Is there a specific size of labels I need to purchase to use with the software?

Answer: the software can accommodate most any size of label. Any standard mailing label will work. The common format is 3 labels across by 10 down on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet. The only "requirement" that the software has is that the labels have room for at least 4 lines of text per label (which requires just under 1" per label - vertical). Any of the Avery "60" series will work fine: e.g. 8160, 5960, 5160, 5260, etc. These all have 30 sheets per page and each label measures 1" by 2 5/8". Larger labels will also work.

ALIGNMENT is always the trick with every label. When printing labels, the PRINTER actually has more to do with the alignment than the actual labels do. Not every printer is able to print to all four edges of the page (depending on the feeding mechanism, the technology used, and the printer driver installed). Laser printers are often unable to print any closer than about 1/2" on any margin. Ink Jet printers can generally print all the way to the edge on the top and bottom margins, but have an offset on both the left and right margins.

If you have more than one printer available to you, you may find that the alignment is different between them. As such, the settings necessary for each printer may be unique. You'll need to do a little experimentation to find the best settings for your specific printer and label combination.

How do I align the labels?

Answer: Each time you print labels, there is an option to provide alignment information. The software will remember the parameters you entered the "last" time you printed labels, so once you line things up correctly, you won't have to enter that information again.

You must specify the number of labels across and down on the page. If you are using one of the "standard" Avery mailing labels, you'll use "3" for across and "10" for down (30 labels per page).

The "top" and "bottom" margin measurements are in "lines" of text on a label. Generally that works out to be about 6 lines per inch. (A "top" margin of 2 would be 2/6" or 1/3" from the top of the page. A "bottom" margin of 3 would be 3/6" or 1/2" from the bottom of the page.)

The margins do not have to be equal. You may have much more luck if you'll use a different number for the top an bottom margins. Decreasing the margins will increase the printable area of the page (which effectively makes each label slightly taller). Increasing the margins will decrease the printable area of the page (which effectively makes each label slightly shorter).

The "top offset" field will move all of the labels up or down on the page an equal amount.

Tips on Aligning Labels

Tip #1: print on plain white paper until you get the alignment figured out. After you've printed to white paper, place the plain white page of labels on top of a single page of the actual labels. Hold them up to the light to check the alignment.

Tip #2: Don't give up too quickly. There is no "magic" answer to aligning the labels; it is just trial and error. Using the combination of margins and the top offset, you'll be able to line up the labels.

Tip #3: Change the "Direction" to print "Across then Down" and adjust the height of each individual labels next.

If your test set of labels doesn't completely fill a full sheet of labels, then the "direction" will be important. By default, the software will print across the page first. Alignment across the page is rarely much of a problem. Lining things up to print on the bottom row of labels is usually more difficult. Setting the direction to "down then across" allows a small number of labels to print all the way to the bottom of the page.

When you print "across then down", the software will print the labels in the following order:

When you print "down then across", the software willprint the labels in the following order:

Focus on the "height" of each label. Notice whether the top line of each label creeps up higher on each individual label as it prints down the page (the labels are too short) or whether the top line of each label creeps down on each individual label (the labels are too tall).

If the labels are too short, decrease the margins. If the labels are too tall, increase the margins.

Tip #4: Once you have the height of the labels adjusted, work on the top offset. The top offset will change where the first label starts printing. If the first label prints in the proper position and all of the labels are adjusted to the appropriate height, then the last set of labels on the page will print correctly as well.

Tip #5: Once you have the alignment figured out, change the "direction" back to "Across then Down".