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USER GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii Copyrights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED Overview of the VariQuest Design Center Software . . . . . . . . 1-2 Launching the Design Center Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER 3: CREATING & EDITING POSTERS & BANNERS Overview of the Posters & Banners Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Finding a Poster or Banner Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2 Customizing a Poster or Banner Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 Printing a Poster or Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 Saving a Template Before Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13 Printing a Poster or Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C h a p t e r 1 Chapter 1: Getting Started Chapter Overview • Overview of the VariQuest Design Center Software (page 1-2) • Launching the Design Center Software (page 1-3) • Completing the Initial Setup (page 1-3) • Interacting with the Design Center Software (page 1• • • • 7) Getting to Know the Main Screen (page 1-7) Common Features of Design Center Software Screens (page 1-9) How to Use the Virtual Keyboard (page 1-11) How to Find Files in the Design Center Software (page 1-14) 1–1
Chapter 1: Getting Started Overview of the VariQuest Design Center Software VariQuest™ Design Center Software is one component of the VariQuest™ Visual Learning Tools product line, which supports school staff members and volunteers in creating materials that help improve student and staff performance. The VariQuest Design Center Software lets you easily design, store, cut, and print a wide variety of educational and motivational items.
Chapter 1: Getting Started Launching the Design Center Software How you launch the Design Center Software depends on whether you have the dedicated DC1000, or you’re using a PC. To launch the Design Center Software: On the DC1000: On a PC: Turn on the VariQuest™ Design Center 1000. Open the Start menu, locate the VariQuest Design Center Software link on the Programs menu, and click the link to start it, - ORDouble click on the VariQuest Design Center Software link on the computer’s desktop.
Chapter 1: Getting Started (Continued) To complete the initial setup tasks: Do this: 2. On this screen: The VariQuest output devices installed on your DC1000 or PC, as well as any standard printers, are listed on this screen. • Scroll through the Design Center Devices list on the left and touch or click each output device you will use. A checkmark will appear in the boxes next to the selected devices.
Chapter 1: Getting Started (Continued) To complete the initial setup tasks: Do this: 5. The School Information screen will appear, displaying the message in the Name field. Touch or click the Edit Name... button. 6. Touch or click the Virtual Keyboard’s keys to enter the name of your school. On this screen: (For more details on using the Virtual Keyboard, see How to Use the Virtual Keyboard on page 1-11.) 7.
Chapter 1: Getting Started (Continued) To complete the initial setup tasks: Do this: 10. From the Find Graphic screen, navigate to the drive and folder where the graphic file is located. To do so, touch or click a letter from the Drives list, then touch or click the directory folders and files displayed in the center window. When you touch or click a folder, all graphic files that use any of these supported formats will be displayed: • Bitmap (*.bmp) • TIFF (*.tif) • JPEG (*.
Chapter 1: Getting Started Interacting with the Design Center Software VariQuest Design Center Software is designed for fast and easy use in a variety of situations and user preferences. It can be used on either the dedicated DC1000 or a PC. It functions the same way on either unit, except for these key differences: • When used on the DC1000, you can “press” all buttons and make choices by simply touching the keys or graphics on the monitor.
Chapter 1: Getting Started Workroom Assistant The Workroom Assistant tab offers options for setting up and learning to use the Design Center Software.
Chapter 1: Getting Started Device Tabs Whenever you open one of the device-specific modules, its tab will be added to the row on the top. You can move among the modules, Main Menu, and Workroom Assistant by touching or clicking those tabs. TIPS FOR NAVIGATING WITH TABS: • When you use a tab to return to a module, you will be returned to the screen you were last working on — not to the starting screen.
Chapter 1: Getting Started Main Screen Buttons A: Buttons on the top of the working area (Guide Me, Close): Most of the screens in the Design Center Software include these two buttons on the upper right of the working area. • or click this button to see a popup window with guidance on what to do on the screen that’s currently open. • Close: Touch or click this button to close the current module and return to the Main Menu.
Chapter 1: Getting Started let you accept or discard the text you’ve entered, as well as on popup windows that show previews of your choices. • OK: • Cancel: Touch or click this button when you wish to accept your selection or edits and move to the next step. This button saves your choices and returns you to the point in the project from which you came to the screen in the first place. Touch or click this button when you don’t want to continue with your choice or edits on this screen.
