Labels come in every size, shape and color combination imaginable with a variety of substrate, coating, and adhesive options. Also known as stickers and decals, labels are used for equally broad and diverse purposes from communicating vital information about a product such as its price or expiration date to issuing warnings and cautions about the use of a product or dangers inherent or present in an area. If you are considering having a label printed for whatever purpose, there are some important questions to ask your printer to insure your label satisfies your needs. First,
What’s the Purpose of the Label?
Knowing up front how the label is intended to be used, what purpose its intended to serve, what kind of environment it will be placed in helps pinpoint what characteristics (e.g., the substrate, coating, adhesive, etc) will work best. Substrate options include paper, plastic, vinyl, mylar, polyester, metallic foil, etc. Adhesives are available offering bonds ranging from permanent to removable. Some adhesives allow for repositioning before a more lasting bond develops while other labels rely not on an adhesive but static electricity to provide adhesion. Protective options include plastic laminates and UV coatings to provide protection from moisture or resistance to chemicals, etc.
How Will the Label be Applied and Distributed?
Labels are typically applied by peeling away a backing from the label to expose the adhesive before pressing the label on to a surface. In some instances, it may be desirable for the label to be able to receive additional writing or printing on its surface prior to usage. Label format options include multiple labels on flat sheets, or individual labels provided in a roll or fan-folded.
How Long Does the Label Need to Last?
Some labels are intended for a short-term life while others need to endure exposure to environmental conditions ranging from high heat to extreme cold. Hence, labels are available in range of thicknesses to address different needs of durability.
What Will the Label Look Like?
The appearance of the label is the next thing to consider. Options in this regard are practically unlimited, but each choice in this regard will have an impact on the cost to produce the label. A few things to consider: What’s the size and shape of the desired label. Is a stock size and shape sufficient or will a custom size and shape (die-cut?) be necessary? Full (CMYK) color, a color-matched Pantone color, or will a stock spot color suffice? Or, will black ink do the job? Special embellishments like embossing or features like consecutive numbering may be desired. Once these questions have been answered, your printer can decide on the best approach to deliver a custom label to match your needs/desires.
If you have any questions about Custom Labels, give us a call at 330-597-8560. We’re happy to help you get the most out of your printing project.
Photo by Marc Newberry
