How to make a DVD case insert using Open Office Draw Choose paper, adjust paper tray to correct size (in this case A4, which required the side to side adjustment to be narrower than the letter size it was set for). Launch Open Office Draw software (a free download from openoffice.org). Go to item on web site (in this case www.professionallabel.com) and click on template link. It will open up in the openoffice.org templates section. See below illustration. Right Click on the green “Use it!” button, and choose “Save Target As” and choose “Save” into your downloads file.

Then use explore to go to your download folder and double left click on the template. It will then open up in the Draw software that you have previously opened.

Locate the tabs section in the lower left of your screen (see above) and double click on the “TemplateOutline” tab. A Modify layer box will pop up and you should make sure the settings are as follows: Visible should be checked Printable should not be checked Locked should be checked Then click on OK. These tabs are very important in that they allow you to work in layers over top of your template outline. You can make a new tab (layer) by double left clicking just to the right of the last tab. All new tabs should be set to be visible and printable, you may want to lock them as you work to keep the art from shifting.

Create a new tab as above and name it (in this case Photo). Then go to Insert in the upper left of your screen. Scroll down to Picture and click on “From File”.

Locate the photo to be used as a background on your computer (probably in your “Pictures” folder). In this case we have selected a photo that is 1500 x 1125 pixels. That will be a little smaller than the size required to bleed the image off all four sides, so after inserting it hold down the “Shift” key while dragging one of the corners until the image has covered the whole DVD insert. By holding down the shift key you will keep it in the same proportion and it should not distort. You may wish to crop and size your photo in Photoshop elements or similar program prior to inserting into Draw. Next you will want to go to Modify at the top of your screen and select “Modify”, “Arrange”, and the “Send to Back”. This will take your photo layer behind the template layer and will let you see the template outlines again so that you may place other element, photos, or text in the desired position on the DVD case insert. You may want to double click on your Photo tab so that you can lock it to prevent shifting as you work on new layers or text.

Next double click just to the right of the “Photo” tab, and create a new tab (layer) and title it as “Text”

From within your “Text” layer go to the blue “T” near the lower left of your screen and click on it. Then move your cursor to your DVD case insert and drag (create) a text box from upper left to lower right. By highlighting your text and then right clicking you may choose “Edit Style”

The Edit Style will show a menu that will enable you to choose type font, color, and effects. The White arrow icon in the far left bottom corner is a very handy tool to select any items (text or images) so that you may move or modify them. It will also let you size or shape a text box by dragging the corners.

To create a vertical text for the spine of your DVD case, create a text block as above, and go to “Format”, “Position and Size” and then choose “Rotation” from within the “Position and Size” menu.

Just click on the bottom center dot under default settings and it will automatically turn the text block an exact 270 degrees which is just right for the spine text. Now just click on the white arrow and use it to select and move the text box over the spine area. You may edit the spine text easily by double clicking on it. It will then snap into horizontal position while you edit it and the back to it's rotated position when you are done editing it. Printing: Make sure print driver settings are for A4, landscape, and appropriate paper material.