Chapter 1: Getting Started You can use the Virtual Keyboard just like a regular keyboard to “type” text into the white textentry box. Your options for entering text include: • If you are working on the DC1000, touch the keys on the screen, just as you would type them on a keyboard. - OR - • Use an attached mouse to point to and click the keys in the Virtual Keyboard - OR - • Type on an attached keyboard.
Chapter 1: Getting Started • Move the cursor in the text box by touching or clicking ← and → (left and right arrow) keys. When the text consists of more than one line, you can also move between lines by touching or clicking ↑ and ↓ (up and down arrow keys). • Erase the character to the right of the text cursor by touching or clicking the Delete key. • Erase the character to the left of the text cursor by touching or clicking the Backspace key.
Chapter 1: Getting Started How to Find Files in the Design Center Software One of the great benefits of the VariQuest Design Center Software is its stock of templates, designs, shapes, and graphics already built into the system. These design and graphic files offer a huge variety of options so you should never have to design a project from scratch. In addition, you can customize a template or design and save it under a name you give it, and you can select from your own graphic files for projects.
Chapter 1: Getting Started then browse through all the categories, subcategories (if available), and items in each category or subcategory. • or My Saved Banners or My Saved Stickers: Whenever you customize a VariQuest template, you can save it under a different name for future use. Later, you can find the templates you’ve saved through the My Saved____ option on the Find screen.
Chapter 1: Getting Started (Continued) To search by keyword: Do this: 3. On this screen: The Search Results screen will display one or more thumbnail pictures of the designs or graphics matching your keyword (just one thumbnail, if you searched by ID). Touch or click the thumbnail to select the one you want. TIP: If the screen displays a blank thumbnail panel with the words No Results Found, or if your desired template doesn’t appear, touch or click Back to return to the Virtual Keyboard.
Chapter 1: Getting Started To browse by category: Do this: 1. On this screen: When you touch or click the Browse Categories button on the Find screen, the Browse Categories screen will appear, showing a list of categories on the left, and on the right, thumbnails of each design or graphic in that category. • To see the first page of items in a category, touch or click the category name in the Categories list. The first page of thumbnails will appear.
Chapter 1: Getting Started To find a saved design or your own graphic: Do this: 1. Touch or click the third option on the find screen, as these examples show: 2. For saved design templates, all your saved files from that module will appear as thumbnail previews. The name you used when you saved it appears under the thumbnail. To use one of the designs, simply touch or click its thumbnail. On this screen: If you do not want to use any of these, touch or click Start Over or Back. 3.
C h a p t e r 2 Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant Chapter Overview • Overview of the Workroom Assistant (page 2-2) • Accessing User Guides & Tutorials (page 2-2) • Selecting Output Devices (page 2-4) • Entering School Information (page 2-5) • Creating & Managing Name Lists (page 2-8) • Deleting Saved Files (page 2-11) • Activating Cutout Shapes (page 2-12) • Getting Version Information (page 2-13) 2–1
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant Overview of the Workroom Assistant The Workroom Assistant is like the behind-the-scenes helper who provides support and organizes the tools and supplies. Functions and settings that apply to all device-specific modules, as well as information about using and adding to the features of the VariQuest™ Design Center Software are all included in the Workroom Assistant component.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To view and/or print user guides and other information: Do this: 2. Touch or click the User Guides & Tutorials button. 3. In the Categories list, touch or click the name of the component for which you want information. 4. When the Document List displays the documents available for that category, touch or click the document you want to view. 5. The document will open in a separate window as an Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) file.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant Selecting Output Devices The VariQuest output devices that use your Design Center Software are typically installed during the initial installation process. If you add a VariQuest device at a later date, or if you or want to select a different sheet-fed printer connected to your DC1000 or PC, you will use the Output Devices function in Workroom Assistant to add them. To view and select available output devices: Do this: 1.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To view and select available output devices: Do this: 4. On this screen: Scroll through the Design Center Devices list on the left and touch or click the output device(s) you want to select. From the Standard Printers list, you can also select a regular sheet-fed printer; only one printer can be selected at a time.