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Barcode Basics: What to Know About Barcodes and UPCs for Product Labels

⚞ The Highlights:

What is a UPC barcode? A UPC (Universal Product Code) is a 12-digit barcode found on retail products that stores scan to quickly identify and track items at checkout.
For reliable scanning, a UPC barcode (1.469 inches wide by 1.02 inches tall at 100% magnification) should be sized between 80% and 200% of this standard and include at least a 0.25-inch quiet zone on each side.
To get a UPC barcode, you sign up with a barcode standards organization (like GS1), register a unique number for your product, and use the resulting barcode on your packaging.

A barcode and a UPC may not be the most attractive part of your product label, but they play an important role for your business. A good barcode with an appropriate UPC will make it easy for you or a separate vendor to scan your labels and sell your goods. This makes it very important to make sure your barcodes are set for success. Here’s what you should know to make sure your barcodes and UPCs are ready to head out into the market.

What Goes into a Barcode and UPC?

A barcode and a UPC are two different elements that work together to identify a product. The UPC, which stands for universal product code, is a 12-digit number assigned to merchandise, while the barcode is the machine-readable version of that number. Different parts of that 12-digit code play different roles.

First six digits – the manufacturer identification number
Next five digits – the item number
Last digit – the check digit

A product label barcode with an example UPC.

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Manufacturers can apply for UPCs from the Uniform Code Council. After approval, a manufacturer can pay an annual fee to become a part of the UPC system and get its unique manufacturer identification number that will be used for all its barcodes. The item number is specific to each product. The manufacturer is responsible for issuing those numbers and avoiding any duplication of numbers for different SKUs. Finally, the digit check is a single number to confirm the integrity of your barcode number. You can determine the exact number for a product with GS1’s check digit calculator.

Other Types of Barcodes

While EAN/UPC barcodes are the most common and widely-used barcodes, GS1 uses several other types of barcodes for different business requirements:

GS1 Databar: The GS1 DataBar is a family of barcodes designed to provide a compact yet comprehensive solution for encoding data in smaller items that cannot accommodate traditional barcodes. They’re capable of carrying extensive information including product identification, batch numbers, and expiration dates, making them ideal for fresh foods and healthcare products where space is limited but detailed data is essential.
GS1-128 and ITF-14: The GS1-128 barcode is a high-capacity symbol that allows the inclusion of various data elements by utilizing application identifiers, making them ideal for complex supply chain needs. On the other hand, the ITF-14 barcode is designed specifically to encode a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) on corrugated materials, making it important in tracking trade items in bulk through distribution channels.
Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes: Think of two-dimensional (2D) barcodes as the evolved form of the typical one-dimensional barcodes you see on product packaging. You’re likely familiar with the most common 2D barcode, the QR Code. These compact squares are cleverly designed to hold a wealth of information by encoding data both horizontally and vertically. They offer a great way to store more in less space.

Different types of product barcodes

Should You Use QR Codes for Product Labeling?

While a QR code might not fit the design (or even size) of every label, a study published in Sustainability evaluated the use of QR codes (in this case on food labels) and published some interesting findings:

Nearly 39% of respondents wanted to see QR Codes used more broadly in the future
67% of the respondents agreed that these codes make life easier

The study found that, “QR Codes included in product packaging, on labels, and in commercial spaces (shelves, showcases, posters, etc.), are considered particularly effective in providing timely product and brand information given their capacity to reach consumers when and where they are ready to purchase with relevant, targeted, and interactive information.”

How to Make Sure Your Label’s Barcode and UPC Work

Barcodes are graded on a scale from A to F. As you may expect, the higher your grade, the better your barcode and UPC will be for business. Here are some key considerations to help improve your barcode and UPC for your product labels.

Respect the quiet zone

Every barcode has what’s called a “quiet zone.” This space is the area around the barcode that should be clear of any texts, graphics, or other printed elements. If you don’t leave a barcode a proper quiet zone, a scanner can accidentally read some other element in the surrounding artwork and cause an error.

To prevent any issues, it’s important to give each barcode the proper amount of space. In general, the quiet zone should be the larger of the following two measurements.

10 times the width of the most narrow bar in the barcode
An eighth of an inch

An example barcode with the approapriate amount of quiet space.

Use the right colors for your barcode

While utilizing various colors can help lead to an eye-catching label, barcodes should follow a very simple color scheme.

