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How to Choose a Craft Beer Label Printing Company in 2024

Finding the perfect labels for your craft beer can be challenging. With so many printing companies to choose from, it can be difficult to identify one that truly understands your unique durability, design, and customization needs. We’ve worked with thousands of breweries and craft beer makers in your position.

Don’t sweat it. This guide is packed with tips to help you identify a printing partner who gets your brand and makes your beer stand out.

We’re covering the essentials: understanding materials and techniques, how to weigh costs, figuring out order sizes, and making sure your labels stay compliant. Plus, you’ll get a cheat sheet of questions to ask printers, making your decision-making process a whole lot smoother.

Cans with custom labels

Understanding Your Custom Beer Label Needs

Successfully choosing a printing partner starts with identifying your goals. Consider the following:

Identifying Your Goals

Start with the end in mind—your goals will likely include brand recognition, cost efficiency, durability, legal compliance, and customer engagement. These will help potential partners understand how to strategically design custom labels aligning to your specific needs. Here are some tips:

Brand Recognition: Share style inspirations or designs to collect feedback.
Cost Efficiency: Provide expected order volumes for advice on printing options that match your budget.
Durability: List product varieties like beers, seltzers, and ciders that require durable wet labels. Communicate the different environments that your product might have to endure.
Legal Compliance: Specify label content needs like government warnings supporting industry compliance (tip: we can help with this).
Customer Engagement: Discuss target demographics and labeling ideas to captivate them.

Decide What’s Most Important

Like any major business decision, it’s important to determine what matters most, whether it’s exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, the ability to create standout labels, conveying your brand story, eco-conscious materials, or a combination of those.

Standout Label Designs: Will custom shapes, special effects like foils or specialty printing techniques be featured? Determine must-have aesthetics.
Storytelling Through Labels: What brand narratives do your labels need to convey? Share themes inspiring designs.
Eco-conscious Practices: Do you require sustainable printing methods and materials? Ask about green production options.
Customer Service: How important is an expert team available for technical support? Assess level of involvement expected.
Printing Cost Factors: Will you print high volumes for cost efficiency or need flexibility for small batch prototyping? Request rate breakdowns.

Comparing capabilities in key areas helps identify ideal printing partners matching must-haves. Weigh whether you will compromise on certain preferences if strengths align well in other dimensions.

Custom bottle label with metallic foil and embossing

Key Considerations in Choosing a Craft Beer Label Printing Company

Choosing the Right Materials

When assessing the quality and materials capabilities of a printing partner, breweries should evaluate factors like durability, material options, and print quality.

The choice of material for your craft beer labels plays a significant role in their overall look, feel, and durability. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:

Water-Resistant Materials: Given the conditions that craft beer bottles and cans are often subjected to, from ice buckets to refrigerators, selecting water-resistant materials is crucial. Options like BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene) and vinyl offer excellent moisture resistance, ensuring your labels remain intact and visually appealing, no matter the environment.
Durability Against Moisture and Cold: It’s not just about water resistance; the material should also withstand cold temperatures without losing its integrity. Materials that can endure these conditions without peeling off or getting damaged are vital for maintaining a pristine look from the brewery to the consumer’s hand.
Aesthetic and Texture Options: Beyond durability, the material of your label affects its aesthetic appeal. Matte, gloss, and satin finishes can dramatically alter the look and feel of your labels. Each finish has its own way of interacting with light and can complement the design of your label to make colors pop or provide a sophisticated understated look.
Eco-friendly Options: With a growing emphasis on sustainability in the craft beer industry, considering eco-friendly label materials can resonate with your target audience’s values. Materials like recycled paper or biodegradable films can significantly reduce your brand’s environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality aesthetics.

Label Sizes and Shapes

Standard label sizes and shapes have evolved, largely influenced by the industry’s most common container types and sizes. For example, a typical beer bottle label might measure around 3.5 inches wide by 4 inches high, offering ample space for branding, artwork, and necessary information without overwhelming the container. Similarly, can labels often wrap entirely around the vessel, providing a 360-degree canvas for design creativity and brand messaging.

