DURABLE - DURAPRINT Documentation

DURABLE · DURAPRINT - free badge making software

DURAPRINT Help File

support all suitable DURABLE printable labels.
Graphic tools for creating lines, rectangles, circles and colour gradients.
Integration of graphics files for displaying company logos, as decorative or background images
Creation of all common barcode types, such as UPC-E, UPC, EAN 13, EAN 8, Code 128/EAN 128 (B), Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Code 39.
Database editor for easy entering and editing of customer data etc.

2. Starting the program

Start DURAPRINT® by double-clicking on the application icon. The Wizard appears and offers you various options:

Create a new document
Edit an online document
Upload a document stored locally

End the Wizard with "Quit".

The DURAPRINT® workspace will appear with various task buttons.
The application consists essentially of two menu-bars. When you hover the mouse briefly over a button, the button description appears.

3. Basic functions

3.1. Selecting and loading a product

To create printed labels, click on the "New" icon in the top menu-bar. The "Select format" window appears.

In the "Product Group" section you will see a summary of the available Product Groups. If you click on one of the displayed Groups, all the products allocated to this Product Group are displayed in the "Product Selection" area.

All columns shown can be sorted in ascending or descending order by clicking on the column header.

Clicking on one of the Products will result in the display of a full-length product description in the area below "Description". The system also generates a preview of the print sheet in the "Preview" area.

If you do not find the label you want using the given criteria, you have the option in the "Search" field to search by Product No. or keyword.

Now choose an appropriate product and confirm your selection with "OK".

Once the selected product has been loaded, it is displayed on the workspace as a background image.

Some products consist of several associated labels. When these labels are loaded a separate worksheet is created for each label (e.g. index with cover- and tab-sheets).

3.2. Adding text

DURAPRINT® functions in a frame-oriented manner, i.e. all elements placed on the label are displayed inside a frame. The size of any frame can be altered as required. Only the frames' contents are printed, i.e. the frames themselves are suppressed in the printing operation.

To create a text frame, click on the "add text" icon:
A frame is displayed on the workspace containing the words "Lorem ipsum".

In the "Text" area in the lower right section of the application window you can now alter this text in any way you like using the text editor. You can adapt the font, font size and font style according to your requirements. To do this you need not highlight the particular text as in other text applications. All formatting functions are linked to the frame and become visible immediately in the frame (and only there!!).

To align text inside the text frame you have at your disposal the functions left-justified, centred and right-justified.

If you wish to change the text colour, click on the "Font colour" button. Here you can select a colour from the colour samples shown. You can also create a colour yourself within a desired colour space. To do this click on the button to the left of the colour field. In the "Colour picker" window which now appears you can select any basic colour in the colour space using the main-colour bar on the right.
You can view the amended colour directly in the Preview area.

Confirm your selection by clicking on the "OK" button. The selected colour is then assigned to the object accordingly.

3.3. Changing frame size and position

You can change the size of text frames at will by moving the mouse pointer to the frame points until it changes to a double arrow. With the left mouse-button held down now drag the frame line to a new position.

You can also move the whole frame by positioning the mouse pointer inside the frame. The mouse pointer changes shape into a cross with four arrows. Holding the left mouse-button down, now drag the frame to its desired new position.

You can also vary the frame's position by changing the x- and/or y-figure.

3.4. Adding an image

You can import images such as logos, photographs etc. into your layouts using DURAPRINT®. The following graphic formats are supported:
gif, jpeg, tiff, jpg, tif, bmp

To create an image frame, click on the "Add image" icon:
A filled frame appears on your label indicating the position of the image to be imported.

To insert the image click on the "Upload image" button.
Now locate a directory on your computer containing suitable images. Select an image and click on "Open". The selected image is loaded into the image frame. Please ensure that the image name does not contain spaces or special characters (ä,ö,ü, ").