Bars: Use a single color, ideally black or a dark color, and avoid warm colors like red or brown (they won’t work well with red laser scanners)
Background: Typically the background of the barcode is not printed, meaning the background takes on the color of the label or packaging; if necessary to print the background, use a light color like white for the background and quiet zone

Barcode colors for products

Pay attention to barcode size

Just like labels come in custom sizes, so do barcodes. It’s important to make sure that your barcode isn’t too big or too small for both your label and scanners. In general, bigger barcodes and UPCs are easier to scan, but your options may depend on your design and total label space.

A typical barcode measures 1.469 inches wide by 1.02 inches high, but you can adjust the size as necessary as long as you stay between the following minimum and maximum recommended barcode sizes.

Minimum – 1.175” wide by .816” high
Maximum – 2.938” wide by 2.04” high

A visualization of the minimum and maximum barcode sizes.

When considering sizing, create your barcode to fit your label size. Be sure to avoid adjusting it by making it bigger or smaller—this could cause issues for its scanning ability. If you need a different size, start fresh and design the barcode in that new dimension.

Ensure proper barcode placement

It’s important to consider where you place a barcode on your label. For products getting scanned at checkout, aim to place the barcode in the lower right corner of the backside. Be sure to keep it away from edges and make sure there’s enough white space around it—this helps the barcode scan easily.

We know that packaging and containers come in a wide variety of shapes, but make sure that the printing surface for the barcode is relatively flat—any bumps or irregularities could cause issues with how well scanners can read your barcode.

GS1 has published Guidelines for Bar Code Symbol Placement for reference.

Send your barcodes to the printer in the right format

Once you have your label design with an appropriate barcode, it’s time to send It along to a printing company. However, there are specific rules as to how you should send that information. In addition to sending the appropriate art files for your label, you’ll also need to deliver the barcode(s) in one of the following forms.

An image file of the barcode you’ve received from the provider
An Excel document with a list of UPC numbers
A PDF or EPS of the barcodes

A label printing expert testing a barcode label.

It’s important to work with a label printer with premium printing capabilities—if a barcode fails to scan, it could lead to lost sales and frustration on the part of both customers and vendors. Even worse, it could lead to charge-backs from retailers if they can’t scan your products.

A label expert will know how to choose the right materials and printing techniques to avoid smudges, defects, abrasions, and low-resolution printing.

Thinking of using printable label sheets on an inkjet printer or laser printer at home? Be careful—home printers may not be able to provide the resolution needed for barcode labels. Plus, paper labels compatible with home printers typically aren’t suitable for most product environments (i.e. durable label materials, tear-resistant, water-resistant labels, etc.).

How to Get a Barcode

We’ve talked about different types of barcodes as well as design considerations, but you may be wondering how you actually obtain a barcode in the first place? The best place to start is the GS1 website.

In the U.S., you can either start with an individual GTIN or register multiple barcodes at a time. Luckily, GS1 provides a helpful barcode estimator to identify exactly how many (and what kind of) barcodes you’ll need.

The process of obtaining a barcode is pretty simple:

Choose either a GS1 US GTIN or GS1 Company Prefix

Input your contact information
Pay (price will vary depending on quantity and type of barcode)

Make Sure Your Labels are Perfect for Your Products

Preparing a barcode and UPC for a product label is one of many important parts in the labeling process. Once you take all the steps to make sure your design is ready for production, it’s time to find a good printing company to give you the quality labels you deserve.

At Blue Label, we take all the steps necessary to not only print stunning labels, but also to check and make sure that everything is right before we print your full order. To help ensure that your barcodes are ready for the market, we’ll print out example labels and test them with scanners to make sure they work. After review, we’ll grade your barcodes and double check that your UPC matches the bars. If we notice any problems, we’ll notify you so that you can amend the issue before we print your run.

Ready to invest in quality product labels for your business? We’re happy to help. Contact us today to talk to us about your next labeling project.

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Common Labeling Mistakes to Avoid: Application Issues

Before your labels can wow anyone, you need to apply them to your products. However, improper application can make your labels stick out for all the wrong reasons.

Application issues come in many forms and lead to a range of problems. Misapplication could lead to tearing, wrinkling, flagging, or peeling. Other factors can wreak havoc with the actual application process itself. No matter the problem, you can take measures to prevent each problem ahead of time. Here are some notable reasons why you’d encounter label application issues.

Your Label isn’t Right for Your Container Surface

What you apply your labels to can play as much of a role in label issues than the application process itself. Each surface has its own challenges, which can call for a different adhesive or label material. For example, a glass wine bottle has a different surface energy and adhesive needs than a polyethylene pouch for candy. This means that you need to identify potential surface issues to ensure that your labels stay on your products during – and long after – the application process.

Custom product labels printed out for rolls.

