Label Planet
Using the right label template is vital if you want to design and print your own self adhesive labels.
Templates come a variety of formats and it can get a bit confusing if you’re new to the world of DIY labels – hopefully this blog post should help to make things clearer!
Finding A Template
There are THREE ways to get a label template:
- Use a BUILT IN template; some software has a selection of templates built in, which you can use to design and print labels.
- DOWNLOAD a template; we have created free templates for ALL of our label sizes so that you can download the one you need from our website.
- MAKE your own template; some software will allow you to create a template simply by entering the measurements of your labels. We have created a template information page for all of our label sizes, which includes detailed size and layout measurements that you can use as a starting point if you wish to make your own label template.
Built-In Templates
If your software has label templates built in, all you need to do is select the template that is compatible with (the same as) the labels you want to print. A number of our label sizes are "standard" sizes, which are commonly used across the labelling industry and are often included in sets of built-in templates - which means you can use a built in template to print labels that you have bought from us.
You must make sure that you select the relevant Label vendor option first to bring up the correct set of built-in templates (for example A4/A5) as your software may include templates for a variety of brands.
Downloading A Template – Choosing A File Format
Digital files can be created in a variety of formats, which can then be read and edited by specific kinds of software. Our templates, for example, are available in TWO file formats:
- .docx Word Templates – the .docx file format is used for Word documents but can be read and edited by other types of Word Processing software (such as Pages).
- .pdf PDF Templates – the .pdf file format is a more generic format that can be read and edited by a variety of graphics packages (such as InDesign or Photoshop).
You need to choose a template with a file format that can be edited by the software that you have access to for the purpose of designing your labels. Please note that some software may be able to read a file format but NOT edit it (for example: the standard version of Adobe Reader can read but not edit the .pdf file format – so you can open PDF templates in Adobe Reader but you can’t make any changes).
Downloading A Template – Choosing A Format
Here at Label Planet, we offer the following formats:
- Portrait & Landscape: while the majority of label designs will work best in portrait format, there are some occasions where it is easier to work in landscape – so we provide our customers with options for both!
- Bleed: these templates allow you to add oversized coloured backgrounds and images to your labels to prevent any white edging around the outsides of your labels.
Downloading A Template – Top Tips
If you are given the option to “Save” or “Open” your template, select “Save”. Next open the software you want to use to design your labels and use that software to open your saved template (File > Open); this will allow your software to confirm that it can read and edit the file properly (and make any necessary conversions if it can’t) – before you add your design.
If you can’t edit your template at all, it has probably been temporarily locked for security reasons; look for a (yellow) banner going across the top of the page and click on the “Enable Editing” button to unlock the file. If you are using a Word template and cannot see the outlines of your labels, Table Gridlines are turned off. To turn them on, left click once somewhere in the middle of the page, select the Table Tools “Layout” tab at the top of the page, and click “View Gridlines” (Word 2007 onwards, Word For Mac 2016); alternatively, select the “Table Layout” tab, and click “Gridlines” (Word For Mac 2011).
If you are using a Word template to print round labels or oval labels, don’t panic if you can’t see a grid of circles or ovals; Word isn’t capable of creating such a template and so a compromise of squares and rectangles is used instead, so that each square or rectangle represents one of the round or oval labels (with the outermost points of the circle or oval touching the four sides of the square or rectangle).
Downloading A Template – From Label Planet’s Website
There are TWO ways to find the template you need on our website:
- Navigate to the product page of the labels you have bought from us and click on the “Label Templates And Printing Information” link to view ALL of the available templates for that label size.
- Visit our Template Section; select your label shape from the options provided and then select your labels from the table at the top of the page.
We have created a short video explaining how to find and download label templates on the Label Planet website.
You can find more help and advice on designing and printing your own labels in our Help Section, which includes our Guide to Designing & Printing Labels, Top Tips, and our FAQs page. If you find that you encounter a particular problem that you can’t resolve or have a quick question about label printing, remember you can always get in touch with our Customer Service Team who will do their best to provide a solution.