Directions for Creating Borders on Visitor Badges using the badge designer inEasyLobby SVM

 

The badge designer works with layers which mean that the visual elements can be “stacked” on each other in an arbitrary order. Visual elements layered on the top are likely to obstruct parts of the visual elements ordered on lower layers (also said to be “in the back”).

You can send a visual element behind all the other layers (to be potentially obstructed by front layers) by right-clicking on the given element’s container box, selecting Arrange, then selecting “To Back”. This action will make the currently selected layer the very bottom one in the stack sending it all the way to the back.

 If you have multiple overlapping layers, it can get difficult to select an element in the back or even in the middle as top layer elements might cover it up completely. If this is the case you may have to move the top layer elements out of the way temporarily in order to be able to manipulate the underlying layers effectively. (If you ever used Microsoft Office’s Power Point, Photoshop or GIMP, the concept of working with layers is probably a familiar topic to you.)

Now that we have an understanding of layering, the next step is to create the frames. The basic idea behind creating frames is to create a solid colored or patterned rectangle slightly larger than the visual element we are trying to frame, and then sending it to the background, so that it appears underneath the picture or text we are framing.

Let’s start by creating the frame rectangle:

1. Go to Objects menu, click Insert, click Rectangle

 

2. The mouse cursor changes to a cross-hair. Draw a bounding rectangle covering a slightly overlapping the visual element you are attempting to frame. You have created a solid white rectangle which covers your element completely – you can confirm this by clicking on the Preview tab.

 

3. Right-click on the newly created rectangle to bring up the context menu. If the first line of the context menu does not show “Rectangle:” try right-clicking closer to the edge of the rectangle until the first line of the context menu shows “Rectangle:”.

 

4. Select “Properties…” from the context menu. The Rectangle-Properties pops up.

5. Select the “Without Frame” option. Note: if you leave the option “With Frame” selected, you are effectively creating two frames for your element: one, the rectangle itself, and two, the actual frame of the rectangle, which can lead to redundant frames and confusion.

If you use the settings in the image above your frame would end up looking like this:

If you are using a monochromatic (black and white) printer, set the color to 1 (black) and change the pattern selector from 2 (solid) to another pattern to create a patterned frame to achieve a unique design. These settings and their outcome is shown below:

6. In the filling section [in the middle] set the color from 5 (white) to the desired color of the frame. If you are using a monochromatic (black and white) printer, set the color to 1 (black) and change the pattern selector from 2 (solid) to another pattern to create a patterned frame to achieve a unique design. (as above)

7. Click OK to accept settings and close the window.

Next we layer the frame-rectangle behind our the visual element we want to accentuate:

• Right-click on the rectangle again (as in step 4 above) – make sure the context menu reads “Rectangle:” first.
• From the context menu, select Arrange, To Back.

The rectangle now appears behind your primary element creating a background for text or a frame for images and logos:

At this point you can fine-tune sizing and positioning of both the primary and the frame elements by dragging to reposition or by dragging the corners of the bounding box [once the element is selected] to resize.

One more note about images. Various face pictures captured by drivers’ license scanners and digital cameras have different dimensions but more importantly they might have a different aspect ratio. You can choose for the image to be stretched to fill out the entire real estate of the picture container element, which can squeeze or stretch the heads of your visitors and/or employees making them appear funny-looking once the badge is printed. To avoid this effect, make sure that the “Keep Proportions” checkbox is turned on in the Picture-Properties window. The bring up the Picture Properties window, right-click on the picture container and select “Properties…”. Make sure the context menu reads “Picture:” on the top before you click “Properties…”. "Keep Proportions" options OFF is shown below:

When you have the “Keep Proportions” option enabled your frame may appear thicker on the sides from badge-to-badge depending on the aspect ratio or the captured image. One way to minimize this effect it to ensure that you always use the same method to capture the pictures, e.g. always use the Logitech camera, or always use the drivers’ license scanner, but not both alternating. This way you can create a design which works best specifically with that device. "Keep Proportions" options ON is shown below:

Don’t forget to save you work before exiting the Badge Designer.

As with badge design related issues it is best to do the troubleshooting in a remote support session. Please be sure that you are connected to the internet when you call to make the support process go faster and smoother.