Kevin Hulmes kevin_hulmes@uk.ibm.com on thu 26 sep 96
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Subject: Slide Labels - Reply (long)
On 24 Sept, Susan & Bernie sought input on slide labels. Here's my
offering.....
I use a PC program called "Labels Unlimited", which I bought in Britain
for 30 UK Pounds (45 USD??). The manual gives a US Address of SoftKey
International, 201 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139-1901. They sell direct
in the UK. It's quite powerful, and allows minute adjustment of label
layouts. I have also used various word processors, and although I haven't
found them to be so flexible, this may not be a problem for you, as your
application is pretty standard. So I suggest you look first at your
local word processing package (assuming it's a recent version).
Incidentally, Labels Unlimited has a simple data base module of its own,
and can import a limited number of other DB formats. I don't think
Filemaker is one of them, but I guess the latter will allow export into
say dBASE III or IV as an interim file.
There are many other labelling programs around. Just search the computer
magazine advertisements for software or shareware. But then you have a
research project to soak up the spare time you don't have!
Using scalable fonts from Windows, you can pack a lot of information on a
small label.
Re printers .....
You may be restricted to what you have, but I use an inkjet and a laser.
The laser produces perfect, non-fading labels. The inkjet also produces
perfect labels, but they smudge when wet, and I don't know how long they
will resist fading. (I haven't noticed any fading to date.) One major
factor is the number of labels per sheet versus the number you print per
run. An A4 sheet typically holds 84 labels for 35mm slides. If you only
want to print 10 at a time, you may want to put the sheet through 11
times to use up all the labels. Once you remove the first set of labels,
you are left with a THIN backing sheet, possibly with "spare" strips of
label surround still attached. Your printer has to be reasonably
tolerant of paper weights and evenness, and have a smooth paper path to
avoid picking up the remaining sticky strips and tangling them in the
printer. Most modern printers are tolerant, but maybe you should test
first!
If your printer is an old dot-matrix model, you can use continuous
tractor feed labels, which avoid the above problem, but the quality is
not so good, and font size is restricted.
Apart from that, you can feed a sheet through an even-tempered inkjet
as many times as you need. The laser is a different matter. The heat
involved affects the adhesive, and manufacturers are reluctant to suggest
more than 3 or 4 passes, although I know one company that tests their
product with 12 passes.
Re paper .....
The inkjet is very tolerant, but the laser needs special labels. These
needn't be expensive. My supplier charges 16 UK Pounds for a 100 sheet
box (8,400 labels!) and only 8.5 UK Pounds per box if you buy 21 or more.
(That's a BIG slide collection!!) You can also buy them in white or
translucent plastic, but they are about 2.5 times as expensive.
Usual commercial disclaimers apply. I gained much of the above
experience by doing a favour for a friend. He runs a jewellery business
and needed to print up to four 5-digit codes on his ring labels, which
also needed to survive sonic cleaning treatment in a water-based solvent!
The end result was a success. He could read them at arm's length. (It's
amazing how your reading arm tends to get shorter as you get older!)
Contact me direct if you need more detail.
Kevin in Leamington Spa, England
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* Kevin Hulmes CROVM4(HULMESK) IBMMAIL(GBIBM6T5)
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