What
is label Unwind Direction and why is it important?
What does "full bleed" mean?
What does "four color process" mean?
What do you mean by digital printing?
Why should I bother seeing a proof?
What is the best material for my labels?
How do I get a Bar Code for my products?
What are the lamination options?
What is the release liner?
What is the Best Size for my
Labels?
What
is label Unwind Direction and why is it important?
The unwind direction is simply the way in which a label unwinds
from a roll. This is most easily explained by looking at the
diagram above. There are four unwind directions. You can see
that unwind direction #1 is when the top of the label comes off
the roll first, #2 has the bottom edge coming off first, #3 is
the right edge and #4 is the left edge.
Now, why is it important? Well, it is usually only important if
you are having your labels applied by machine - if you are hand
applying your labels then unwind direction typically does not
matter. So, if you are applying your labels by machine, or
having a contract manufacturer apply the labels then you will
need to know the unwind direction. Most labeling machines will
only be able to work with one unwind direction for each type of
container.
One final point, if you are applying labels by hand now, but you
may want to have them machine applied at some future point it is
still good to consider unwind direction.
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What
does "full
bleed" mean?
Understanding the concept of a “full bleed” is important if you
want color on your labels that extends right up to the edge.
This is best explained by an example. Let’s look at the label
above. What we want is a 3” x 5” finished label indicated by the
black die-line. For this complete background coverage of color,
we actually create a box that is slightly bigger than our
finished label. For most instances the size of the finished art
that we use to print the label is 1/16” larger on all sides. So,
the box that we create is actually 3.125” x 5.125”.
What is the reason for this extra space? It has to do with the
way a label is created. When labels are created they are first
printed on the label material and then they are die cut into the
shape you want. This cutting is a mechanical process and the
material can drift ever so slightly (up to 1/32”) during the die
cutting. If you just had color without a full bleed then when
the material shifted slightly you would notice a white area at
the edge of your label. By adding 1/16” of color to all sides of
your label you will ensure you will get a finished product that
looks good and has color all the way to the very edge of your
label.
What does "four color process" mean?
Whenever you pick up a magazine or read a modern newspaper you
are reading the product of four color process printing. It is a
standard for printing color worldwide, but what does it really
mean?
It is quite an amazing procedure. Basically we can break down
all color into four primary colors: Cyan (blue), Magenta (a
purplish red), Yellow and Black, this is what is known as CMYK
(K for black). When you look very closely at any printed color
picture from a newspaper, magazine or a label under a very
strong magnifying glass, you will actually see that it is made
up of a series of dots. Not only that but these dots are always
either Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black, or a combination of these
colors.
Back in the old days a camera was
set up with different filters and screen angles and four
separate photographs were taken of an image to create the CMYK
separations. Today, computer software handles this complicated
process with ease. So what appears to be continuous color is
always just a series of dots of four primary colors.
What do you mean by digital printing?
Simply put digital printing means
producing a printed image that doesn’t use traditional printing
plates. Basically, you go direct from an image on a computer to
an image on a printed page. Digital printing has been around in
some form for decades but it is only in the last 10 years or so
that it has really come into its own.
If you own a laser or inkjet printer then you are doing digital
printing. Whether it is a $40 inkjet printer or a million dollar
digital printing press, the process is basically the same. The
printer takes a computer image, which by definition is a digital
image, and translates all the 0’s and 1’s into the appropriate
color at the time of printing. Most color digital presses use
four color process printing (see the previous question) which
can produce millions of colors through a combination of Cyan,
Magenta, Yellow and Black.
Comparing digital printing with traditional printing is useful
to help understand how digital printing is different.
Traditional printing uses a complex process with several steps.
First, film is created for each color that is being printed.
Then a printing plate is created from this film. Then the plate
is mounted on a cylinder. Finally the cylinders for all the
different colors are lined up and you can start printing. In
digital printing a computer allows us to bypass all this.