The Applicating Environment Poses Problems

Even if you have the right label material and adhesive for your container, they may not be a good fit for your applicating environment. There are a variety of factors that impact label application. Certain adhesives won’t work nearly as well at different temperatures, which can be a major issue if application is performed in a hot or cold environment. As a result, you’ll want to take these conditions into consideration when selecting the right label adhesive.

There’s also potential for contaminants like dirt, dust, and moisture to prevent proper adhesion. The product itself can even pose a problem for the application environment. Spilled oil or soap won’t make it any easier for an adhesive to take hold. No matter the potential problem, it’s important to try and keep your containers and environment as clean as possible for application.

The Unwind Direction is Wrong

Even if you have the right label adhesive and your applicating environment is clean, you can still have major issues if your rolls aren’t oriented correctly. Since your labels are printed on rolls, it’s crucial that you consider both how those labels are printed on the substrate and how they’ll be applied to your container. If you don’t, you’ll likely end up with an incorrect unwind direction that results in improper label placement.

Simply put, the unwind direction is the orientation of your labels as they come off a roll. Depending on your container or application equipment, you will need a specific unwind direction. For example, one machine may dispense labels on the left side first or require your design to be turned 90 degrees for proper placement. It’s key that you take the application process into account and visualize how your labels are applied to your product. That way you can communicate the correct unwind direction to your printer so that you avoid issues before they happen.

Spirit bottle labels printed with the right unwind direction.

Your Label Rolls Aren’t Right for Your Equipment

Unsurprisingly, your applicating equipment could be the source of application issues. Certain machines only handle certain roll sizes. That means equipment designed to use 8-inch rolls won’t accommodate larger sizes. As a result, improper roll sizes can cause your application process to come to a complete stop.

Incorrect roll sizes are fixable, but it still requires your printer to resize and rewind them. In turn that costs you more time and money for an entirely preventable problem. Whether you use your own equipment or work with a co-packer, make sure you know what size rolls your equipment can handle. This size issue is typically referred to as “maximum outer diameter” or “max OD,” That way you can communicate these sizes to your printer and be proactive in preventing issues.

Work with the Right Label Printing Company

No matter the application issue you want to avoid, a good printer can help you find potential solutions to your label problems. That’s why Blue Label develops a collaborative relationship to work with our customers so that we understand their needs and identify ways to avoid issues ahead of time.

Ready to talk about your next custom product label project? Contact Blue Label today to get in touch with one of our experts.

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The Shelf Life of Labels: 6 Factors That Impact How Long Your Labels Last

Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your product labels. Even the most attractive packaging can lose its luster over time, whether it’s because of a preventable accident or an unavoidable change. Damaged or outdated labels won’t help your business, so it’s important to know the factors that can impact the lifespan of your labels so that you make sure you get the most out of your investment.

Sunlight

You may enjoy a sunny day, but long-term exposure to the sun is a problem for your labels. Ultraviolet rays break down the chemical bonds found in inks over time, which essentially has a bleaching effect. As a result, exposure to sunlight causes your label designs to fade.

While you can’t completely protect you labels from sunlight, you can delay its effects. Label laminates and UV coatings add a layer of protection that lessens the effect of sunlight, like how sunscreen shields skin. While fading will still occur over time, these solutions notably slow down the process so your labels stay vibrant for as long as possible.

Bottle labels protected from sunlight by a UV coating.

Water and Other Fluids

Paper labels don’t play well with water, which is a serious problem for any labels that are refrigerated, encounter water during the application process, or interact with any other slippery situations. Even paper stocks with higher wet strength will absorb water and other fluids over time. This can cause them to distort and even fall off eventually. For this reason, it’s strongly suggested to use film stocks and laminates for any labels that need some degree of water resistance.

Scuffs and Scratches

The quality of your product packaging says a lot about your goods. A big scratch or scuff on your labels won’t send the right message to potential customers. Instead of dealing with damage when it happens, there are ways to shield your labels from unwanted friction that can occurs during shipping and handling. Laminates and varnishes add a layer of protection so that your product labels can endure more wear and tear and customers pay attention to your branding instead of unsightly damage.

Adhesive Material

No company wants to get stuck with labels that don’t stick to its products. There are a variety of factors that can impact the long-term success of a label adhesive. Some adhesives are better suited for use with water, whether it’s for a product that’ll sit in a steamy bathroom or get submerged in a cooler full of ice. Sometimes the containers you use are better suited for a strong acrylic-based adhesive. No matter the environment, it’s important to work with a label expert who can identify which adhesive makes sense for your products.