However, the “standard” is not one-size-fits-all. Different bottle and can dimensions, such as slim cans or larger bomber bottles, require tailored label sizes to ensure a perfect fit. The key is understanding the dimensions of your specific containers and how much of that space you want your label to cover.

Going Beyond Standard Options: The Case for Customization

While standard labels serve many brands well, the craft beer industry thrives on uniqueness and personality. Custom labels—those that break the mold in terms of size, shape, and application—are becoming increasingly popular for craft brewers looking to differentiate their offerings.

Embracing Unique Shapes: Custom-shaped labels can mirror the contours of unusual bottle or can designs, create visual interest, and enhance shelf appeal. From sleek, minimalist labels that hint at the contents to intricate, die-cut shapes that tell a story, the possibilities are limited only by imagination.
Considering Wraparound Labels: For cans, a full wraparound label maximizes the available design space, allowing for bold, engaging visuals that attract attention from every angle. This approach (often called shrink sleeves) can be particularly effective for limited edition releases or flagship brews that deserve extra emphasis.
Size Matters for Compliance and Clarity: When considering custom sizes and shapes, it’s essential to remember regulatory requirements for labeling alcoholic beverages. Every label must have space for mandatory information, including alcohol content, volume, and manufacturer details, without compromising readability. Balancing creative aspirations with these requirements is key to a successful label design.

Tips for Choosing the Right Label Size and Shape

Start with Your Container: Measure your bottles or cans carefully, considering curves, necks, and any other features that might influence label adhesion and appearance.
Reflect on Your Brand’s Personality: Let your label shape and size be an extension of your brand story. Are you bold and avant-garde, or classic and traditional? Your label can reflect this.
Consult with Design and Printing Experts: Professionals in label design and printing can offer valuable insights into what works well for different types of beers and containers. They can also provide templates or guidelines to help visualize your ideas.
Experiment with Mockups: Before finalizing your design, use digital or paper mock-ups to see how your label will look on the actual container. This step can help identify potential issues with size, shape, or legibility before you commit to printing.

Cost and Scalability

For breweries and craft beer makers, understanding the costs and scalability options of label printing is critical for both startup ventures and established brands. You’ll want to take into account factors such as minimum order quantities, volume discounts, the flexibility of printing across multiple SKUs, and the efficiency of re-ordering processes.

Understanding Pricing Models

Label printing costs can vary widely depending on several factors, including material choices, print techniques, label size and shape, and the complexity of the design.

Most providers use a pricing model that decreases the unit cost as the order quantity increases, rewarding larger orders with better per-label pricing. However, the starting point and scale of these price breaks can differ between providers, making it important to get detailed quotes for various order sizes.

Minimum Order Quantities and Volume Price Breaks

Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs): Many label printing companies set MOQs to ensure profitability. For craft breweries, especially those in the startup phase or with a rotating selection of small-batch brews, finding a provider with low MOQs can be crucial. Understanding a provider’s MOQs will help you determine if they’re a good fit for your production scale.
Volume Price Breaks: Volume discounts are a key consideration when planning your label orders. Providers typically offer price breaks at certain thresholds, which can significantly impact your cost per label. When comparing providers, ask for a detailed breakdown of pricing tiers to understand where these breaks occur and how they align with your anticipated order volumes.

Scalability and Flexibility for Multiple SKUs

Craft breweries often produce a wide range of beers, each requiring its own label design. Some key considerations include:

Flexibility Across SKUs: Look for providers that offer flexibility in aggregating different label designs to qualify for volume discounts. This can be particularly beneficial for breweries that want to print similar designs for multiple SKUs without the need to place large individual orders for each.
Digital Printing Advantages: Digital printing technology offers significant advantages in terms of scalability and flexibility. It allows for cost-effective short runs and easy updates to designs without the need for new plates or setup fees, making it an excellent option for breweries with a wide variety of labels.

