Lol I hear ya boss! Corel is only as complicated as you want it to be. It has features that are very complex and time consuming, but for basic design its pretty user friendly. It kinda looks like microsoft word only more options. Youtube also has a bunch of quick, short tutorials on the basic tools that I used myself when I first started. I didn’t go to school for graphics. I used those videos…plus I pushed a bunch of buttons to see what happened lol.
Over time you’ll naturally start digging deeper into the program and learn more tricks. If you see an image on google you like, you can right click to copy and then paste directly to Corel with ease. Its worth a look! Anything I can do to help an ol’ man out let me know. 
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- Photoshop (I believe they still may have trial versions)
- Gimp - free (raster-based) - I agree with those who have referred this software
- Inkscape - free (vector-based).
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I had forgotten about Inkscape…
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I don’t know if this is ligit or no but this piece of software is Da-bomb! This is not Adobe’s latest version but it is wildly used throughout the printing industry and still being used heavily. Most all label stock manufacturers have premade templates to download at no cost for this software. It is heavy duty and there is a lot to learn, but if you’ve seen it done you can do it with this.
https://dngsoftwarestore.com/products/adobe-illustrator?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=38239711876
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Illustrator is great. Not sure if it has the easiest learning curve, though compared to some of the others.
Vector? I hardly knew her!
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I hope that this isnt to late. I was also going to recommend using the Avery label templates. Avery uses the standard label sizes that all other label companies comply with. “Open Office” is free, it comes pre-installed on many computers these days, or can be used on the internet without downloading a program, if you don’t already have it.
When you buy labels, they come with a code for that specific size, or say “complies with Avery 5897”, for example. The label page templates are available in Open Office or you download the template directly from Avery using the specific label number. Avery’s website is a safe place to download your template from. These templates are pre set-up to print appropriately on your page of labels. Without having the page set up this way, you will have mis-aligned printing and a lot of wasted labels. I am a graphic designer, so I have done this type of thing many times in the past. I can recommend programs that you can purchase on a disk, but they are all going to have more features than you need and will not be as easy to use and cost a lot. I believe you just need a simple word processing program and a template to make what you are describing. I think Open Office, or Avery’s website will offer you free, and easier to use options. If you really want a disk, go to an office supply store, or to amazon.com and buy a label art program for $10-$20. This type of program will offer you some pre-designed options, lots of clip art and usually can make greeting cards, postcards and other assorted items as well. You just need to ask, or search for label making software. These programs are typically very user friendly and will have the page templates you need included. Make sure there is a CD in the box and not a code to download the pre-paid program. I hope this helps. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
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Also, I would add that while Adobe products like Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign and Corel Draw are amazing graphics programs (I use Adobe programs daily), they are not easy to use for someone just looking to make labels and has never used any of these before. There is a large learning curve! Importing a template and getting his page set up correctly will just be a challenge in any of these. While those are my usual go-to program recommendations, I think they are all over the top for this project. No offense meant to anyone who mentioned them, just trying to offer my concern that these programs would be problematic for this use.
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Thanks Jen
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No problem! I did a quick search on Amazon and found about 10 reasonably priced programs to buy. If you want me to find one for you, let me know. Or, did you find something already?
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Actually kinda got back burnered by the fact that right now I don’t give a crap, I’m still reeling from having to have one of my fur babies put to sleep. But thanks I’m trying to pull myself out of the shit hole (pardon my language) it’s just really rough right now.
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Thanks @Tworrs, it’s getting easier, odd though it is I talk to her every day. She’s in my back yard near my Blackberries, she used to help me pick them well at least one and then she’d carry it around for days guarding it like it was pure gold or something. It was so funny at time you’d see her walking across the floor with a berry sticking out of her mouth like a cigar butt. Used to just crack us up.
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I am so very sorry! I That is a very difficult thing to do! I don’t have kids, just the furry kind, and I have been where you are. It’s too damn hard! will be thinking of you during this difficult time. I hope your grief will fade into sweet, fond memories of your beloved friend! But I know that will never happen completely.
Oh, and you can swear as much as you like, it won’t offend me!
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That is an amazing memory!! And it is not strange to talk to them! I lost my Shelby girl 2 years ago, it still hurts, and I talk to her all the time! We have since rescued a crazy boy named Ziggy, who was in desperate need of a home like ours. I just volunteered to help socialize him because I just wanted to be around a dog. And he started to trust me, which was rare for him and then he trusted my husband. And we started to love him. We worked with him for 4 months. And even though we weren’t quite ready for another dog, we adopted him because we were his last chance. But Shelby still is still heavy in my heart, and I talk to her all the time! I sometimes feel like she is laying on our bed. I know that sounds crazy! Meanwhile, Zig man makes me smile everyday and I feel that in a way Shelby led us to him. She knew that there was another special needs dog, like she was, that needed someone to take a chance on. And she wanted it to be us.
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