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.

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.

3 Key Considerations for Compelling, Cost-Effective Cannabis Labels

The medical and recreational cannabis industry is booming, which means more cannabis products are showing up in stores and online. Of course, this means that you have more competition, which makes quality, eye-catching labels a high priority.

There are plenty of legal considerations for cannabis labeling, but it’s also important to weigh different printing options as well. Certain printing or finishing capabilities can help you capture the right look and feel for your products, so make sure you consider the following factors when it’s time to order custom labels for your medical or recreational cannabis products.

Label Material and Finish Options

Depending on your printer, you probably have several potential materials you could use for your label products. Of course, it’s hard to know the exact pros and cons of each label material without some extensive printing experience. When it comes to figuring out which material is right for your label, you’ll want to weigh a few factors:

  • What type of aesthetic are you trying to achieve?
  • What are the performance needs of your product?
  • What’s in your budget?

There are many different types of materials that can each create a different vibe for your label. If you want to emphasize the medical nature of your cannabis product, you might opt for a very professional glossy film laminate. If you want to embrace the natural aspect of cannabis, a natural-looking kraft paper material might be best.

Of course, the aesthetic is just one area of concern. Adhesive options, environmental hazards, and other factors can all help a printing company narrow down which label material is best for your needs and budget. On top of that, a good printing company can help you enhance and protect your designs through means like hot foil stamping or label lamination. Each capability offers a special benefit, so it’s good to find a capable printing company that can guide you through the selection process.

A professional measuring out a label for cannabis products.

Sizing and Dimension Concerns

Containers for cannabis products come in all shapes and sizes. That means your cannabis labels must do so as well.

It’s important to consider exactly how the sizing and dimensions of your cannabis container plays into the design of your label. For example, a small cannabis oil bottle only offers a few inches of label space. This will greatly impact the way you choose to design your label since the legally-required information will require you to balance design and compliance.

Custom label shapes are another consideration for sizing. Sometimes the dimensions of your container will require some creativity, but even standard boxes, pouches, or other packaging options can benefit from a custom shape that adds some originality to your brand. A good label printing company can work with you to weigh your sizing options and provide the tools to help ensure what you order is right for the dimensions of your container.

Product Variety and Turnaround Times

Change is inevitable, especially when it comes to cannabis legislation. When a change in regulations forces you to update your product labels, you can’t settle for long turnarounds. In addition, the shifting nature of packaging compliance can also make it difficult to commit to large orders of individual product labels. Fortunately, digital printing technology can help protect you from future surprises.

Variable data printing allows you to customize aspects of your labels in a way that allows you to use one design version for multiple SKUs. Not only does this allow you to diversify label art and keep track of products with serialized barcodes, it also makes it easy to batch multiple product labels into a single printing project.

Even if you don’t opt for variable printing, digital printing offers other key advantages that shorten turnaround times. For example, digital printing doesn’t require the lengthy setup process associated with more traditional printing methods. Instead, a print-ready PDF file with your design is all it takes to get the job in motion, which means earlier access to press proofs and final prints without having to pay a premium for quicker turnarounds.

Cannabis labels being digitally printed.

Find the Right Digital Printing Company for Your Cannabis Labels

Whether you make edibles, oils, or any other type of cannabis product, your labels needs to make an impression. Blue Label Packaging Company has the experience and technology it takes to provide your business with eye-catching labels within three-to-five days once your design is approved. Contact us today about how we can make the perfect labels for your cannabis products.

3 Augmented Reality Trends in Labeling

Good labels draw customers to your products. Thanks to technological advancements, augmented reality labels can now drive these same customers to interact with your products on a whole new level.

Augmented reality gives companies an exciting, new way to engage with customers. While we’ve seen augmented reality most commonly used to bring food and beverage labels to life, it may seem a bit intimidating for businesses unfamiliar with the technology. Here’s a quick breakdown of how augmented reality labels work and some popular ways that businesses are putting it to good use.

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5 Label Tips for Cosmetics and Beauty Products

An unattractive label is not a “good look” for a beauty product. Aesthetics are an important factor when investing in labels for cosmetics and beauty products, but it’s not the only aspect that you need to consider. Here are six tips that you should follow when it’s time to design and order custom labels for your beauty products.

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6 Questions You Should Ask a Digital Label Printer

It takes a lot of hard work to put out a great product, so you shouldn’t damage your brand’s image with a subpar label. Great packaging plays a critical role in promoting your products, so it can be very advantageous for small businesses to invest in digital label printing.

However, you shouldn’t settle for just any digital label printing company. Some research and pointed questions can help you find the right label printing company for your business. To help your search, here are six key questions to ask a potential printing partner to gauge if they have the right blend of capabilities and customer service for your company.
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Advantages and Uses of Variable Printing for Labels

You don’t need to personally meet your customers to give them a personalized product experience. Thanks to digital printing technology, your product label can do that for you.

Variable data printing allows businesses to customize and personalize their labels through digital printing. Back in 2013, Coca-Cola started a personalized brand campaign in which it printed “nearly 800 million personalized bottle labels for the campaign, using more than 10,000 names, in more than 10 languages and five alphabets.” In 2016, Diet Coke launched the “It’s Mine” campaign, in which every single 12-ounce glass bottle label featured a different design.

While Coca-Cola had a lot of success with their campaigns, you don’t need to be a massive company to leverage the benefits of variable data printing. All it takes are a few ideas and a digital printing company with the technology to make it happen.

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What are Embossed Labels?

Who doesn’t want their labels to stand out on the shelf? The aesthetic appeal of a label plays a crucial part in whether people will purchase your product. Fortunately, embossing is one printing method that can make your labels stand out, both figuratively and literally.

Label embossing is a special technique that presses specific designs into your labels, thus making them actually “stand out” from the typical flat label surface. This capability is a popular feature for a variety of products, such as wine labelshealth and beauty labels, and other options.
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What to Consider When Selecting a Pressure Sensitive Label Adhesive

A container and a label each play pivotal roles in selling your product, but the adhesive is literally the glue that holds it all together. However, there really isn’t one standard option. There are many different types of label adhesives, and each of them can offer certain advantages and drawbacks.

There are many different factors that can help you determine which type of adhesive would be best for your pressure sensitive labels, such as environmental and material concerns. Here are some things you should consider when choosing which adhesive would be best-suited for your label’s needs.
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The Different Types of Pressure Sensitive Label Adhesives

When people think about labels, they often consider what goes on the front. A great label design is critical, but it won’t do much good without a good adhesive on the back.

Types of adhesives for pressure sensitive labels are generally soft, viscous substances that are sticky to the touch. As you’d expect, these adhesives are applied to a surface—in this instance, a label material (paper, polypropelene, vinyl, etc.)—which will then adhere to the surface after pressure is applied, causing the label to stick to its intended container.

There are a variety of factors that can differentiate label adhesives. These include what it’s made of, how it’s applied, and if it’s permanent or removable.
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