Choosing the Right Label Sticker Paper
Label stickers are a great way to make sure your children’s school supplies and clothes stay matched up and safe. Upload your own artwork or choose from our many template options to make labels that are personalized and easy to read.
At first glance, labels and stickers may look the same. However, there are distinct differences in their use and purpose.
Paper
Whether you’re printing your own address, shipping, return, or shelf labels, the type of sticker paper you choose is important. Choosing the right label paper will ensure that your stickers have a high print quality, are durable, and will stick well to the surface you’re sticking them to.
A popular option is to use polypropylene self-adhesive labels, which are water and oil resistant and come with either glossy or matte protective lamination. These are great for items that might be exposed to harsh conditions, such as cleaning products and food.
Another option is to use paper label stickers, which are ideal for organization purposes. These stickers can be printed on full-sheet paper and given a custom shape using an electronic cutting machine. These stickers are often used to label storage bins, drawers, and file cabinets. Luxury textured paper stock is also available for a higher-end look. This includes a wide range of color and texture options such as leather, fluoro, and wooden texture. Natural stocks are also available for an eco-friendly alternative.
Vinyl
Vinyl label stickers are printed on a strong, waterproof material that’s durable and weather-resistant. They’re ideal for products that will be outdoors or handled frequently by customers. Vinyl labels are available in both singles (previously known as cut-to-size) format for application by hand or in roll for placement with a label dispenser.
Think back to the first vinyl record you ever owned. The way you reverently slipped it out of its sleeve and held it up to the light to admire the intricately label sticker crafted grooves. You felt a connection to the music that was unique and personal to you.
That’s what vinyl is all about – creating a connection that’s both tangible and meaningful. For many people, it’s a way to enjoy their favorite tunes, but for businesses, it can be an effective marketing tool to help elevate brands and boost awareness.
Shrink Sleeve
From condiments to beverages, from pet shampoos to automotive fuel additives, manufacturers of food and beverage products are increasingly using shrink sleeves on their containers. These labels offer eye-catching 360-degree designs and tamper-resistant functionality. The sleeves, which can be printed digitally or on a flexographic press, are placed over the container and then heated so that they shrink around it. They can be full-body, wrapping the entire container, or partial body (belly band), which wraps only a portion label sticker of the container. Both can feature measurement windows and can be customized for a specific container shape, making them ideal for specialty bottles.
Shrink sleeves can also feature a simple vertical perforation to create a tamper-evident seal. This feature helps build consumer trust in your product, resulting in better sales over time. The sleeve can also be made moisture proof, giving your product added durability and protection against the elements.
Sheet-Fed Offset
Often seen in food packaging, sheet-fed offset labels are a great choice for product labeling, stationery and address stickers. They’re highly durable and offer a high-resolution printing process to achieve a sharp, professional finish.
Sheet-fed offset lithography produces an image using a positive of the design and type, which can be metal, polyester or paper. Ink is then applied to the plate and offset onto paper, either individually or on rolls (depending on the size). This type of printing has extreme detail consistency, a fast turnaround and can be used for small, medium or large orders.
It’s also capable of a special finishing process called ‘litho folding’, which is done directly in the machine and gives you a finished format product that’s folded and ready for saddle stitching or perfect binding. This means a faster production process and shorter lead times, saving you time and money. It can also be used on a wide range of paper stocks from lightweight paper all the way to Metpol or foil board, and it can be printed with spot colors, metallics or Pantone mixes.
Digital
If you’re looking to save money on your label production, digital printing is the way to go. This method of label production eliminates the need for costly printing plates and offers faster turnaround times than traditional methods. Additionally, it allows for lower print run quantities without incurring the costs associated with large-scale production runs.
Labels are a vital communication tool in a wide variety of industries. From manufacturing and industrial environments to retail products and branding, they provide important information about product ingredients, safety precautions, and other essential details. They also add visual appeal to products and help build brand awareness and reputation.
Labels have a unique marketing potential that other print marketing tools lack. Not only do they stand out on a shelf or in a handbag, but they also tend to stick around for a longer period of time than a brochure would. They also work well as promotional items on their own or in conjunction with other merchandise, such as hats and umbrellas. Digital label printing is also cost effective, with lower prep and setup costs and less material required for smaller runs.
