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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What does a die cut label mean?
“Die Cut” usually means that the label is cut out with a “cookie cutter” to create the shape that you want the label to be. Die cut may mean your label or tag will have rounded corners as opposed to square corners (which are often called “butt” or “kiss” cut). One advantage of a die cut label is that it is easier to remove from the backing paper and apply.
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How do i know which ribbon to buy?
Key Points
Most common type of thermal transfer ribbon
Recommended for uncoated paper stock
Less durable, but also less expensive
Good for shipping, shelf, bin, retail and warehouse labels
Full Wax
The most common type of thermal transfer ribbon is the full wax ribbon. Wax thermal transfer ribbons are typically recommended for use on uncoated paper stock. While full wax ribbons provide a less durable print than their counterparts, they are also considerably less expensive.
A full wax thermal transfer ribbon is coated with a wax-based ink. During the printing process, heat from the printer’s print-head will melt the wax-based ink and transfer it to the surface of the thermal transfer labels, forming the desired printed area.
Full wax ribbons require a lower melting temperature than their counterparts, and are ideal for paper based materials. Applications that are well suited for full wax ribbons include: shipping labels, shelf and bin labels, retail labels, and warehouse labels.
Key Points
More durable printed area than full wax
More resistant to heavy handling, chemicals and temperature changes
Ideal for both standard and weatherproof thermal transfer labels
Good for bar code, shipping, prescription pharmaceutical and shelf labels.
Wax-Resin
While not as cost effective as full wax ribbons, wax-resin ribbons are very popular because of the significantly more durable printed area they provide.
The printing process is actually very similar to the full wax printing process, where a hybrid of wax and resin based ink is melted and transferred on to the surface of the labels. The printed area will be a sharp, clear image that is much more resistant to heavy handling, chemicals, and temperature changes.
The melting temperature required for wax-resin ribbons falls between that of full wax ribbons and full resin ribbons. Wax-resin ribbons are ideal for a wide range of material types, from uncoated paper stock to coated, glossy paper stock and even synthetic weatherproof label materials. Wax-resin thermal ribbons have been tested extensively with our Thermal Transfer products and will provide a very high quality image. Applications well suited for wax-resin ribbons include: bar code labels, shipping labels, pharmaceutical and prescription labels, and shelf and bin labels.
Key Points
Most expensive ribbon type
For use on non-paper, synthetic stocks
Most durable of the ribbon types
Full Resin
Full resin thermal ribbons will be considerably more expensive compared to full wax ribbons or wax-resin ribbons. This type of ribbon is generally intended for use on non-paper, synthetic stocks and will offer the highest durability of any ribbon type.
Full resin thermal ribbons will be considerably more expensive compared to full wax ribbons or wax-resin ribbons. This type of ribbon is generally intended for use on non-paper, synthetic stocks and will offer the highest durability of any ribbon type.
What printer is best for me?
For easy small address type labels we would suggest the Dymo label writer 400.this is a compact direct thermal printer which usually prints labels 28mm x 89mm,36mm x 89mm or 54mm x 101mm.
These labels are suitable for envelopes,documents or shipping labels,ideal for e-bay or small labels volume usage.
For more volume usage we recommend the Zebra brand of printers.
They offer a wide array of models for all types of end user needs.
You can have a mobile printer such as the RW420 for warehouse picking jobs where the printer can sit on a workers belt or mounted to a forklift or some other vehicle.
These printers use small rolls of Direct thermal labels 100mm x 150mm on a 19mm core usually with 100 on a roll .
The next size printer up is a desktop printer usually used for despatch labels for warehouses .Volume for these printers is usually less than 100 per day.
Models such as the GC and GK420 direct thermal printers take a roll of medium size labels around 100mm wide with a 127mm maximum diameter on a 25mm or 38mm core.These labels are mostly 100mm x 150mm used for putting on the outside of a carton with a tracking barcode and are referred to as shipping ,despatch or transport labels.
The final size range is the industrial type printer for fairly heavy usage.The ZT range of printers are hard working and durable and use larger diameter rolls of 200mm or 150 metres of labels per roll and come with a 76mm core to fit on a spindle or just hang from a bar. .
These labels are primarily again for product Identification and shipping,mostly for high volume use in excess of 100 labels per day.
What are labels made from?
Most self adhesive labels are made from paper and consist of 3 layers manufactured by our raw material suppliers.
The top layer is called the facestock which is the surface that is printed on either by label printing machines or overprinted by our customers with their Zebra printers or some other brand.These printing papers can come in a multitude of finishes such as white direct thermal paper,thermal transfer,high gloss,metallic or fluorescent or pastel colours .
The second layer of the construction is the adhesive,this is the glue on the back of the facestock that sticks or affixes or adheres the label to the intended surface. There are also many varieties of adhesives on the market today,the most common of these are permanent,removable and cold temperature grades for freezer and cool room applications.
The third part of the construction is the siliconized backing paper or carrier which allows the label to be handled and then to be peeled away easily to expose the adhesive for application the the chosen surface.
Adhesives to not stick to silicone similar to a non stick surface product so this allows the label to be effortlessly freed from the backing paper for use.
Label materials can also be synthetic or man made for many different end uses which require more durable or liquid resistant labels or for even for outdoor uses.
Facestocks most commonly available are clear,white and silver.
What sort of printing processes do you have?
We print labels with many different processes.
The small volume work is usually flatbed UV letterpress or digital laser print.
Our larger volume work is printed using the Rotary Flexographic process either UV or hot air drying.
For high speed manufacturing of our plain direct thermal,thermal transfer or A4 laser printable sheets flexographic machines are the most suitable due to their incredibly high speed.