CPM-200 User Guide For Lighthouse for MAX

CPM-200 User Guide For Lighthouse for MAX Contents Page Number Opening the software 2 Altering the page size & Orientation 3-4 Inserting Text 5 Editing Text 6 Inserting Graphics 7-8 Changing the Colour of Text 9 Changing the Colour of Graphics 9 Inserting Own Graphics 10 Printing File Types 11 Cut Shapes 12-13 Align to Label 14 Printing 15 Multi-Coloured Printing 16 Duplicate Labels 17-19 Altering Duplicate Labels 20 Inverse Printing 21 Alignment Toolbar 22 Rotate 22 Grouping Feature 22 Rectangles, Lines & Elipses 23 Tiling Feature/Multiband Printing 24-25 Limitations of Tiling/Multiband Printing 26 Barcoding 27-28 Sequential Numbering 29-32 Database Access 33-35 Help Details 36 1

Opening The Software To open the software double click on the Lighthouse for Max 6 icon The software will open. To design a new label, click on File New (To open an existing label, go to File Open and the location of the saved label). A label will show a portrait label set to 300mm behind the Label Setup Wizard. Click on Finish to use the existing page size, or click on Properties to change the page length or orientation. To change the Outputting Length, insert the required length. NOTE: A 10mm margin is added so put the page length minus 10mm in, i.e. if the page is to be 300mm long, type in 290mm The Orientation can also be changed to Landscape 2

Altering the page size If the page size needs to be altered once a label is open, double click outside of the label and a Label Setup dialog box will open. To change the page from Portrait to Landscape, double click on the label and go to the Paper Layout tab. Change the Orientation. Click on OK. Click on the Dimensions tab, change the width (which is length of the label) and click on OK. The page will alter accordingly. 3

Remember to alter the page length if it is a single label as the printer will cut the label off at the page length (page below is set to landscape) There will always be small wastage at the beginning of each label when printing. This is a physical restriction of the printer. To save manually cutting the front edge, or to make a sign to be an exact size, a shape can be inserted from the clipart and set to cut rather than print (see Page 22). 4

Inserting Text To insert text onto the label, click on the A Text on the left hand toolbar then click in the label. A flashing cursor will appear. Insert the text as normal and then click outside of the box so that the box is still highlighted. The text can be re-sized by using the boxes or by using the formatting toolbar at the top of the screen. The font can be altered, as well as Bold, Italics, Align in the same box, etc The text will turn red if the box is stretched outside of the label area. As long as the actual information is within the red border, it will fit on the label. 5

Editing Text To edit text, double click on the text and a Text box will open Change the wording as required and click on OK. If the text box is outside of the label area, indicated by a red border around the label, the text will turn to red. This is a visual warning to state that items may be outside of the printable area. Ensure the relevant information is within the red border. (See Page 15) 6

Inserting Graphics The software has a built-in clipart gallery with over 1,400 symbols. To insert a graphic from the clipart, click on the Picture icon then click in the label Click on Clipart Gallery There are two folders, CM-200 and CPM-100. Click on the + sign or side arrow next to CPM-100. A list of categories will appear. 7

Go to the relevant clipart section and insert the required symbol. It will then appear on the label. Resize as normal. A few of the categories have two sets of symbols, one designed for single coloured print and the other multi-coloured print, i.e. for the example below, the top symbols are designed for yellow and black ribbon printing onto white backing/vinyl and the bottom ones are for black ribbon printing onto yellow backing/vinyl. 8

Changing the Colour of Text The CPM-100 Label Printing System can print multi-coloured labels as well as single colour. To change the colour of text, click on the text then click on the relevant colour on the colour toolbar Changing the Colour of Clipart Graphics To change the colour of graphics, double click on the graphic, go to the Status tab and un-tick Separate Colors During Print. Cilck on OK then select the relevant colour on the colour toolbar. 9

