Ways to Create Labels with Pages

Pages '09, Apple's usually superb word editing and page layout application, does not have much support for printing labels, which is a common complaint. Although Pages doesn't come pre-loaded with label templates, you may easily make your own using Pages.

Steps to Create Labels with Pages

Step#1: Check if Pre Made Templates are Available

You may be aware that Avery offers various Microsoft Word templates for the most common labels. Using Pages, you can open a Word template and make minor adjustments to the measurements.

Avery has added a limited number of Pages-formatted downloads to their website. However, you may not be able to obtain a label template for the one you want. When that happens, you'll have to start fresh with a label.

Step#2: Know the Measurements

Measurement information is often included in labels that don't come with a template. If you're using Staples Big Tabs 8 tab folder dividers, you can utilize the information that comes with them, but you can swap whatever numbers you need for the labels. Take measurements from the label or use a ruler to determine what size it is. You will use this information to construct the template.

Step#3: Make a New Document

Make your template by opening Pages (under /Applications) and creating a new, empty Word document. Open two Inspectors by selecting Show ->'' Inspector and View ->'' New Inspector. Configure one to show the document options while the other shows the table options.

Step#4: Set Margins on your Page

It's time to use the information from the measurements you made to modify the document layout. Remember that header and footer checkboxes restrict the amount of printable space on the page, so be sure to empty them before printing!

Step#5: Create a Table

After that, click the Table button on the Toolbar to add a new table to your project. The Insert ->'' Table menu option is also available if you like.) A 3/3 table with a single header row is the basic table type in Pages by default. The Table Inspector is where you'll make the necessary adjustments.

Using the Inspector, we'll edit the table's body rows and columns to match the labels we're using—20 body rows and 2 body columns.

Next, select zero from each of the Header and Footer buttons. Change the column width and row height to 1.5 and 5 inches, respectively. Please note that the column width field is limited to 1.49 inches in width. You can count on us to have it taken care of right away.

Ensure that the checkbox labeled "Automatically Resize To Fit Content" is unchecked. Take a look at the Cell Background section and select "None."

Step#6: Make the Required Tweaks

Our labels aren't all on a single sheet even though we've input the information exactly as it appears on the labels package's measurements. You'll need to change the bottom margin to.4 inches in the Document Inspector to fix this issue. To verify that you've done everything correctly, print off the template, making sure that you keep the table lines visible, and hold it up to a light source behind a label.

After looking at the label in the light, you'll need to make a few extra minor tweaks to this design template. Using this example, the left margin is 2.75 inches; the right margin is 2.73 inches; the top margin is 49 inches, and the bottom margin is 4 inches; I was able to modify the column width to 1.5 inches after making these changes.

For the most part, making modifications is more an art than a science. In my opinion, it's best to start with minimal modifications. 1 inch is all that's needed. Remember that the Edit ->'' Undo menu is your best buddy when you get to the 05-inch mark.

Step#7: Clean the Template and Print

Once you're happy with your template, you can remove the table's cell borders using the Table Inspector. To begin, choose a table. Control-clicking the table and selecting "Select All" is one method of accomplishing this.) Afterward, choose "None" from the cell borders menu.

When done, you need to save your new label (File ->'' Save as Template). Your labels are now ready for printing.