When talking about labels, what one automatically thinks about are stickers. But, for a marketer, you have to go beyond looking at labels as mere identification tool. A label should be seen as a representation of the brand, what its ideals are, and why it is better than the rest. To achieve this effect, you must have a label design that rocks! This can be done only when you have the right label materials for it.
Label Application
The primary consideration when it comes to choosing materials for the label is the application technique. Different materials will require different application processes. This is why food and drink labels have different materials compared to drum & barrel labels. Although both are going to use “stickers”, there are differences in terms of adhesives that are going to be used, or whether the labels need to be treated with heat to stick on the product packaging.
Atmosphere
Not all products are going to stay under the same atmospheric conditions. There are labels that will peel off the moment they are in contact with moisture. This is true with heat labels because the adhesives used might not behave right when the products are stored in a cold and damp warehouse. The kind of materials used for the labels should be suitable for the conditions it will be under upon storage.
Packaging Specifics
When you are planning for the label design, you have to think about how it would look when it is time to attach it to the container. The same consideration should be given in choosing the materials for the label. Will it work with the kind of packaging that you have? You have to identify whether the packaging will be made of plastic, paper, or metal. Will the design work with a glossy paper material? Will it look nice even when printed on a plain, white stock? Or will the design matter if printed on a clear BOPP material?
There are also labels that need to be heat-treated upon application to the packaging. Will the design becomes distorted or will it be able to handle the process? These are the reasons why you have to really think about the packaging when incorporating the label design and upon choosing the materials for it.
Quality
You know what kind of conditions the products will be in after completion of the production process. Choosing the material should depend on where the product goes once it has been labeled. Not all materials are the same. Some can withstand heat, like polyester, while others can’t. Some can tolerate moisture, like laminates, while others will crumble. Choosing the right material will determine the quality of the label and will preserve the details of the design.
The key in having a product label that looks great is to have it printed on the right label material. At Cut Sheet Labels, there are different materials to choose from when it comes to labeling products.