Inserting Own Graphics It is possible to insert graphics and logos into the software. With a label open, click on the Picture icon on the left hand toolbar and click in the label Go to the location of the saved graphic, select it and click on Open. The graphic will then be on the label. The software looks for most graphic file types, i.e..bmps,.gif,.jpg,.jpeg,.tif,.tiff,.png,.wmf,.emf,.pcx, pdf, etc.. however, ideally.wmf is the recommended format. To see the full list, on the box above, click on the down arrow next to Files of type. 10

Printing File Types If the inserted image is a jpeg or bmp, the software will default the colour palette to CMYK colours. When printing, it will prompt for the Yellow, then Magenta, then Cyan then the Black and build the image in layers. All four colours will have to be passed through the machine when printing these. Asks for Yellow Then Magenta Then Cyan Then Black Full Image then printed To print with the solid colours, click on the Solid Colors option on the toolbar. This will then only see the image as a single colour image and will not prompt for the colours unless inserted as an original vectored.wmf file similar to the one below. 11

Cut Shapes The CPM has the ability to cut as well as print. The cutting is mainly used around labels which need to be a certain size or to save manually cutting the vinyl to the size required. To insert a cut shape, set up the label as required, go into the Clipart Gallery and then go to the section called Cut Shapes. Select the shape required and click on OK. The shape can then be re-sized as required (ensuring it is within the red border). The dagger in the bottom right hand corner indicates the item is set to cut. 12

If the shape needs to be an exact size, double click on the shape and go to the Appearance tab. Insert the required size and click on OK. 13

Align to Label To align items (text, graphics, etc ) to the label, right click over the object and select Align. Select the relevant options, i.e. Middle and Centre and make sure Align to label is ticked. Click on OK. 14

Printing When clicking on Print a print dialog box will be displayed. The machine will measure the amount of machine left on the roll and advise this under the Remaining Sheet Length header. The machine will also monitor the amount of ribbon left in the cassette Printer Dialog Box If the print dialog box does not appear, look for the printer symbol in the status bar at the bottom right hand corner of the pc/laptop. Double click on the icon and the box should open. To cancel the print job, simply click on Cancel Print click on Ok and start again. 15

Multi-Colour Printing When printing multi-coloured labels, click on Print and the dialog box will open. Click on the colour required to print first and click on Continue Print. If one of the matching ribbon cassettes is loaded, the machine will start printing automatically. Once one colour has been printed, the machine will wind the material back to the starting point. Change the cassette, click on the next colour and click on Continue Print. Although the machine knows which colour is in the machine, this can be over-ridden by clicking on a different colour and clicking on Continue Print. Always remember to add a cut shape to the label. 16

Duplicate Labels If a certain amount of the same label is required, a label can be set up to be replicated down the page length. There is minimal waste compared with individual prints, these can be used for sequential numbering and linking to database fields, and when printing multi-coloured labels, i.e. labels which are red and black, all of the red will be printed for all labels, then all of the black for all labels, etc To set up duplicate labels, click on Finish on the Wizard. Double click on the label and go to the Paper Layout tab if portrait is required. Then go to the Dimensions tab. 17

Go to the Dimensions tab. Insert the Width and Height of just one individual label, i.e. 50mm x 24mm. Ensure that the Left, Top and Bottom margins are set to 5mm to keep the labels within the printable area. Set the Right margin to 6mm (bottom margin is 6mm if in portrait). This ensures the right hand side of the last column of labels are cut. Under the Labels Across section, increase Rows and Columns to the number of required labels. X gap and Y gap should be set to at least 1mm. This is the gap between the labels and if there is no gap it will be difficult to separate the labels and peel them off. Click on OK. 18

Design the label as normal and remember to insert a cut shape around just the first label only, and not the full page. Whatever is set up in the first label will be automatically copied on the other labels. To check the labels will duplicate, click on Zoom to Page then click on Print Select Pages 1, click on Preview and all of the labels will appear. NOTE: If labels 1 is selected, only one label will be displayed! Click Finish or click on Print. NOTE: All of the labels will only show when in Print Preview mode. 19

Altering Duplicate Labels To increase or decrease the number of labels, double click outside of the label area and go to the Dimensions tab. Increase/decrease the number of columns as required. Make sure the margins are set correctly. Click on OK and the page will adjust accordingly. 20

