Paper, Finishes, and Films

High demand and shortages are affecting many aspects of paper production, including its raw materials (pulp and chemical components) and paper mill capacity. Coatings and polypropylene (PP) films are adding a premium to paper costs, while PET film supply has been affected by chemical ingredient shortages.

Adhesives

Chemical shortages and high demand are affecting the supply of both acrylic and hot melt adhesives, resulting in significant price increases.

Packaging and Shipping

High demand for packaging and freight space combined with high fuel costs and inflation has increased overall packaging and shipping costs globally.

What to Expect from Master Tape Printers

We are as committed as ever to provide you with superior products and services to help you complete your label project with a great outcome. Because of our years of experience, we can make recommendations for the right paper, coatings or films, adhesives, and other label technologies for your application—and suggest alternatives where needed.

Additionally, our global suppliers are working tirelessly to source materials, pivot as needed, and to keep us updated on lead times and other critical supply information.

As we all navigate these unprecedented disruptions, we’re incredibly grateful to you, our customers for trusting us with your business, and for the opportunity to help you do yours. For any questions about your next label project and for recommendations on available papers, adhesives, and finishes, give us a call or contact us!

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Remember why you label.

Very few product categories can stand alone on shelves without packaging, and even those generally have a label. At a bare minimum, labels inform customers what’s in the package.

Details matter.

Details beyond the bare minimum are great for customers to help them make informed decisions. But in certain industries and with certain ingredients, regulatory agencies insist on labels providing clear and accurate information. Your labels must always comply with any relevant regulations, but you can also build trust with your buyers by providing even greater transparency.

Design matters.

Aesthetics play a significant role in purchasing behavior. It’s not enough to make “pretty” packaging, but rather to create packaging and labeling that communicates with your buyers and prospects. What attracts their eyes? What do they find aesthetically pleasing? What designs capture their imagination and also connect them more with your brand? How you use color, fonts, and even paper texture can communicate even more than you intend. Plus, what you don’t print (white space) can be nearly as important as what you do print.

Get familiar with your surroundings.

How are similar products—especially those that will share shelf space—labeled and designed? You’re not creating your labels in a vacuum. Get to know your competitors and learn from their style. Just remember to stand out, not blend in.

Use good resources.

You’re an expert in your field—but don’t feel like you have to be an expert in label design and graphics too. Consider hiring a professional graphic designer or making use of templates you can customize (after you’ve determined what will connect with your customers). And of course build a great working relationship with your print company who can help you choose the ideal labeling materials, color specifications, finish coatings, and more—and even help you get the best quality results from your graphics.

To get started, give us a call or contact us!

The post 5 Tips for Creating Your New Product’s Label appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

Let’s take the mystery out of varnishes and laminates. Here’s how to choose.

Varnishes

A varnish is a liquid seal coating applied over a label. It protects both the ink and the label material. Varnish can be applied in a matte or gloss finish, usually matched to the paper stock the label is printed on. Varnishes protect against scuffs and abrasions while offering an understated look. They aren’t as durable as laminates, but also cost less. Because even the gloss finish isn’t as shiny as laminate coatings, it can be a good fit for products with a vintage or natural vibe.

Laminates

Like varnishes, laminates protect both the ink and the substrate of a label, but rather than a film, laminates are films (generally polypropylene or polyester) applied after printing. Also available in matte or gloss finishes, gloss laminates are much shinier than varnishes, while matte finishes can be smooth or textured. Laminates are also more robust, and can be manufactured to withstand not only scuffs and abrasions but also moisture, chemicals, and harsh environments.

Matching the Finish to Your Label Job

Questions to ask before choosing a varnish or laminate:

• Where will my label (or labeled product) be used? Shipped? Shelved for sale? Stored?
• How long must the label hold up? Only during the sales cycle or for the lifetime of the product?
• How important is the label coating to the brand identity? Which type of coating is more characteristic of my brand?
• How many labels do I need and what is my budget?

To get started with your label project and discuss your varnish and laminate options, give us a call or contact us!

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The colors that print out on the page (or product) can be spot or 4-color process (as opposed to “screen colors” that you would see on a computer monitor). So what does all this jargon mean?

Spot Colors and PMS Matching

It’s common for brands to have a signature color, or for artwork to be printed in limited colors (for example, two plus black). This is where spot colors come in. Single, premixed colors are selected and specified to different elements of the artwork. The most common catalog of spot colors is Pantone® Matching System (PMS). Many printers are able to select a close color with ink they have in stock, or they can mix the perfect shade when it must match specifications (such as a branding style guide).

Full-Color Printing

Full-color art, on the other hand, is printed from a blend of 4 colors: CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). This is similar to your desktop inkjet printer, but on a much grander scale. Through blending and gradients, 4-color process printing can achieve photo-realistic printing in full color.