Label Regulation Changes

Depending on your product, you’re not the only person who has a say in what goes on your label. Various government organizations have specific compliance standards for a wide range of products, covering everything from food and drink to beauty products and vape juice. These regulations can change over time, which means what were once completely compliant cannabis product labels could become obsolete after new legislation. As a result, it’s important to stay up to date on label compliance and to work with a label printing company that provides order flexibility.

Rebrands or Other Label Changes

Change isn’t always an unexpected development. At some point, you may decide that your business is due for a rebrand, or you may simply refresh your product label designs. In this case, you’ll need to transition from your old labels to new ones to show off your new logo, color scheme, or other design change you’ve made to the aesthetic of your packaging. Fortunately, you can plan for these changes and work with a printing company to have new, eye-catching labels ready when it’s time to update your labels.

Three variations of a product labels with different materials and varnishes.

Prepare for the Future with Long-Lasting, Durable Labels

Whether you need to guard your packaging or prepare for the unknown, it’s important to work with the right printing company to get the most out of your labels. Thanks to an investment in state-of the art digital label printing equipment and technology, Blue Label offers both protective label capabilities and order flexibility to help you prepare for long after your product labels go out to market.

If you need quality, cost-effective product labels that are made to last, we can help. Contact Blue Label today to talk to one of our experts about how we can help you get the most out of your durable labels.

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The Benefits of 7-Color Printing for Labels

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that color is crucial for packaging, but it may be even more important than you expect. The right use of colors is a signal to buyers about your brand’s personality. There’s also the fact that 90 percent of consumers make snap judgments about products solely based on their color. Your product labels communicate with buyers before people even read any of the words, so it’s imperative that they look great for that important first impression.

Unfortunately, your perfect color scheme may not make the impact you want without the right color printing process. Certain printers may not have the technology or range of inks to recreate your specific colors. Fortunately, 7-color process labels allow you to avoid many of these issues without having to pay extra for spot colors. Here’s how.

A digital printing machine making 7-color process labels.

7-Color Label Printing Gives You Access to More Colors

Digital printing uses four base colors, also known as CMYK – cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (key). These original four colors can only account for 55 percent of the Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors. That’s not a comforting number if you’re set on a specific hue, which is why the 7-color process adds violet and orange or green to the original four. These extra three ink colors allow printers to achieve up to 98 percent of the Pantone spectrum.

7-Color Label Printing Makes Your Colors Look More Vibrant

Another advantage of the 7-color process is that it gives you access to Extended Gamut color formulas. Essentially, this means that you have access to colors that are cleaner, brighter, and more saturated than what you may be able to achieve through the standard 4-color process. This is very important for if you want that extra-vibrant green, purple, or some other shade to really pop on your label without having to spend extra on spot colors.

7-Color Label Printing is Digital

Since the 7-color process is done digitally, it means that you can still take advantage of all the benefits of digital printing while improving your color options. Not only does 7-color printing allow you to achieve more vibrant labels, you can also get them quicker than you would with printing methods that require plates. That lack of plates means no setup and better turnaround times for label proof or finished products. Digital color printing also gives you additional flexibility for your orders, whether you only want to commit to a smaller run or want to combine multiple SKUs into a single order.

Multiple custom 7-color process labels on a table.

Make Your Labels Stand Out Through 7-Color Printing

You should never have to settle for bland colors that don’t fit your brand. Thanks to our investment in the 7-color process and state-of-the-art digital printing technology, Blue Label can work with you to make sure your labels look just right for your products. Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about you next label project.

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How to Taper a Label for Your Products

Are you wondering how to put a label on a curved surface and how to apply them straight? Designing for a flat surface is pretty straightforward. A straight edge will still be straight, a square will still be a square, etc. Curved or inclined surfaces are more difficult. Depending on the shape of your container, especially if it’s tapered, this can be trickier than you expect.

A container is tapered when it isn’t perfectly cylindrical and gradually changes in width. An easy way to tell if your container has a tapered shape is tapered is to compare it to something that’s completely flat or straight, whether it’s something like a rectangular box or a ruler. If you stand both items next to each other and the side of your container isn’t flush against something flat, it has some degree of tapering to it.

Why Can’t You Use Rectangular Labels on Tapered Containers?

Tapered labels can create some problems for even the most basic of label shapes. Straight lines appear uneven when placed on tapered containers, even if the change in width is very slight. This can lead to crooked label placement or noticeable creases or bulges that result in an unprofessional overall packaging design.

While it may seem easy to simply switch to a non-tapered container, these labeling challenges shouldn’t scare you away from utilizing uniquely-shaped packaging that stands out to your consumers. Even standard beer bottles feature a tapered neck, so you may not be able to avoid some form of tapering depending on your container.