The image always displays in proportion within the frame. If you change the frame size, the image is scaled in proportion. Please note however that enlarging the frame may result in loss of picture quality, because although the image is enlarged in proportion, there is no automatic increase in pixel density.

3.5. Adding a colour gradient

With DURAPRINT® you can create any coloured frames that you like up to and including colour gradients. To create a coloured frame click on the "Create colour gradient" button.

A pre-defined colour-gradient frame appears on your workspace.
At the same time the "Properties" menu appears in the lower left area of the application window.

A colour gradient always consists of two colour variants matched to one another, colour 1 to colour 2, i.e. the colour gradient consists of a gradual transition between two different colours, starting at colour 1 and ending at colour 2. Unless you want a duotone colour gradient, colour 1 and colour 2 must be conformable.

Click on one of the colour icons (colour 1 or colour 2) to bring up the Colour Selection window.
Here you can select a colour from the colour samples provided. You also have the option to create a colour yourself within a desired colour space. To do this click on the button to the left of the colour field. In the "Colour Picker" window which now appears you can select any basic colour in the colour space using the main-colour bar on the right.
You can see the changing result directly in the "new current" Preview area.

Confirm your selection by clicking on the "OK" button. Depending on which of the two colour icons (colour 1 / colour 2) you clicked on first, the new colour is assigned to the colour icon.

If you now change the frame size, the colour gradient displays according to the new frame size.

3.6. Adding a barcode

With DURAPRINT® you can generate the following barcode types inside a frame: UPC-E, UPC, EAN 13, EAN 8, Code 128/EAN 128 (B), Interleaved 2 of 5, Industrial 2 of 5, Code 39.

To generate a barcode frame click on the "Create barcode" icon:

An empty barcode frame appears on your layout.
Since barcodes must be of a fixed specified size, you cannot scale barcodes by resizing the frame.

In the lower left section of the application screen the Barcode menu now appears:

Select the barcode you want by selecting it with the mouse. You can now enter the actual numeric code in the "Code" field, according to the selected barcode. Please note that the numeric code must conform precisely to the requirements of the barcode type, otherwise the barcode may be incorrectly generated.

3.7. Adding a shape or line

With DURAPRINT® you can generate the following shapes and lines:
circles, rectangles, lines, diagonal lines.

To position a shape on the layout click on the "Create shape" icon.

A predefined frame of a circle appears:
Resizing the frame causes the geometrical object to be resized accordingly.

When the circle appears, the "Properties" menu opens simultaneously in the lower left section. Here you can change the object type. To do this click on the "Circle" button. The drop-down menu presents you with the available object types from which you can choose.

When you have decided on an object, you can alter the line width by changing the numeric value in the "Line width" field. You can also assign the object a colour. To do this, click on the Colour button.
Here you can select a colour from the colour samples provided. You also have the option of creating a colour yourself within a desired colour space. To do so, click on the button to the left of the Colour field. In the "Colour Picker" window which appears you can select any basic colour in the colour space using the main-colour bar on the right.

Click on the "OK" button to confirm your selection. The selected colour is assigned to the shape or line accordingly.

To fill the shapes completely with colour place a tick in the "Fill colour" field and select an appropriate colour.

3.8. Removing a frame

To remove a frame from the layout select the frame by clicking the mouse inside the frame. Now click on the "Delete object" button. The selected frame is deleted.

3.09. Copying the current frame

DURAPRINT® enables you to copy a pre-created frame. To do this click on the frame you wish to copy. Then click on the "Copy object" button.
You have now copied the current frame and can position it anywhere you like on the workspace.

To make multiple copies of a frame click on the frame to be copied and highlight it. Then click on the "Make multiple copies of object" button.
Now specify the number of copies and if necessary select the point of displacement by entering the coordinates. Then click on the "OK" button.

3.10. Rotating the current frame

To rotate a frame, select a frame by clicking the mouse inside the frame. In the Properties field now click on the "Rotate clockwise" or "Rotate counter-clockwise" button. The selected frame rotates by 90 degrees with each click.

