Communicate and influence with labels

 In the word use alone there are many choices. One calls it a sticker, the other a label or a label. Whatever name you give it you will see it everywhere. whether it is to recommend a product, send a package, provide information or just for beautiful. Everyone, consciously or unconsciously, is tempted and influenced by labels and labels.

Regardless of label type, material, size or application, all labels have one thing in common. They are intended as a means of communication. This communication can be very simple informative such as a production date or origin but can also serve as temptation and branding. The application of the label is determined, in some cases in combination with a feeling, the type of material and the printing method used. There are endless possibilities and just as many variables that need to be taken into account when choosing the right label.

The purpose of the label

Each label has its own purpose and depending on that there is an ideal solution, isn’t it? In the business world, a well-known label is a shipping label. Function is very simple, the address must be on it often in combination with a barcode and ready. Lifetime is not very important, since the label goes into the trash once the package is delivered. Usually the desired minimum lifespan of a shipping label is therefore not much more than 1 week. Furthermore, the price is especially important.

A product label is a completely different story, it must be beautiful and colorful. A product label quickly becomes the “seller” of the product and must therefore stand out, distinguish and, above all, seduce. Often a label material is chosen based on the product. Matte labels for a luxury product, glossy labels for more standard retail products.

Printing shipping labels and the pitfalls

Shipping labels are actually always printed when they are needed. The way in which this is done differs considerably and usually depends on the number of labels to be printed per x period. Only a few labels are quickly printed with a standard A4 printer, with or without A4 label sheets. Simple and efficient, but not exactly cheap in the long term, but perhaps the most sensible in very low volumes. For example, do not forget to take into account the consumption of ink or the unused labels on an A4 sheet.

If the volumes are slightly larger, a label printer is always used. Label printers for this application work according to the “ thermal direct ” printing technique. Simply put, where the black is to be heated, the print head heats the material and therefore it becomes black. No use is made of consumables such as ink or toner.

Small companies quickly opt for a Dymo printer due to the low purchase price, the cost per roll of labels is virtually the same, so people can finish relatively cheaply. Yet here too, an adder lurks under the grass, for example, these label rolls have only 200 instead of 330 labels on a roll and are therefore secretly 65% ​​more expensive per label. Which with label printer from for example Zebra or  Godex  provides ensure that the costs per label are considerably lower. This is because the alternative labels for such a printer are easier to make and therefore cheaper.

Note, however, when purchasing labels for all TD (thermal direct) applications. The really very cheap products are mostly produced in China and contain “ bisphenol A “which is very bad for the hormone household. Although the production of these materials is prohibited in Europe, it can (unfortunately) still be traded.

Printing black and white labels with a long lifespan

Many labels require a longer lifespan, so that thermal direct printing is not sufficient. If color gives no further added value because, for example, only a simple barcode or text needs to be printed, “ thermal transfer ” prints the solution. The basis of this technique is the same, only use is made of an “ink ribbon” which is transferred to the paper by the heat. The paper or plastic itself does not respond to the heat, keeping the label neat and readable for a long time. The white part also stays neatly white (or silver if silver TT labels are used).

Color labels

Color printing of labels is now still done a lot by printers and copy shops. The emphasis must be on “still”. A lot will change here in the coming years.

Today’s techniques make it relatively easy to print color labels yourself. Epson with the Colorworks range . Although pre-printing labels in large volumes seems to have many advantages, it also has a lot of disadvantages. For example, pre-printing of small volumes is relatively expensive and pre-printing of large volumes has disadvantages, you can read more about this in a previous post. > CLICK HERE

The cost per label is relatively low when using the right printer and media, but in large volumes it is more expensive than printing. Nevertheless, a lot can be gained from printing these labels yourself through adapted marketing possibilities and quick changes or variable data.

Color labels are being used in more and more applications. In addition to the most obvious product labels, they are also increasingly being used for logistics applications to reduce error margins or for pharmacies to print the correct hazard symbols. Color can be used as a fast means of communication. A color can be recognized from a great distance and quick to “read” than a regular text.

Label materials and glue types

There are many types of labels, depending on the application and printer used. Apart from the available and feasible sizes, they are available in plastic or paper, with a white, transparent, silver base or special  “basis” (say the background on which to print) and various  glue types   as removable or suitable for a freezer. All in all too much variation to list.

 The development in the label area never stands still

Diamondlabels continues to develop in the field of labels and is happy to ensure that all types of labels are or will be easily available. From shipping labels to special application-oriented products such as the ExpoBadge . The development is usually based on questions from the market. Do you have questions? Then reassure them. Perhaps there is already an answer, otherwise we will make the answer.

Ivar van der Molen

Smart2B B.V. – ivar@smart2B.nl – +31 318 590 212 – The Netherlands
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