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To enter or change your school name and/or mascot graphic: Do this: 2. From the Setup screen, touch or click the School Information button. 3. Depending on what you wish to do, touch or click: On this screen: • The Edit Name... button to change the name shown in the Name field. Then continue to the next step of this procedure. • The Browse... button to change the graphic shown in the Mascot File box. Then continue to Step 6 of this procedure.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To enter or change your school name and/or mascot graphic: Do this: 6. To select a new mascot file, make sure the graphic file you intend to use is on your DC1000 or PC hard drive, or that it is on a CD you’ve inserted into the CD-ROM player or a USB “flash” drive you’ve attached to a USB port. Then touch or click the Browse button on the School Information screen. 7.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant Creating & Managing Name Lists . (Cutouts and Awards & Stickers modules only) One of the great time-savers in the VariQuest Design Center Software is the ability to enter, store, and quickly add lists, such as student names, that you can “merge” with a template or shape to produce copies with a different name on each copy.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To create a new name list: Do this: 3. On this screen: When the Name Lists screen appears, touch or click the New List button above the Saved Lists window. This will open a Virtual Keyboard screen, where you can begin to enter the names on the list you want to create. 4. To add names to your list, touch or click the Virtual Keyboard’s keys to enter the names. After each name, touch or click the Enter key.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To create a new name list: Do this: 6. On this screen: On the Virtual Keyboard, the term will appear in the text entry box and will be highlighted. To give the list your own name, begin touching or clicking the keys on the screen. The characters you enter will replace the highlighted term. When done, touch or click the OK button on the keyboard screen. This saves the list in your system. 7.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant (Continued) To view, edit, and delete name lists: Do this: 3. On this screen: On the Name Lists screen, the Saved Lists box shows the names of all saved lists. The Preview box shows the names in whichever list is highlighted. You can use any of these buttons to edit lists and/or the names in them: To save a name list under a different name, highlight the list, then touch or click this button.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant To delete saved files: Do this: 1. Access the Workroom Assistant, and then touch or click the Setup button. 2. Touch or click the Delete Saved Files button on the Setup menu. 3. The Delete Files screen will appear with a list of Categories of files on the left and a thumbnail preview window on the right. Your files are categorized by module — e.g., My On this screen: Saved Banners, My Saved Posters, My Saved Stickers.
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant For detailed steps on how to activate cutout shapes, refer to Activating Cutout Shapes on page 4-25 in the Cutouts chapter. Getting Version Information The Workroom Assistant is also where you’ll find information about the version number and licensing for your copy of the VariQuest Design Center Software. To get version & licensing information about your software: Do this: 1. Access the Workroom Assistant, and then touch or click the About VariQuest Design Center..
Chapter 2: Using the Workroom Assistant 2 – 14 VARIQUEST DESIGN CENTER SOFTWARE USER GUIDE
C h a p t e r 3 Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners Chapter Overview: • Overview of the Posters & Banners Module • • • (page 3-2) Finding a Poster or Banner Template (page 3-2) Customizing a Poster or Banner Template (page 38) Printing a Poster or Banner (page 3-13) - On a Poster Maker 3600 - On a PosterPrinter 3000 - On a regular sheet-fed printer 3–1
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners Overview of the Posters & Banners Module The Posters & Banners module gives you the tools to quickly create an unlimited variety of posters and banners for any purpose. With the addition of the VariQuest™ Poster Maker 3600 (or ProImage PosterPrinter 3000), the VariQuest™ Design Center Software offers an easy way to print your posters and banners, in a range of sizes and colors, ready for immediate display.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners • • • • PDF (.pdf) Microsoft Word (.doc) Microsoft Excel (.xls) Microsoft Power Point (.ppt) TIP: The DC1000 is pre-installed with Adobe Reader so you can open and print PDF files. If you’re using a PC and you cannot open a PDF file, try installing the most recent version of Adobe Reader. You can install Acrobat Reader for free by running the installation program on the VariQuest Design Center Software 1.