Ease of Re-Ordering

The ability to quickly and easily reorder labels as needed is essential for maintaining inventory levels and responding to demand fluctuations. Consider providers that offer streamlined re-ordering processes, possibly through online platforms, which can save time and reduce the time to re-order.

Comparing Prices and Making Informed Decisions

When comparing label printing providers, consider the following steps to ensure you’re making an informed decision:

Request Detailed Quotes: Obtain quotes for various order sizes, including the costs for different materials and print techniques. This information will help you understand the full scope of potential expenses.
Evaluate Total Cost: Look beyond the sticker price to consider other factors like setup fees, design services, shipping costs, and lead times, which can all affect the total cost.
Consider Long-Term Needs: Choose a provider that can scale with your brewery. A company that offers competitive pricing for small orders but also has the capacity to handle larger volumes efficiently can be a valuable partner as your business grows.

Turnaround Time and Reliability

For breweries and craft beer makers, timing can be everything. Whether you’re gearing up for a seasonal release, restocking a bestseller, or launching a new brew, the turnaround time for getting your labels can significantly impact your operations. You’ll want to consider everything from artwork approval to set up, printing, and shipping to help you plan effectively and avoid unexpected delays.

The Components of Turnaround Time

Turnaround time in label printing is influenced by several key stages, each contributing to the total time from placing your order to receiving your labels.

Artwork Approval: The process begins with your design. Once you submit your artwork, the printing company will review it to ensure it meets technical requirements for printing. This stage includes checking the resolution, color specifications, and any potential issues that could affect print quality. Delays can occur if revisions are needed, so submitting artwork that already adheres to the provider’s guidelines can speed up this phase.
Pre-Production and Setup: After artwork approval, the project moves into the pre-production stage. For traditional printing methods, this may involve creating plates or screens, which can slow down the process. Digital printing, on the other hand, typically requires less setup time, making it a faster option for smaller or more time-sensitive orders.
Printing: The actual printing time varies depending on the complexity of your labels, the quantity ordered, and the printing technology used. Digital presses can produce labels relatively quickly, while traditional methods may take longer, especially for large volumes or intricate designs.
Finishing and Quality Checks: Post-printing, labels undergo finishing processes such as cutting, laminating, and possibly applying adhesive. Quality assurance checks are also conducted to ensure the labels meet the brewery’s and the printer’s standards. This stage is crucial for delivering a high-quality product but can add time to the overall process.
Shipping and Delivery: Finally, the completed labels are packed and shipped to your brewery. Shipping time depends on the distance between the printer and your location and the shipping method chosen. While expedited shipping options can reduce wait times, planning for standard shipping times in your overall timeline is wise.

Tips for Optimizing Turnaround Time

Provide Ready-to-Print Artwork: Ensuring your designs meet the printer’s specifications from the start can significantly reduce delays during the artwork approval stage.
Communicate Your Timeline: Be upfront with your printing provider about your schedule. Some companies can accommodate rush orders, but clear communication is key to aligning expectations.
Consider Shipping Logistics: Factor in shipping time when planning your label order timeline, especially if you’re located far from the printer or if the labels are being shipped during busy seasons.

Questions to Ask Potential Beer Label Printing Providers

To ensure you partner with a label printer that meets your needs, here are some questions to guide your selection process, informed by insights from our own label experts.

1. What is your experience with craft beer labels?

Understanding the printer’s experience in the craft beer industry can give you insight into their familiarity with common challenges and specific requirements, such as resistance to moisture and cold, adherence to regulatory labeling standards, and the ability to produce high-quality, eye-catching labels.

2. Can you provide samples of your previous work?

Asking for samples allows you to assess the quality of the printer’s work firsthand. Look for clarity, color accuracy, material quality, and the overall finish. Samples can also inspire your own label designs and help you gauge the printer’s capabilities in delivering the visual impact you aim for.

3. What printing technologies do you use?

Inquire about the printing technologies available, such as digital, offset, or flexographic printing. Digital printing offers more flexibility, producing vibrant colors, detailed designs, and cost-effective short runs without the need for expensive setup fees, making it an ideal choice for breweries.

