Make Your Own Beer: Tips For Designing Your Own Beer Labels

So you have decided that you want to make your own beer right? Wonderful choice and a great way for not only having that robust one of a kind flavor beer that you enjoy but a budget friendly way to always have your own brand on hand.

Since you have decided to make your own beer it only makes sense that you should create a label that is distinctively you.

Here are some quick and easy steps to design your own beer label after you make your own beer:

1. Start with a good graphics program. If you don’t have one already, there are some great design softwares both free and for a cost which you can find on-line. For the more advanced, then Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro are excellent programs.
2. Next decide on the type and size of label you plan on using.  Pre-stick labels are great and easier because they come in different sizes and you can pick the one that works with your beer bottle.  The only problem with pre-stick is they stick, meaning if you make a mistake or re-use your bottle it will be more difficult to remove.  You can also buy labels on-line if you prefer not to use the ones available in office supply stores.
3. Now you are ready to design. Once you are in the graphic design software, create a new document approximately 5 to 5 1/2 inches by 4 to 4 1/4 inches tall for a standard beer bottle or 3 by 4 for a smaller bottle.  Any wider or taller will be too large. For the best results, it is good to use a resolution of 300 dpi.
4. Next, to get a good vision of what someone will see when they look directly at the front of your bottle, create a rectangle approximately 3 inches wide in the center of your label. The rectangle can be your guide.
5. Now it is time to release your artistic side.  You can either use the text tools to draw within your rectangle to create your label or add any commercial clip art to the label to enhance the design.   Draw your beer label in the rectangle with the pertinent information such as the name of the beer, the date the beer was brewed, and design and the style of beer so they will be visible to the eye immediately. Remember that the label is your creation and will speak distinctively to you and your individuality.
6. Next begin printing test copies. Start by printing one sample copy on regular paper first to be sure it is exactly what you envisioned. Use the same printer as you would for the printing of the final labels.
7. Once a test copy is printed, cut it out and tape it on the bottle to see how it will look.  Be sure to look at it thoroughly from every angle to be sure it looks good.
8. Go back and make any corrections necessary and then print another test sample.  Continue the cycle until you are happy with the end result.
9. Once completely satisfied with the appearance, print the labels out on your label sheets, cut them out, peel off the backing and adhere the labels to the bottles. Most office supply stores carry these printable labels.

It is fun and creative to make your own beer. Be sure to follow through this process to the end to make a beer that you can not only enjoy but can be proud of for a long time to come.