You also may not want to change your container. Tapered shapes can attract eyes and create an exclusive silhouette for your brand. Instead of settling for standard containers, you can create a curved dieline that will allow your custom product labels to account for the gradual tapering of your container.

Labels that were tapered for custom-shaped bottles.

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How to Adjust Your Label to Fit a Tapered Container

One option is to downsize your label so that the effect of the tapering isn’t as noticeable. However, this limits the amount of label space you have to showcase your brand, describe your product, and include any necessary regulatory information.

The other option is to tailor your label to better suit the shape of your container or tapered bottle. If you still want your label to look rectangular, you’ll need to create a curved dieline. You’ll need to do some math to figure out the right shape, but the process may not be as tricky as you think.

Step 1: Decide where your label should go

Before you can solve anything, you’ll need to acquire some information. First, figure out exactly where you want your label to stick to your container. Since the width of your container gradually changes, it’s important to measure exactly where a label needs to go or else your measurements could be wrong. This also means you should have an idea of whether you want a partial or full wrap for your label as that will greatly impact the width. Once you’re set, use a pen, pencil, tape, or some other item to mark where the top, bottom, and sides of your label should go.

Step 2: Measure your dimensions

Once you have your container marked, you’ll want to measure the following:

Width of the top of your label
Width of the bottom of your label
Height of your label

Regular rulers won’t be too helpful in this stage since you’ll need something that can curl around your container and measure the top and bottom parts of your label. If you don’t have a loose tape measure, contact your Blue Label representative and request a custom flexible ruler or you can download and print a paper ruler. Another is to wrap string around your container and mark or cut it to fit the right lengths.

Please note that if you measure completely around your container, those measurements will make for a full wrap label dieline. If you don’t want a full wrap label, you’ll want to factor in your desired gap into the measurements. Once you’re all set, you can use your measurements to create a curved shape in Adobe Illustrator.

Step 3: Use Adobe Illustrator to create a curved dieline

In order to turn your measurements into an actual curved shape, you’ll need to do some geometry. Fortunately, there’s a convenient online cone calculator that will do the hard work for you. All you need to do is plug in the height and widths from your container to generate the following measurements.

Arc angle
Radius 1
Radius 2

A cone with measurements used to taper product labels.

These numbers will allow you to create your exact custom container label shape in Illustrator. First, take each radius and create a pair of circles that share a common center (also known as concentric circles). Now you can use the drawing and transform tools to create a triangle that shares an apex point with the center of the two circles. The triangle should use the arc angle generated by the calculator and extend past the larger of the two circles. In the end, the two circles and triangle will intersect to create a curved dieline for your container.

Example dielines for rectangular and tapered labels.

Step 4: Identify an ideal rectangular shape

Even though you have a curved dieline, you still need to figure out how to warp your design to fit your container. To start, you’ll want to convert your curved dieline into an ideal rectangular shape.

Before you find your shape, make sure to add a bleed area that extends your design artwork at least 1/16” past the edges of your curved label dieline. This will add some extra insurance that your labels don’t have any accidental white spaces once they’re cut. It’s also important to add this now because you’ll need to measure the top and bottom chords of your label to identify your ideal rectangular shape. A chord is the straight line between two corners of a curved dieline.

Once you use Illustrator to find these measurements, you’ll then need to average the top and bottom length together. You can now build out your ideal rectangular shape with the measurements for the average chord length and your original height and use the Illustrator warp tool to curve your artwork.

Make Sure Your Labels Stay Ahead of the Curve

Preparing a label for a tapered container may seem like a lot of work, but it doesn’t mean you have to settle for something you don’t want. At Blue Label Packaging Company, our experts work directly with you to ensure that your tapered labels are catered to your needs. That way, you don’t have to sacrifice your container or other important aspects of your packaging. If you need a professional designer to help you create a specific look for your products, we can even point you toward our approved designer directory.

Ready to wow your customers with tapered product labels by using our custom label printing? Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about your label design and project.

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How to Protect Your Bottle Labels: Laminates vs. Varnishes

After making an investment in new bottle labels, the last thing you want is something to scratch them up or tarnish them. A damaged label is bad for your brand image, but there are ways that you can proactively protect your designs through label lamination and varnishes.

Do I Really Need a Protective Coating for My Bottle Labels?

There is no set rule that you must add a laminate or varnish to your custom bottle labels, but we strongly recommend that you do so. If you choose to go without any protective coating or lamination, you run the risk that something could scratch the ink or moisture could compromise your label, depending on the material of your label.