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To find a poster or banner template: Do this: 3. On this screen: Choose how to locate the template you want by touching or clicking one of these buttons: • Search by Keyword to locate the template using its ID or name from the VariQuest™ Content Guide, or to search by topics — for example, “math” or “reading.” -OR• Browse Categories to browse through all templates by category.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To find a poster or banner template: At this point, you can: • Modify the template by changing: - The content, font, size, or style of editable text items - Replaceable graphics (For details, see Customizing a Poster or Banner Template on page 3-8.) -OR• If you’re ready to print the project, touch or click Next to go to the Print Preview screen. (See Printing a Poster or Banner on page 3-13.) To use the ‘Find My Own File’ option: Do this: 1.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To use the ‘Find My Own File’ option: Do this: 5. On the application’s Print screen, select the Poster Maker as the printer, then select the Properties button. 6. When the Properties window opens, make sure the Color Setting under Document Options is set to Full Color (dither to mono). (Touch or click the plus sign in front of Document Options if you need to expand it to see the Color Setting.) 7.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To use the ‘Find My Own File’ option: Do this: 10. When the Page Setup window appears, select the Roll Paper Size for the paper roll you have installed in the printer. 11. Set the Document Size to 8.5 x 11. 12. Select OK to close the Page Setup window. Also close the Properties window. 13. On the application’s Print screen (see image in step 5 for an example), select the Print button to print the file. 14.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners Customizing a Poster or Banner Template VariQuest Design Center Software templates let you generate posters and banners with the least amount of work. Often, a template will provide exactly what you need, just as it is. However, the templates are also easy to customize to your individual needs.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners TIPS: Remember to always first select the text or graphic to change before you click the Change Text button. When you select a text box or graphic, square “bullets” appear around it to indicate that it’s selected. A blank space outlined by a thin dotted line marks a text box in a template. The dotted line will not print; it simply marks the space where text can go.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To change the font, style, or size of a text item on a template: Do this: 3. On this screen: Make the changes you wish, as follows. (NOTE: Whenever you make a change, the template preview will update immediately.) • To change the text font: On the Font list, touch or click the font you want to use. Font names in the list appear in the actual typeface of their font. Use the up/down arrows to scroll through the list of fonts.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners To change a graphic on a template: Do this: 1. On the Edit screen, touch or click the graphic you wish to change. 2. Touch or click the Change Graphic button. 3. When the Change Graphic screen appears, touch or click the button identifying the way you wish to find the new graphic: On this screen: • Search by Keyword and Browse Categories search the graphics provided with the Design Center Software.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners To remove a graphic from a template: Do this: 1. On the Edit screen, touch or click the graphic you wish to remove. 2. Touch or click the Remove Graphic button. On this screen: TIP: The graphic is removed from the template, but not deleted from the Design Center Software. You can always search or browse the Design Center Software graphics to find and restore the graphic. 3. The graphic is replaced by a box with an X.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners Printing a Poster or Banner Once you are ready to print your poster or banner, you have several options, depending on the type of project. Also, if you’ve customized the template, you will be asked if you want to save the template before you initiate the printing process.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners Printing a Poster or Banner Options for printing depend partly on the type of output device you are using. You can print a poster or banner on either the VariQuest™ Poster Maker 3600 or a ProImageTM PosterPrinter 3000 system.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To print a poster or banner on a Poster Maker or PosterPrinter: Do this: 3. On this screen: With your poster or banner project displayed on the Print Preview screen, set the number of copies you want. The number in the Copies box defaults to 1. Touch or click the up/down arrow keys to change the number.
Chapter 3: Creating & Editing Posters & Banners (Continued) To print a poster or banner on a Poster Maker or PosterPrinter: Do this: 5. On this screen: When you’re ready to output your project, touch or click the Print button. A pop-up window lets you know the status of the print job and options, if any, for canceling it. When the entire print job has been sent to the printer, the pop-up window closes, leaving the Print Preview screen displayed.