Note that while 4-color process printing uses a color blend of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CYMK), digital photos and computer monitors rely on screen colors of red, green, and blue (RGB). While the principle is the same (create the full array of colors from a blend), the outcome is a little different. That’s why screen previews and printouts on desktop printers that use 3 colors instead of 4 might not match the final product. Your professional print company can help with proofing to address any color variances so you can be confident in the finished product.

How to Choose the Right Color Printing for Your Project

With these options, how do you know what is right for your project? Some key questions you might ask yourself:

• Is the project on a tight budget?
• How will this label or graphic be used?
• Do we have a single brand color or a color palette?
• Does the artwork use photorealistic imagery?

Using 1 or 2 spot colors instead of 4-color process can be a cost-saving method. Similarly, using 4-color process instead of a large number of PMS spot colors can also save on costs. Temporary or “disposable” labels or other print items don’t require custom Pantone® blends. Critical branding artwork, however, should use high quality PMS spot colors or 4-color CMYK printing as needed.

Ready to get started with your color label project? Give us a call or contact us!

The post Printing in Bold Color: Understanding 4-Color Process, Spot, and PMS Matching appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

Now we’re not recommending something nefarious, but rather a simple way to rescue existing products or packaging that need some adjustment.

Correcting Wrong or Out-Dated Information with Opaque Labels

Changes to packaging copy are common. When they’re a problem is when they come after production. And these changes can amount to any number of things, such as:

• A missed typographical error (even with so many eyes on the artwork, things can still slip through)
• Ingredient and/or nutrition fact changes due to recipe changes or supply chain shortages forcing adjustments
• Rebranding (e.g., new logo)
• New corporate address, contact information, or website

Sometimes these changes aren’t worth altering the artwork until the next print run, but they may be important enough to update products already produced and/or out on store shelves.

Enter, opaque labels.

Easy Does It

Opaque labels can be color- and art-matched to replace the content, covering it up with the updated/corrected content in the least-obtrusive way. Matte or semi-gloss can be chosen for the best blend.

The Quickest Fix

Cost and time are two of the biggest factors to consider in label and packaging changes. Not all changes can be left until a new print run is scheduled. But products simply be tossed for a fresh start because of artwork adjustments. Opaque labels can patch a printing issue on existing products and can be deployed swiftly, particularly in urgent cases such as regulatory compliance, warnings, or rebranding.

Finding yourself needing to make a quick product label adjustment? Give us a call or contact us to discuss opaque labelsfor your product needs!

The post Ease the Pain of Fixing or Changing with Opaque Labels appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

Comparing Custom QR Code Labels to Barcodes

The time-tested barcode contains scannable data that has many applications. But it can only hold information horizontally. QR codes contain information both horizontally and vertically, adding up to a lot more data than can be stored behind a barcode. Further, custom QR codes can support a transactional technology called “blockchain” which allows each interaction to be timestamped, allowing for valuable traceability across the supply chain. It’s handy for any industry and indispensable in for regulated products such as pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and food.

QR Code Data

Using a pattern of small black and white squares arranged around a few reference points, QR codes can be scanned from a variety of angles and can even incorporate other visual elements such as text. This allows for some artistic expression and helpful visual information in the consumer space, but also supports more utilitarian uses in manufacturing and logistics.

Because QR codes support more information than barcodes, they can hold hyperlinks providing a wealth of detail and assistance to users. They are mobile-friendly and scannable by consumers and can be used to direct shoppers to comparison websites or purchasers to user manuals (for example).

The End of Barcodes?

QR codes are certainly an advance over linear barcodes, but that doesn’t mean barcodes are dead. In fact, one of the greatest benefits of barcodes are their comparative scannability. QR codes must be scanned within a few inches (unless blown up to huge sizes). Barcodes, on the other hand, can often be scanned for dozens of feet away.

For internal business use, barcodes remain very useful. And a number of barcode standards still reign supreme in a variety of industries, including UPC (Universal Product Code), EAN for consumer products in Europe, ISBN for books, and the U.S. Postal Service POSTNET.

An Ideal Partnership

As each code has its best uses and benefits, using both in partnership makes the most sense in business today. Harness the power of custom QR codes and barcodes to be well-positioned today and into the future.

The post Are Custom QR Codes or Barcodes Best for Your Business? appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

But takeout amounts to more than just packaging up a meal and handing it off curbside. Sure, customers come for the food, but what they unwrap at home can have a significant impact on your business.

