Native302 I use the freeware program Inkscape. I watched many youtube turtorials to learn the program (no prior experience with graphics art programs). Our brewery places labels on 12 and 22 oz bottles. We have different shape 12 oz bottles but for the most part our labels are 4 x 7.75 inches....22 oz bottles are slightly larger but off the top of my head I am not sure the sizes.
Hi there fellow 302'er!
I've been using a simple method: I take a picture, or find a suitable image using google. I upload the image to BeerLabelizer (choose one of the bottles that allows you to upload a picture).
Then, I save the resulting label as a JPEG, and copy the JPEG into Microsoft Powerpoint. I resize it to 3.25" high. I add the text boxes to the left and right side of the image with the beer description and the funny "government warning" text, making the final label 3.25" high X 4" wide.
I can fit 4 lables on a landscape 8.5x11" sheet of paper. I use the same size lable for all bottles. Print, cut out, and glue to bottles with gluestick or milk.
Note: I have also added the text boxes to the top and bottom of the image to make a 7"h x 2.75" wide hang-tag for large bottles or swingtop bottles:
Here's my holiday ale label. It is an Old Ale brewed with spices, dried raisin, dried cranberries and dried apples. Wish I could take credit for it but my friend drew it up for me.