C h a p t e r 4 Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Chapter Overview • Overview of the Cutouts Design Center (page 4-2) • Selecting Size & Type of Material (page 4-2) • Choosing & Modifying a Cutout (page 4-6) • • • - Letters, Numbers & Symbols (page 4-6) - Shapes (page 4-11) - Collections (page 4-17) Generating the Cutout (page 4-20) Obtaining Additional Cutout Content (page 4-23) Activating Cutout Shapes (page 4-25) 4–1
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Overview of the Cutouts Design Center The VariQuest™ Cutout Maker 1800 and VariQuest™ Design Center Software provide a fast, easy, fun way to create a vast variety of cutouts for bulletin boards or other displays, instructional units, graphic name tags, and so forth. The general process for creating cutouts involves the following basic steps, each of which is explained in step-by-step detail in the remainder of this chapter. 1.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts To select the size and type of material for a cutout: Do this: 1. From the Design Center Software Main Menu, touch or click the Cutouts button. 2. From the list in the Material Size window, touch or click the box next to the material size (one of the three standard sizes or Custom) you will use for this project. On this screen: TIP: When you first access this screen, both the material size and type will default to the most recent selections made on this screen. 3.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To select the size and type of material for a cutout: Do this: 5. On this screen: Take the next step based on whether you selected a standard or custom material size: • If you selected a standard size, the Output Type screen will appear, and you can proceed to choose a cutout type.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts To adjust the material settings: Do this: 1. In the Cutouts module, make sure you’ve selected the Material Type that matches the material you intend to use in the Cutout Maker. 2. From the Material Size and Type screen, touch or click the Adjust Material Settings button. 3. From the list in the Material Type window, touch or click the material for which you want to make the blade adjustment. 4.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Choosing & Modifying a Cutout Creating all three types of cutouts — Letters, Numbers & Symbols - Shapes - Collections — involves the same basic steps, yet each type has a few unique features. This section provides a detailed procedure for determining the content, size, and quantity for each cutout type.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of letters, numbers, and/or symbols: Do this: 2. On this screen: On the Virtual Keyboard of the Enter Text screen, touch or click the characters you want to create cutouts for. (For more information on how to use the Virtual Keyboard, see How to Use the Virtual Keyboard on page 1-11.) TIP: You can enter any character that appears on the keyboard; however, the maximum number of characters you can enter is 32. 3.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of letters, numbers, and/or symbols: Do this: 5. The default arrangement of characters is Normal Text, which means each character will be cut out separately. To reduce the time involved in setting up a display, you can join the letters to form a single cutout.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of letters, numbers, and/or symbols: Do this: 7. On this screen: The Preview screen initially shows cutouts at the default output size of Medium (approximately 4”) unless your text is joined and will not fit on the page at that size. To change the output size, do one of the following: • Touch or click one of these predefined sizes. (The number of inches reflects the approximate height of the tallest letters plus descenders.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of letters, numbers, and/or symbols: Do this: 8. When you are satisfied with the output size, touch or click the Next button. 9. Next on the Preview Screen, indicate the number of cutouts you want to generate by touching or clicking the numbers on the numeric keypad. On this screen: When you change the quantity, the screen will update the layout in the preview box and the page count below it. Use the arrows to scroll to all pages.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Shapes The VariQuest Cutout Maker can generate an enormous variety of shapes with the Design Center Software. You can cut shapes to match virtually any topic, and, in some cases, you can also add text to shapes — for example, to merge a list of student names so that each copy of a cutout includes a unique name. You can also create just the right size for these shapes using several preset standard sizes or choosing a custom size you specify.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of shapes: Do this: 3. The results of your search or browse will appear as thumbnails on this screen, showing all the shapes that match your criteria and that are activated. By touching or clicking the option to Show All Shapes, the screen will display additional thumbnails of the shapes that are not activated. If you have the credits, you can activate shapes at this point, and they will become immediately available for use.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of shapes: Do this: On this screen: -OR• Touch or click the Custom button to set a size not listed. Then: 1) Using the numeric keypad that appears, touch or click the number(s) equal to the approximate size of the larger dimension. (The software will adjust the other dimension proportionally.) 2 Touch or click the OK button on the keypad window to accept your entry and close the keypad.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts of shapes: Do this: On this screen: TIP: The option to fit as many as possible on a page is a handy way to maximize the use of your material. It’s important to remember, however, to verify the final quantity. For example: Suppose you choose As Many as Possible on Page, which results in 8 shapes fitting on a page. The number of copies will automatically change to 8. But if you need 16 copies, you need to replace “8” with “16” using the keypad.