It can be a fairly simple and quick task to create a hangtag for clothing you have designed and wish to sell. All you need is a little ingenuity and only a small amount of computer know-how.
Instructions
Finding a Template
1. The easiest way to create your own hangtag is to find a free template online. Most of these templates require the use of Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop or Adobe InDesign; free or trial versions of each of these programs can be found at Adobe.com.
2. The best template I would suggest is at 48hourprint.com (see Resources). Just click the small file icon and a new dialogue box will open. Make sure to click the "Open" button and click "Yes" on the next dialogue box, which will accept the file to open in your Photoshop application.
3. The template will open in Photoshop and will contain the 48hourprint.com logo. You will design a logo and place it over this template.
Designing a Logo
4. The next step in this process is to create a logo that you will use for your hang tag. If you already have a logo, you will use it in the next section. Use the Adobe Illustrator program to create a vector logo. You can choose to use plain text or incorporate an image. For the purpose of this tutorial, I suggest designing a simple logo that consists of the name of your clothing line in a lighter color on top of a dark colored background.
5. Open the template and click the "File" tab from the menu. Choose "Save As" from your dropdown menu. A dialogue box will appear. Make sure you change the name of your hangtag template and resave this so your new changes will be under the new name. This will ensure you have the template clear for future use. For the purpose of this tutorial, you will create a logo directly on the template within the Photoshop program.
6. Use the rectangular marquee tool that is on your tools palette to select the whole rectangle. Go to your menu bar and choose "Edit" and click the "Fill Selection" in your dropdown menu. A new dialogue box will appear. You will need to change the selection from foreground color to the color selection. A new dialogue box will appear and allow you to pick the color of your liking. Press "OK."
7. Now that you have selected your background color, it is time to create your clothing line's name using the text tool. The text tool is on your tools palette and looks like the letter "T." Choose this tool and create a text box by dragging the tool from one corner to the opposite diagonal corner within the diameters of the outlined box. Now choose a font from the font dropdown box right below the menu area. For this tutorial, I chose the Segoe Print in a size 48 pt and made sure the paragraph was centered. The size and paragraph alignment boxes are both to the right of the font dropdown box.
8. Now that your logo is complete, you will need to create your hole punch marker. This will be the section of the image that is punched out to attach it to your garments. Use the shape tool in your tool palette to create the circle. The shape tool is underneath the path selection tool arrow, and it is usually a square. Click this icon and you will be able to change the shape to a circle. Place your cursor where you would like to have this cut out. For the purpose of this tutorial, I centered my image on the left end of the tag. Hold down the "Shift" button on your keyboard while you are holding down the left click button on your mouse; drag your mouse to create the circle size of your choice. Once you have it to your liking, let go of the mouse and shift button, and your punch hole is complete. You now have a hangtag.
Printing Your Tag
9. Go to your menu bar and save the file as your new name. You will then go back to the file dropdown menu and select "Print." Do not print this as you normally would; instead change your printer selection in the dropdown box to "Adobe PDF." This will save your file as a PDF, which is what most general printing services require. If you choose to do so, you may save this file on a CD-R or flash drive and take it to your local Kinkos. Have them set it up for printing on a large scale printer and pay for good quality paper. You can also choose to set up the print at home and cut it out yourself. If you choose to do it on your own, make sure you have a decent printer, a cutting board, an X-acto knife and a hole puncher.
10. In order to prep your tag to print in multiples on one page, you will need to open up the trial InDesign application you downloaded. Go to your menu bar and choose "File" and select "New Document." Keep the 8.5" x 11" setting and use your place tool, which looks like a square with an X through it, to create a tall rectangle. Once you have created your rectangle, go back to your menu bar and click "File" and select "Place" from the dropdown menu. Find the file that you saved as a PDF and click "OK."
11. The image will not fill the box correctly on the first try. You will have to pull the edges of the place box to fit the actual image of your tag without any white space. Once you have the hangtag clearly visible with no white space, right click the image, select "Copy" and paste it again. Do this two more times so that you have four identical images. Evenly space them down the center of the paper outline and save the file. Now, you need to go back to your menu bar and choose "File" and select "Export" from the dropdown menu. This will create a PDF that you can print on your home printer.
Cutting Your Hangtags
12. Gather your cutting supplies, which include X-acto knife, cutting board, ruler and binder clips. Stack your sheets of paper and, using your binder clips, clip them together on the top and bottom ends of the stack, making sure all the sheets are evenly placed. This will ensure the papers do not move during cutting, causing the hangtags on the bottom sheets to be uneven.
13. Place the stack of papers on your cutting board and, using your ruler as a guide, cut down the right edge. Repeat this until the whole right section of blank paper is removed. Repeat this step for each side, reclipping with the binder clips as necessary.
14. Remember to use the ruler as a straight edge and cut at straight angle starting from the top of the edge and going down. Use both of your hands while doing this to ensure you have a steady cut. Please use extra caution during this portion of the job since it is the most dangerous. If you do not feel comfortable cutting with an exacto knife, feel free to use regular scissors. The edges won't be as clean, but it will get the job done. After all the tags are detached from the paper, use your hole puncher to punch out the place market hole you had created. Use Ribbon, yarn, or plastic ties to attach your tags to your garments.
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