4. How do you ensure label durability and compliance?

Given the conditions beer bottles and cans must endure, from refrigeration to moisture exposure, it’s crucial to ask about the materials and finishes used to ensure label durability. Additionally, confirm that the printer is knowledgeable about the regulatory requirements for beer labeling to ensure compliance with legal standards.

5. What are your minimum order quantities and volume discounts?

This question is vital for budgeting and planning purposes. Understanding the minimum order requirements and how volume discounts are structured can help you optimize your orders for cost efficiency, especially important for smaller breweries or those with a wide variety of products.

6. How do you handle design and artwork preparation?

Some printers offer in-house design services or assistance in preparing your artwork for printing. Asking about these services can be particularly beneficial if you don’t have a dedicated designer on your team or if you need help ensuring your designs are optimized for printing.

7. What is your turnaround time, and how do you handle rush orders?

Knowing the expected turnaround time helps you plan your label ordering process in sync with your production schedule. It’s also wise to ask about the process for rush orders, should you need labels more quickly than anticipated.

8. Can you accommodate special requests or unique label features?

If you’re interested in unique label features, such as foil stamping, embossing, or using eco-friendly materials, ask if the printer can accommodate these requests. Special features can make your labels stand out but may require additional planning and cost.

Finding the Perfect Beer Label Printing Company

Finding the right custom label printing company for your craft beer involves more than just comparing prices and reviewing samples; it requires a deep dive into understanding each provider’s capabilities, technologies, and commitment to meeting your specific needs.

The right partner will offer the flexibility, expertise, and scalability your brewery needs. Make sure you carefully consider the factors we’ve discussed in this article—material options, cost and scalability, turnaround times, and asking the right questions—and you’ll be equipped to make an informed decision.

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Label Considerations for Squeeze Bottles and Other Containers

Whether you’re trying to brand a flexible pouch, a lotion bottle, or some other squeezable container, you need a label that’s flexible enough for the job. These types of products require a labeling solution that’s both rigid and conformable enough to keep its shape with every use. Here are three factors you should consider to make sure you squeeze the most value out of your product labels.

Use a Squeezable Label Material

When it comes to labels for squeezable containers, there’s one go-to option: an MDO film. An MDO is a machine directed orientation BOPP film that is preconditioned to being squeezed and stretched. Essentially, the fibers in MDO films are stretched in all directions. This makes it so the material doesn’t have nearly as much tension as typical materials. As such, the MDO is more likely to return to its original state when squeezed or wrinkled, whether it’s a semi-squeeze film used for a container with slight compound curves or full-squeeze film made for complex squeeze bottles that expand and contract with every use.

An MDO’s ability to balance rigidity and conformability makes it a natural solution for applications with containers or packaging that’s made to grip, squeeze, or contort in some way. The tradeoff for this conformability is that MDOs are a little thinner than other label materials. However, MDOs can still provide the same level of resistance to sun, abrasion, and other problem areas as it’s less flexible counterparts.

An example of an MDO film use for squeeze container labels.

Factor in Container Design

While MDO label materials go a long way toward preventing peeling, wrinkles, and other issues for contoured or squeezable containers, you still need to factor in the design of your container into your label. Labels for contoured containers still need to be adjusted to prevent application issues.

MDO films do offer more flexibility than other materials, but a rectangular label isn’t going to cut it for a non-rectangular packaging. To accommodate the contours of your packaging, design your label around the shape of your container. Tapering your labels will allow you to stay ahead of the curve and help your labels adhere properly to your container.

Plan Adhesives Around End Use

While you may think squeezable packaging may need stronger glue than less hands-on packaging, MDOs typically use less adhesive than common label materials. The reason for using less adhesive is because MDO films are thinner than other options. Less adhesive makes it so adhesive won’t ooze out as people squeeze the container.

