Labels: paper, vinyl or clear
The right material depends on water, rubbing and the packaging. Three questions to choose.
Translation under review.
Three questions are enough to choose a label: will it get wet, will it be rubbed, and should the packaging stay visible?
| Material | Water | Look | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | No | White, matt or gloss | Boxes, pouches, dry jars, parcels |
| Vinyl | Yes | White, thicker | Bottles, cosmetics, chilled products, outdoors |
| Clear | Yes | The material disappears, the print stays | Glass, coloured packaging |
Paper
A paper label is the least expensive. It suits dry products and shipping packaging. Lamination protects it from rubbing, not from water.
Vinyl
Vinyl does not tear and stands up to water and cold. Choose it for a product that goes in the fridge, the bathroom or outdoors.
Clear
On a clear film, unprinted areas show the packaging. Light colours lose density on a dark background: plan a high-contrast design.
Cutting
A straight cut gives rectangles with sharp corners. Rounded corners catch less and peel more slowly. A shape cut follows the outline of the artwork: supply the cut path on a separate layer.
Individually cut or on sheets
Individually cut labels are handed out one by one. On sheets, several labels share one sheet and peel off by hand: faster when labelling a batch.
Dimensions
Measure the flat area available on the packaging and take 3 mm off each side. On a bottle, measure the straight part, not the shoulder.