Layout objects and their properties

• Start the CardDesigner tool from the Start menu in Windows.

1. In CardDesigner, click File > Open Card Layout. The Open dialog box is displayed.

2. Select a card layout, and click Open to confirm your selection. The card layout will be read in and displayed in Card Layout view.

1. Click the Line toolbar button, or use the Objects > Line menu command to add a Line object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag.

3. Click on the Colours tab to open the Object Properties... dialog box.

4. Edit the settings:

1. Click the Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle or Ellipse toolbar button, or use the Objects > Rectangle... menu commands to add the relevant object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag.

3. Click on the Colours tab to open the Object Properties... dialog box.

4. Edit the settings:

1. Click the Image toolbar button, or use the Objects > Image menu command to add an Image object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag. The Object Properties... dialog box opens.

3. Edit the settings:

1. Click the Signature toolbar button, or use the Objects > Signature menu command to add a Signature object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag. The Object Properties... dialog box opens.

3. Edit the settings:

1. Click the Fingerprint toolbar button, or use the Objects > Fingerprint menu command to add a Fingerprint object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag. The Object Properties... dialog box opens.

3. Edit the settings:

1. Click the Logo toolbar button, or use the Objects > Logo menu command to add a Logo object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag. The Object Properties... dialog box opens.

3. Edit the settings:

4. Click the Variants tab and edit the settings:

1. Click the Text toolbar button, or use the Objects > Text menu command to add a Text object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag. The Object Properties... dialog box opens. For Text objects, you can make entries for either fixed text (linked to a database field) or variable text (your own text), and/or a combination of both.

3. Edit the settings:

Text variants

If there are many card layouts which only differ in the text, you can use text variants to create just one card layout instead of many. Another benefit of using the Text variants is that if at some point in the future you need to change a text, it only needs to be changed in one card layout.

1. Select the Variants tab.

2. Edit the settings:

Extended character formatting using markups

When a text object is used, the relevant text is printed in the selected font and emphasis (bold, italics, color, etc.). This covers all typical application cases. In individual cases, however, it may be useful to emphasize certain text elements in a particular way.

In many cases this can be achieved by using several text objects that contain different font settings. However, this means that the individual text objects have fixed positions. The aim can be more elegantly achieved with expanded character formatting using markups. In this case, only one text object is used. Such a markup element can be inserted into the text. This element causes the font to change, based on the text object already configured in CardDesigner. The markup element itself is not printed.

The above examples are configured in CardDesigner as follows:

• For the first example, enter the following syntax in the text box: <Firstname> \font{weight:bold}<Lastname>

• For the second example, enter the following syntax in the text box: <Title> \font{size:80%}<Firstname><Lastname>

• For the third example, enter the following syntax in the text box: <Title1>\font{script:super} in \font{}<Title2>\font{script:super} in \font{}< Firstname> <Lastname>

Each markup has the syntax \font{…}. Such a markup element switches the text object base font. This means that the text printed from left to right is printed in this new typeset from this point on. Only the properties mentioned in the markup are changed. Example: \font{weight:bold} only switches to bold type, leaving all other properties those of the base font. An empty markup \font{} switches the text object base font back again.

An individual markup property is described by a property name and value and separated by a colon. If several markups are used, they are separated by a semicolon (for example, \font{size:80%;weight:bold}. The properties are defined immediately one after the other, without any spaces between them.

The following markup properties are supported:

Extended text formatting using format specifiers

Depending on the requirements, a CardDesigner text field consists of fix text elements and variable text elements from database fields. For example: Name: <First Name> <Last Name>.

The variable text elements from database fields can be formatted using format specifiers. The configuration for leading zeros and date values, as described under heading "Text" in this article, works exactly in this matter but allows the configuration using corresponding configuration dialogs. In addition, further format specifications can be used, using a manual configuration.

An unformatted field has the known form (example) <First Name>. A formatted field the form <First Name,[format specification]>.

The following format specifications are currently supported:

1. Click the Barcode toolbar button, or use the Objects > Barcode menu command to add a Barcode object to the card layout.

2. Click on the location you want, hold down your mouse button and drag. The Object Properties... dialog box opens. For Barcode objects, you can make entries for either fixed text (linked to a database field) or variable text (your own text), and/or a combination of both.

