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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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The Different Wine Label Stocks You Can Use to Showcase Your Bottles

When it comes to investing in wine labels, it’s good to have options. There are a variety of label materials to choose from, but it’s up to you, your designer, and your label printing company to decide which one makes the most sense for your bottles. When it comes to wine labels, the three most popular types of materials you can use are:

Estate
Ever-opaque
Specialty

Each category offers various advantages depending on your desired look, feel, and price point. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of wine stocks so you can figure out what’s right for your packaging needs.

Estate Wine Labels

When you think of a classic paper wine label, you’ll likely envision something made with an estate material. Estate materials are a popular choice for the wine industry, and for good reason – they have a classic look and are generally a more cost-effective option.

Another advantage of paper labels is that they are incredibly versatile. While paper typically exudes a very natural appearance, there are various types of paper materials that can either enhance that look or provide a new type of aesthetic. For example, linen-style or uncoated eggshell bottle label papers both have different textures in the paper fibers that can help you match the look you want for your wine labels.

Of course, there is a downside to using an estate material. Unlike film, wine label paper absorbs water, which can cause those labels to disintegrate over time. While there are some paper stocks that have a higher wet strength, even those options aren’t completely waterproof. As such, estate may not be the best option if your wine labels will encounter water.

A paper wine label that has been embossed and stamped with hot foil.

Ever-Opaque Wine Labels

If you really love the look of estate but are concerned about water damage, you should consider investing in an ever-opaque material.

Ever opaque wine labels have a layer of BOPP film woven between paper to help shield your labels from moisture. This material option allows you to still give your bottles an estate feel without the downsides of soggy paper wine labels. This can make ever opaque materials a go-to option for white wines that are typically chilled before use or any other bottles that may encounter moisture throughout its journey from your facility to your consumers’ tables.

As can be expected, the downside of ever-opaque stocks is that the presence of a BOPP film can drive up costs. However, that increase may be well worth the investment if it protects your labels from future damage.

Specialty Wine Labels

While both estate and ever-opaque wine labels have a more traditional look and feel, specialty label stocks can help you take your bottles to a whole new level. These can be made of paper or film and vary greatly in terms of overall aesthetic. Some specialty options include:

Felt/velvet materials
Cobblestone patterns
Shrink sleeves
Holographic or glitter films
Gloss, matte, satin, and soft-touch varnishes or laminates

As you can see, there are plenty of possibilities to break out of the classic wine label mold with specialty labels. The various materials available will each have their own distinct advantages, but when used properly, they can make sure that your bottles stand out when placed next to your competition.

A black vellum wine label make with a duplex hot foil and white ink.

Work with a Label Printing Company that Makes Your Wine Labels Shine

No matter which wine material you like best, it’s important that you partner with a printing company that can turn your design into stunning, eye-catching labels. At Blue Label Packaging Company, we have the expertise and state-of-the-art printing equipment necessary to print stunning labels at competitive prices. We work with you to identify the right label material for your needs, and we can provide special label printing and finishing capabilities to add an extra dimension to your label design.

Are you in need of top-quality wine labels? Contact Blue Label today to talk to our experts about your next label printing project.

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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.

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3 Tips for Designing Natural-Looking Labels for Eco-Friendly Products

Eco-friendly products are making a splash in the market. According to Unilever, a third of consumers choose to purchase goods from brands that are involved in positive social and environmental change. A good green product label plays a role in making sure that the brand captures that eco-friendly look. Here are some things to consider when designing an eco-friendly product label that looks as natural as the products it contains.
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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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