 sheets costs about $5.25 and will
- make you 80 disk labels.
-
- PREPAIRING YOUR GRAPHICS
- The TEMPLATE file is a Hi-Res graphic that I use with Deluxe Paint. In the
- upper left corner is a sample label. Along the right side are short
- instructions. Make yourself a work-template by deleting all the text on the
- right. (Selecting color white and using a filled box makes it easy). Save
- this file as TEMPLATE in your HI-RES drawer.
- Labels are split into 3 areas. On the top is the DISK NAME area. Middle
- is the DISK EDGE and bottom is the LABEL TEXT area. I use the DISK NAME area
- to write in the volume name of the disk. It's an easy to use reminder of the
- names I give to various disks. On the DISK EDGE, I generally print 2 items.
- On one side I put the application name and if it is a data disk, I'll include
- what volume of data it is. (IE: SUPERBASE DATA 1). On the DISK TEXT
- area you can be creative or simply indicate the major application name. Use
- fancy fonts, shading your lettering or a special picture graphic or icon
- you've created. You'll also find a number of disk label graphics files on
- GEnie, where this originated. The disk label graphic files have lots of
- icons, words in descriptive fonts that are pre-sized just for Disk Label
- Construction Set.
- When you add your type to the DISK NAME and DISK EDGE areas, flip it upside
- down, as shown in the example template. This allows you to read a label when
- it is in the drive. Simply pick up the text as a brush and use the FLIP
- commands to orient it properly. If you are printing on labels that come with
- your disks, remove the "protect" icon, as most have it preprinted on them.
- Note the yellow strip running down the middle of the DISK EDGE area. This is
- an aid in centering for you. If you use TOPAZ-8 type, simply center the text
- line over the yellow area. One pixel will hang over the top and bottom of
- the stripe. Magnify the example template to see this. Once you have your
- labels the way you want them, be sure to save the screen to disk.
-
- PRINTING YOUR LABELS
-
- USING BLANK STOCK (Avery style)
- This is easiest! Just stick the sheet in a print. When done, cut the
- label out on the outline and apply to your disk.
-
- USING PRE-PRINTED LABELS (that come with disks)
- This method is a little harder and much more inexpensive but far more
- colorful. Start by printing a blank template on good quality tractor feed
- paper. Use a pen and mark a reference point on the sheet so you can feed it
- back into the printer and re-align it to the same place. I just mark a
- couple of little alignment lines using the paper bail as a guide. Now print
- the template. Advance the paper using the Line Feed button on the printer.
- Avoid turning the paper feed handle manually as this tends to make it harder
- to re-align. Remove the sheet from the printer. Using cellophane tape,
- reenforce the perfs so they will not easily tear (if you plan to use the
- sheet again). Take your disk labels and tape them over the outlines on the
- sheet. Be sure to tape both the left and right sides so the printhead won't
- catch on them as it travels. Tape down as many labels as you want to print.
- Tape the backing paper down rather than the labels themselves. Use care
- here. If you are not accurate when taping down the labels, they won't align
- correctly.
- Inset the paper back into the printer, and feed it to the marks you made
- for alignment. Be sure your graphic file is loaded into Deluxe print and
- "let-er-rip"! If you have been careful with your alignment, it will print
- exactly over the pre-printed labels. When the printer is done, remove the
- labels and you are done! If you are careful, you can reuse the printed
- template many times.
-
- HINTS AND TIPS
-
- * Set your printer thru PREFERENCES to Black & White rather than Grey Scale.
- You can then adjust the Threshold so it will not print colors from the
- template. By setting it to a fairly low value, you won't print the yellow
- alignment guide or the 2 red section seperators. If you are printing on
- stock disk labels, color the border of each label template yellow. This
- allows you to see the outline for creating your label, but it won't print.
-
- * Use a "ScreenSaver" to capture an IFF file of a title screen from your
- programs. Load the IFF file into Deluxe Paint and save a graphic from the
- title as a brush. When you load your template file, simply recall the brush
- and paste on your disk template.
-
- * If you plan on doing a lot of labels using pre-printed diskette labels, get
- your template sheet laminated. Discount houses sell sheets of clear plastic
- (very thin) that you can apply over the templates. This makes it easier to
- tape down labels and remove them again.
-
- * Reenforce the perfs using tape or laminate. It will help save your
- template and make for easier alignment.
-
-
- NOTE: The print sizes here are based on using Deluxe Print with an Epson
- RX-80 printer, EPSON selected in Preferences and using the printer driver
- "fixed" with EPSONFIX. Your output may be different, depending on your
- printer.
-
-
- CREDITS
-
- Thanks goes to DR.GALLOW on the CMUG RoundTable of GEnie. The good doctor
- posted a MacPaint file showing how he uses this technique on the Mac. Thanks
- also to G.BROWN for the posts of his label graphics also in MacPaint format.
- I've capture many of the graphics from his files and converted and fine-tuned
- them for the Amiga.
-
- Look for "clip-art" files on GEnie in the *StarShip* Amiga. There is a file
- of pictures and text designed for labels included in this archive. As I
- create more, they will be posted for you to download. If you make up any
- labels that you think are something special, feel free to upload them for
- everyone. If you have any comments or questions you may E-MAIL me at
- GRAFIX.M on GEnie, or GRAFIX on Delphi. Enjoy!!
-
- Mike Hooper
-
-