Printed Cans
Printed Cans for Beverage Brands
We’re Blue Label Packaging, and we print your brand directly onto aluminum cans, with no labels or shrink sleeves required. Direct-to-can (DTO) printing, also called direct-print or direct-to-shape (DTS), uses high-resolution UV inkjet to apply your design straight to the can. We run a Velox IDS-NC500 industrial digital press that covers 96%+ of the Pantone Plus Color Book. No tooling costs. No long-term contracts. Quotes in 24 hours. Pilot can in 5 business days. Production in 10 business days from approval.
Benefits
Our Work
Standard Finishing
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A smooth, non-reflective finish that gives your cans a modern, understated look.
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A shiny, reflective finish that makes colors pop and gives your design a vibrant, eye-catching appeal.
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A selective gloss finish that adds contrast by highlighting specific areas of your design.
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A raised, tactile finish that not only looks impressive but gives your can a unique feel that stands out to the touch.
Why Blue Label
Fast Production
We pride ourselves on speedy production and shipping times, producing your digitally printed cans in around 10 days*.
Quotes in 24 Hours
Blue Label Packaging sets the bar for responsive service, providing customized quotes for custom label printing jobs in less than 24 hours.
In-House Expertise
Our in-house experts are involved in every step of the process, from helping you choose the perfect features to monitoring your custom printed can projects through all steps of the production process.
Low Minimum Order Quantities
Because we work with businesses of every size, we offer low minimum order quantities starting at just a few thousand printed cans.
Ordering Process
Printed Cans Learning Library
Printed Can Specifications
- Sizes: 12oz Standard, 12oz Sleek, 16oz Standard
- Minimum order (per design): 1,556 to 2,024 cans depending on size
- Pilot can: 5 business days from digital proof approval
- Production: 10 business days from pilot approval
- Finishes: Matte, Gloss, High Build (Emboss), Selective Metallic, Selective White, Spot Varnish
- Color: CMYK + White + Light Cyan + Light Magenta + Orange (96%+ Pantone Plus)
- Liner standard: BPANI Gen 2 (BPA-free)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Direct-to-can printing (DTO) is also called direct-print, direct-to-shape (DTS), or just printed cans. They all describe the same process: applying ink directly to a formed aluminum can with a UV inkjet press, instead of printing a separate label that gets applied later.
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We offer 12 oz. standard, 12 oz. sleek, and 16 oz. standard cans.
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Yes, we offer standard LOE 202 ends (lids) and Interchangeable Superends (ISE 202) . Additional color options are available upon request, though lead times may vary depending on the option. For more information, check out our can end guide.
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After approval, our standard lead time is around 10 days*. This fast production allows you to get your product to market quickly.
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Yes, our minimum is around 2,000 cans depending on can size. That’s far below the 50,000+ unit minimums traditional (offset-printed) cans require. We can run this low because we print digitally: no plate tooling means no large production run needed to justify the job. That makes smaller orders realistic for seasonal releases, limited runs, market tests, and smaller distribution footprints.
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We can reproduce 95% of the Pantone Plus Color Book. We use a CMYK color strategy, enhanced with light cyan, light magenta, orange, and white inks to capture fine details and produce vibrant, high-definition images. This extended color range and precision mean your cans will stand out with bold, true-to-life colors.
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We offer FTL and LTL shipping options as well as pick-up.
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Our preferred file formats are Adobe Illustrator or High-Resolution PDF. You can view more guidelines on our printed can templates below.
12oz Standard Printed Can Template
12oz Sleek Printed Can Template
16oz Standard Printed Can Template
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Yes, we provide a digital proof via email for your approval before printing. This allows you to review the design, including positioning, color accuracy, and text legibility. Once the digital proof is approved, we will produce a physical “pilot can” for your final approval before moving into full production. Our proofing process ensures your complete satisfaction.
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While Blue Label Packaging does not directly offer label design services, we do have resources to help with your custom label design needs. We maintain a directory of Blue Label Approved designers who specialize in label design and understand the unique requirements and technical details involved. We also showcase a gallery of label designs for inspiration.
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All dunnage (pallets, separator/slip sheets, and top frames) used to ship cans is re-usable and should be returned directly to Blue Label Packaging to receive full credit. For more details, view our dunnage return guidelines or to start a return, fill out the Dunnage Return Form.
* after artwork approval for standard products