Dinner—Safe and Sound

Everyone wants to feel confident that the food they consume is safe to eat. We trust that there’s a lot of oversight in the supply chain (manufacturers, shipping, retailers). But every layer of handling adds another level of trust. Just dining (or ordering) out requires confidence from the consumer that you operate a clean and safe restaurant. Picking up packaged food from a restaurant—especially in a global health crisis—can safer than dining in, but also begs the question, “Who is handling my food?” Then, with the explosion of app-based 3^rd-party delivery services, an iffy experience can be the end of a relationship between restaurant and patron.

Security label stickers can help your restaurant demonstrate that you care about your customers’ food safety andconfidence. By sealing every box and bag with a sticker that clearly shows food is untouched once it leaves the kitchen, your customers can feel comfortable ordering from you again and again.

All the Details

It’s tempting to think that your customers know what they ordered—after all, they called you—and don’t need any more information about the food they’re about to eat. But it’s likely much more complicated than that.

• One person may have ordered for several people in a household. Not everyone may know or remember what was ordered.
• The customer may have asked for recommendations from staff and opted for something that sounded good, but are unlikely to remember the specifics.
• Someone may have placed an order to be delivered to someone else, either as a gift or to help out someone who is homebound.
• Some customers simply won’t remember everything about a large or complex order.

Surprise and delight your customers with eye-catching and informative labels that meet their needs and even offer helpful information beyond their expectations.

• Nutrition: consumers have been conditioned to find calorie and nutrition metrics on nearly all food. Even if the information is on your website, don’t expect patrons to look elsewhere. Provide the information right on the takeout box.
• Restaurant contact information: don’t let them forget where they got this yummy food from! This is especially crucial if the food was a gift order or group buy.
• Individual item labels: large orders (such as family-style) should be labeled individually to make it easier to serve. This can be extremely important if orders are divided because of allergy issues.
• Date and time: it’s not unusual for consumers to order extra for leftovers. Help them organize their fridge and make food safety choices by including the date and time the food was prepared.

Getting to Know You

Labels are an excellent way to increase brand awareness, and even to let consumers “get to know you” when they’re not dining with you in person. The way that you box up and label your takeout orders should reflect the quality of your in-house service. A high-quality representation of your logo, color scheme, menu fonts, and more show that you want to serve your customers with an experience that is unique to your restaurant—even if they’re dining at home. People eat with their eyes as much as their mouths. And they open the packaging with their eyes too!

Advertise

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to leave reminders for customers through labels and stickers. If all the labeling is onthe packaging, it’ll be discarded at the end of the meal. Consider adding a few extra attractive stickers in the bag for them to keep as a reminder and pass along to friends.

Takeout isn’t new, but it’s reached new levels—and new restaurants—these last several months. Making the most of this type of customer interaction with savvy labeling will make it a profitable part of your business for years to come.

The post Grow Your Restaurant Impact with Takeout Labels appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

It’s not enough to simply label a brand with a name and ingredient list, particularly in cosmetics. Labels must stand out, represent the brand identity and value, and—these days—be Instagram-worthy. That’s not only valuable for existing brands, but could impact the entire growth future of an up-and-coming cosmetics brand.

There are several types of labels that are useful in the cosmetics space.

Cosmetic Product Labels

Product labels capture the essence of the brand and convey that to cosmetics consumers. Beyond logos and names, brand identity must come through. What are the brand’s values? Are the ingredients sustainable? Natural? Non-GMO? Vegan? Is the company a multi-generational institution or a new upstart disrupting the industry? Are the ingredients and fragrances floral or mineral? How does the brand want consumers to feel when they see, purchase, use, and share their products?

The questions could be endless, but each brand knows—or should know—its identity and can work with the printing supplier to convey that identity through labeling.

Temporary and Short-Run Labels

Sometimes a brand needs to convey limited-time information, or adjust information on a package without pulling all the products from the shelves. Whether the need is to correct a labeling error or to reflect updated ingredients, these additional product labels are an important component to cosmetics labeling as well. Particularly in a season such as the COVID-19 pandemic, supply-chain shortages have impacted ingredients across numerous sectors, so adding labels reflecting new information is something many manufacturers can face.

Cosmetic Promotional Labels

Promotional labels are an excellent way to highlight new features, updated formulas, special offers, and even provide links or codes to digital and even interactive information.

Cosmetic Identification Labels

Many cosmetic products are sold with a staggering number of variations. Consider foundation, lipstick, mascara, and eyeliner, to name just a few. Products like these that vary only in the product’s color are differentiated with an identification label so a consumer can distinguish coral from ruby!

Give us a call for recommendations for your cosmetic labeling needs!

The post Boosting Cosmetic Brand Awareness with Labels appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

Applying Labels with Machine Automation

Large companies with large product volume naturally depend on automated machine labeling. The savings in time, labor, reduced errors alone make it a necessary investment for high-volume operations. With the capacity to process up to 200 products per minute, it’s the clear choice when speed is required. Automation also provides consistency and symmetry—both very valuable in the “shelf wars” where visual appeal to customers is key.

