So, you might say, I use Avery DesignPro a lot. Over the years, I've collected enough cardstock,
artwork and cute sayings that I can whip up something for nearly every occasion
that comes along. Who needs Hallmark?
By Ronnie Ugulano, Editor, Fresno PC User Group
priswell(at)comcast.net
Obtained from APCUG with the
author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups.
Last month when I walked in for the FPCUG meeting, I
was met by an old friend, a very familiar piece of software - Avery DesignPro,
the software that is specially designed to be used with Avery cardstock and
labels. A stack of the software was sitting on the table as I entered and was
given to members as long as the stack lasted.
Over the years, I have used
this software many, many times for a long list of printing projects. As a
homeschooling parent, I've used the software to design student and teacher
identification cards, bookmarks, T-shirts and certificates. As a housewife,
I've created distinct address labels and business cards for each family member,
get-together invitations, thank you and other occasion cards, and
wish-you-were-here postcards to send to friends and family. As a soapmaker
hobbyist, I make labels for the lotions, soaps, and bath salts I make for
myself and others. As a computer geek, I fire up Avery DesignPro to create
labels for the CDs I burn, and the occasional floppy.
So, you might say, I use Avery DesignPro a lot. Over the years, I've collected enough cardstock,
artwork and cute sayings that I can whip up something for nearly every occasion
that comes along. Who needs Hallmark?
But I wouldn't be able to be so glib with the printer
unless DesignPro was easy and dependable. It's one thing to cheerfully tinker
with computer hardware or software-gone-wrong for fun. It's another thing to
need a really nice card to go with a baby shower gift at the last minute, only
to find that the software doesn't do what you need it to do - yesterday.
Once you learn your way around DesignPro's simple interface, it's no
trouble at all to whip up what you need, when you need it. When you open the
program, you have the option of making something new, or opening a project you
have previously used. If you are creating
a new project, the tools for placing text and
pictures is easy and intuitive. You can choose whether to make many copies of
one design, or unique designs for each item. Fonts can be scaled as small as 8
or as large as 72, and graphics can be sized up or down to the size of the
cardstock, or limit of the resolution of the graphic. There are even options
for text direction, serial numbers and UPC codes - all push-button easy, using
similar conventions as you'd find in Microsoft Word, only with much more in the
way of options and flexibility for this specific series of jobs.
Oh, and did I mention that it's free? Yep, some Avery labels come
with a disk enclosed (see specially marked packages) or, you can download the software
from Avery's website. If you choose to download, I recommend that you select
the stand-alone version, the one that does not integrate into Microsoft Word. It's leaner, cleaner and
less clunky.
So, if you missed out on the stack of DesignPro disks
at the last FPCUG meeting, a simple download will allow you to join the club.
© Ronnie Ugulano 2006 Permission granted to reprint
as part of a computer-user newsletter
This
article has been provided to APCUG by the author solely for publication by
APCUG member groups. All other uses require the permission of the author (see
e-mail address above).