Right first time, on time, every time
The choice of material has aesthetic and practical considerations, because not only should the label look nice, but it must also be fit-for-purpose.
Therefore the label face-stock material needs to be suitable for the application. For example, a paper label would not be the best material choice for an industrial application that requires abrasion resistance and a thicker Polyethylene material would not be the best choice of material for a bottle label, but it would for an industrial oil drum.
Therefore both application and life cycle requirements should be considered, in association with appearance.
Typical label material face-stocks are as follows:
| Plain | Uncoated/Vellum |
|---|---|
| Plain Coloured | Fluorescent; Metallic etc. |
| Coated | e.g. semi-gloss, gloss. high gloss, thermal etc. |
| Luxury | e.g. grain, ribbed etc. |
| Polyethylene | White, clear, coated, uncoated |
|---|---|
| Polyester | White, clear, coated, uncoated |
| Polypropylene | White, clear, coated, uncoated |
In addition to the above summary, there are specialist face-stock materials for temperature resistant applications (cold and heat), security, and water-resistant applications. For more information please refer to the materials specifications page and/or speak with our customer care team.
Label designs requiring a full colour bleed background will in most instances be printed onto a white label face-stock. However, in label designs where the label background is intended to be seen e.g. wine bottle labels, the choice of colour becomes an important consideration. Label face-stocks are available in a range of standard colours to help create labels that work in design terms.
The range of standard colours available across different face-stocks includes:
Matt Red
Matt Luxury Terracotta
Matt Orange
Luxury Sand
Matt Yellow
Matt Pastel Yellow
Matt Green
Matt Light Green
Matt Blue
Matt Mid-Blue
Matt Fuschia
Matt Luxury Brown
Luxury Grey
Luxury Cream
Fluorescent Red
Fluorescent Yellow
Fluorescent Orange
Fluorescent Pink
Fluorescent Green
Matt Gold
Matt Silver
Bright Silver
For more information please refer to the Materials Specifications found under the "Services" heading in the page footer below and/or speak with a member of our customer care team.
In the world of label production, finishing or converting a label is as important as the accuracy and quality of the printing process itself. The decision whether to use inline or offline finishing/converting solutions depends on the make-up of incoming orders and the specific market needs of our customers.
Today's labels are more than just pretty pictures. Digital production of labels requires many components, such as the printing press, toners/inks, laminates, varnishes, suitable substrates, appropriate software solutions as well as the right finishing equipment. The best label solutions include all these components in a well thought-out fashion. Self-adhesive or pressure-sensitive labels are transformed into final products only when finishing has been applied. It allows the product to remain visible despite the presence of laminate or varnish. The following table provides an effective overview of the use of labels in various sectors and indicates the type of print finishing normally required for a specific sector. While these details are based on surveys of conventional printing technologies, they apply to digital printing as well, with just a few exceptions.
If a label is likely to be exposed to more demanding conditions of use, laminates are preferred in the print finishing process. Laminates provide protection from mechanical abrasion, chemical solvents and oils and also include functional barriers, such as sunlight protection factors. In these cases, a self-adhesive laminate or a film pre-treated with UV adhesive can also be applied directly to the label. Laminating also offers a long shelf life.
Mainly UV liquid varnishes are used for both for protecting the product and for aesthetic reasons. Anytime varnish is applied in the digital printing process – regardless of whether the system uses dry or liquid toner/inks – the primary function of the varnish is to provide adequate protection from wear and scratching. In inkjet printing, varnish is mainly used to enhance appearance, and to provide the printed product with a shiny finish of a uniform brightness. Pharmaceutical labels are normally finished with spot coatings and water-based varnishes. This means it is possible to add over-printing to the label later in the packaging production process.
