Resize labels?

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Hi,
We'd like to know if there is a way to scale printed labels down a hair? To say, 90%?

Here is why...
Our most frequently used box is a 4x4x4 because they are the least expensive and their weight is the best bang for the storage capacity. The next size up box is more $ and adds weight, which means more shipping costs.

We are using a DYMO 4XL printer and their 4x6 shipping labels. We have not found a 3.5" wide DYMO compatible label.... but if that exists at a reasonable price ... please tell us ;)

The issue is that this all requires us to either be perfectly exact when applying the label, or to cut it down. We've found that it is faster to trim our labels (because we are not perfect)... but even then it must be a pretty precise cut and we still have to trim both sides.

If we were able to scale the labels down to 90% it would be MUCH easier for us and then perhaps we'd only have to trim one side of the 4x6 label.

FWIW, before going to the DYMO we were using standard labels sized down to 85% and never had an issue with USPS, so the 90% should be fine, especially with the thermal printer.

Thanks!!!

Patrick Norton
October 16, 2015 17:24
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Hi Patrick,

We put together a help article for folks who wanted to enlarge the label on DYMO printers. Although you're looking to reduce the label size, I wonder if you could use this as a starting point to adjust your paper size:

Why is my label printing small on my DYMO printer?

In the article we show to adjust the paper size defaults on your computer/browser. While recommend setting the "correct" paper size in the article, adjusting the paper size to an "incorrect" size might achieve the end you're looking for.

USPS doesn't require a specific label size, so making any changes to your printer defaults should not cause any delivery errors. We simply offer 4x6 labels (as well as 4x5 and 4x8) as they are the most commonly used label sizes.

Along those lines, you might also consider using a 4x5 label option. This guide details all of our available label options:

What label size should I use?

I'd love to hear if any of these ideas help!

Jennifer R. [ShippingEasy]
October 21, 2015 17:56

Hi Jennifer,
I tried to find dimensions for the other labels listed in the dymo pulldown (I took the numbers listed and went to google)... none of them are in the ballpark of what I would need. Most are 2", etc. That would make the labels giant. I suppose I could try each different label manually but that's wasting a lot of labels. Any other thoughts?

Patrick Norton
October 21, 2015 19:11

Hi Patrick,

Did you run across an option to add a Custom Paper size?

If you're using Windows, you can access this option by clicking on your printer and selecting 'Print server properties'. Then add a new Form size.

Once there, you can play around with different sizes that will scale the labels just right.

Jennifer R. [ShippingEasy]
October 23, 2015 15:58

I added a new form size and set it to 3.5" wide and 6.28 tall to duplicate the Dymo length. That shrinks the whole label (makes it print shorter also) which is not ideal.

It is a work around though.

I went ahead and duplicated our Dymo in the printer control panel and set it to use the fake narrower size, but would love to be able to print the narrower (and shorter) labels for just that one saved box size.

Will there ever be a way to determine the printer based on the saved package selections? I know currently there is international vs domestic only...

Patrick Norton
October 23, 2015 17:18

Hi Patrick,

I'm glad to see that works for your smaller packages.

You raise a great idea about using Shipping Rules to assign specific print settings based. I'm not aware of that idea in the works. In fact, I don't see that we've had that requested in our Feature Request forums either.

If you have a couple extra minutes, would you create a new thread in this forum https://support.shippingeasy.com/hc/communities/public/topics/200250949 ?

This will help our Product Team better understand how you would use this rule, as well as track interest in the rule.

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Resize labels?

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