View source for Packaging Designer User Guide

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=====Description=====

The '''[[:Category:Packaging Designer|Packaging Designer]]''' application allows a wide range of nets to be modified including not only cartons and packaging but also other card based products - e.g. Pocket File, Desk Tidy, Optical Toys.


Any or all dimensions can be modified in the secure knowledge that the net will still fit together. The volume of the completed package, and the surface area of material required are calculated.


The modified designs can be simply printed or saved and loaded into many popular drawing applications.


=====Selecting a Net=====


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* Choose the type of '''Net''' required from the '''Subcategories''' from within '''Packaging Designer'''.
* '''Left Click''' on the '''Net''' required from the those listed to open the relevant '''Packaging Designer''' page.
* Scroll down the page to view the '''Net''' using the browser '''Scroll Bar'''.


<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
If the '''Mouse Scroll Wheel''' is used, the image of the '''Net''' will be zoomed in or out when that part of the page is reached. To reset the image, '''Left Click''' on the '''Zoom Icon'''.
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* '''Left Click''' on the '''Edit Icon''' to '''Show''' or '''Hide''' the '''Table of Variables'''.
* If required, '''Left Click''' any of the variables in the table, delete its default value and type in a new one.
* Enter the new value to redraw the '''Net''' at its new size.
* '''Left''' or '''Right Click''' on the screen display or use '''Scroll Wheel''' to alter view and '''Left Click''' on '''Zoom Icon''' to reset it.
[[File:PackagingDesigner2.png|400px|right]]


<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
The '''Net''' is a '''[[CAD|Parametric]]''' drawing and so all dimensions which relate to any single dimension altered will also change to maintain the validy of the '''Net'''.  Left click on the '''Zoom Icon''' to centre the edited '''Net''' and '''Zoom''' it to fit the screen.   
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* The screen image of '''Net''' can be printed using '''Print''' from the browser '''File menu'''.


<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
This output is quick and simple and may be useful for hand-rendering to try ideas for text and graphics etc., but it is unlikely to be actual size unless by chance.
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=====Saving the Net CAD File=====


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Once any required changes have been made to the dimensions of the chosen '''Net''', it can be saved at actual size as a '''[[Table of File-Types|Scaleable Vector Graphics (SVG)]]''' file for use in other applications.


* '''Left Click''' on the '''Download Icon''' and choose the option to '''Save File''' and click OK.
* For future use, note where the '''SVG File''' is saved on your computer - it may be in your '''Downloads Folder'''.


<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
The '''Open with''' option provides an alternative method of opening in your preferred internet browser and printing from there. This option can be used also to load the '''Net''' into any other software which is able to receive '''SVG Files''' ''(e.g. '''[[LibreOffice]]''', '''[[Inkscape]]''', '''[[GIMP]]''')'' but in all cases some experimentation will be needed to determine if the resulting output is actual size or scaled to fit in some way .  
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=====Using LibreOffice Draw=====


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'''[[LibreOffice|LibreOffice Draw]]''' is a free of charge '''Vector Graphics''' drawing program with which you can quickly create a wide variety of graphical images. '''Vector Graphics''' store and display an image as an assembly of simple geometric elements such as lines, circles, and polygons, rather than a collection of pixels ''(points on the screen)'' and this allows for easier storage and scaling of the image.
'''Draw''' is fully integrated into the '''LibreOffice suite''' and this simplifies exchanging graphics with all components of the suite ''(e.g. simply by copying and pasting the image)''.


The functionality of '''LibreOffice Draw''' is extensive and, even though it was not designed to rival high-end graphics applications, it possesses more functionality than the drawing tools that are generally integrated with most office productivity suites.


* Download '''[[LibreOffice]]''' from '''http://www.libreoffice.org/''' and run the '''Draw''' application
* The '''SVG''' file of the '''Packing Net''' can be loaded using '''Open''' from the drop-down '''File''' menu or simply by dragging it in.


If the '''Net''' is larger than the the chosen paper size, it will be automatically scaled to fit. This may be adequate for hand-rendering to try ideas as above but if actual size is needed, a work-around is needed follows:


* Choose '''Page...''' from the '''Format''' menu to open the '''Page Setup''' dialogue box.
* Set the '''Paper format''' to a size and orientation that is larger than your final design of '''Net''' ''(e.g. Landscape A3 will accommodate many of the '''Nets''' if their default values are retained)''.
* Do not use '''Open''' from the '''File''' menu but rather drag the'''SVG''' file on to the page as before.
* Position the '''Net''' to the top left hand corner of the page ''(it should be '''Grouped''', if not, '''Select All''' and '''Group''' first)''.
* Go back to the '''Page Setup''' dialogue box and try reducing the paper to a size which just contains the net.
* '''Images''' can be added from the '''Insert''' menu and '''Text''' is simply added using the '''Text Tool'''.
* If the paper size is within the capability of your printer then simply go ahead and print - the output will be actual size.
* If the paper size is beyond the capability of your printer, go to '''Print''' and note that the dialogue box includes an option to '''Distribute on multiple sheets of paper''' - a full-size '''Net''' can then be assembled after printing.


=====Using Inkscape=====


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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkscape '''Inkscape''']  is professional quality '''Vector Graphics''' software which  uses the W3C open standard '''SVG ''(Scalable Vector Graphics)''''' as its native format but will accept and output most common image and drawing formats ''(e.g. JPG, GIF, PNG, PDF, WMF, DXF, HPGL)''. It is used by design professionals and hobbyists worldwide.


[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkscape '''Inkscape'''] can be downloaded from [https://inkscape.org/en/ '''www.inkscape.org'''] and  is well supported with [http://inkscape.org/en/learn/ '''Tutorials'''], and social media user groups such as the [http://inkscape.org/en/community/ '''Community'''] . There are also many 3rd party [https://www.youtube.com/user/derekbanas/search?query=inkscape '''Video Tutorials'''] on [https://www.youtube.com/user/derekbanas/search?query=inkscape '''YouTube'''].
  

* Download  [https://inkscape.org/en/ '''Inkscape'''] and run the application - it will open with its default page setting.
* From the '''File''' menu choose '''Open...''' and selct the previously saved '''SVG''' file of the '''Packaging Net'''.
* '''Inkscape''' wll automatically adjust the page to a '''Custom Size''' to accommodate the '''Net''' full size.
* To adjust to a standard paper size, use the '''Document Properties''' dialogue box and choose the required size and orientation.

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<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
If the '''SVG''' file is simply dragged on to the default page it will not adjust in size automatically but page size and orientation can be changed at any time using the '''Document Properties''' dialogue box.
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* However it is loaded, the '''Net''' will be '''Grouped''' and can be moved around the page but easily '''Ungrouped''' if individual edits are needed.
* Additional files, including images, can simply be opened or dragged on to the drawing - to add images for example.
* Text is simply added using the '''Text Tool'''.


The finished design can be printed ''(if the printer can manage the size of paper)'' or '''Saved as...''' one of the many standard formats available ready to be used in another '''[[CAD]]''' application or fed directly into a '''[[CNC]]''' '''[[Plotters|Cutter/Plotter]]''' for example.


{{Card Packaging Buyers Guide}}


[[Category:Packaging Designer]]