Layer Properties Dialog

The General tab defines the security settings for the layer. You can also configure how the layer appears on the screen. The following options are available:

• Name: Specifies the name of the layer.

• Comments: Specifies a description or any other information about the layer that you want to include. The comments appear in the layer preview image in the Layers pane.

Security

• Locked: Prevents objects on the layer from being selected or moved.

On-Screen Appearance

The On-Screen Appearance section contains options for how items in the layer are displayed on your computer monitor. Changes to the options in this section do not affect how your document is printed.

• Hidden: Hides the layer and all objects on it. Objects that are on a hidden layer cannot be selected, moved, or seen.

• Display as monochrome: Specifies a single color for all objects on the selected layer. When you select this option, the following options are available:

  • Color: Specifies the color of the objects on the layer. For more information, refer to Changing an Object's Color.

  • Transparency: Specifies the degree to which colors and object that are under the objects on the layer can be seen. The range is from 0 (opaque) to 100 (completely transparent). For more information, refer to Transparency.

The Print Options tab controls how the layer appears on a printed page. The following options are available.

Print Visibility

• Preprinted: Specifies that the layer is treated as if it were already printed on the media. When you select this option, the layer is not printed, although it does appear in the Print Preview window.

• Print When: Specifies when BarTender prints the selected layer. Available only when Preprinted is not selected.

Opens the When to Print dialog, which specifies the conditions for printing the layer.

Bounding Rectangle

Use the Bounding Rectangle section to set a boundary in which all objects in the layer must reside.

• Clip objects to bounding rectangle: Specifies that only those layer objects that reside within a rectangle that is specified by the values in the Left, Top, Width, and Height fields are printed. If an object resides partially within the boundary, then only the portion that is within the boundary is printed.

  You can combine this option with password-protected layers to limit users to editing only specific regions of the template. For more information about this functionality, refer to Layer Security.

Output Panel

Use the Output Panel section to configure how your document is printed with alternative panels on a card printer. Layers are grouped by the type of material that you select. If the current printer is not capable of using the selected material, BarTender displays an error message.

• Print to primary panel(s): Configures the layer to print by using the main color panels that are available on the printer.

• Print to monochrome black panel: Configures the layer to print with a monochrome black panel. Layers that are configured with this option show up in black and white and are best suited for text or simple outlines.

• Print to UV fluorescing panel: Configures the layer to print onto an ultraviolet (UV) fluorescing panel. Layers that are configured with this option show up only under UV light.

• Print to overlay/inhibitor panel: Configures the layer to print onto an overlay/inhibitor panel.

The Effects tab includes an option for applying a transparency effect to all items on the layer, which specifies the degree to which colors and objects under the layer can be seen. This setting overrides any individual transparency effects that are applied to the items on the layer. The range is from 0 (opaque) to 100 (completely transparent). For more information, refer to Transparency.