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts To cut shapes that include text items: Do this: 1. Select your shape as described in the above procedure ( To make cutouts of shapes: on page 4-11). 2. When the Include Cut Text in Shape screen appears, you can choose one of these options for adding a name list: On this screen: • To create a new name list to include, touch or click the Create/Edit List button. • To use an existing name list, touch or click the My Saved Lists button.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To cut shapes that include text items: Do this: 4. On this screen: When the Select Font screen appears, choose the font to use for the text in the shapes by touching or clicking the font in the Font box. (Use the scroll bar if you have more fonts than fit in the box.) When you select a different font, the text in the Preview box will update to show how the new font will look. 5. With the font selected, touch or click the Next button. 6.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Collections Another option for making cutouts is to generate a coordinated set of graphics — for example, a theme-based bulletin board or an instructional unit involving the assembly of parts. The VariQuest Design Center Software offers collections of such coordinated graphics, which make it easy to generate the cutouts and ensure the various pieces are grouped together for cutting in the correct size and on the correct color of material.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts using a collection: Do this: 3. From the list of collections, touch or click the thumbnail of the one you want. 4. When an enlarged preview of the collection appears, select it by touching or clicking the OK button on the preview window. On this screen: [ 5. The Set Size of Display screen appears with a preview of the collection and the default height and width of the display as a whole.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To make cutouts using a collection: Do this: 7. On this screen: Indicate how many of copies of the entire collection you want by touching or clicking the numbers on the numeric keypad. When you set the quantity, the screen will update the layout in the preview box, as well as the number of pages, shown below the box. Use the left and right arrow buttons to scroll to view the other pages.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Generating the Cutout When you’re satisfied with way your cutout project appears, your final step is to send the project to the VariQuest™ Cutout Maker 1800 to be cut. The procedure for all three types of cutouts is similar. To output cutouts: Do this: 1.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To output cutouts: Do this: 4. When the LCD display prompts, smooth the sheet on the cutting bed to ensure any wrinkles or curls are flattened out. 5. After smoothing the sheet, press the GO button on the Cutout Maker again. 6. When the first page is done, remove the material from the cutting bed. 7. If your cut job is more than one page, repeat steps 2-6 for each page. 8.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts To cut multiple shapes and/or font characters in one job: Do this: 1. After you have selected a shape or generated text and sized it, before sending the job to the cutter, touch or click the Add More to Job button. 2. On the Output Type screen, touch or click either Letters, Numbers & Symbols or Shapes. (Collections cannot be added.) 3.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To cut multiple shapes and/or font characters in one job: Do this: 6. Indicate the number of cutouts you want to generate by touching or clicking the numbers on the numeric keypad. 7. Touch or click the Next button. 8. On the updated Preview screen, you can: On this screen: • Touch or click the Add More to Job button if you want to add more cutouts to this cut job. (You will go through this procedure again.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts When you purchase additional content, you will receive a CD. • For Letters, Numbers & Symbols and for Collections, the CD contains the licensed fonts or collections. • For Shapes, the CD contains a specified number of “credits” that can be used to activate cutout shapes of your choice that are already in the Design Center Software library. Installing Fonts, Collections, and Shape Credits The installation process for content and “credits” CDs is simple: 1.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Activating Cutout Shapes You can use your credits to activate shapes using either the Workroom Assistant or the Cutouts module. To activate a number of shapes at once, it’s easiest to use the Workroom Assistant. However, you may want to activate a particular shape while you’re in the midst of a project. To activate cutout shapes in the Workroom Assistant: Do this: 1. On this screen: Access the Workroom Assistant, and touch or click the Activate Cutout Shapes button.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts (Continued) To activate cutout shapes in the Workroom Assistant: Do this: 3. The shape you selected will be enlarged in a pop-up window. If you want to activate it, touch or click the OK button. 4. Another window will pop up, asking you to confirm your decision. Touch or click Yes to activate the shape, or No if you don’t want to activate it.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts To activate a shape within the Cutouts module: Do this: 1. Shapes are activated within the Cutouts module after you choose Browse Categories or Search by Keyword on the Find Shapes screen. 2. On the Browse Categories or Search Results screen, scroll through the thumbnails of shapes. Unactivated shapes have a darker green background; while activated ones have a lighter tan background.
Chapter 4: Working with Cutouts Your Feedback Is Important To Us! We encourage your input on all aspects of the VariQuest™ Visual Learning Tools, including letting us know about additional shapes and fonts you would like to add to your system. For feedback and input, please call our Customer Relations Department at 1-800-328-0585.