There are two basic types of label adhesive: permanent and removable. Each type can be made from a variety of materials and the choice is determined by the surface being labelled, the conditions the label will have to endure, the required longevity of the label and its purpose. The most popular types of label adhesive are acrylic, rubber and water-based. If a label will be exposed to a very moist environment, such as a freezer, refrigerator or cooler, water-based adhesives are not practical. They break down, and the labels can fall off the products, regardless of the surface to which they are applied. Water-based adhesives therefore should only be used in dry environments. Adhesives mainly composed of rubber are preferred for their tackiness. They are prone to failure when exposed to UV rays over extended periods of time. If the labels will not be exposed to sunlight, this type of adhesive works fine. Acrylic-based bonding agents are easy to work with during application, as they can be easily moved around. Once acrylic glue dries, however, the bond is permanent. This type of label adhesive is suitable for long-lasting products that need labels to withstand time and frequent handling.
Depending on the surface to be labelled and the lifespan required of the label, there are 6 main adhesive types commonly used:
All of the above adhesive categories have a range of adhesives available e.g. Frost Fix; Freezer and Cryogenic adhesives are designed for increasingly lower temperature applications.
Before a label adhesive is chosen, many factors must be considered. These include the size of the label, the material and texture of the surface to be labelled and the mobility level required; some, such as retail labels for electronic products and white goods, are intended to be removed, while others, such as shipping labels, can be left intact indefinitely.
If a label is attached with the intent of it never being removed, or if only a solvent would remove it, it is called permanent. In some cases, before a label attains permanent status, it has a short period where it can be moved. These labels are often referred to as repositionable. A peelable label is just that: it can be peeled off a surface. The surface exterior is not marred, and no adhesive residue is left behind. This type of label can normally be used two or three times and not lose its stickiness. An ultra-peelable label is popularly used on book jackets and glass, where no residue is acceptable. These labels can only be used once before the adhesive is gone.
The digital printing process is seamless in information transfer terms and the designs provided by customers in electronic file formats are assessed and checked before preparing press files for final approval, before printing. This takes the form of an electronic soft-proof sent to our customers via email which once approved is sent to the print queue for production.
If you require a press-proof before proceeding to produce your label order this can be arranged and you should contact our customer care team to discuss your requirements.
Printed roll labels are produced on a 7 colour digital inkjet press, producing exceptional image and print quality, along with accurate colour reproduction on a variety of standard label face-stock materials e.g. semi-gloss white paper, luxury papers, semi-gloss white Polypropylene, gloss clear Polypropylene and bright silver Polypropylene (metallic colours).
Colours: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, Green, Orange & White The inclusion of white ink for solid opaque white printing on materials such as clear films and metallic substrates, facilitates the production of metallic colours and finishes, white text and panels on clear labels and the printing of window stickers.
The digital printing process does not require metal plates to be manufactured for colour separations, as with offset litho, or solvents to clean machinery and plates, because the ink used is aqueous. Making digital inkjet printing the most environmentally considerate process by removing the use of chemicals and reducing the associated carbon footprint.
Orders are added to the print-queue, following final approval of artwork from the electronic soft-proof (or hard-copy press proof) provided. We commit to print, finish ad convert labels within 3-5 working days from this point.
If embellishments are required on the labels then this adds to the order fulfillment time and a member of our customer care team will advise you.
Are made the following working day throughout the UK (other than postcodes considered a 2-day service by couriers). Delivery times in France are also 2-days, but can vary dependent upon location. Delivery times for Europe and other countries vary, please refer to our “Delivery & Shipping” page, which can be found under “SITE LINKS” in the footer of this page.
You can therefore expect to receive your printed roll labels within 5 working days from approval, within the UK and 7 working days in France. Outside of the UK & France delivery times vary and our customer care team will advise you and provide details of your delivery tracking options.
Your labels can be just as important as the brand, or product itself to gain and retain customers. A consumer's purchasing intention, affiliation, or loyalty is influenced by numerous factors, one of which is the product label. Which is also the marketing communication closest to the decision-making process, or point of purchase. Therefore the quality of material, design, image, layout, and finish are all critical factors in creating high-quality labels that work for your business.
We take pride in our service standards for all customer enquiries and orders. Our reputation for service is built on quality, a comprehensive product range and fast order fulfilment times, along with the combined experience and knowledge of our customer care team. If you need assistance or help regarding the most suitable choice of label, packaging, or promotional item for your application, please contact our customer care team, via the live-chat facility on the page, our website contact form, telephone, or email and they will be happy to discuss your requirements.