Without something to protect the ink, any form of friction could damage your design. For example, some distilleries decide against laminates or varnishes because it gives their paper bottle labels a rustic, unfinished look. When those bottles are shipped, they tend to rub up against the cardboard and other bottles. Those attractive labels won’t look nearly as good thanks to scuffs, scratches, and other preventable damage.

There are also other factors that can impact your label. Water and other liquids can wreak havoc on unprotected materials, which is especially problematic for certain bottles. Laminates and UV coatings can also protect ink from the sun and other outdoor elements.

A product label with a spot varnish.

What’s the Best Option to Protect My Bottle Label?

While laminates and varnishes both offer protective capabilities, they have some key differences that may make one a better option than the other for your packaging. In fact, there are ways that you can utilize both laminates and varnishes. The answer to which protective solution is right depends on a few factors.

How much label protection do you need?

Both options will help protect your label, but a laminate offers a greater level of protection than a varnish. A laminate is a separate film that adheres over top of your label, while a varnish is a clear resin that’s applied then cured. This means a laminate allows you to build additional layers of protection instead of reinforcing your existing material, which is good for bottles that may end up in a cooler or other potentially damaging environments.

Do you want to take advantage of decorative effects?

Of the two options, varnish offers you more decorative bang for your buck. There are various types of laminates, such as gloss, semigloss, and matte films, but varnish can help you enhance your design to a greater effect. A spot varnish can apply resin to a very specific part of your label, such as your logo or a specific element of your design to create contrast with the rest of the material. You can even apply a spot varnish on top of a laminate if you want to maximize protection and decoration.

Which label material will you use?

Your label material can play a part in your protection options. If you’re using a synthetic material like a BOPP or plastic-based material, we strongly recommend that you use a laminate. While paper naturally has a grit to it that allows ink to soak into the material, film facestocks are so smooth that the ink lays on top of the material. As a result, the extra layer provided by a laminate is very valuable.

Are there any cost advantages?

The price difference between laminates and varnishes in minimal unless you plan to invest in a large run of labels. In that case, laminates are a bit more cost effective.

Bottle labels being printed with a protective laminate.

Protect Your Custom Labels

Your label can make a good first impression, but an unwanted scuff isn’t going to do you any favors. At Blue Label, we work with you to make sure that your labels a perfect for your needs, both in terms of performance and aesthetic. Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about printing quality, eye-catching labels for your products.

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Types of Labels for Unique Containers: What You Need to Know

Uniquely-shaped product containers can make for eye-catching packaging. However, designing the right label to fit on the container may present some challenges. You’ll have to get creative as you factor in the shape and size of the containers and the different materials you can use to create your label. Below, we’ve outlined several different label considerations for your uniquely-shaped containers.

Specialty Die Cut Labels

Designing a specialty die cut label is the most common way to create the most versatile packaging for your container. These labels can be cut to your exact specifications, no matter the shape of your container, ensuring a perfect fit all around.

Die cut label

Tapered Labels

Tapered bottles or containers are unique in that they aren’t perfectly cylindrical. A standard label won’t lay flat when adhered to your container, which is when tapered labels come in handy. Instead, tapered labels can be made to form perfectly by calculating the degree of tapering on your container. Using this type of label will ensure it won’t crease or slant on your tapered container.

Double Sided Labels

Containers made of clear material may benefit from double-sided labels. These labels give you twice the space to market your products and can add depth and originality to your uniquely-shaped container. While important information like nutritional content and FDA warnings need to be clearly displayed on the front of your label, the second side can be used to add a surprise or accent like a patterned background or catchy slogan that you might have not have space for on the primary side.

Specialty Materials

In addition to the type of label, you’ll also want to consider the material of your label. For instance, if you’re in need of a label for a uniquely shaped bottle or tube that will be squeezed a lot, MDO film is a flexible, moldable material that’s much less rigid compared to a paper stock. For products like lotions or shampoos, when you squeeze the bottle, the MDO resists wrinkling and creasing. MDO is just one of hundreds of specialty materials that can be chosen to accommodate your containers needs and functionality.

Custom Packaging Labels

Whatever type of packaging or containers you use, it’s important to work with a digital label printing company that can create high-quality labels to meet your unique needs.

Blue Label is a digital printing company that will work with you to create custom labels for your unique packaging. Our state-of-the-art HP Indigo digital printing presses allow us to find the best solution to provide you with labels that not only attract eyes, but also best suits the needs of your product.

If you need help with your label design, check out our Designer Directory to find the right partner for your product. Once you’re ready to start your next project, contact us to talk to one of our experts about how we can create custom labels for your brand.

