ReplyMailOnLine.com help - How can I add a logo to my mailpiece, change the appearance of the text on my mailpiece, or modify the return-address area on my mailpiece?

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How can I add a logo to my mailpiece, change the appearance of the text on my mailpiece, or modify the return-address area on my mailpiece?

There are several techniques that you can use to add something to your mailpiece or to modify something on it. This Web page gives instructions for some of these techniques.

You'll need the full version of Adobe Acrobat (not just the free Adobe Reader software) to use the techniques that are described here.

A word about "Free tryout" files

You will not be able to use these techniques with mailpieces that are created during "Free tryout" sessions. That's because mailpieces that are created during "Free tryout" sessions are encrypted and cannot be manipulated electronically.

For your convenience, we have created unencrypted PDF files that contain various kinds of sample mailpieces. These unencrypted PDF files are structured the same as the PDF files that you get when you pay to create a mailpiece at ReplyMailOnLine.com, and they are stored on our Web server. One of these unencrypted PDF files can be e-mailed to you automatically, and you can use it to experiment with the techniques described below. That will help you to decide whether or not it makes sense for you to pay to create a mailpiece at ReplyMailOnLine.com.

Click here if you'd like to have one of these unencrypted PDF files e-mailed to you.

Contacting your U.S. Postal Service Mailpiece Design Analyst

WHEN YOU ARE USING THE TECHNIQUES DESCRIBED ON THIS PAGE, IT IS VERY EASY TO UNKNOWINGLY MAKE A MISTAKE THAT VIOLATES THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE'S RULES. THEREFORE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW A SAMPLE OF THE FINISHED DOCUMENT TO YOUR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE MAILPIECE DESIGN ANALYST AND ASK HIM OR HER TO APPROVE IT BEFORE YOU START USING IT FOR REAL MAILINGS. TO GET THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE MAILPIECE DESIGN ANALYST FOR YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, POINT YOUR BROWSER TO http://pe.usps.gov/mpdesign/mpdright_mda_intro.htm.

Before trying any of the techniques described below, be sure to save the PDF file that you got from ReplyMailOnLine.com under a new name, and work with the new file when you're trying these techniques. That way, the original file will remain intact, and you'll still have it in case you make a mistake. To save the file under a new name, follow these instructions:

Use Adobe Acrobat to open the PDF file that you got from ReplyMailOnLine.com.
Click File > Save as in Adobe Acrobat and save the file under a new name.

INSTRUCTIONS

Below are three sets of instructions.

The first set of instructions explains how to use the Adobe Acrobat software to make simple changes to the text on the mailpiece.

The second set of instructions explains how to use the Adobe Acrobat software to add text to the mailpiece.

The third set of instructions explains how to use illustration software or other software to modify your mailpiece or add something to it.

These instructions work for the Windows version of Adobe Acrobat 5.x. If you are using a different kind of computer or a different version of Adobe Acrobat, the procedures that you'll use might be somewhat different.

How to use Adobe Acrobat to make simple changes to the text

You can use Adobe Acrobat to correct misspelled words or change the font or font size for some of the text on your mailpiece. Follow this procedure:

Click the "TouchUp Text Tool" on the Adobe Acrobat toolbar. (This tool looks like an outlined letter "T.")
If you want to change some of the text, click on that text. You can then delete some of the characters or type more characters.
If you want to change the font or font size for some of the text, highlight that text, click with your RIGHT mouse button, and choose "Attributes" from the pop-up menu that appears. The "Text Attributes" dialog box will be displayed. Make the desired changes, and click the "X" in the upper-right corner of the dialog box when you're done.

How to use Adobe Acrobat to add text to the mailpiece

You can use Adobe Acrobat to add text in areas of the mailpiece that do not already contain text. Follow this procedure:

Click the "Free Text" tool on the Adobe Acrobat toolbar. (This tool looks like a capital "T" with a plus sign next to it, like this: T+.)
Click in the place on the mailpiece where you want to add text.
Type the text that you want to add.

How to use page-layout software or illustration software to modify the text and graphics on your mailpiece or add things to it

These instructions explain how to work with your artwork in four different formats:

PDF format
EPS format
JPEG format
TIFF format

Your decision about which format to use will depend upon the skills that you have and the software that's installed on your computer. If you aren't sure which format to use, experiment with the techniques described below to see what works and what does not.

If possible, you should use the PDF format or EPS format instead of the JPEG or TIFF format. That's because saving mailpiece artwork in JPEG or TIFF format doesn't work very well on some computers. The problem is that the artwork looks rough and jagged when it is printed, in some cases.

If you want to use a format other than PDF, do this:

In Adobe Acrobat, click File > Save as.

If you want to convert your artwork to Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) format, choose "Encapsulated PostScript" for "Save as type."

OR

If you want to convert your artwork to JPEG format, choose "JPEG" for "Save as type."

OR

If you want to convert your artwork to TIFF format, choose "TIFF" for "Save as type."

If possible, you should use the PDF format or EPS format instead of the JPEG or TIFF format. That's because saving mailpiece artwork in JPEG or TIFF format doesn't work very well on some computers. The problem is that the artwork looks rough and jagged when it is printed, in some cases.

Now you'll need to use an illustration application (such as Adobe Illustrator) or a page-layout application (such as Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word, or QuarkXPress) to create a new, blank document.

Then you'll need to use the illustration/page-layout application to open the PDF, EPS, JPEG, or TIFF file or to import ("place") it.

After you've done that, you'll be able to do some or all of the following things, depending on which application you're using and depending on whether you're working with a PDF file, an EPS file, a JPEG file, or a TIFF file:

  – put your logo or another graphic on the mailpiece
  – use a different font for some of the text
  – use a different font size for some of the text
  – use a different color for some of the text
  – add something in the return-address area.

When you're done, you'll use the illustration/page-layout/word-processing application to print the finished document.

If you modify your mailpiece, you must be very careful not to do anything that violates the U.S. Postal Service's mailpiece-design rules! And, be sure to show a sample of the completed mailpiece to the U.S. Postal Service "Mailpiece Design Analyst" that is assigned to your geographical area. A Mailpiece Design Analyst is a U.S. Postal Serivce employee that has received special training in all the procedures and regulations that apply to Business Reply Mail, Courtesy Reply Mail, and International Business Reply Mail.

To find out how to get in touch with the Mailpiece Design Analyst for your area, go to http://pe.usps.gov/mpdesign/mpdfr_mda_lookup.htm, enter the first three digits of your ZIP Code, and click the "Search" button.

If you need help with the techniques described above, send your questions to us via e-mail at support@ReplyMailOnLine.com.

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