3. Select the Barcode tab.

4. Enter fixed text and/or variable text in the input box. Some barcode types will accept only digits, that is, only numeric characters (0-9) are allowed. Other barcode types will accept also letters, or a combination of digits and letters. See the respective barcode product manuals for more information.

5. Click Database Field... to open a dialog box. Select one of the database fields displayed, and specify formatting settings as necessary. You can adjust these settings::

    

You can specify a special position for all layout objects.

1. Select the Position tab

2. Enter Horizontal and Vertical Position of the upper left corner of a layout object.

3. Enter Width and Height of a layout object.

In addition to the size and position of layout objects, you can also edit the degree of roundness of the corners.

1. Select the Position tab.

2. Enter Horizontal and Vertical Position of the upper left corner of a layout object.

3. Enter Width and Height of a layout object.

4. Enter Horizontal and Vertical rounding of the corner of a layout object. If this value = ZERO, then no rounded corners are visible.

You can assign conditions to layout objects so that they will only be printed if the condition is met.

1. Select the Condition tab.

2. Select a field from the database in the Database Field drop-down list. The contents of this field will be checked during runtime.

3. Enter a value in the Value field. The value entered here must be contained in the database field so that the layout object will be printed.

Layout objects can be output in different colours, depending on the value of a database field.

If there are many card layouts which only differ in their colour, then you can use colour variants to create just one card layout instead of many. Another benefit of using colour variants is that if at some point in the future you need to change a colour, it only needs to be changed in one card layout.

1. Select the Variants tab.

2. Select a field from the database in the Database Field drop-down list.

3. The value of the database field you select decides which colour will be used. The contents of this field will be checked during runtime.

4. Click New to create a new variant.

5. Click Colour to select a new colour variant. The Colour dialog box opens, see "Colour" in Layout settings.

6. To change a value, first select the value you want to change and then click Edit.

7. To delete a value, first select the value you want to delete and then click Delete.

The print settings specify the way your production device deals with black colour. There are two options when printing black.

• Black composed of a mixture of the primary colours yellow, magenta, and cyan (= YMC), or

• Black with black segment (Deep Black), the so-called Key colour (= K)

Printer Driver Settings

Each production printer has individual setting options which can be controlled via the device-specific printer drivers. To achieve the results you want for production, make sure to check your printer driver settings and adjust them where appropriate. You will find more detailed information about your production printer in the technical manual of your device.

Select the Print Settings tab in the Object Properties... dialog box to check the individual layout objects and to specify how to print black colour and how to separate basic colours. This setting is available for Image, Signature, Barcode and Logo objects, but it can only be changed for Logo objects.

Compose black of colour segments

When black is composed of a mixture of the primary colours yellow, magenta, and cyan (= YMC), a "light" black is achieved, which is not opaque. A totally opaque "pure" black can only be achieved by using a separate print colour (Key colour).

The method of mixing the basic colours yellow, magenta and cyan is especially suitable to output layout objects with image-like elements. The black segments used for images and signatures are always composed of colour segments, that is, the basic colours yellow, magenta and cyan. This setting cannot be changed. To achieve the effect you want for production, make sure your printer driver settings are adjusted accordingly.

Print black with separate black segment

When black colour is printed separately, the black segments are not mixed by the basic colours yellow, magenta and cyan (= YMC), but printed as a separate colour (Black = Key colour (K)). The result is "pure" black which is totally opaque.

This method is especially suitable for high-contrast objects with no image-like elements, such as black-and-white logos, texts and barcodes. Layout objects of type Barcode are always printed in black with black segment. This setting cannot be changed. This setting can only be changed manually for layout objects of type Logo. To achieve the effect you want for production, make sure your printer driver settings are adjusted accordingly.

Print Settings (Logo)

The print settings for Logo objects have to be determined as the case arises, since layout objects of this type may have image-like elements or graphic elements. Depending on the setting you select, the black segments will be mixed by the basic colours (yellow, magenta and cyan), or output as a separate colour (Black = Key colour (K)) .

1. Double-click on a layout object to open the corresponding dialog box.

2. Select the Print Settings tab.

3. There are two options:

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  • Print black composed of colour segments (YMC). It is recommended to use this setting for logos with image-like elements.

  • Print black with black segment (K). It is recommended to use this setting for black and white logos and for Logo objects with graphical elements.

To achieve the effect you want for production, make sure your printer driver settings are adjusted accordingly.