While squeezable labels don’t need higher performance adhesives than typical materials, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to consider other adhesive factors. For one, you’ll want to figure out which adhesive is best for your container. Squeezable plastic containers can vary in surface energy, so certain materials may need a stronger adhesive than others. In addition, curved surfaces generally require a stronger adhesive than flat ones. The stretched out fibers of an MDO will help prevent the need to peel back.

You’ll also want to plan ahead for your applicating environment and end use. If your labels will need to deal with wet surfaces, extreme temperatures, UV light, or potential contamination, you may need to use a certain adhesive to accommodate those conditions and prevent label failure.

A white squeezable MDO material used in labels for squeeze bottles.

Invest in Squeezable Labels that Conform to Your Needs

If your containers are made to squeeze, it’s time to look for the best, most cost-effective labels for your products. At Blue Label, we’ll work with you to determine a labeling solution that both looks great and performs under pressure. From identifying the perfect label adhesive to uncovering new ways to make your label design shine, we can help your products stand out among the competition.

Ready to invest in a new batch of labels? Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about your project or request some label sample to check out materials for yourself.

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4 Key Candle Label Considerations

Whether your candles are sold at your local farmers market or in stores across the country, high-quality candle labels play an important role in the success of your brand. Candle labels may seem simple at first, but there are several factors that can make your investment go up in smoke. Here’s what you should consider when investing in new labels for your candles.

Include Valuable Basic Information

While various products need to share different information depending on the nature of the components, there are some details that are pretty standard for every product label. As such, you’ll want to start by including the following pieces of information on your candle labels:

Product name
Company name and logo
A unit of measurement (in this case, candle weight)
Contact information/website

Once those are covered, there are some candle-specific details you should add. The following information will provide consumers with some specific details that will help them decide which of your products is right for them.

Candle scent
Type of wax used
Projected burn time (hours the candle will last)
Container specifications

Four candles with custom labels.

Add Recommended Fire Safety Details

While candles aren’t as closely regulated as products like alcohol, CBD/THC goods, or other items, there are some label standards in place. As the major trade association representing U.S. candle manufacturers and suppliers, the National Candle Association (NCA) notes that every candle should include the following three fire safety rules included on its packaging:

Burn within sight
Keep away from things that can catch fire
Keep away from children

The NCA isn’t too specific on where this information should be listed, so the label, a tag, or even a dust cover are acceptable places for listing the warnings. In addition to the three rules, the NCA also suggests adding graphic safety symbols to represent each rule. Those symbols are available for downloaded on the NCA site.

While the fire safety rules and graphics are a good start – and mandatory for any NCA members – it’s also good practice to include some form of manufacturer instructions for burning your candles properly. Candles are tested according to the ASTM F2417 Fire Safety Standard, which will allow you to provide customers with instructions about burn length, which type of container to use (if one is not provided), and other important details.

Optimize Label Placement

Between branding and information, you may reach a point where you’re tight on label space. Fortunately, you may be able to utilize the size, shape, and packaging or your candle to improve your branding.

It’s no surprise that the side of your candle – or the container it sits in – is a prime spot for label placement. However, you shouldn’t overlook the underside of your product. While the side of your panel is a great spot for basic product info and special design elements, you can include fire safety and other less brand-heavy details on a separate label applied to the bottom of your candle or container. Container lids also offer more potential for labeling space. If it has a surface, there’s an opportunity for branding as long as your label can survive in that space.

Identify the Right Label Material and Adhesive for Candles

Your customers aren’t the only ones who need to be careful with fire. The heat created by your candles also plays a direct role in your choice of label material and adhesive. While you don’t have to stay close to the flame, your label doesn’t have a choice. This close proximity to the heat the flame emits means your label needs to withstand temperatures up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit depending on your product.

In addition, candle labels must handle repeated fluctuations in temperature, i.e.when your candle is lit or put out. The right choice of material and adhesive can help prevent premature label failure. For example, a thick biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) material and an acrylic adhesive is more likely to withstand the heat.

Your application surface and process also plays a part in your choice of materials and adhesive. Every surface creates different challenges. For example, the wax of a candle has a different surface energy and adhesive needs than a glass jar. Your choice of hand or machine application will also play into which labels are right for you (along with other key details like unwind direction that can impact application).

