Leveraging Multi-Up Label Printing

Enterprise Printing Platform Label Designs
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Some customers may have a need to print multiple copies of a label template design across a single label or sheet. One common target might be the letter tray for a LaserJet printer, which can be designed to print name tags, sheets of bin labels, and other varying use cases.

Product Release/Version

All EPP Build Versions Support Multi-Up printing.

Sample printout produced with EPP 10.1.1.5 and using a PCL-to-PDF converter to generate a visual reference.

Multi-Up Sample

Each EPP installation includes a sample label template that demos this feature, the ‘NameBadge.laser.lbl’ template.

Location: #Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl

939×406 43 KB

951×537 29.9 KB

When considering the ‘Page Size’ and label sizes, the “safe area” for most LaserJet printers is usually a 0.5" top margin and 0.25" left, right, and bottom margins.

The ‘Margins to Origin’ are additional padding applied to the printers “safe area”, and will not usually result in “borderless” printing behavior, unless your LaserJet printer has that feature enabled by default.

Multi-Up Printing

If you send a multi-label print for a multi-up label template, then EPP will produce an output like the below example.

ULD Batch Print Sample

/L=#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl /C=1 /P=defaultSite#FauxPrinter
/DR=FirstName+LastName+TelephoneNumber+EMail+HomepageURL+BirthYear+BirthMonth+BirthDay+AddressLine1+City+State+Zip+Title
Thaddeus~Venture~303-996-6844~doctorventure@VentureIndustries.org~www.VentureIndustries.org~1960~7~17~1 Venture Way~Colorado Springs~CO~80132~Super Scientist
Dean~Venture~303-401-0037~DeanVenture@VentureIndustries.org~~1987~6~12~1 Venture Way~Colorado Springs~CO~80132~Boy Adventurer
Hank~Venture~303-248-6329~hank_thebat@BizzyBeeFanClub.net~~1987~6~12~1 Venture Way~Colorado Springs~CO~80132~Boy Adventurer
Brock~Samson~202-912-8661~brock.samson@osi.gov~~1962~5~28~2 Venture Way~Colorado Springs~CO~80132~Agent 92-62
Malcom~Fitzcarraldo~973-306-4657~TheMonarch@goci.org~www.GuildofCalamitousIntent.com/TheMightyMonarch.info~1960~7~17~601 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd~Newark~NJ~7102~The Blue Morpho
Courtney~Haine~859-553-3425~SergeantHatred@VentureIndustries.org~~1670~11~4~1 Venture Way~Colorado Springs~CO~80132~Bodyguard
Dr. Byron~Orpheus~505-646-8617~byron.orpheus@orderofthetriad.org~www.OrderOfTheTriad.org/contactus~1958~4~18~1 Venture Way~ Apt B~Colorado Springs~CO~80132~Sorcerer

XML Batch Print Sample

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE labels SYSTEM "dsi-label.dtd">
<labels _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">George</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Washington</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">555-867-5309</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">George.Washington@WhiteHouse.gov</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL">www.whitehouse.gov</variable>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1732</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">02</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">22</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway</variable>
        <variable name="City">Mount Vernon</variable>
        <variable name="State">VA</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">22309</variable>
        <variable name="Title">President of the United States</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Thaddeus</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Venture</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">303-996-6844</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">doctorventure@VentureIndustries.org</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL">www.VentureIndustries.org</variable>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1960</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">07</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">17</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">1 Venture Way</variable>
        <variable name="City">Colorado Springs</variable>
        <variable name="State">CO</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">80132</variable>
        <variable name="Title">Super Scientist</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Dean</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Venture</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">303-401-0037</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">DeanVenture@VentureIndustries.org</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL"/>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1987</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">06</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">12</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">1 Venture Way</variable>
        <variable name="City">Colorado Springs</variable>
        <variable name="State">CO</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">80132</variable>
        <variable name="Title">Boy Adventurer</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Hank</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Venture</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">303-248-6329</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">hank_thebat@BizzyBeeFanClub.net</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL"/>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1987</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">06</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">12</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">1 Venture Way</variable>
        <variable name="City">Colorado Springs</variable>
        <variable name="State">CO</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">80132</variable>
        <variable name="Title">Boy Adventurer</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Brock</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Samson</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">202-912-8661</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">brock.samson@osi.gov</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL"/>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1962</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">05</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">28</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">2 Venture Way</variable>
        <variable name="City">Colorado Springs</variable>
        <variable name="State">CO</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">80132</variable>
        <variable name="Title">Agent 92-62</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Malcom</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Fitzcarraldo</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">973-306-4657</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">TheMonarch@goci.org</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL">www.GuildofCalamitousIntent.com/TheMightyMonarch.info</variable>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1960</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">07</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">17</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">601 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd</variable>
        <variable name="City">Newark</variable>
        <variable name="State">NJ</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">7102</variable>
        <variable name="Title">The Blue Morpho</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Courtney</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Haine</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">859-553-3425</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">SergeantHatred@VentureIndustries.org</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL"/>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1670</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">11</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">04</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">1 Venture Way</variable>
        <variable name="City">Colorado Springs</variable>
        <variable name="State">CO</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">80132</variable>
        <variable name="Title">Bodyguard</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="#Samples\Employee\NameBadge.laser.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#HP-M603" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="FirstName">Dr. Byron</variable>
        <variable name="LastName">Orpheus</variable>
        <variable name="TelephoneNumber">505-646-8617</variable>
        <variable name="EMail">byron.orpheus@orderofthetriad.org</variable>
        <variable name="HomepageURL">www.OrderOfTheTriad.org/contactus</variable>
        <variable name="BirthYear">1958</variable>
        <variable name="BirthMonth">04</variable>
        <variable name="BirthDay">18</variable>
        <variable name="AddressLine1">1 Venture Way</variable>
        <variable name="City"> Apt B</variable>
        <variable name="State">Colorado Springs</variable>
        <variable name="Zip">CO</variable>
        <variable name="Title">80132</variable>
    </label>
</labels>