Digital printing has secured the niche for short runs because of
this reduced setup time. Not only that, but with digital label
printing every label can be different. But for long runs of the
same label you are often better off with traditional flexo label
printing. In the label printing world digital printers print at
50-100 feet a minute, traditional label printing is typically
250-300 feet a minute.
Why should I bother seeing a proof?
Before we answer that,
let’s talk about the two kinds of proofs that we offer - PDF
proofs and Press Proofs.
PDF Proofs
If color is not important to you a PDF proof is the way to go.
The main advantage is speed, because files are sent via email
and you can quickly look at the type and graphic elements to
make sure they meet your expectations. Because colors vary
between monitors and printers a PDF proof will not give you an
accurate indication of the final press color.
Press Proofs
Also called a Hard Copy Proof, a Press Proof will show you
exactly how your labels will look. It will be printed in full
color on the same label material, it will have the same
laminate, and you will see a die-line where the labels will be
cut. We recommend Press Proofs for all new orders because you
can see exactly how the colors will look when you receive your
labels. And best of all your first Press Proof is free - you
just pay for shipping.
Why Bother with a Proof?
In printing you should always double check your work, and then
check it once more. We run across people who really think a
proof is unnecessary and then when they get the labels they
realize the mistake they have made. Proofing is all about
preventing mistakes. We only recommend a PDF proof if color is
not important at all. If you are even a little concerned about
color you need to get a Press Proof. One of the many benefits of
digital printing is that Press Proofs can be produced quickly
and easily - make sure you take advantage of them. And then
double check your proofs!
What is the best material for my labels?
The answer to that question is of course, “it all depends.” For
most people our standard white BOPP material will work well.
This is a great all purpose material, it is inexpensive,
resistant to water and chemicals, quite durable, and has an
attractive pearly shine to it. Unless you have specific needs,
this is our recommended material.
Here is a list of our other materials with a brief explanation
of each one:
Clear BOPP - this has the same qualities as our White BOPP but
in a clear version. It can provide a “no label” look when
applied to your product. We can also do reverse printing on
clear BOPP which is suitable for window labels.
Chrome BOPP - has the same water and oil resistant properties as
the White and Clear BOPP, but has the “mirror-like” look of
shiny chrome.
White Vinyl - is our thickest and most durable material. It is 4
Mils thick and is suitable for applications where greater
strength or durability is needed. It is our recommended material
if the label is to be used outdoors.
Estate #9 (Textured) - is a cream colored textured material. It
is very popular for wine labels, and labels for gourmet foods or
high-end beverages. It is a paper stock and therefore not as
durable as our BOPP materials, but it does have a unique look
and feel that can be striking.
If you are still unsure what material you need then we suggest
you request one of our free sample packs.
This has actual label samples of all of our materials, so you
can see for yourself which material would best suit your needs.
Top of page
How
do I get a Bar Code for my products?
If you want to sell your products
in retail stores then you need to get a bar code. The bar code
on most retail products in this country is called a UPC
(Universal Product Code), and you obtain them from the Uniform
Code Council. You first need to become a member of what is
mysteriously called their GS1 US Partner Connections. The amount
you pay is dependent on the number of products you will be
selling, and your company's gross revenues.
The processing time is usually just 3-5 days and then you
receive your company prefix number. You can then create your
full bar code number for each product with the help of the
membership kit you will receive. Once you have your number you
just need the software to create your bar code. Here at
Lightning Labels we will be happy to take care of that step for
you.
If you have a small number of products (less than twenty) there
is a more cost effective way to obtain a registered UPC code.
Just type “buy a bar code” into Google and you will see many
companies selling barcode numbers for far less than the UCC
membership fee.
One point to remember when you are designing your labels - keep
a space for the bar code. The official size requirement is
around 1" high x 1.5" wide. In reality we do bar codes here that
are as small as 0.5" high and 1" wide. Any smaller than that and
you will have difficulty scanning them. We can always do a test
scan for you here to make sure your bar code is ok. One last
important point, your bar code needs to be on a white background
to be scanned easily.
