# How to Design Barcode Labels with Orca Scan's Label Designer

With Orca Scan’s intuitive label designer, you can create barcodes, customise layouts, and print labels directly in the platform.

## Open the Orca Scan Barcode Label Designer

1. **Log in** to your [Orca Scan account](/content/site-root.html)
2. Select a sheet or create one if you haven’t already
3. Click on the **left-hand panel** called **Labels**
4. Choose from a list of pre-configured templates or click **Create new label**

## Name Your Barcode Label

If you’re creating your own design, first, you should name your barcode label so you can find it easily later.

1. On the **left-hand panel**, locate the **Label name** field
2. Enter a meaningful name for your label, such as “Product QR Code” or “Shipping Label”
3. Optionally, you can add a **description** to help your team understand its purpose

Rename your Label using the left-hand panel

## How to Design Barcode Labels: Customising Your Layout

### Use the drag-and-drop functionality to create your label:

On the **right-hand panel**, select from the list of fields from your sheet (e.g., Barcode, Name, Job Title, etc.). Drag and drop the desired fields onto the label canvas

### Customise the layout and style

**Adjust Position**: Select an element and drag it to your desired location on the canvas

### Resize Elements: Use the handles that appear around a selected element to adjust its size

Tip: This functionality works best with Google Chrome. If you don’t see the handles around the selected element, you can use the measurements in the left-hand panel.

### Add Elements: Use the toolbar to insert images, text, and shapes

Use the toolbar to insert elements onto your canvas

### Change Fonts and Colours

Click an element to see options in the left panel, like font style, size, text colour, and background colour

Change colours, fonts and text size from within the designer

**Tip:** Use the rulers to align elements relative to one another. Hold **Ctrl** and scroll with your mouse wheel to zoom in for finer adjustments.

## How to design a label to use with our Barcode Image API

Animation showing generating custom barcodes with the Barcode Image API

Once you’ve created a custom label template with the Barcode Label Designer, you can use it with our Barcode Image API. To do this, you’ll need to grab the label’s ID. Here’s how:

1. Visit `cloud.orcascan.com`
2. Open the `Labels` tab on the left hand side
3. Click `...` on the label, and press `Edit`
4. You can find the Label ID in the URL, in the format `cloud.orcascan.com/designer/{labelID}`

Once you have your label ID, you can start generating barcode images using your template via our API. Just follow these steps:

1. Visit `barcode.orcascan.com/?type={labelId}`
2. Enter any variables from your sheet to the label by appending `&{variableName}={value}`
3. Press enter to load the image
4. Right click and save the image

**Tip**: You can only access the label ID for labels you’ve created yourself.

## Recommended Label Suppliers for Your Barcode Labels

The barcode printing feature was developed using genuine DYMO and Avery labels, so we recommend working with compatible printers, including [wireless label printers](/content/guides/how-to-print-barcodes-using-the-brother-ql-810w-printer-17bf1c08/index.html) for flexible deployment. Another great provider is Camcode, and you can visit their page to learn more about [Camcode Durable Asset Labels](https://www.camcode.com/samples/request-asset-tag-evaluation-kit/?utm_source=orca-scan&utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=partner). Alternatively, you can purchase Avery labels at [avery.com](https://www.avery.com/blank/shape/rectangle-labels) and DYMO labels at [dymo.com](https://www.dymo.com/).

## Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

| **Action** | **Description** | **Shortcut** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Copy** | Copies the selected text or item to the clipboard. | `Ctrl+C` |
| **Paste** | Pastes the copied item from the clipboard. | `Ctrl+V` |

## Next steps:

- [Supported Printers](/content/guides?tag=printers/index.html)
- [Scan barcodes directly to Excel](/content/guides/how-to-scan-barcodes-into-microsoft-excel-59fd67f9/index.html)
- [Get started with the web app](/content/guides/how-to-use-the-orca-scan-web-app-16e19bbf/index.html)
- [Learn about supported hardware scanners](/content/guides?tag=hardware/index.html)

## Questions about barcode labels?

We’re always happy to help, chat with us [live](/#chat) or drop us an [email.](mailto:hello@orcascan.com)

## Ready to start scanning?

[Get Started](https://cloud.orcascan.com/#register) [Book a demo](/content/book-a-demo/index.html)