Sweet strawberry candles with custom labels.

Invest in the Best Labels for Your Candles

From design to application, there are several variables that can impact the success of your labels. However, it can be difficult to identify the right solution for your exact product without an expert.

Fortunately, Blue Label can help you figure out how to get the most out of your candle labels. Our experts can work with you to not only determine the right materials and adhesives for your labels, but also how to enhance your designs through special printing capabilities. Contact us today if you’re ready to invest in custom candle labels for your business.

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Protect your Label: The Different Types of Label Varnishes

A beautiful new label is the beacon your products need to showcase your brand and convince buyers to try your goods. Unfortunately, a damaged label can undo all the hard work you put into your packaging design. Thankfully, there are solutions like label varnishes to help you protect your investment.

As with lamination, there are multiple label varnishes available to not only help you protect your label as well as enhance your design. Each type of varnish can help you defend your label from scuffs, scratches, water damage, fading, and other threats, all while contributing to your preferred aesthetic.

Labels with a UV varnish.

Breaking Down Each Type of Label Varnish

While label lamination utilizes a layer of film to protect your label, varnishes operate a bit differently. Label varnishes are liquids that are rolled onto a label and then cured or dried so that the varnish adheres to the label materials’s surface. This method makes varnishes a good option for paper labels because the liquid can conform to the texture of the paper and fill in any nooks and crannies.

Like laminates, there are a few different types of label varnishes that differ based on the application process or their final appearance.

UV coating
Aqueous coatings
Gloss, satin, and soft-touch varnishes

UV coating

As the name suggests, UV coatings use ultraviolet light to cure a liquid coating made of a special mix of chemicals. Once it’s cured, the UV varnish essentially bakes onto your label material to create a protective coating. This newly cured shield basically acts as a permanent sunscreen, preventing your design from fading over time and other factors that can damage your label.

Aqueous coating

Like a UV coating, aqueous coatings use a special solution to protect your label. However, you don’t need UV light to cure aqueous varnishes. These solutions are a clear, water-based varnish that quickly air dry to seal off your label materials from potential danger.

Gloss, satin, and soft-touch varnishes

While UV and aqueous coatings differ in terms of the process used to cure them, gloss, sating, and soft-touch varnishes denote the finishing effect a coating has on your label. Gloss varnishes create a smooth, shiny look for your labels once applied. Satin varnishes – known as “matte” for laminates – cut out most of the shine to create a flat look that makes other design elements pop. Soft-touch varnishes not only look soft, they can even add a soft textural element to your labels as well.

Paper beer labels protected with a label varnish.

Protect and Enhance Your Labels with the Right Varnishes

No matter what type of product you sell, it’s well worth the investment to protect your labels. Scuffs and scrapes can happen to any product label, and once that ink comes off your label there’s not much you can do. Varnishes and laminates offer both protection and aesthetic improvements – it’s just a matter of finding the right one for your needs.

Fortunately, you don’t need to find and apply your own varnishes. At Blue Label, we can guide you through every step of the label process, including applying varnishes or laminates to protect and enhance your designs. In fact, we can even add a varnish on top of a laminate to highlight specific design elements. Every label is different, so we work with you to figure out the best ways to showcase your products.

Ready to invest in eye-catching labels built for success? Contact us today about printing your next batch of product labels.

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Pick Your Protection: The Different Types of Label Lamination

A good label allows your products to make a great first introduction to potential customers. However, scuffs, scratches, and other forms of damage can mangle your message without protection.

Label lamination allows you to add a protective film to the surface of your label. Once your label is printed, lamination serves as a second skin of sorts that shields your design from scratches and provides some waterproofing for your base material. However, these laminates can offer additional benefits depending on which type of lamination you use.

New labels going through the lamination process.

Breaking Down Each Type of Label Lamination

While laminates in general offer protective capabilities, certain types of lamination can add decorative effects to your label. This variety allows you to pick and choose different label laminates depending on your desired aesthetic. Other laminates can also change the feel of your label or provide certain capabilities not offered by other protection. In general, laminates are broken down into five types.

