You had a great logo designed, the colors are vibrant, the fonts are modern... You sent the file to the printer and were shocked when you unrolled the labels: the colors were faded, white spaces were left on the edges, and the small text was unreadable.
Unfortunately, this scenario is very common in the label industry. This is because digital design and physical printing (especially roll printing) are very different disciplines.
Considering the paper texture of coated labels and the dynamics of roll printing, I have compiled 5 golden rules you should follow to achieve a perfect result.
1. Work in CMYK, Not RGB! (The Biggest Mistake)
Computer screens are light-based and use the RGB (Red-Green-Blue) color space. However, printing presses are ink-based and use CMYK (Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black).
If you send your design in RGB format, that bright neon green you see on the screen can turn into a dull and dirty forest green when printed on paper. Before ordering roll coated labels, make sure to change the color mode to CMYK in your design program (Illustrator, Photoshop) and check how the colors change.
2. Bleed and Safe Area
Roll labels are cut with sharp dies called "Blades" after printing. Machines can have microscopic vibrations.
- Bleed: Extend the background color or image at least 2-3 mm beyond the trim line. If you don't, a millimeter shift during cutting can create unwanted white lines on the edge of the label.
- Safe Area: Place logos and text at least 3 mm inside the trim line. Otherwise, your letters might be sacrificed to the blade.
3. The Power of Vector Format
If possible, prepare your design in a Vector (AI, PDF, EPS) format. Vector drawings, being created with mathematical formulas, do not lose quality no matter how much you enlarge them.
If you are using photos (Raster), make sure the resolution is at least 300 DPI. Low-quality 72 DPI images downloaded from the internet will appear "pixelated" (blurry) in print and diminish your brand's quality.
4. Readability and Contrast
Coated labels have a semi-glossy surface. They can reflect light. Therefore;
- Do not use thin fonts at very small point sizes (smaller than 6 pt). Ink can spread and make the text unreadable.
- Do not print dark text on a dark background.
- Barcodes: The safest way is for barcode bars to be "Black" and the background "White". A black barcode on red may not be readable by scanners.
5. Unwind Direction
This rule is vital, especially for businesses using labeling machines (automatic applicators). When the label is on a roll, which way should your logo face?
- Top Off
- Bottom Off
- Left or Right Off
If you are applying labels by hand, this is not a big problem. However, if you are using a machine, you must specify the unwind direction when ordering. Otherwise, the entire roll could be waste.
When designed correctly, a coated label makes your product shine on the shelves. However, technical details can be daunting.
Not sure if your design is suitable for printing? Send us your file, and we will review it with our free "Pre-Press Control" service. To reduce the risk of errors to zero, you can contact us.
