Glossary of Label Printing Terms

Most terms and acronyms used in the label printing business are identical to those used throughout the printing and copying industry. Rather than explain them at every point they are used on our web site, we have grouped them together into this glossary for quick reference.

If you are unfamiliar with the printing industry, a quick review of this glossary should help you better understand the material presented elsewhere on the site. As we add more content to our web site, we will try to add any industry terms to this glossary as they are used.

Adhesive Type

This refers to the type of adhesive used on the back of labels. There are almost as many types of adhesives as there are printable materials. The two main classifications for adhesive type are permanent and removable. Variations in adhesives have been formulated for specific purposes including indoor, outdoor, freezer, food-safe, moisture resistant, and chemical resistant. If your labels are intended for any cold, hot, wet, or other specific environmental usage, you should consult a label professional before deciding on a label material.

Barcode

These are the stripe coded identifiers placed on most products used for pricing and inventory control.

The most common in North America is the UPC-a barcode. It is a 12 digit code consisting of a single digit series number, five digit manufacturer code, a five digit product code and a check sum number that is created by the barcode generator to confirm the code is read correctly.

There are currently many requirements for barcodes not only in the type (UPC-a) but in sizing and readability by both humans and laser barcode readers. When creating a new product people assign it a product code, register the product code, print the labels with the code, and submit samples of the printed labels for ranking. Ranking standards are high. While a well printed label might get the highest possible ranking, a photocopy of that label may very well get the worst possible ranking. Many large retailers refuse to carry items whose barcodes are below their standard ranking. If you are printing a product label with a UPC, you should let the printer generate the UPC, and guarantee the rating.

Butt Cut

When a knife blade is used on the printing press to cut the labels to uniform lengths with no gaps between them. Allows maximum coverage per roll inch on square labels but most label equipment needs space around the label so butt cut labels are primarily used for manual application.

Because of the potential for slight variances in label length butt cut labels cannot have a full bleed other than a flood coat.

This technique is most suited to standard text stickers and not product labels.

Die Cut

A die is very similar to a cookie cutter. They run either alone or ganged on a press unit and are set to cut only through the printed material and not the backing.

Die cut labels have a small space between them (usually 1/8"), making them ideal for automatic label application equipment.

Challenge Labels has hundreds of dies on hand to match most standard shapes and sizes as well as the shapes of most containers. If a custom printed label requires a custom die, Challenge will make a custom die specifically for your label. (There is additional cost for new dies)

Flexography

This is the printing process used for most label printing. It uses a photopolymer printing plate that transfers the printed image directly onto the label stock. It prints onto a continuous roll of label stock (called a web) – finished labels are usually supplied in rolls.

Flood Coat

Refers to a full covering of ink applied to change the background colour of a label. It completely covers the label.

Full Bleed

This refers to when the image runs right to the edge of the label. Full bleed labels are designed with the image overlapping the cut area so that any slight variances in the cut will not affect the appearance of the label.

Label Stock

Refers to the type of label material being printed (substrate). The main types are: paper or plastic (matte or gloss finish) foil, and flourescent.

Many specialty label stocks are introduced regularly for security, identity, and other specialized applications. If you are in the need for specialty labels, speak to a label professional.

Lamination

A clear (gloss or matt) adhesive film applied onto the printed label for protection and appearance.

Pantone™ Matching System

An international standard means of selecting, mixing, and matching colours.

Pressure Sensitive

Refers to the label with an adhesive pre-applied to it. There is normally a non-stick liner protecting the adhesive. The label is peeled from the liner and applied either by hand or machine and is sensitive to pressure. Commonly called a “peel and stick” label.

Process Printing

Printing using four colours (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) which in combination form a broad range of colours (gamut).

Register

The fitting of two or more print colours in exact alignment with each other.

Spot Colour

These are individual mixed or standard Pantone™ colours used as solid colours for printing. Unlike Process Colours which blend to create additional colours, spot colours are always printed as that colour.

Spot colours are used whenever exact colours (ie corporate colours for logo) or a limited number of colours (ie red and black) are requied.