Of course, such efficiency comes at its own costs. Automated machinery can range from just over $1,000 to well over 6 figures, depending on the capacity and unique requirements of the operation. And while machinery reduces staff needs, it still requires personnel for such functions as operation, programming, and maintenance. Machinery should also be selected while considering future production goals and trajectory, since buying for “today only” could result in costly replacements should business growth quickly exceed labeling capability.

Applying Labels by Hand

For some product applications, machine automation isn’t feasible or may not even make sense. Small-batch products, new “test” products, or low-volume boutique operations may call for a more hands-on touch. What are the considerations for a quality hand-labeling effort?

The right staff

Successful hand-labelers have great hand-eye coordination and an attention to detail—particularly visual. The results matter and so does the staff selection.

Training and preparation

• Equip your hand-labeling staff with training before the mission-critical process begins.
• Allow them to practice with training supplies to reduce errors when working with production labels.
• Educate staff on how to prepare the labels (such as bringing to room temperature for optimal adhesion) and the (clean and dry) application surface.
• Create and provide jigs to hold products in place and make consistent label placement easier.

Avoid common issues with hand-applied labels (such as tearing; bubbles, folds and wrinkles; or poor adhesion and lifting) by taking these planning steps:

• Match the label type to the product/package type. Consult with your label printer for recommendations based on the surface size, shape, and material where the label will be applied. It’s also critical to consider where the product will be stored and/or used. Frozen foods, industrial tools, acidic substances, and produce are just a few examples of products that will have special labeling needs compared to boxes or jars on shelves.
• Choose quality packaging with a smooth surface. Economy-grade plastic, glass, or paper-based containers may have rough or pitted surfaces that will compromise label adhesion and produce a poor result.
• Apply labels in a controlled environment. Labels and quality application can be impacted by high amounts of moisture, dust, or other particles. These factors should be reduced or eliminated, or specialized labels may be required to overcome a less-than-ideal environment.

Give us a call for recommendations for your automated or manual labeling needs!

The post Which Label Application Technique Is Best for Your Bottom Line? appeared first on Master Tape & Label Printers.

Label Design Best Practices

Everything about your product labeling and packaging can have an impact on a consumer’s desire to buy… or to pass you up for a competitor. Gain the edge by considering and implementing these important factors.

Branding

Branding is more than your logo—but don’t forget this core element. A well-thought-out logo that your customers can grow to recognize is crucial. It should be supported by a consistent color scheme, usage across all your physical and digital assets, and prominent placement on your products. This is especially important if you’re new to the marketplace and only rolling out your products for sale in a few locations. Help your customers find you again once they fall in love with your product!

Labeling requirements

Many categories of products, particularly for internal and external body use (food, supplements, cosmetics, pet products) fall under government regulation. Be sure that you adhere to the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) rules and requirements.

Close the sale with information

Consumers don’t make buying decisions on branding and slick packaging alone. In the absence of other information, they are reliant on decision-making factors that you can and should provide on your labels. What makes you stand out in the market? What’s your unique selling proposition? How is your product better than the competition, or better than an earlier version? For how long will your product stay fresh in their pantry or refrigerator? Find out what is important to your customers—e.g., organic, sustainable, new and improved—and feature it prominently.

Packaging

Does your product require packaging? If not, labeling may need to fit a custom shape, be easily removable (or permanent and wear-resistant if safety information is included). When packaging is required, how will the label and packaging work together to help consumers choose your product? Often the packaging (even the material used in packaging) is part of the branding, particularly with products highlighting sustainability, recyclability, or natural/organic. Also consider what conditions your product, packaging, and labeling will be displayed and stored in. Items on the refrigerated or frozen food shelves or in the outdoor garden center will have different label material needs than dry goods in the middle aisles of the supermarket.

Targeted

How well do you know your ideal customer’s interests, demographics, preferences, and even needs with regard to how they may use your product? Label design should be informed by this deep dive into who will buy and use your product(s).

Eye appeal

Catch the attention and the eye—and then capture the imagination (or tastebuds) by attractively featuring your product or its core appealing ingredients. For food items in particular, people don’t just eat with their tastebuds, but with their eyes too (just ask Instagram). And… they also shop that way!

Help them find you

It’s always helpful to provide contact information in case a customer has a problem with your product, but it’s also a great benefit to the customer and your company in the event that suppliers or retailers change and your product is no longer available where your customer has been shopping. You can keep that customer if they give you a call or check out your website—found on the label—and you can point them to a new retailer.

Labels should be anything but an afterthought. With preplanning and design savvy, the label may just be the thing that makes the sale!

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