Let's talk label printing

If a picture says a thousand words, then imagine how much oomph a label can hold. But what does a label actually do?

Here’s how these hard working heroes help:

• They identify your product and help it stand out from the crowd
• They build brand loyalty 
• They provide important decision making information
• They allow compliance with various legislative requirements

So now you know why product labels are such an important part of your marketing strategy, but how do you choose what type of label you need and where do you begin?

Specifying your label shape and size

The best place to start is by conceptualising what you need from your label in terms of its size and shape. If your product is a bottle, will the label wrap around or do you need a front and back label? Customers often ask for a “standard size” but we print from teeny tiny labels for the likes of essential oil bottles, to great big labels for large tubs of bulk food, chemicals and agri feeds so it’s really important that we have a clear understanding of what you need. If you have multiple product sizes, do you need to make one size fit all with a start up budget or will each label be sized accordingly? Does a geometric shape (circle, square, rectangle, etc) suit you or are you looking for something bespoke? Does your chosen printer charge a set up cost for custom shapes? Many, us included, do not, so try and find the right fit for your requirements. 

Supplying content and a label design brief

You might already have an established brand, or you may just be starting out. A good graphic designer will be able to guide you through the process from start to finish, whatever stage you are at - but they will need some input from you so it’s a good idea to take some time to think about what you are looking for. A great place to start is by gathering inspiration. Take photos of products that catch your eye, jump on Pinterest or Instagram and start collecting ideas. Or sketch out some ideas of your own. The more you can provide to your designer, the more streamlined the process will be. Don’t forget to include the fundamentals as well as the aesthetic requirements:

- What text do you actually want on your label?

- Are there different versions (flavours, sizes, etc)?

- What legislative requirements need to be accommodated?

- Do you have brand guidelines, such as a colour palette or font types?

Selecting the best material for the job

There is a vast array of materials available when it comes to sticker and label printing. To give you an overview of what to look out for, here’s a list of our materials:

Matt or gloss vinyl on sheets

Clear gloss on sheets

Removable white gloss on sheets

High tack white gloss on sheets

Brushed or chrome gold or silver

Chrome rose gold or rainbow

Domed white, clear or metallic

Gloss white paper and gloss white removable paper

White gloss and matt polypropylene on rolls

White gloss and matt paper on rolls

Antique white textured paper and cream on rolls

Bright or matt gold or silver on rolls

Clear gloss polypropylene on rolls

Frosted clear polypropylene on rolls

Brown kraft paper on rolls 

Deciding on the format of your labels

There are a few different options to consider, so take some time to think about how you will be applying the labels to your product or packaging as well as how you will be storing them. Smaller quantities of stickers (up to 500 or 1,000 usually) are supplied on sheets. These are super easy to store, and just peel and stick as you need which makes these a great option if you are just starting out, or if you have many different labels for your operation.

Longer runs (generally 1,000 to 100,000 or more) are supplied on rolls. Even if are applying your labels by hand, rolls are still the most economical way to produce labels in volume so don’t think that rolls are only for application machines. However, if you are using an automatic or manual label applicator, then there are a few other points that you must consider

- Reel direction

- Core diameter

- Overall roll diameter

Choosing a label printing company 

Are you looking for a long or short run, printing on sheets or rolls? Do you have a special media or finish in mind that requires a specialist label printing company? How quickly do you need to turn the job around? Do you have print ready files or do you need a printing company that offers in house design? These are some of the aspects to consider before you choose to collaborate with a printer. Be sure to list your specifications and requirements clearly, and request a quotation before the work beings.

If you’d like to speak to someone about your project, why not contact us at Brandpack for a chat and some industry insight into all things label.

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