Inverse Printing Inverse printing is mainly used when printing with a coloured ribbon onto a white vinyl or to emphasise a piece of information. To use the inverse option, click on the Inverse icon on the left hand toolbar. Either click in the label or drag a box onto the label. Adjust the size accordingly. The inverse box will appear in black so select the inverse box and the text box then click on the relevant colour, normally red, blue or green. NOTE: It is important to remember to set both the inverse box and the text to the same colour. If the text is set to white, and the inverse box is set to a different colour, the software detects two colours, blue and white for example, and will ask for both ribbon colours. 21

Alignment Toolbar To align items together use the alignment toolbar on the right hand side of the screen. Select the items by either holding the shift key down and clicking on the relevant items, or dragging the mouse from outside of the label over all items, and then use the alignment icons. Rotate Beneath the alignment icons is a rotate button. Items will rotate 90 Grouping Feature There is a grouping feature built into the software. This allows items to be selected and grouped, making it easier to move or re-size items in one go. Items can also be ungrouped once grouped. 22

Rectangles, Lines and Elipses If boxes, circles and/or lines are required on a label the options on the left hand toolbar can be used. Click on the Rectangle, Line or Elipse option on the left hand toolbar and click or draw a box onto the label. Re-size as required either by stretching the shape or double clicking on it and going to the Appearance tab. With elipses, hold the SHIFT key down whilst stretching the box to keep it in proportion. If you do not hold SHIFT the circle can be distorted and an oval shape will be created. To alter the thickness of the lines or change rectangles to rounded corners just double click on the shape and alter the thickness. NOTE: DO NOT use the Rectangle or an Elipse as a cut shape as a double line will be cut these are for print only. 23

Tiling Feature The software can be set to print across 2, 3, 4 or even 5 widths of 100mm vinyl. This enables you to produce signs up to 500mm high! To make a bigger sign, open a new label and click on Properties. Change the Outputting Length to the required length of the label minus 10mm (as the software adds a 10mm margin) Change the Orientation to Portrait if required. Click on Cut Printable Area. NOTE: This is very important if this is not activated the label will not be cut correctly Click on OK. 24

Double click on the label and go to the Dimensions tab. Alter the Width to the required size (if in landscape, Height if in portrait). Click on Multiband Printing which opens the Multiband Printing box Tick Enable Multiband printing Select the number of bands required, i.e. 2, 3, 4 or 5 The overlapping measurements will vary depending on the number of bands used. There is a 5mm non-printable area around each label. There also needs to be a 2mm overlap so that the bands/strips can be layed correctly. Number Of Bands Overlapping Measurement 2 14mm 3 16mm 4 18mm 5 20mm Click on OK and OK again. Design the label as required. Do not insert a cut shape! NOTE: For multi-coloured tiled signs, the Cut printable area option is unavailable, so edges will need to be trimmed i.e. with a guillotine. DO NOT insert cut shapes onto the label otherwise the label will not be cut correctly. It is also NOT possible to cut text over more than one strip of vinyl 25

Limitations Of Multiband Printing This feature within the software can only be recommended for single colour signs. This is a driver limitation and there are currently no plans for this to be altered. Ensure none of the following are added to a tiled sign:- Cut Lettering; Two or more colours; Any items set to cut. If any of the above are added to a tiled sign, the cut printable area option within the driver will be de-activated. This means the sign will be printed but not cut so each strip will have to be cut to size manually. Cut Lettering It is not possible to produce cut lettering in a tiled format. A Workaround for Two Coloured Signs If a two coloured tiled sign needs producing, i.e. a prohibition sign, follow these steps:- Print one colour onto white vinyl, i.e. the red part; Print the second colour onto clear vinyl i.e. the black part ; Overlay the clear vinyl onto the white vinyl. 26

Barcoding The software has over 35 different barcode types pre-built into the software, including Code 128, Code 39 and QR codes. To insert a barcode onto the label, click on the barcode icon on the left hand toolbar and click in the label. Insert the relevant information in the value box. To change the barcode type, click on the Barcode tab and click on Define 27

