The saddest scenario in printing: thousands of perfectly printed clear labels arrive at the factory, and the production manager calls: "We can't load these rolls. The labels come out the wrong way round."
It has nothing to do with label or print quality. It's all about the unwind direction.
If you apply labels by hand, you can skip this article; for hand application clear sheet labels are the most practical choice. But if you use an automatic applicator, you must know which way round your labels come off the roll before ordering clear roll labels.
What Is Unwind Direction?
It's the standard that defines which side of your design enters the machine first as the roll unwinds. Because sensors and applicator arms are fixed, a label that arrives the wrong way round goes onto the bottle the wrong way round.
With clear labels the mistake is hard to spot by eye, so it may only show up once the machine is running. That's why specifying the right direction when ordering is critical.
The 4 Basic Unwind Directions
These are the four most common directions. Tell your printer the number or term when you order:
- Direction 1 (top off / head first): the top of the design comes off first. Used when the bottle stands upright and the machine peels the label from the top. (The most common.)
- Direction 2 (bottom off / foot first): the bottom of the design comes first.
- Direction 3 (right off): the right side comes first.
- Direction 4 (left off): the left side comes first.
Inside or Outside Wound?
There's one more question: are the labels on the inside or outside of the roll?
- Outside wound: labels face outward and you can see them on the roll. Most machines use this.
- Inside wound: labels face inward; from outside you only see the liner. Some color label printers require this.
Sensors and Clear Labels ("Black Mark")
While we're at it, one more technical point: standard optical sensors may not "see" clear labels, because light passes straight through.
If your machine doesn't have an ultrasonic sensor, ask for a black mark printed on the back of the liner. It tells the sensor where each label starts and ends. Its position matters when setting the unwind direction too.
How to Order Correctly (Checklist)
Before ordering, ask your production manager or machine operator these 3 questions:
- Which end of the label comes off first? (Unwind direction)
- Do the labels face out or in on the roll? (Winding)
- What core diameter does the machine need? (Usually 40 mm or 76 mm)
Conclusion: Leave the Technical Details to Us
Sound complicated? Don't worry. If you're not sure about your machine, just send us a photo of a finished roll you currently use. Our team can identify the correct unwind direction from the photo in seconds.
To keep your line running without waste, contact us for rolls wound exactly to your needs.
