Waterproof/water-resistant labels are essential or chosen in many applications where durability is important, where brand or safety information cannot be compromised, or to simply add attraction to packaging.
Since water is everywhere, waterproof and water-resistant product labels have a wide range of applications. Here are a few of the many situations that call for waterproofing:
Food and Beverage Packaging
Imagine descending into your damp cellar to retrieve a prized bottle of champagne or wine only to discover a peeling, mangled label. Or think about how unpleasant it is to pick bits of soggy label off a can of craft beer. Or taking a container of salsa or dip out of an ice-filled cooler only to find it looks awful and can’t be read because the paper label is wet and peeling.
Food and beverage makers understand the appearance of their product is what sells it on the shelf and that labels are crucial to promoting their brand identity. The outside reflects the inside and is the first step in selling their product, so labels must be attractive, durable and high quality. Labels that get damaged by moisture look shoddy.
Health and Beauty Products
The bathroom is the wettest place in your house. Steam and water combine to wreak havoc on the labels of hair products, body soap, skin creams, perfume, and other health and beauty items. Consumers want their health and beauty products to make them feel good and look good. Peeling labels and runny ink betray that promise. Waterproof labels are a must in this industry.
Products That Are Handled/Stored Roughly
Products that are handled roughly during the transportation and distribution process, or are subject to being kept outdoors are also primary examples of where waterproof labels are needed. The outdoor elements are harsh and paper labels will deteriorate rapidly in such conditions. Also, for large or oversize products that will be handled by forklifts or machinery, paper labels that are torn can fall off, making the product susceptible to return to manufacturer because they cannot be scanned or lack brand identification. Poly labels that resist moisture, extreme outdoor elements and rough handling are essential if your product falls in this category!
Waterproof/water-resistant labels are constructed with a facestock that is synthetic, such as a polypropylene or polyethylene instead of wood fibres like a paper label. The synthetic materials repel water and are more durable than paper. Vinyl is another material that is waterproof and often used for outdoor labels and signs because it is stable in harsh climates with extreme temperature changes – stretching in many directions and able to return to its original shape without distortion.
PRX Print’s digital printing method uses a heat-based toner to fuse ink directly into substrates, so ink never runs or smudges. We also offer protective varnishes in either gloss or matte finishes, as an added layer of protection or to enhance the look of your labels. We also offer clear glossy or matte overlams for additional protection where needed from harsh elements, oils, or chemical products allowing for easy wipeoff.
Adhesive choice is also important with waterproof labels. PRX Print works with our customers to determine the surface tension and application environment of what labels will be applied onto and recommend the best solution.
The right adhesive for your product label will come down to the complex interplay between your product’s surface, the label material, and the environment (including factors such as moisture and heat). The experts at PRX Print are familiar with the properties of all these elements and will help you choose the adhesive that fulfills your performance requirements.
There can be many reasons why a label isn’t adhering well to a surface – and there are ways to fix it too! The quality of adhesive of the label as well as the cleanliness, temperature , shape and texture of the surface to which you’re applying your labels can affect how well the adhesive works. So what can you do to make your labels stay on?
- Check that your label has a high-quality adhesive and the correct type of adhesive for the temperature and surface you’re applying it onto. With labels, it’s the application temperature that’s crucial. If you are applying labels in a cold or frozen environment, you’ll need a special cold temp or freezer adhesive (think snow tires!). If you’re putting labels onto a wet surface, you’ll also want to ensure it’s an aggressive adhesive made for moisture.
- Check the surface is clean and does not have oily or waxy residue on it. A bond will only be created when the label adheres onto the surface. Dust, dirt and other residues will impact that adhesion.
- For very small containers, or unusual shapes or textures, we recommend a small overlap for your label so that it has a slight overlap when applied, which will prevent edges from lifting.
Sometimes pressure-sensitive labels aren’t the ideal solution in every application and you may want to discuss shrinksleeve labels with us to see if your container and application would be suitable for these.
