To get ready for GHS, many companies today are designing
label formats for their drums. One means
to optimize your label designs is to use label design software that enables you
to connect to a database to import variable data. In this post, I’ll show you how to use an
example database and drum label format.
To use the GHS Drum Label Template and Database, you first
need to download BarTender software from Seagull Scientific. You can use this software for 30 days prior
to purchase. Download the software here: http://www.seagullscientific.com/label-software/barcode-label-printing-software-download.aspx.
Purchase BarTender Professional or Automation here: http://stores.colorlabelsolutions.com/software/
Prior to using the GHS Drum Label Template and Database,
Color Label Solutions recommends reviewing two training videos from Seagull
Scientific on BarTender:
Getting Started with BarTender: http://www.seagullscientific.com/label-software/training-video-(getting-started).aspx
Reading Label Data from Excel: http://www.seagullscientific.com/label-software/training-video-(reading-data-from-database).aspx
For this label design project, we assume the user has a
basic understanding of BarTender; or is willing to learn.
To start the project, fill in the basic information required
for each product in the Excel database.
The basic information includes the following:
·
Name
·
Product Identifier
·
Signal Word
·
Hazard Statements
·
Precautionary Statements
·
First Aid
·
Pictogram 1
·
Pictogram 2
·
Pictogram 3
Feel free to add other categories of information into your
database: such as Additional Information, Ingredients, etc. You can easily add
these other fields of data to your label later.
While adding the data to the Excel database, be sure to
insert the correct formatting of the statements, especially carriage
returns. To insure a carriage return, press the Alt key and Enter key
together.
Next set up a directory (i.e. C:\Users\Guy
Mikel\Documents\GHS\Pictograms) containing the GHS pictograms you require for
your labels. You can download all of the
GHS pictograms here: https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/pictograms/. In your database, edit the directory path for each pictogram
required for each product.
Once the data is added, be sure to save the database to the
same location as the BarTender file. Then
close it. You can’t edit the database
once BarTender is opened.
After opening the BarTender template, you’ll need to select
the correct printer and page setup. This
template assumes a GP-C831 printer using an 8” x 10.875” standard label; both
available from Color Label Solutions. Purchase the GP-C831 printer and labels here: http://stores.colorlabelsolutions.com/ghs-printer-variable-data-bundle-4/
Be
sure to review BarTender basics to insure you have the correct printer and page
layout selected.
Also know; all text is selected to adjust the print fonts to maintain
the box size.
In BarTender, click on “Layers” tab in the bottom right section
to see the various layers of the label template.
On the Embedded layer, right click and select “Show Only This Layer”. In this layer, replace the
logo file by right clicking, selecting properties, selecting “Picture: on the
left side of the Properties dialog box, and selecting “file” to upload your
logo. Also, replace your address
information by selecting the address box, right clicking and selecting “Properties”,
selecting “Data Source”, and changing the address information.
Next select the Variable layer, right click and select “Show
Only This Layer”. This layer will
contain the information you’ve added to the database.
Move these text boxes around the template to fit your
specific requirements and aesthetics. Once
finished, right click again on the Variable layer and select show all.
Then select the Print Time layer, right click to select "Show Only This Layer". Here will have the print
time data that can be added prior to a print job.
If you do not want to have this data added at print time,
just delete the boxes. To add other
information such as Fill Date, Expiration Date, Fill Location, etc, just copy
the pair of boxes, right click on the variable data text box, select
properties, select data source, select transforms, and click on Data Entry
Control.
Once complete, select the Data Entry Form at the bottom of the
template to see how the print time form looks:
At print time, the operator will need to add the data prior to
printing.
3 more layers exist in this template: Pictogram 1, 2 and 3. These are set to print only if data is added
to the database. To confirm or change,
right click on a “Pictogram” layer and select properties. In properties, select print options and
change as required.
When you select print preview, the print time data entry will
open. Add the variable data to continue
to the print job.
Once you select preview, the complete label will be shown:
Now print the label.
Please know you’ll probably need to make changes to the
template to fit your requirements and aesthetics. Add other colors, images, etc. to improve the
look of your label.
If you need assistance, contact Color Label Solutions at
855-962-7670. We’ll be happy to assist
you design and print your GHS Drum labels. Our goal is to make printing GHS Labels a quick and painless process.
Guy Mikel
855-962-7670
#colorlabels
#GHS
No comments:
Post a Comment