After setting the label properties, you can start adding content to the label. Label objects are basic design items that are used for adding and editing various content types. Each object has its own function as described in the table below.
|
Label Object |
Icon |
Description |
|
|
Container for textual content. It adapts its dimensions to fit the amount of entered characters. When typing, text object grows horizontally and/or vertically. |
|
|
|
Container for textual content. It can either adapt its height to the content or make the font increase or decrease to fit into the object frame. |
|
|
|
Object for adding and editing various types of barcodes on a label. |
|
|
|
Object for adding graphic content to a label. |
|
|
|
Object for creating rectangular shapes on a label. |
|
|
|
Object for creating lines on a label. |
|
|
|
Object for creating circular shapes on a label. |
|
|
|
Object for inverting the color of the underlying object. |
|
|
|
Object for cutting out pictures or barcodes. |
|
|
|
Clipart gallery. |
Text object is a container for textual content which adapts its dimensions to fit the amount of inserted characters. When typing, text object grows horizontally and/or vertically.
Tip
Text Box serves as an alternative when designing a label on which the textual content must fit into a field with predefined dimensions.
Content Mask sets the format of the input data before it is displayed on a label.
Mask character is a character used in the mask that is replaced with actual data on the printed label.
Example 10. Example
A user needs to format a phone number to be more readable on the label. Data input is not formatted since it is read from a database.
If the input value read from a database is:
+38642805090
and the content mask is:
(****) **** - ****
the resulting output is:
(+386) 4280 - 5090
If the data contains the asterisk "*" character, change the Mask character. The character should have a unique value that does not appear anywhere in the data.
Text on ellipse definition enables you to add and display curved text on a label.
-
Text on ellipse: enable this option to set the text on a curve.
-
Text start: sets text starting point on the ellipse. The default position is 9 o'clock. When increasing the position value, it moves clockwise by degrees.
-
Text length: sets the portion of the ellipse to be used for displaying the text. The maximum value (default) takes the complete ellipse. Reducing the value in degrees shortens the available portion.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
Size group gives information about the object's dimensions.
-
Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimensions.
-
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.
Tip
In the Text object, the size of the text is determined by the font size. Object dimensions and aspect ratio cannot be changed manually and only serve as information about its current size.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider, or click and drag the icon on the selected object. The rotation angle and slider rotate the object around its anchoring point. 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.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process, select under the Design behavior group.
Text box object is a container for textual content on a label. Text box object is very similar to the standard Designer Text object. The difference between these two is the presentation of textual content with variable length. Text object is always expanding or shrinking to adapt its size to the amount of entered characters. In contrast, Text Box can either adapt (expand/shrink) its height to the content or make the font increase or decrease its size to fit into the object frame.
Tip
To ensure that the content fits the predefined box is especially useful when working with variable data. No matter how long the text value is, it is always placed and displayed on a label within the pre-designed frame.
None makes Text box size and font non-adaptable.
Note
If the content amount exceeds the object size, an error message appears. The label is not printed. To suppress such error and print the text box, enable Ignore excessive content at print.
Adjust height to fit content: automatic adaptation of Text box height.
Fit content by adjusting font size: increases or decreases the font size to make it fit inside the Text Box object.
-
Minimum size: minimum permitted font size.
-
Maximum size: maximum permitted font size.
Fit content by scaling font: shrinks or stretches the font to make it fit inside the Text Box object.
-
Minimum font scaling: minimum font stretch factor.
-
Maximum font scaling: maximum font stretch factor.
Use the same font size for all Text boxes in a group equalizes font size for all Text box objects in a group. If one of the Text boxes in a group changes its size, the font size adapts. Font sizes of other Text boxes in a group are automatically set to the same size.
Same size group defines group name.
Tip
This option can be used if Text Fit is enabled. Both Text Fit options are supported – by adjusting the font size or by scaling the font.
Left border group defines the text boundary along the object's left border.
-
Shape: selects a customizable basic shape of text boundary.
-
Width: extends or shrinks the selected basic left boundary horizontally.
-
Height extends or shrinks the selected basic left boundary vertically.
Right border group defines the text boundary along the object's right border.
