Working with Objects – Lighthouse for MAX

This section describes how to work with objects and blend them with the design of a label .

Object is a basic building block of any label. Each object is dedicated to a specific type of content. See the related topics for style and content related object properties.

These are the common actions for multiple object types:

Adding an object: adds an object to the design surface.
Adding an object with connected data source: click the down arrow next to the object button and select an existing or new data source to make the newly added object instantly connected to a dynamic data source.
Grouping: makes multiple object behave as a single object.
Rotating: changes the angle of a selected object.
Resizing: sets the size of an object.
Aligning: make the object positions.
Managing colors: enables printing objects in solid or CMYK colors.

Adding Objects

There are multiple methods to add an object to a label. Use the most convenient one:

Click and Click: click the object in the object toolbox. Mouse cursor transforms. Click on the design surface – the selected object appears where clicked.
Click and Drag: click the object in object toolbox. Mouse cursor transforms. Click on the design surface and drag to define the size of the added object.

Note

Text object's size cannot be defined using this method – its size is defined dynamically.

Drag and Drop: click the object in the object toolbox and drag it to the design surface. The selected object appears where the mouse button is released.
Copy and Paste: graphical and textual content can be pasted directly to the design surface. The following rules apply when copying items and pasting them directly to a label:
- Graphical content from clipboard is pasted as embedded Picture object.
- Single line text is pasted as Text object.
- Multiple line text is pasted as Text box object.

Adding Objects with Connected Data Source

Designer allows you to add an object with the instantly connected dynamic data source (variable, function, or database) to the design surface.

There are multiple methods to add an object to a label. Use the most convenient one:

Click the object button down arrow. This opens the dynamic data connection menu. Select from the existing data sources or add a new one. The newly added object is instantly connected to it when placed on the design surface.

Click and drag from dynamic data explorer. if you click and drag the data source from Dynamic Data explorer to the design surface, a Text object appears. This object's content source is the dragged data source from the explorer.

Grouping

To make multiple objects on a label behave as a single object, add them to a group. To group objects:

Surround the objects you wish to group using a mouse. A rectangle appears marking the selected objects. Right-click and select Group objects to create a group of objects.
Hold <Shift> key and click the objects you wish to group. This selects multiple objects – right-click and select Group objects to create a group of objects.

Rotating

There are two ways to set the angle of an object:

Enter the angle manually in degrees or drag the slider. The object rotates around its anchoring point. Rotation commands are accessible in two ways:
- Click Position in the Positioning group of the Design tab.
- Go to Object properties > Position > Rotation angle.
Click and drag the icon next to the selected object. The icon rotates the object around its central point.

Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to the design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.

Object Resizing

To instantly resize an object, do the following:

Select it on the design surface.
The selected object becomes framed with a rectangle.
Click and drag one of the object holders.
The object will resize along with the moving cursor.

Read the below sections to learn about the automatic object resizing option and resizing specifics.

Note

When working with internal printer elements (barcodes, shapes, fonts), object resizing follows the printer driver-defined values.

Graphic Object resizing

Graphic resizing is applicable to the picture object on labels and forms.

Table Column Resizing

Data initialization form object allows auto-sizing the table column width. Open the object properties dialog and go to Settings tab.

Columns group sets the width of data initialization table and its Prompt, Value, and Formatted value columns.

Auto-size: automatic column resizing.
Show fomatted value: visible Formatted value column.

Managing colors

You can print your label objects in different colors. You can select between printing Solid colors or CMYK.

Note

Older printers don't support CMYK printing.

Printing with Solid colors

Use solid colors when you print text objects, barcodes, rectangles, and other objects that you print mostly in a single color. Use CMYK colors when you print images (photos or paintings).

To print in Solid colors:

Select your object by clicking on it. To select more objects, hold the <Shift> key and click the objects.
Select Solid in the Color Processing section.

Note

If your printer doesn't support CMYK, your user interface shows only the solid color palette.
Pick the color from the standard color palette (top row) or define your custom colors (bottom row).
Note

In the standard color palette select only the colors that match your available printer ribbons.

If you select a color that doesn't match your ribbons, your printer will pick the nearest color. You can modify the range of the nearest color:
1. Right-click the Design surface, then click Document Properties.
2. Label Properties window opens. Click the Advanced color separation button.
3. Advanced Graphics Settings window opens. Here you can modify the Low Range and High Range for your solid colors.
4. Click OK to confirm your changes, then click OK to close the Label Properties window.

If you want to print other objects in different colors, repeat the above procedure.

Note

If you print color images (photos or paintings) using a solid color, images will print monochrome, in the color that you selected.

The exceptions are .wmf and .emf graphics. You can print multi-color .wmf and .emf with solid colors.

Double-click the Picture object to open the Properties window.
Go to the Style tab and enable the Separate colors during print check box.

When you print the label, your printer driver will prompt you to insert the appropriate color ribbons.

Printing with CMYK colors

Printing with CMYK colors enables printing images (photos or paintings) with a high level of reproduction.

To print in CMYK colors:

Select your object by clicking on it. To select more objects, hold the <Shift> key and click the objects.
Select CMYK in the Color Processing section.
If you print objects other than color images, pick the color from the color palette.

If you want to print other objects in different colors, repeat the above procedure.

When you print the label, your printer driver will prompt you to insert Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black ribbons.