How to Design Beer Labels

Design your own beer labels.

Home-brewing beer is nothing new, but the hobby has become more popular in recent years. Folks all over are finding out that with a few simple tools they can make delicious, home-brewed beers of all varieties. When it comes time for bottling, many people want to create their own labels for their new homemade creation.

Things You'll Need

• Printer
• Paper
• Glue
• Bottles
• Image editing program
• Plastic card
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Install an image editing program. Measure your bottle and decide whether you want your label to wrap all the way around or just be in the front. Draw a simple sketch to denote the height, width and general shape of your label.

2. Sketch your beer label. Look online at labels for inspiration, or go to the store and check out some of your favorites. When you have the sketch the way you like it, sit down at the computer to re-create it.

3. Draw your outlines, or scan your sketch in if you have the means. You don't need to create any color at this point, you just want to make a basic skeleton for your design. Do this on its own layer, as it most likely wont be in the final product. Use this layer simply as a template for the color, detail and shading of your label.

4. Create a new layer and begin to color in your design. For each major section of color, whether it's shading or a new piece of the picture, you should create a new layer to ensure that you can edit each part of the image independently.

5. Use brushes on your creation. It is just fine to simply use gradients and color fills to color in your new beer label, but brushes add a real-life feel to any computer creation.

6. Print your labels on strong or even glossy paper, cut out and glue to the bottle. You need very little glue; too much will cause the label to bunch up. Use a plastic card to smooth the labels down onto the bottle and allow to adequately dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Try some scratchy texture brushes for old looks, or little star brushes to make sparkles or light shining off metal, gems, glass or teeth.

References

• Vector Tuts+ : Design a Print-Ready Beer Label in Adobe Illustrator