-
Right shape selects the basic shape of the object's right boundary.
-
Width extends or shrinks the selected basic right boundary horizontally.
-
Height extends or shrinks the selected basic right boundary vertically.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
Size group sets the object's dimensions:
-
Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.
-
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The
icon rotates the object around its central point.
Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed, the value transforms automatically.
Barcode object is used for adding various types of barcodes with encoded data to your labels.
Details on barcode properties, types, and data encoding methods are available in the dedicated Barcode section.
Use Picture object to add graphic content on a label. The following file formats are supported:
-
Portable Network Graphic (*.png)
-
PDF (*.pdf)
-
Adobe Photoshop (*.psd)
-
Scalable Vector graphics (*.svg)
-
Paintbrush (*.pcx)
-
JPEG bitmaps (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.jpe)
-
TIFF bitmaps (*.tif, *.tiff)
-
Enhanced Windows Metafile (*.emf)
-
Windows Metafile (*.wmf)
-
Windows bitmap (*.bmp)
-
Graphics Interchange Format (*.gif)
Note
You can force your images to monochromatic printing on label printers with on-color ribbon. You can enable this functionality by adding the EP_BLACKANDWHITE_ prefix to the Picture object Name or by enabling the Force picture color option in the Style tab.
|
|
|
Adding EP_BLACKANDWHITE_ prefix (left) or enabling the Force picture color option (right)
Connected data source defines the content source of the selected object.
-
Variable keyboard input: type of variable that enables the content of a prompted field to be different for every print job.
-
Variables: predefined variable values which are used as object content.
-
Functions: input data transformation tools.
-
Databases: database values that are used as object content.
Content field is used for entering the object content.
To (re)define the Picture object Content, click Browse and locate the file to be displayed on the label.
Note
When you add a picture to your label design, the picture is automatically embedded into the label file.
Base64 is a binary-to-text encoding method that encodes your graphic files into text files. Use Base64-encoded graphics on your labels when you want to access your graphics directly from your database, and not with file paths to your hard drive.
Connect your Picture objects to database fields containing Base64 content. Designer automatically recognizes Base64 text content and displays text content as images on your labels.
Note
Your Base64 strings must be longer than 250 characters.
Note
For testing your label designs, you can use prompt variables as your data sources in Picture properties. Manually enter your Base64 text content as your variable value at printing time.
Binary Large Objects (BLOBs) are collections of binary data. BLOBs are typically images, audio, or other multimedia objects. Databases store BLOBs as single entities. Advanced databases like SQL, MySQL, and Oracle support BLOB fields.
Use BLOB database fields on your labels or forms to access your graphics directly from your database, and not as file paths to graphics on your hard drive.
Connect your Picture objects to your BLOB database field. Designer automatically recognizes BLOB content and displays the content as images on your labels or forms.
Color processing defines the type of color ribbons.
Mirroring enables you to flip your picture horizontally or vertically.
Dithering group allows you to select the most appropriate dithering method to print pictures on labels in black and white.
Tip
When printing pictures in black and white, dithering creates the illusion of multiple colors and shades by varying the pattern of black dots.
Dithering type selects the dithering method:
-
Printer driver default: no dithering method is selected for the picture object. When printing in black and white, printer driver uses its own dithering method.
Note
If no dithering is set for the picture object, the algorithm can also be selected using the printer properties dialog. The selected dithering algorithm for an object in Designer overrides the algorithm selected using printer properties dialog. See Changing dithering options for more detailed information.
-
Ordered: achieves dithering by applying a threshold map (matrix with cells) on the pixels displayed. If the value of the pixel (scaled into the 0-9 range) is less than the number in the corresponding cell of the matrix, the algorithm plots the pixel black, otherwise, it plots it white.
-
Threshold: sets a threshold to which every pixel is compared. If the original pixel value is higher than the threshold, it renders white. The lower the threshold value, the higher the share of pixels turned to white.
-
Floyd Steinberg: achieves dithering using error dispersion. This algorithm generates the closest result to the original, but represents the slowest option.
Color group allows you to customize the color of a graphic object.