Gloss
Matte
Soft touch
Leather
Thermal transfer

Gloss

If you want your labels to shine, you’re going to like gloss laminates. These laminates reflect light off your label to add a smooth, glossy look that makes your design pop for passing customers.

Matte

If shiny isn’t your thing, a matte laminate creates a more subtle appearance for your labels. A matte finish dulls down your label surface so that it doesn’t shine much at all – but this means your label will be far from dull. These laminates can create a soft, subtle look that allows certain elements and colors appear deeper and brighter in contrast to the matte finish.

Soft touch

While matte finishes can make your labels look soft to the touch, other laminates can create a velvet-like, matte finish. Soft touch laminates add a tactile quality to your labels that consumers can feel. Research shows that the feel of a product can help sway buyers, which means that soft touch laminates can be a difference maker if you want that velvety aesthetic.

Leather

If you like the rugged, textured look of a paper label material but want the performance capabilities of a film, leather laminates help you achieve the best of both worlds. Leather laminates allow you to recreate weathered, wrinkled effect on film labels. This type of laminate works best on dark colors that allow you to highlight the texture of your label, all without the fuss of having to flood paper labels with ink or deal with potential durability issues.

A closeup of a leather label laminate.

Thermal transfer

Unlike other types of laminates, thermal transfer finishes are chosen more for what you plan to print on your labels in the future. These laminates allow you to use thermal printers to print on top of your labels whereas other lamination may prevent the ink from sticking. For example, a deli with a branded label may want to print the weight and price for each order on its labels. Thermal transfer laminates allow these types of businesses to do so, all while adding a gloss, matte, or some other type of look to their labels.

Invest in the Right Protective Film for Your Labels

Product labels come in so many different styles. No matter which aesthetic you prefer, it’s important to protect your label design from harm. To do so, you’ll need to figure out which form of protective film is best for your needs, whether it’s a laminate or some other option.

Label laminates typically adhere to film material better than paper, while varnishes conform to the nooks and crannies that can be found in paper materials. You can also add a varnish on top of a label laminate to really make certain design elements pop. There are so many possibilities to amp up your design and protect your label that it can be a bit overwhelming without some guidance.

Fortunately, a good lamination packaging company can help you weigh your options. At Blue Label, we work with you to identify the right details for your design, including label material selection and protection. Contact us today to invest in the right labels for your business.

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Hot or Cold? The Role of Temperature in Label Durability

If your products will get hot or cold, it’s important to make sure your choice of label is just right. Whether your containers encounter hot or cold temperatures during application or sometime after, temperature can play a prominent role in identifying the right label for your situation. Here are some specific problems where hot and cold temperatures can wreak havoc with the durability of your product labels.

Heat or Cold Can Make Some Adhesives Fail

Behind every good label is some very important ‘glue’ – literally. Without the adhesive, you’d be stuck with some really nice leaflets to hand out with some blank containers. Unfortunately, hot or cold temperatures can be a dividing force that tears your containers and labels apart.

Temperatures issues can happen right away during the application process. Label adhesives have varying minimum application temperatures. If you apply a label with a certain adhesive outside of its recommended temperature range, it may not have the tack or adhesion necessary to stay on a container. For example, an acrylic adhesive may be a good choice for products that are hot-filled or exposed to higher temperatures, but it may pose problems in colder applicating conditions.

Different temperatures can also cause adhesives to fail at some point after initial application. For example, extreme cold or heat can cause removable label adhesives to break down. After a stay in the freezer or some time in direct sunlight on a summer day, your labels may start to peel off or fall off their containers altogether. In these instances, it would be better to opt for a permanent label designed to handle difficult, environmental factors.

A cold, wet beer can with a pressure sensitive label going through a filling machine.

Some Face Stocks Can’t Face Certain Temperatures

In addition to your adhesive, there’s another critical layer of your label that can be negatively affected by hot or cold temperatures: your face stock. Certain label materials can run into performance issues when forced into environments that are too hot or cold. Fortunately, a little planning can make sure your choice of substrate is perfect for your exact needs.