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Why Don’t Beer, Wine, and Spirits Labels Have to Disclose Ingredients or Serving Facts on Labels?

It didn’t take long for someone to make waves in the beer labeling world in 2019. Just 11 days into the year, Anheuser-Busch InBev announced that Bud Light would feature serving-facts labels on its boxes starting in February.

While the move may not seem noteworthy for people unfamiliar with the rules and regulations of beer labels, the announcement is notable for one big reason: beer doesn’t need to divulge that information on its packaging. In fact, alcohol in general is exempt from disclosing ingredients and nutritional facts that are commonplace on labels for packaged food products.

So why is it that beer, wine, and spirits labels are exempt from listing nutritional information when those products have just as many–if not more–calories and carbohydrates as juice or other typical beverages? It turns out there’s one big reason why alcohol labels don’t require nutrition or ingredients labels: tradition.
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What You Need to Know About FDA Health Claims on Food Labels and Dietary Supplements

For something that can’t talk, labels say a whole lot about your product. A good label should be able to communicate a whole story to consumers, including what your product is, how it can help them, and why they should choose your goods instead of someone else’s. These messages are critical to the success of your products, but you need to be careful that what your label says doesn’t get you in trouble.

Health claims on food labels are one major way to help communicate the benefits of your product to your intended audience. However, the FDA is very particular about exactly what businesses try to claim. The FDA has strict guidelines for what is and isn’t acceptable on product labels to prevent consumers from being swindled by false or misleading promises. One claim may be fine, but another could result in recalls, seized products, and criminal prosecution.

As you may have guessed by now, health claims are serious business. Unfortunately, the FDA’s various definitions and rules of health claim usage are a bit difficult to understand without some help. That’s why we wanted to break down the different health claims with examples to see what it takes to ensure that what your labels say is okay with the FDA.

The Different Types of Label Claims

In general, health claims on food labels are statements made on food product labels or dietary supplements that boast some type of health benefit. This may seem simple, but the FDA doesn’t treat every claim the same way. Label claims come in multiple forms:

Health claims (which comprise of authorized health claims and qualified health claims)
Nutrient content claims
Structure/function claims

While they all have the same goal, there are distinct differences for each type of claim. In turn, the FDA has different guidelines that you need to follow depending on which claim you use.

A food product label with health claims being handled by a label printing expert.

What are health claims?

A health claim is a statement that creates a relationship between a product and some type of health benefit. For example, a specific ingredient may be tied to reduced risk for heart disease or some other condition. These claims can be represented in a few different ways:

Written statement
Symbols
Vignettes
Third-party statements

No matter how they’re represented, they still need to meet certain standards. Health claims require scientific evidence to be deemed acceptable for use. However, there are two different levels of health claims that dictate just what evidence is necessary:

Authorized health claims
Qualified health claims

Authorized health claims must meet the Significant Scientific Agreement (SSA) standard. Essentially, experts create a consensus of whether there’s enough publicly-available evidence that a certain health claim is accurate. For example, you can make the connection that diets that are low in sodium “may” or “might” reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

Qualified health claims aren’t quite as strict as their authorized compatriots. These claims don’t need to meet SSA standards, but still requires some significant scientific evidence. For example, scientific evidence suggests that including whole grains as part of a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet, may reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 .

Of course, you need to be careful with the specific wording of statements. Fortunately, the FDA does provide approved lists of both approved health claims and qualified health claims online.

What are nutrient content claims?

While health claims dictate a certain relationship between certain ingredients or products and a health condition, nutrient content claims involve statements about specific nutrients found in your products. These include, but are not limited to:

Calories
Sugars
Cholesterol
Saturated fat
Sodium

Essentially, nutrient content claims showcase how the level of certain ingredients relate to typical products. However, your products must meet certain FDA standards to do so. For example, your label can make the claim that it’s “100 percent fat free” if it contains 0.5 g fat per 100 g. Whether you want to market that your product is an excellent source of something or contains a small amount of something else, make sure you check the FDA’s guideline for content claim criteria on page 87 of the Food Labeling Guide.

It’s also important to note that the FDA cares about not only what you claim, but also how that claim is presented on your label. The FDA mandates that any nutrient content claims should be no more than twice as prominent as the name of your food or dietary supplement. In general, that means you should make sure your claim’s type size isn’t more than twice as big as your product name. If your claim is too big or too bold in comparison to your statement of identity, the FDA will probably want to have a word with you.

What are structure/function claims?