PRX Print uses only high-quality North American label material and adhesives. We have the label experience needed to consult with you about your specific application and recommend the best label size, shape, material and adhesive. Call a label expert at PRX Print today! (905) 670-2014 solutions@prxprint.com
Should you print your labels in house yourself or outsource to a label company? You’ve probably heard of the saying, “If you want something done well, do it yourself.” However, if you don’t have the right tools, knowledge, and experience, you’ll probably regret it and waste a lot of time and money. The decision comes down to a few factors: the simplicity or complexity of your label design, material and adhesive, how many labels you need to print, and what kind of product look and market you’re after. If your label design is simple, the material and adhesive are standard, and you don’t need that many labels, then printing your own labels is worth considering, but if your labels are more complex (shapes, sizes or specialty material such as gloss, foil or textured), require a special adhesive (for cold temperatures, moisture resistance or removable applications, for instance), or if your product has a speciality or niche appeal for high-end or major retailers and up against many competing brands, you’ll want to hire an established label printing company to elevate the look of your product with high-quality labels.
Hiring a professional will give you greater peace of mind that your labels will look and work great. At PRX Print, we have many customers who started out printing their own labels and then switched to us to print their labels because they’re looking for a higher quality or can’t keep up with demand, or their equipment is too costly to operate and maintain.
There are many different adhesives available for labels. Here are the basic types:
Cold/Freezer Temperature: Enables a pressure-sensitive label to adhere when applied to refrigerated or frozen substrates generally +35 F or colder.
Permanent: High adhesion; usually cannot be removed without destroying the label. This is the most common adhesive and ideal for warehouse cartons or products at room temperature.
Removable: Low adhesion; can usually be removed from the substrate without pieces remaining on the surface. May cause damage to the surface of some materials. After a period of time or exposure to weather, the removable label becomes permanent.
Textile: An adhesive that removes cleanly from fabric. If left on the fabric for extended periods of time, staining may occur. Should not be used on velvet, fur, suede, leather or plastic. Ideal for clothing return labels.
Ultra Removable/Repositionable: Adhesive that allows a label to be reapplied in another area and is not limited to the number of times it can be repositioned. Repositionable adhesive does not gain permanency over time. Use for windows, glass and other surfaces where clean removal is essential.
FLIPOVER! label construction allows full colour printing on the back of labels for additional information such instructions for use, recipes, safety data and more! The additional space for colourful verbiage and graphics gives you more room on the front of your label to promote your product while adding space on the reverse side of the label for other information without adding material cost or having to cover up more of your product. FLIPOVER! labels from PRX Print are great idea for small packages, multi-language labelling or adding usage and promotional information to help consumers!
Zebras each have their own personal pattern of unique stripes, similar to how humans have their own unique fingerprints that sets us apart from everyone else. Barcodes also have their own unique and distinctive patterns in the retail world. When you want to sell your products through a large retailer, each product will have to have its own barcode. Barcodes – which are sometimes known as UPC symbols (uniform product code) are effective in tracking inventory as it allows both you and the retailer to keep track of number of products sold, and they link information through the chain of production, warehousing, distribution, sales and service. This can increase your proficiency and precision while enabling compliance with requirements from retailers.
There are different types of symbologies that barcodes come in (the encoding of the single digits/characters of the message as well as the start and stop markers into bars and space, the size of the quiet zone required to be before and after the barcode as well as the computation of a check digit). UPC symbologies in Canada for instance, are arranged as follows:
Human Readable:
Twelve digits that make up the UPC number
Machine Readable:
The first six digits identify the manufacturer
Machine Readable:
The next five digits identify the item
Machine Readable:
The check digit is last, ensuring the item scans properly
If you have products that will be part of a large retailing process, it is best to ensure that you comply with GS1 standards. GS1 is an international standards organization which provides globally used and recognized barcodes. They ensure that your particular codes are unique to only your business. Become a member of GS1 at http://www.gs1ca.org in order to obtain your product codes. Once you have your codes, it is best to have an internal software system to maintain your database of your products and their barcodes. Once this is done you will easily be able to integrate your barcode into the packaging or labelling of your product.
