Systems and methods for creating and providing shape-customized, computer-based, value-bearing items

A computer system for producing shape-customized postage labels, said computer system programmed to:

• receive a shape input from a user, the shape input comprising a user definition of a shape of a shape-customized postage label, the shape comprising at least some curvilinear portion;
• determine indicia positioning information comprising an indication of a position of computer-based postage indicia in a governmentally-regulated format with respect to the shape;
• generate an identifier for the shape-customized postage label;
• determine a size and a position for computer-based postage indicia according to a governmentally-approved format, said position relative to the shape, said position according to said indicia positioning information and said size and said position according to size and spatial location requirements by a postal service;
• save in a computer-accessible medium, a first relationship between the identifier, the user definition of the shape and said size and said position with respect to the shape;
• and
• print a representation of the identifier on a label stock.

A computer system for producing shape-customized, image-customized postage labels, said computer system programmed to:

• receive a shape input by a user, the shape input comprising a user-drawn definition of a shape of an at least partially curvilinear perimeter of a postage label;
• receive an image input by the user, the image input comprising an image and a user-specified image position for the image in an image area with respect to the user-drawn definition of the shape;
• receive from the user a user-specified indicia location for computer-based postage indicia in a governmentally regulated format, said user-specified location for computer-based postage indicia in the governmentally regulated format comprising a location with respect to the user-drawn definition of the shape;
• and
• generate an electronic representation of an image-customized, shape-customized postage label according to the shape input and comprising an indicia area positioned with respect to the shape according to the user-specified indicia location, said indicia area sized to later receive machine-encoded, computer-based postage indicia in the governmentally regulated format according to governmentally-approved size and spatial location requirements, said electronic representation of the image-customized, shape-customized postage label further comprising said user-provided image in said image area in a position relative to the shape according to said user-specified image position.

A unit of shape-customized, image-customized postage labels, said unit of shape-customized, image-customized postage labels comprising:

• a bottom portion;
• a top portion comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge, wherein the top edge is substantially parallel to the bottom edge, wherein the right edge is substantially parallel to the left edge, and wherein the right edge and the left edge are substantially perpendicular to the top edge and the bottom edge;
• a plurality of unitary-sized, unitary-shaped labels kiss-cut in the top portion, a respective perimeter of each respective label of the plurality of unitary-sized, unitary-shaped labels comprising a user-drawn shape, and the respective perimeter of each respective label comprising at least one label edge that is not parallel to any of the top edge, the bottom, the right edge and the left edge of the sheet of self-adhesive label layer;
• a user-provided image on each label, said user-provided image positioned on each label in an image area according to a user-specified position with respect to the user-drawn shape;
• and
• an indicia area on each label of the plurality of unitary-sized, unitary-shaped labels adapted for receiving print-rendering of computer-based postage indicia in a governmentally-regulated format, said indicia area positioned with respect to the user-drawn shape according to a user-specified postage indicia position with respect to the user-drawn shape and with respect to the user-provided image in the image area, said indicia area sized and positioned relative to the user-drawn shape and the user-provided image to receive print rendering of computer-based postage indicia according to size and spatial location requirements by the postal service.