How to Use Your Adobe Illustrator Label Template

Here’s how to add text and images to your .AI template from The Shipping Store in Adobe Illustrator, as well as how to troubleshoot misalignments.

Insert Text

Follow these steps to add text to your labels.

Step One: Open your Template in Illustrator

  • Download the .AI template for your label size from theshippingstore.com.
  • Locate your downloaded template file.
  • Double-click to open or right-click the file and select Open with > Adobe Illustrator if it doesn’t launch in Illustrator automatically.

Step Two: Add Text

  • Select the Type Tool (T).

  • Click the border of the first label, making sure the outline is red and it shows “path.” This will auto-populate with lorem ipsum placeholder text that you can now edit.
    • Note: This will erase the visible border of the label.

  • From here, you can continue selecting the borders of each label with the text tool to populate placeholder text and replace it with your desired message.

Insert Images

Follow these steps to insert an image onto each label.

Step One: Open you Template in Illustrator

  • Download the .AI template for your label size from theshippingstore.com.
  • Locate your downloaded template file.
  • Double-click to open or right-click the file and select Open with > Adobe Illustrator if it doesn’t launch in Illustrator automatically.

Step Two: Add Color Fill to Label

  • Select the first label. You will see a bar below it that appears with editing options.
  • Select the white box with the red slash through it. This will show a palette of colors to fill the shape.

  • Choose any color; we use black in this example.

Step Three: Import Your Image

  • Open the file location in a separate window, then drag and drop your image file into Illustrator anywhere. This will place the image over your labels.

  • Drag your image over the label you wish to fill and drag the corners to resize as needed.

  • Right-click the image and select Arrange > Send to Back. This will bring the color-filled label to the front.

Step Four: Create Clipping Mask to Merge Both Elements

  • Select both the color-filled label and your image, then right-click and choose Make Clipping Mask.
    • Note: You may need to zoom in to where you can easily see and click both the label and your image.

  • The clipping mask will merge your image with the label shape, trimming off anything that bleeds over the edge of the sticker.

 

Notes for Printing & Troubleshooting Misalignments

Each computer, printer, and network is slightly different, so start with these general tips for troubleshooting alignment issues:

  • Check that the sheet is properly loaded in the paper tray. Some printer models have an adjustable guide to ensure the paper doesn’t shift while feeding into the printer.
    • Note: Templates have a 2mm tolerance. Ensure label pages are loaded correctly, and if you experience unprinted edges, try extending the design 1–2mm beyond the label borders.
  • Use the template’s default margins. If your prints are consistently skewed in one direction, you can make minor adjustments to the margins to compensate and realign.
  • Set your print settings to print at "Actual Size" or "100% Scale." Using “Scale to Fit” or “Fit to Page” can alter the alignment. If your prints are fine in the center and become more misaligned as they radiate to the edge of the sheet, this usually indicates a scaling issue.

If you continue to see misalignments in your prints, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We appreciate pictures of your prints and screenshots of your print settings so we can better diagnose the cause.

Your Stickers Are Ready To Print

Once you have a full sheet of custom labels, you’re ready to print! For additional support with your template or printing instructions, please check out our support articles online.

Need further assistance? Send us an email at customerservice@theshippingstore.com and we’ll guide you through each step.

Back to blog