Software Review of:
CD Labeler 
2.0 

First, I should say that it comes with a helpful little manual. So many software programs don’t do that anymore, and frankly, that irritates me. I like to have a book that I can read and the 34 page tome that comes with this program walks you through how to make a label, step-by-step. 

Second, the installation was fairly painless. However, it did give me one option that I wasn’t sure about. I had to choose which templates to use and was given letter and A4 as options. Well, I don’t know A4 from Adam, and the only explanation was that the A4 had Europe after it, while letter had US following it. Since I am in the US and not Europe, and I chose letter. For once, I chose correctly. I guess the reason why they didn’t specify anything else is that they assumed that people are smart enough to figure it out. Happily, I passed the test — barely! Other than that, the installation was uneventful.

Once up and running, the manual really came in handy. Eight pages are devoted to explaining the working environment, which was very helpful. After reading that, I pretty much understood what tools were there and how they could help me make good-looking labels for my CDs. It has a lot of neat stuff to work with. For example, there is a Design Bar with four icons. The one for backgrounds enables you to choose a host of colors and designs for your label. The Logos/Clipart icon points you to over 5,000 clipart images that come with the program! The Text Effects icon lets you bend and shape the text to your liking. The last icon, Adding Text, explains itself.  The Control Strip provides seven tools that allow you to choose font size, color, alignment and a viewing tool to zoom in or out. Also featured is a Speed Tools menu that lets you quickly do functions like undo, redo, find, replace, bring to front or back, etc. 

In the design area itself, there is a Command Bar at the top that allows you to start new label projects or open existing ones. It also enables you to save your label or make duplicates. In addition, it has buttons for previewing and printing. At the bottom of the design area, there is a Variation Bar that helps you choose certain smart designs for different label stock, change backgrounds, and alter the layout. 

There is also a Quick Start Tutorial and a Something New CD Wizard to guide you through the process of making CD labels. I rarely take the time to go through a tutorial because I can never remember anything they teach. I’d rather jump right in and start using the program. However, for those who like tutorials, this one looks pretty good. The Wizard was very helpful as I’ll show below.

“The proof,” as they say, “is in the pudding,” and for me, the value of a software program is its ease of use. I made two dandy CD labels. Let me tell you how easy it was. Once I had installed CD labeler 2.0, I fired it up and up came the Something new CD Wizard that provided a choice of label type (I chose CD labels, of course). There was also a choice of label products. The nice thing about CD Labeler is that, while they market their own labels (and includes 20 in the package!), they also allow you to use a host of other label products: Avery, CD Stomper, CompuLabel, HP, KYSO Label Me, LabelGear, Marko Trim Sheet, Memorex, Micro Application, Mirage, MVD, NEATO, PressIT, Professional Labels, and Stick-It. I guess this means that when one goes on sale, you can get more bang for your buck. 

After choosing Sure Thing 2-up (labels that came with the software), I then chose custom backgrounds. I didn’t have to do that. CD Labeler 2.0 lets you do your own. But I don’t have a creative flair for this sort of thing and decided to leave it up to those who do. Well, let me tell you, there are a lot of fantastic looking options. Since this was my first try, I chose “Blue Text Rubble” because it looked pretty and left a lot of white space, thereby using less ink from my color printer. Then I opted for Smart Designs and considered an assortment of possibilities, choosing one that I fancied. Then, I changed the text to reflect the content of my CD and I was ready to print! Almost.

CD Labeler knows that each printer is a little different, so it has you calibrate your particular printer to the software. You do so by printing out a page and then folding it horizontally and vertically. At the crossing point, you find where it lines up and make the adjustment there. It was so easy that I actually got it right the first time!

At this point I was really ready to print my label. First I used a piece of regular laser paper so I wouldn’t ruin a label (the manual recommends that!). It came out just fine, so I decided to put in a piece of label paper and give it a go. But first I noticed that once a label is run through, it cannot be done again as the half-used paper can damage the printer. You see, each piece of label paper has two labels, and it is wise to make two labels at a time. 

So, back to the drawing board. It just so happened that I had another CD to label, so in just a few moments I made my second label and then I did print them. Once printed, you have to get them to the CD. That is not as easy as it may sound, because the back of the label is sticky and it has to be placed just so. I started to call my wife, as she excels in such things and I do not, but I really wanted to impress her. 

So I did it myself. Fortunately, CD Labeler 2.0 included a little device that lets you lay the CD on one side and the label on the other side. Then you close them together and press, which I did. Well, wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t line them up right – even with the hand device! So, frustrated, I took off the label and tried it again, the hard way. It went on pretty well. I was both surprised and relieved! I was more careful with the second label. I made sure the label and CD lined up well and then pressed. As Fonzie used to say, perfectomundo! Needless to say, my wife was impressed and so was I! I can’t recommend CD Labeler 2.0 highly enough. If you want more information on this product, check out their web page where it retails for $39.95 and comes with 20 labels plus the label making device. They also sell label stock online.