Step 2: Editing the label content

  - Types of Object
  - Object Insertion
  - Object manipulation in the Editing Area
  - Applicable object operations: Toolbar.

 

  • The EDIT tab activates the Label Editing Window, which permits you to add or modify elements which define the structure and contents of the labels.
  • The Editing Window is divided into 3 main components: The Editing area (this one takes up most of the window space), the Gallery area (at the left of the window), and the Main Toolbar (at the top of the window, over the Editing and Gallery area).
  • The Editing or work area is the where the label's appearance is set, by insertion and interactive manipulation of the objects that conform the content to be printed on the label template.

 

  • The Gallery section contains a set of backgrounds and images grouped by Subjects that can be inserted like objects in the Label being edited.
  • The main toolbar presents several buttons linked to objects, actions or tools that allow you to work on the current Label.

 

 

Types of Objects

 

There are three types of objects that can be added to the Label Templates:

Backgrounds: Backgrounds are images that cover the whole Label Template and they are automatically adapted to that shape. Only one background may be active at a time. The backgrounds may be added from galleries or from external Graphic files.

Images: Images are independent objects that can be placed anywhere in the Label Template and their size can be modified at anytime. One label can contain several images. Inserted images can only be from external Graphic Files.

Text: Text boxes are also independent objects containing any text input made by you. In the same way as the Images, you can have several Text boxes in one Label Template.

 

Object Insertion

  • Backgrounds

To insert a background you must first select the Background Object type with the button in the main toolbar and afterwards insert the Background from the internal Galleries or from external Graphic Files, according to your needs or preferences.

To insert Backgrounds from the Galleries, select the subject of the Background by clicking the list at the top of the Gallery Area and then double click over the chosen Background image at the bottom of the Gallery Area.

The contents of the galleries can be shown in image preview mosaic mode (thumbnails) or in name list mode by pressing the and the button. These buttons can be found at the top of the Gallery section and is set to mosaic mode by default.

You can also insert Backgrounds from personal graphic files by clicking the button in the Gallery Area Toolbar; this will open a dialog box in which you can browse and select the desired external image.

You may remove any Background from the Label selecting the first element [NO BACKGROUND]in the list of subjects for each Label Template.

There are equivalent options in the Main Menu for adding Backgrounds in the Labels. Read the MENU CONTENTS section for more details.

 

  • Images

To insert an image, you must first select the Image Object type with the button in the Main Toolbar and then add the image from external Graphic Files. The added images are placed over the Background and they add infinite possibilities and a new face to the Labels.

In a similar way Backgrounds are inserted, an image stored in an external Graphic File can be added in the Label by clicking the Gallery Area or through the according option in the Main Menu.

At this time Digitally CD Label Xpress does not support Image Galleries, but it does support Image Files stored in different Graphic Formats such as . BMP, .GIF, .TIFF, .JPG and .PNG.

 

  • Text

Adding text to the Labels is pretty simple. You only have to click the button in the Main Toolbar and a Text Type Object will be added in the Editing Area with the default text: “ Write text here…” which has to be edited by you according to his needs or requirements. The Main Menu also contains an option for inserting text.

Text Type Objects are inserted by default with normal style, black colored, at size 8, justified at the left and in horizontal layout.

 

Object handling in the Editing Area

The Image and Text Type Objects that have been added to the label can be manipulated in two ways: to move them or to scale them.

In any case, you must select first the object by clicking over it. The selected area is shown with a control edge delimiting the position of the object and has control zones represented by boxes placed in the corners and top and bottom centers. By clicking and dragging the pointer over these control zones or over the object, the pointer's shape changes to show the possible actions that can be made.

By clicking over any of the control zones and dragging the mouse (click and hold) the objects can be scaled according to the position of the control zone and the direction of the mouse movement.

If you click over the object but not over any of the control zones, by dragging the mouse the object can be placed in any place of the Editing area.

During the drag movement the screen shows a preview representation of the object's position and scale. The move and the resize operation is completed only when the mouse click is released.

 

There are several ways to “De-select” the Active Object.

•  Click in any empty zone of the Editing Area.

•  Select the Arrow in the Toolbar.

•  Press the ESC key in your keyboard.

• Click over another Object Type to select it as the Active Object.

 

Applicable object operations: Toolbar

Besides the Move and Scale operations previously explained, there are other types of operations applicable to objects. These operations may be done using the buttons in the Toolbar or through the according options in the Main Menu. Not every operation is applicable to any type of object: some are common but others are defined for exclusive types of objects.

Important: It is necessary that an object is selected as an Active Object for you to apply the desired operation.

 

Erase: Common operation. It deletes the selected object off the Label. It is available by pressing the TRASHCAN ( Delete ) button in the toolbar or by pressing the DELETE key of you keyboard.

Copy/Cut/Paste: Common operations. Copy and Cut makes a copy of the Active Object and keeps them stored, additionally Cut removes the copied object from the Label. Paste lets you insert a copy of a previously copied or cut object.

Top/Bottom/Forward/Backward: Common operations. They allow you to arrange the depth order between overlapped objects. These operations make it possible to visualize parts of an object otherwise covered by another object. Top puts the Active Object over all of the other Objects in the Label, meaning it won't be overlapped by any other object. Bottom puts the Active Object behind all the existing objects making it possible to visualize only the parts which aren't overlapped by other objects. Forward moves the Active Object only one step over its actual depth position, leaving any objects that were in the same level as the Active Object, behind. Backward moves the Active Object one step under its actual depth position, leaving any other objects that were in same level as the Active Object in front.

Vertical/Horizontal Flip: Operation applicable only to Image Type Objects. They produce a mirror effect on the image in a vertical or horizontal.

Rotations: Common operations. They rotate the objects clockwise and un clockwise, depending on which button you press. The amount in degrees of the rotation can be established in the next door selection control.

Besides the previous operations, the Text Type Objects have their own special Toolbar which is activated when this type of objects is selected. This toolbar contains buttons for changing the text's attributes: Format (letter type and style, size, effects and color), Text Justification (left, center and right) and Text Direction (horizontal and vertical).