-
Force picture color: recolors the graphic object. Use the dropdown Picture color palette to pick the appropriate color to be used for the object on the printed label.
Note
This option can be used with color printers using the advanced printer driver interface or Windows printing mode.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
Size group sets the object's dimensions:
-
Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.
-
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The
icon rotates the object around its central point.
Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed, the value converts automatically.
Graphic Resizing tab is available if the picture object is connected to a variable. These settings define how the Picture object adapts its size to the source file at print time.
-
Keep original picture size: disabled picture resizing. Picture size remains unchanged.
-
Resize proportionally: proportional picture resizing. Aspect ratio of picture dimension remains fixed.
-
Resize to the designed size: horizontal and vertical picture resizing to make it fit into the bounding box. This option will most likely make the picture distorted.
Original size displays the picture's Width and Height before resizing. Revert to original picture size cancels the resizing actions.
Rectangle object creates a rectangular frame on a label.
-
Corner radius: makes the rectangle corners round. Higher values make the curve broader.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
Size group sets the object's dimensions:
-
Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.
-
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The
icon rotates the object around its central point.
Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.
Line object creates a line on a label.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
-
Length: sets the line length.
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider, or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The
icon rotates the object around its central point.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.
Ellipse object creates a circular object on a label.
Tip
Shape objects (Rectangle, Line, and Ellipse) in Lighthouse for MAX remember the last used setting. Each time you add one of these objects to the label, it has the same outline and fill settings as the previously added shape object.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
Size group sets the object's dimensions:
-
Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.
-
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The
icon rotates the object around its central point.
Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed, the value transforms automatically.
Style tab contains the Corner radius setting.
You can define the corner roundness of the Inverse object. Higher values make the curve broader.
Position tab defines object positioning and its position-related behavior.
Position group defines the object's position.
-
X and Y: anchoring point coordinates.
Size group sets the object's dimensions:
-
Width and Height: horizontal and vertical object dimension.
-
Keep aspect ratio: simultaneous changing of object dimensions while scaling.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed in label properties, the value transforms automatically.
Rotation angle is the object angle according to the design surface.
Tip
There are multiple ways to set the object's angle: enter the angle manually, drag the slider or click and drag the icon on the selected object. Rotation angle and slider rotates the object around its anchoring point. The
icon rotates the object around its central point.
Anchoring point is the spot where an object is pinned to design surface. Variable size objects increase or decrease their size in the direction that is opposite to the chosen anchoring point.
Lock prevents the object from being moved during the design process.
Note
If the measurement unit is changed, the value transforms automatically.
Printing optimization group allows activating the use of internal printer elements.
Tip
If supported by the selected printer model, a share of label element processing is handled directly by the printer (e.g., internal fonts, shapes, barcodes). This speeds up the printing process also due to significantly reduced data traffic.
-
Use printer element if supported: prints labels using internal printer elements if the printer allows it. If a selected printer does not support internal printer elements, the element is sent as a graphic file.
-
Always use printer element: prints labels using printer elements only. If a selected printer does not support internal printer elements, an error message with the explanation is displayed.
-
Always print as graphics: sends and prints the objects as graphic files.
Note
Inverse object can only be printed as graphics if the advanced printer driver interface is disabled. Make sure Windows printing mode is on before printing. Double-click the design surface to open Label Properties dialog and go to Printer panel > Printing > disable option Use advanced printer driver interface.
The Cut shape object is a Rectangle object with predefined cutting properties.
Use the Cut shape when you want to cut objects that don't have cutting options, like pictures or barcodes.
Warning
If you put a Cut shape object around your barcode, make sure that rectangle is outside the barcode's quiet zone.
Your printer will cut the outer area of the Cut shape object.
The clipart gallery is a folder with predefined clipart images (care symbols, safe conditions, GHS symbols, etc.)
-
Drag and drop the Clipart object to your label.
-
Clipart Gallery file explorer opens. Select the subfolder where your clipart is located.
-
Click the clipart you want to put on the label, then click OK.
Your clipart appears on the label.
If you want to open the Clipart Gallery in your File Explorer, you can navigate to C:\Users\Public\Documents\Lighthouse for Max 10\Clipart.