3.11. Aligning frames relative to one another

DURAPRINT® enables you to align different frames in opposition to or with one another. Highlight several frames by holding the Shift key down while you click the mouse on different frames. Now click on an appropriate alignment icon.

All the highlighted frames are accordingly now together aligned to the left, right, top or bottom. The frames' alignment depends critically on the frame selected first. All the other frames align themselves with this frame according to the selected alignment.

3.12. Bringing a frame to the front/sending it to the back

When you have arranged several frames on the layout, they may cover or overlap one another. The following buttons give you the means of bringing different frames to the front or sending them to the back.

"forward" With this button you can move the selected frame one position forward.
"backward" With this button you can move the selected frame one position back.
"right to the front" Use this to bring the selected frame right to the front.
"right to the back" Use this to send the selected frame back behind all the others.

You are therefore able to move any frame to the desired level.

3.13. Mirroring frames at the centre line

Within some layouts (e.g. table place name holders) it is helpful if frames are mirrored at a centre line or fold mark. Mirroring here means automatic copying of frames rotated through 180 degrees on a (virtual) centre line. You can mirror all the selected frames within each object, even if there is no separate fold mark within the objects. In this case DURAPRINT® mirrors the frames at a virtual centre line.

To mirror frames click on the "Copy and mirror at centre axis" button.

3.14. Replicating/deleting labels

This function is for very easily replicating or deleting a label created by you, so as thereby to distribute it over the print sheets to hand.

You accomplish this using the control panel in the upper right section of the application window:

To copy the object currently on your workspace enter in the "Copy" area the number of objects to be made. Clicking on the "+" button copies your existing label completely in the desired quantity and incorporates it in the existing sheet.
You can now use "Label summary" to retrieve the generated labels individually. The labels you have copied can all be separately edited afterwards.

To delete a label proceed as follows:
You delete the current label (currently on the workspace!) by clicking on the "current" button. Then confirm your selection and set the deletion process in motion by clicking on the "X" (Delete) button.

To delete a specific label click on the "No." option field and enter the label's number in the option field. Then click on the "X" button. If you want to delete several labels, enter in the option fields the first and last labels to be deleted. Then click on "Delete".

4. Saving/downloading a file / project

A project you have finished working on can be either saved for a short time online or stored long-term as a zip-file on your computer.

Saving online:
to save online please click the "Save" button and enter a project name of your choice in the dialogue window which then opens and press "OK". The project is now available to you for the next few days for further processing.

Downloading a zip-file:
Click on the "Save" button and assign the project a name. Then press "OK".
Now click on the "Download" button in the top menu-bar. After a dialogue window a browser window opens, through which you can save your project to a preferred path as a zip-file.
At all costs please save it under the same name as you used as the project name!

5. Opening/uploading a file / project

Opening a document saved online:
Click on the "Open" button and select a project name from the list. Then click on the "Load project" button. The required document opens.

Uploading a zip-file:
To do this click on the "Open" button and then on "Upload document". Then find and select your zip-file and confirm with the "OK" button. The browser window closes and in the "Open document" window you now select the filename of the zip-file. Then click on the "Load project" button and the required document opens.

6.0. Printing objects

6.1. The print preview

DURAPRINT® gives you the option of having all objects for printing displayed in a preview. To start the print preview click on the "Preview" button. The relevant print sheet with its contents is displayed for you. This preview shows you the print sheet with the perforation lines, to visualise the inserted objects' status for you.

6.2. Printing

To print your finished objects click on the "Print PDF" button. Another window opens. If you do not have the Adobe Reader on your computer, you can download it for yourself here.

Click on "Print PDF". The Adobe Reader opens and you see your material for printing. Going now to the "Print" icon causes your pages to be output.

As a check we recommend first printing them out on ordinary printer paper and only then on the print sheet.