The first step is to think about exactly where your products and their labels will be in the future? Are they a bottle label that will end up in a refrigerator or a cooler? Will these products end up sitting out in the hot sun or a steamy bathroom? Will they potentially sit in a storage space for a while? Each environment can pose it’s own temperature issues, along with other environmental factors like moisture, humidity, and sunlight.

When it comes to face stocks, film substrates offer better resistance to heat and other damaging elements. Utilizing a material like a BOPP or PET substrate can help give you more peace of mind if your product will encounter any environmental hazards in its future. While paper stocks don’t have quite the durability of their film compatriots, UV varnishes or thicker paper materials can help mitigate the impacts of various temperatures and other issues.

Heat and Cold Can Make Shrink Sleeves Warp

Pressure-sensitive labels aren’t the only labeling option affected by varying temperatures. Shrink sleeve labels also require some care and planning to protect your investment.

While shrink sleeves are a great option for anyone looking for a label that provides 360-degree coverage, one downside is that these labels are very sensitive to environmental factors before application. If shrink sleeves get too hot or cold before they’re applied, they can warp. Not only can this destroy part of your design, it may ruin some shrink sleeves altogether.

To solve this, you’ll want to make sure that your shipping and storage situation can accommodate your shrink sleeves. Depending on the time of year and your location, that can mean temperature-controlled shipping or utilizing temperature gauge labels to check a shipment before you apply damaged sleeves. As for storage, you’ll want a climate-controlled space – or at least one that won’t become freezing cold or sweltering hot when the weather shifts.

A six-pack of beer with durable product labels sitting on a storage space floor.

Invest in the Durable Labels for Your Environments

There’s a lot more to a label than just the design. From the liner to the top coat, every part plays a role in your label. When you work with Blue Label, we help you invest in durable labels designed for your specific performance and budget needs – all while ensuring that your design dazzles your customers.

Want to work with a company that can provide you with quality, cost-effective labels that can stand the heat (or cold)? Contact us today about your next label printing project.

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Pros and Cons of Different Types of Label Materials

Several factors can play into choosing a label material, such as cost, appearance, and durability. In general, label facestocks are separated into two categories: paper and film. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, so choosing a specific type of paper or film depends on the specific needs of your pressure sensitive labels.
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What You Need to Know About Label Adhesives

The most important part of a label is what is underneath it, the adhesive. Underrated and often forgotten, beverage label adhesives will absolutely make or break your label. Dramatic? Maybe. Wrong? No way. We want to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into when it comes to customizing your beverage label, and that begins with the all-too-essential sticky stuff.

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5 Hot Foil Label Designs We Love

One of the things we love most about our job is that we work directly with some of America’s best packaging designers. The most successful projects are a collaborative effort between the brand owners, designers, and packaging vendors to make products that capture the customer’s interest and imagination. These projects use a variety of decoration techniques like embossing, spot varnishes, and screen printing to achieve a high level of complexity and depth.

Of all the decoration techniques, hot foil stamping stands out as the most effective. At a relatively low cost per piece, gold, silver, and other types of foils can be used to create outstanding, multifaceted compositions very economically. We’ve compiled five hot foil label projects that we had a lot of fun working on to demonstrate the versatility of foil stamping, especially when used in combination with digital printing.

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The Joy of Sample Printing

When it comes to getting your product to the market, you’ve got to move fast. Materials have been paid for, distribution deals have been negotiated, and customers are waiting. Once you’ve selected your packaging containers and designed artwork for your labels, the last thing on your list is calling up your label printer and placing your order. Technically that’s true, once you’ve designed the label and picked out your materials you could go ahead and buy all the labels you’ll need, but there is one last thing that could make your life a lot easier: getting a printed proof prior to finalizing the order. When launching a new product, waiting a couple of days and paying a few extra bucks is probably the last thing on your mind, but there are a few good reasons you should.

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