According to the FDA, structure/function claims “describe the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient intended to affect the structure or function in humans or that characterize the documented mechanism by which a nutrient or dietary ingredient acts to maintain such structure or function.” In short, these claims cover any statements about how a certain nutrient generally impacts the human body, as long as it doesn’t make a connection to preventing disease.

A good example of a structure/function claims is that “calcium helps create strong bones.” As long as the claim is truthful, the FDA is fine with using structure/function claims on food products.

However, the FDA is more particular about these claims if you plan to use them on dietary supplements. In that case, you need to meet the following three requirements to use these claims on your packaging.

You must have substantiation that the claims are truthful and not misleading before you make any claims
You must notify the FDA that you’re using the claim within 30 days of first marketing your product
The claim must include a mandatory disclaimer statement that is provided for in the law

Employees at a label printing company reviewing labels with health claims.

Stake Your Claim with Quality Product Labels

Health claims on food labels can help you attract customers, but it’s only one piece of the packaging puzzle. A good label needs to balance compliance and quality, which means that it’s important to work with the right label printing company.

Blue Label Packaging Company offers the right combination of printing technology and expertise to bring out the best in your label designs. In addition to offering a variety of custom label printing capabilities, we’re committed to customer service as well. We work with you throughout the process to ensure a quality product and turnaround times of three to five business days after proofs are approved.

When you’re in need of eye-catching product labels, we’re ready to help. Contact us today the next time you need custom labels for your products.

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4 Science-Backed Ways to Create Eye-Catching Labels

Many brands struggle to find new and creative ways for their products to stand out on the shelf. Tapping into the subconscious mind of the customer, there are several psychological elements that can influence the decision to buy a product, or even notice it for that matter. It all starts with having the right product label design. Here’s how you can use design science to help your product stand out.

Font Type

Different font types can evoke different emotions. Decorative fonts (so long as they are legible) are great for brand and product names, while sans-serif fonts are best for the body copy of your label.

The type of font you choose for your label will depend on your product and brand personality. If you want to portray a simple elegance, maybe for a wine label or perfume label, use fonts that are orderly and classic with narrower lines. On the flip side, quirky and high-spirited fonts with lots of curves and maybe some embellishment comes across as playful and personable and could be used for beer labels or cannabis labels. For earthy and artisanal products, handwritten fonts can be effective in grabbing a customer’s attention. These warmer, more personal fonts would work well on candle labels and organic food labels.

Layout is important in product label design.

Layout Design Science

Spacing between letters and words can impact the way consumers feel about a product. One study, by researchers at Microsoft and MIT, found that participants who read content with a good layout felt more focused and had a stronger sense of clarity, as opposed to those who read the same content with a poorly designed layout.

Good layout design works because our eyes follow a natural pattern that breaks up phrases into scans and pauses when we read. Your eyes typically scan across a label between 7 to 9 words before needing to pause to process what you’re reading.

For your product label design, consider the layout. Rather than long lines of text, it’s scientifically better to break up the text into a series of shorter lines to create the natural pauses needed for visual processing. When customers are scanning shelves for a product, they’ll be significantly more likely to choose a label they can grasp.

Product label designs using the color red can grab a customer’s attention.

Color Psychology

The color of your label design can influence a customer’s purchasing decision, as it can evoke certain moods and feelings. For example, red has been known to increase metabolisms and stimulate appetites, so a food product might want to incorporate red into the label design. Red is also known for its ability to quickly grab people’s attention, so using red on any label is an easy way to make your product stand out.

Keeping in mind that your label likely won’t be one single color, especially when you factor in other elements like text and images, you’ll also want to think about mixing and matching colors. Using complementary colors will help make elements pop. For a more relaxed look that flows together, use analogous colors (any three colors next to each other on the color spectrum) in your product label design.

Applying color psychology to your label is an effective way to make your product stand out in the marketplace.

Visual Processing

You’ve likely heard the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to product label design. Research below has found that customers are more likely to process and remember text on your product label if it’s paired with images.

People process visuals quicker than words, so adding imagery to your product label design can help it get noticed. In fact, 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual. Keep in mind that, according to the Social Science Research Network, 65 percent of the population are visual learners. Needless to say, an image on our label can go a long way.

Make Your Product Labels Stand Out

Blue Label is a full-service digital printing company that will work with you to create labels to help your product stand out. Our state-of-the-art HP Indigo digital printing presses and variety of finishing techniques allows us to find the best solution to provide you with labels that not only attract eyes, but also best suit the needs of your product.

If you need help designing your label, check out our Designer Directory to find the right partner for your product. Once you’re ready to start your next label project, contact us to talk to one of our experts about how we can bring your labels to life.