6.3. Selecting a print position

Many products to be printed on (e.g. badge inserts) comprise several labels on one print sheet. It can happen that some of these labels have already been printed on so that the print sheet no longer has the full number of labels. So that you can make further use of these sheets DURAPRINT® gives you the option of determining from which print position the labels are to be printed.

To do this go to the desired position in the Preview area in the right-hand application window and click on the label.

7. Display functions

7.1. "Reduce"" function

This function enables you to reduce the size of the on-screen display. In the "Reduce" function each successive click on the button reduces the on-screen display by another 20%.

7.2. "100%" function

This function enables you to display the original view. Click on the button and the on-screen display reverts to its original size.

7.3. "Enlarge" function

This function enables you to enlarge the on-screen display. In the "Enlarge" function each successive click on the button enlarges the on-screen display by another 20%.

8. Working with databases

8.1. Importing databases (text only)

The DURAPRINT® database function allows text to be imported onto inserts in a similar fashion to a mail merge, simply import your database, position your field names on the layout and your data will import onto document automatically.

To import data, set up an Excel database on your computer. Assign names to the columns (.i.e. Name, Surname, Function) and then save the Excel spreadsheet in CSV format (save as ⇒ format ⇒ CSV ⇒ …). Please make sure that the database name does not include any special characters.

If you want to insert a database of pictures or logos please follow point 8.02.

In DURAPRINT®, select the product that you wish to label. Now insert a text box. Delete the text "Lorem Ipsum" and select the "Database" button on the bottom right-hand side. A pop-up window appears. Click on "Upload CSV file" and select the saved CSV file. The file will import and the field-names / contents will be displayed. Now close the window by selecting "Finish".

Now click on the "Show fields" button in the main window. Select the field names that you wish to display on the label and confirm with "Choose field". Position the field names on the label, these field names will be replaced by your database contents. Also select the desired font size, style, colour etc. Please note that formatting will affect all fields within a text box. If you want fields to have a different appearance, then please place fields in a separate text box.

Now select the "Database" button again, click on the "Generate cards" tab and select the "Create cards" button. Then close the window again by selecting "Finish".

Use the Preview function in the top menu bar to check the wording on the badges.

8.2. Databases with text and logos/pictures

If you want to insert a database containing text and logos please add another column in your Excel sheet and insert the picture name. Make sure it is 100% identical to the name on your computer (picture_smith.jpg or companyLogo.jpg). Assign a field name to the column.

In DURAPRINT®, select the product that you wish to label. Now set up a text field. Delete the text "Lorem Ipsum" and click on the "Database" button on the bottom right-hand side. A pop-up window appears. Click on "Upload CSV file" and select the saved CSV file. The file will import and the field-names / contents will be displayed. Now close the window by selecting "Finish".
Now click on the "Show fields" button in the main window. Select the fields that you wish to display on the label and confirm with "Choose field". Please choose only the text fields at this stage. The field for the pictures/logos will follow later.

Position the field names on the label (will be replaced by your database contents). Also select the desired font size, style, colour etc. Please note that formatting will affect all fields within a text box. If you want fields to have a different appearance, then please place fields in a different text box.

Now click on the button "Upload image" (camera icon). On the left hand side below the label, some more buttons will appear. Click on the button "Upload picture" and select all of the images required for your database. Confirm with "Open". If you are using a large number of images, the files may take a while to load.

Once an image appears, delete the visible picture frame as this was only required for uploading information.

Select the 'Upload image' button (camera icon) again and position the picture frame where require on your insert. Now click on the 'Show fields' button below, from the list on the right hand side select the 'picture' field and click on 'Choose field' button. Now click on the 'Database' button, select the 'Generate' tab and then click the 'Finish' button.

To view, click on the 'Preview' button in the top menu bar. This will show all elements and where they are positioned. To see all images fully select the 'Print' button and click 'Print' to save to PDF.

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