PRX Print has many services to help our clients with their barcoding needs
In the design phase of your labels of packaging, we will come up with creative designs to ensure optimal placement of your barcodes. We show our customers how to avoid common problems like non-compliant barcodes, and barcodes that do not scan because of poor sizing, placement or legibility. We will also help with the tricky art of placing barcodes on shrinksleeve labels. This helps you avoid mistakes resulting in retailer penalties or returned products that could end up being very costly for you.
Another service we provide is service bureau imprinting of barcodes and sequentially numbered or static data. We not only have the equipment and the labelling software, but also the expertise to ensure we deliver high-quality and reliable labels that are guaranteed to scan with 100% compliance.
QR Codes, Quick Response codes, are like barcodes on steroids. They are popular as a low-cost, direct link to the online world, and universal accessibility to smartphone users. QR codes allow your company to engage potential customers in a positive way by allowing them to scan your product’s QR code on its label, be directly linked to product features, benefits, promotions or end user surveys.
With Augmented Reality (AR) labels, you can communicate directly with prospective customers and end users, engaging them with an exciting “life-like” experience! Educate consumers, promote your product and convert more sales with talking labels that bring your brand to life like nothing else can!
How does it work? Users download and open a free app on their mobile device and scan your label for an entire virtual experience – “live” information about your product, video instructions for use, fun and exciting contests and much more! The possibilities are endless! Use your pressure-sensitive label to differentiate your product, maximize its impact and call consumers to action.
Augmented Reality labels will deliver powerful and valuable analytics as part of your company’s marketing strategy. Along with demonstrating your product in an innovative and engaging way, they facilitate data collection with full analytics and “pay per scan” detailed, quantified statistics. Available for any budget level!
Here is a 13-point “no fail” checklist for designing the perfect label! Effectively designed labels make customers think and encourage them to purchase your product.
1. Use a label. Any label is always better than no label at all.
2. Size matters! Make the label as large as possible, and make the key label elements large too.
3. Use contrasting or bright colours and designs, heavy fonts and thick lines to stand out. Also use colours that are relevant to the label’s content or brand image you want to convey.
4. Use images or icons in your labels and be very visual. Think carefully about the pictures you use. Labels displaying images that are clearly linked to your product or the desired emotions associated with the benefits of using your product will perform much better.
5. It pays to place the label in the centre of your item and to place the most important information in the centre of the label. Don’t crowd it with too much information.
6. Make your labels surprising and different to stand out on the shelf. Ask us about embellishments such as metallics, embossing, Augmented Reality (labels that can scan in a free downloadable app that adds value and interest for consumers) or “Flipover” labels printed on both sides.
7. Keep content and layout simple. Make sure the design is easy to read and digest to retain interest.
8. Grab attention through stimuli that naturally make humans stop and look. Emotional words like ‘love’ or ‘pride’ or images of faces, babies and animals all play to our primal instincts.
9. Provide all the rational information consumers need to make a decision, focusing on benefits and “meat” as opposed to “filler” information.
10. Make your designs high-quality and artistic. This will prime your customers to associate quality with your brand.
11. Conversely, be careful not to use low-quality labels that will cheapen a quality product, as it can tarnish brand perception.
12. Integrate emotional elements throughout your designs so that the feel-good factor ‘rubs off’ on your brand and positively impacts your consumer.
13. Inspire trust and appreciation by communicating authority in the field or by showing if your product is award-winning or endorsed by a recognized person or organization.
Now with this 13-point list to successful label design, you’re ready to design your product’s label! Then call PRX Print to ensure it’s printed with the highest of care and quality to “seal the deal”!