The General tab lists all the different barcode styles. The preview barcode on the right will show the different formats. Check Digit Some barcode types give the option to include or exclude a check digit. To alter this setting, click on the Check Digit tab and tick or un-tick the Include check digit option. Text Beneath the Barcode As well as changing the barcode style, there is an option of formatting the text. There are options to exclude the text completely (No Interpretation) or have the information above or below the barcode. The text beneath the barcode can be altered also, remember to un-tick Auto font scaling and then click on Font and make the amendments. Barcodes can also be used for sequential numbering. 28

Sequential Numbering To save printing and editing each individual label, the software has a sequential numbering feature, so the software will automatically increase numbers or letters each label or even decrease! To set this up, go to Data Variables New Insert a variable name Insert the length of the variable, i.e. 100 would be 3 digits, 1000 would be 4 digits, etc The maximum length does not include a prefix or suffix Click on Incremental or Decremental counter Step is what the sequence goes up/down in, i.e. 2 would be 2, 4, 6, etc Change value after is the number of the same label printed before it increments or decrements 29

Click on the Data Processing tab. If this is not visible, click on Advanced at the bottom left hand corner of the Variable box. If a prefix and/or suffix is required, insert it here. Whatever is entered here is in addition to the maximum length set in the General tab (see Page 28) Click on the Prompting tab. Type in Enter Start No. This is a visual prompt that will appear when clicking on Print. Click on OK and Close. 30

To add the variable/sequential number to the label, click on the down arrow to the right of the A Text. The bottom option is Using Existing Variable and to the right is the name given. Click on this and click in the label. A default number will be displayed. Adjust to required size, etc.. If a sequential barcode is required, click on the down arrow next to Barcode and repeat as above. 31

When printing the labels, click on Print and a Print box will open Enter the starting number in the value box. The print will start from this number. Enter the number of labels under Quantity. For the example above, the first label will print with L1000 on it and it will then print L1001, L1002, L1003, etc.. Preview can be used to see how the labels would print. If the page is set up for duplicate labels, remember to be in Zoom to Page view (see Page 28). When printing, if you have set up duplicate labels, remember to click on Pages 1 when printing! (see Page 28). 32

Database Access If information is stored in a database, such as Excel or Access, Nicelabel can link to the database and use the information stored to print out the information. This saves time as each label doesn t have to be amended after each print. It also helps if the information is not sequential. Ensure that the database has column headers and is saved but closed before trying to link the software to it. Have a label open and then go to Data Database Access Wizard Click on Browse and go to the location of the spreadsheet/database Click on Next Leave all the headers selected or use the Ctrl key to de-select (or select if not already selected) Click on Next 33

The next screen refers to printing. The first option means that all records in the database will print. The second option allows individual or all records to be selected. The second section refers to quantity. The first option prints one of everything automatically. The second option uses a column from the spreadsheet to dictate the number of labels. The final option allows individual or all records to be selected. The bottom option of both sections are the most flexible. Click as required and click on Next. On the last screen, leave the top option selected. The software will then pull through the first record and position it onto the label. Click Finish then Close 34

The first record will appear on screen as text. Amend the formatting as required. Click on Print. Depending on the options set up in the wizard, the labels may already be selected to print. If not, click on Select Records and either use the Select All button, or click on the relevant information. Click on OK then Print The spreadsheet/database field can also be displayed as a barcode. Click on the down arrow next to Barcode Use Existing Barcode Click on the relevant column header then click on the label. 35

Help Details For direct Lighthouse customers, there are various ways in which we can help you. You can call us Monday Friday; 9am 5pm. Tel: 01509 264500 You can use the free Fax-Help Service. Fax 01509 264480 You can visit the frequently asked questions as well as tutorial videos on the website:- www.lighthouse.uk.com You can email questions to us; support@lighthouse.uk.com We can email a label design direct to your PC. You can then simply open the file in our software and print! If you require help with any aspect of the software, simply click Help and follow the instructions. NOTE: If the machine was purchased from a supplier other than Lighthouse, please report any issues directly to the supplier who will be able to assist further. 36