C h a p t e r 5 Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers Chapter Overview • Overview of the Awards & Stickers Module (page 5-2) • Finding a Template (page 5-2) • Customizing an Award or Sticker Template • (page 5-5) Printing an Award or Sticker (page 5-11) 5–1
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers Overview of the Awards & Stickers Module The Awards & Stickers module lets you easily create a huge variety of awards and stickers for nearly any purpose, using just the templates in the VariQuest Design Center Software and the VariQuest™ Awards Maker 400. The general process for creating awards and stickers involves the following basic steps, each of which is explained in detail in the remainder of this chapter. 1.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers To find an award or sticker template: Do this: 1. From the Main Menu screen, touch or click the Awards & Stickers button. 2. Choose how to locate the template you want by touching or clicking one of these buttons: On this screen: • Search by Keyword to locate the template using its ID or name from the VariQuest™ Content Guide, or to search by topic — for example, “sports” or “reading.” -OR• Browse Categories to browse through all templates by category.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers (Continued) To find an award or sticker template: Do this: On this screen: TIP: If the screen displays a blank thumbnail panel with the words No Results Found, or if the desired template doesn’t appear in the thumbnail panel, touch or click Back or Start Over and try another keyword. 4. With your chosen template displayed in a zoomed-in preview on a pop-up window, select it by touching or clicking the OK button beneath the preview.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers Customizing an Award or Sticker Template VariQuest Design Center Software templates let you generate awards and stickers with the least amount of work. Often, a template will provide exactly what you need, just as it is. However, the templates are also easy to customize to your individual needs.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers (Continued) To change the content of a text item on a template: At this point, you can modify the template further by: • Changing the content of another editable text item • Changing the font, size, or style of editable text (see To change the font, style, or size of a text item on a template: on page 5-6) • Changing or removing replaceable graphics (see To change a graphic on a template: on page 5-8 or To remove a graphic from a template: on page 5-9) • Addi
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers (Continued) To change the font, style, or size of a text item on a template: Do this: 3. Make the changes you wish, as follows. (Whenever you make a change, the template preview will be updated immediately.) • To change the text font: On the Font list, touch or click the font you want to use. Font names in the list appear in the actual typeface of their font. Use the up/down arrows to scroll through the entire list of fonts.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers To change a graphic on a template: Do this: 1. On the Edit screen, touch or click the graphic you wish to change. 2. Touch or click the Change Graphic button. 3. When the Change Graphic screen appears, touch or click the button identifying the way you wish to find the new graphic: On this screen: • Search by Keyword and Browse Categories search the graphics provided with the Design Center Software.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers To remove a graphic from a template: Do this: 1. On the Edit screen, touch or click the graphic you wish to remove. 2. Touch or click the Remove Graphic button. On this screen: TIP: The graphic is removed from the template, but not deleted from the Design Center Software. You can always search or browse the Design Center Software graphics to find and restore the graphic. 3. The graphic is replaced by a box with an X.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers To add a name list to a template: Do this: 1. On the Edit screen, touch or click the text (e.g., “Student Name”) where you want the names from your list to appear. 2. Touch or click the Add Name List button. On this screen: TIP: Remember to always first select the text before you click the Add Name Text button. If the text cannot be replaced by a name list, a message with that information will appear. 3.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers (Continued) To add a name list to a template: Do this: 5. On this screen: Once you’ve added your name list, the Edit screen will reappear with the first name on the list displayed in the template. TIP: You can use only one name list per template.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers To save a customized template: Do this: 1. After touching or clicking Next when you’ve finished with the Edit screen, a pop-up message will ask whether you want to save the template. • Touch or click Yes if you want to save it under a new name. • Touch or click No if you don’t want to save the template, but do want to proceed to printing. • Touch or click Cancel if you want to remain on the Edit screen (e.g., to consider further customization). 2.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers (Continued) To print awards or stickers on the Awards Maker 400: Do this: 3. On this screen: With your project displayed on the Print Preview screen, set the number of copies you want printed. The number in the Copies box defaults to “1”. Touch or click the up/down arrow keys to change the number. TIP: When using a name list, the number in the # of Stickers box defaults to the number of names on your list.
Chapter 5: Creating & Editing Awards & Stickers (Continued) To print awards or stickers on the Awards Maker 400: Do this: 4. On this screen: If you want to adjust the density of the printing, touch or click the Adjust Printer Density button on the Print Preview screen. A pop-up window will appear with a slider. Touch or click the slider and drag it to Lighter or Darker as you wish. You can return the density to the level before coming to this screen by touching or clicking Reset.
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