What are the lamination options?
Labels generally look
better and are more durable with a laminate. A laminate can give
your label a gloss or matte finish and it provides a protective
layer between the ink on your label and the outside world.
Here at Lightning Labels, we almost always laminate the labels
we print. It costs very little extra and it ensures that light
scuffing will not damage the label in any way. What you may not
realize is that we offer a number of laminates:
1. High Gloss - our most popular laminate. It is the least
expensive option and provides protection for the label and a
high gloss shiny finish.
2. Matte (Imprintable) - provides your label with a quality
matte finish. This is also the best laminate to choose if you
want to handwrite information on your labels.
3. Thermal Transfer - a gloss laminate that is designed to work
with most over-printing thermal transfer printers. We do
recommend you get samples first to test through your own printer
before placing an order with this laminate.
4. UV Outdoor Gloss - best used for labels that will be used
outdoors. It has a high gloss finish with excellent UV
resistance. It is best paired with our vinyl material for the
most durable outdoor label.
The price for these laminates are all slightly different. You
can use our Instant Online Label Quoter
to find a price for your labels with any of these different
laminates. There is one material that we offer without a
laminate - it is a textured material (called Estate #9) that
looks great on its own. It is very popular in the wine industry.
What is the release liner?
When you receive your roll of
custom labels, you probably don’t think too much about the
liner. All you care about is that your labels look great. But
the release liner, as it is known, plays a vital role in
supporting your labels so they can be peeled off easily. Have
you ever wondered how the labels can be so easily removed from
the liner, but very difficult to remove from any other surface?
The secret ingredient is silicone, a versatile polymer material
that has excellent adhesive repelling properties. The liners for
the materials we use here are all paper based, with a layer of
silicone added to the paper to support the labels, protect the
adhesive, and allow easy label application.
Release liners come in different thicknesses and with different
properties. Our standard white BOPP material comes with a 50lb
white paper liner, which is coated with a layer of silicone and
has excellent strength and tear resistance. It is a good general
purpose liner that is suitable for hand or automatic
application.
If you order our Estate #9 textured cream material you will
notice a different liner. The liner here is a 44lb brown paper
liner that is specially designed for high speed automatic
application. This is because the Estate #9 material is popular
in the wine industry, and most labels for wine are applied by
machine.
So next time you receive a roll of labels from us, take a moment
and look at the release liner, it provides a very important role
for self-adhesive labels. Without it you really wouldn’t be able
to use your labels.
WhatWhat is the Best Size for my
Labels?
Of course, the short answer to this question is, it depends.
However, there are some guidelines for label size that we can give
you. We use 12" wide material on our digital label printing presses
here at Lightning Labels, and the maximum printable area on this
material is 10.75". We need to use some of the material for marks
that assist in the die-cutting process. As far as length goes we can
print up to 17" long. So that leaves a 10.75" x 17" print area that
you have to work with. Keep in mind that we do need a gap between
labels, and the standard gap is 0.125".
For smaller sized labels you will not notice much difference in
pricing with slightly different sizes, but for the larger labels the
difference can be significant. Let's take an example that will
demonstrate this. A 5" circle fits nicely 2 across and 3 down on
what we call a frame (the 10.75" x 17" print area). The cost for 500
5" circles on our standard white BOPP with a gloss laminate is
$362.86. Now, let's consider a 6" circle. We can only fit one across
and two down - this does not fit very well on our press at all. This
is reflected in the pricing - 500 labels cost $528.23 - this is
almost 50% more than the 5" circle.
So the answer to the original question is twofold - the best size is
the size that will work best on your product and fits well on our
press. When you play around with our Online Instant Quoter, you will
often notice jumps in price for similar sized labels. This is always
because certain sizes fit well on our press and others do not. If
you want to get the best value for your labels always choose a size
that fits well within the 10.75" x 17" frame, keeping in mind that
the smaller the label the less expensive it will always be.