Printed Results Sample

1242×812 78.1 KB

2

Adding some more multi-up label printing examples which may help with other scenarios.

Multi-Up Sample 2

This feature is not limited to just the HP Laserjet and Compatible label templates. EPP can also duplicate label templates across a single, larger label stock. Like if you wanted to duplicate label contents to wrap around a package or container.

The below Zebra template example demonstrates a 3" wide, 4" tall label template, multiplied twice across a single 4" x “6” label, with a 90 degree orientation.

1771×701 67.3 KB

When considering the ‘Page Size’ and label sizes and margins, label printers are usually more versatile and not limited to the “safe zones” that we had to consider in the prior laserjet printer sample.

Multi-Up Printing

If you send a multi-label print for a multi-up label template, then EPP will produce an output like the below example.

Quick Label Printing

787×677 36 KB

Printed Results

Below sample shows the result of a 4x6" label, containing 2 copies of the above 3" x 4" label template.

1011×725 109 KB

Note: As you may tell from the above emulated label output, produced on Labelary, EPP does include a 10 dot, top vertical margin that usually aligns well with the printable zone of most Zebra label stocks. While this margin cannot currently be disabled in EPP output, the printer configurations can be updated to counter this margin with a vertical alignment adjustment, if needed.

See this Zebra guide. Adjusting the Vertical Position with the Label Top Adjustment on Zebra Barcode Printers

Multi-Up Sample 3

Customers may have other creative use cases for multi-up labels. The below Zebra template example demonstrates a 4" wide, 1.5" tall label template, multiplied 4 times across a single 4" x 6" label.

1154×782 51.5 KB

When considering the ‘Page Size’ and label sizes and margins, label printers are usually more versatile and not limited to the “safe zones” that we had to consider in the prior laserjet printer sample.

Multi-Up Printing

If you send a multi-label print for a multi-up label template, then EPP will produce an output like the below example.

XML Batch Print

A quick batch label print request example, generating 7 labels with one print job.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE labels SYSTEM "dsi-label.dtd">
<labels _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">18609660445328</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">Card Deck, Atomic Wrangler Casino</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Not defining the graphic file.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic"/>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">45140816077489</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">RC Toy Robot</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Printing a label with the ISO Battery image.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic">ISO.battery.halfInch.203dpi.pcx</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">13225427562555</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">Goo</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Printing a label with the ISO Corrosive image.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic">ISO.Corrosive.HalfInch.203dpi.pcx</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">67791839133558</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">Companion Cube</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Printing a label with the ISO Flammable image.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic">ISO.Flammable.HalfInch.203dpi.pcx</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">50508246740164</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">42 Bottle Caps</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Printing a label with the ISO General image.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic">ISO.General.HalfInch.203dpi.pcx</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">60579301075553</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">Portable CD Player</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Printing a label with the ISO Laser image.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic">ISO.laser.HalfInch.203dpi.pcx</variable>
    </label>
    <label _FORMAT="vg_ItemLabel.lbl" _PRINTERNAME="defaultSite#FauxPrinter" _QUANTITY="1">
        <variable name="ItemNumber">86058056553652</variable>
        <variable name="ItemDescription">Brahmin Steak</variable>
        <variable name="_Scenario">Printing a label with the ISO Toxic image.</variable>
        <variable name="ItemGraphic">ISO.toxic.HalfInch.203dpi.pcx</variable>
    </label>
</labels>

Printed Results

Below sample shows the result of 2 4x6" labels, side by side and containing 7 copies of the 4x1.5" label template.

854×678 64.5 KB