Label Printing Process

Labels can be printed with a variety of inks.

Label Printing

Label printing can take many forms. It its simplest form, all it requires is a home computer that is capable of printing out labels and a printer stocked with the correct size label sheets. But when most people speak about printing labels, they are referring to the complicated process of printing commercial labels for marketing purposes--the labels that are seen on food, bottles and products all around the world.

Printers

This process uses printers, too, but it can use many different types of printers. The simplest kind is an inkjet printer, like the ones used at home but much larger and able to print much more information at one time, using small drops of ink that are carefully applied to a surface, which is then later cut up and used for labels. Laser printing, more common in businesses, is also used, and, though it can be more expensive with the right toner, it can also be much faster. Laser printers use electrostatic bonds and light to fasten the toner to rollers, which then roll out the correct patterns onto paper and heat the toner dust until it bonds to the paper fibers.

There are also rarer types of printing used mostly for advanced label procedures. Thermal printing, for instant, uses a wax dye that is heated onto a surface, where it stays water-resistant and long-lasting. For those who want a very high-quality image, printing plates are used, made of metal or rubber or plastic. Fast-drying inks are used to coat the plates, which are then stamped on the surfaces and allowed to dry.

Materials

There are also many different types of label materials. The cheapest and thinnest kinds are made from coated paper, which is simply normal paper with a protective coating on one side. Laminated paper, which is suspended between two thin layers of plastic, is stronger and can hold ink longer without bleeding or tearing. Polypropylene materials are made out of a very thin thermoplastic layer, which is durable but requires lots of heat to apply the ink to the surface. There are also composite papers that are slowly entering the market, made out of polyolefin and silica filler, which make the material act like paper but are far stronger.

Some manufacturers may use particular materials for labels depending on what best suits their purposes. An eco-friendly manufacturer, for instance, could use recycled paper materials to make labels. Although they would not be as strong as the plastic version, they would uphold the company's belief in environmentally friendly materials. Inks can also be purchased in eco-friendly versions.

References

• Etiquette: Label Printing Processes
• BottleYourBrand: What Should I Know About Label Printing?
• LGInternational: LGInternational's Label Printing Processes