When you surf the Internet you will find hundreds of companies selling labels for bottled water. How do you know what you're getting when you push the "Add to Cart" button? Here are some things to consider that will help you make an informed decision when purchasing your custom labels.
What are Typical Kinds of Label Materials?
Coated paper labels
This is probably the flimsiest grade of label you will encounter. This label is made up of paper with a coating applied to one side. The coating can be dull, gloss, or matte. Coated paper generally produces sharper, brighter images and has better reflectivity than uncoated paper. Coated paper labels may be printed with an ink jet or laser printer, or even an Hp Indigo press. These labels are prone to tear easily and the ink will usually run if exposed to moisture.
Laminated paper labels
A label material one step above coated paper. A laminated label is made of paper built up by joining together two or more layers of very thin plastic. Laminated paper labels are commonly found on inexpensively priced bulk water, like what you would find in discount warehouse stores. This kind of label will tear, but the ink will hold up well.
Polypropylene labels
A label material made up of thermoplastic substrates. This label offers such properties as resistance to heat, cold, moisture, tearing and flexing. It is a tough material and works well for bottled water labels. These labels hold colors, as the color is transferred to the label via extreme heat.
Synthetic composite labels
Newest to the market, this material is made up of a combination of polyolefin and silica filler. This material looks like a heavyweight paper, and even takes print like a paper, but is strong, durable and water resistant. Inks do not run or smear when these labels are exposed to water.
What are Some Printing Techniques for Labels?
Ink Jet
This printing technology uses a system that produces images directly on paper from digital information, using streams of very fine drops of ink. The inks are controlled by digital signals from a computer.
Laser Printing
This form of printing works by focusing a laser beam through a lens directly onto a photosensitive drum. Charged toner attaches itself to the drum, and the end result is toner heated and fused to the paper. Laser printers are much faster than inkjet printers and can produce very high quality text and images.
Thermal Printing
This printing process uses a wax-based ribbon to apply text or graphics to the surface of labels by means of heat and pressure. Thermal printing will not smear and is water-resistant. It does not yet provide very high resolution images and sometimes images appear pixelated or fuzzy.
Flexography
This printing method uses flexible printing plates made of rubber or plastic. A plate is made for each of the four CMYK colors in an image, and as a result is an expensive printing method. The inked plates with a slightly raised image are rotated onto a cylinder which transfers the image to the label material. Flexography uses fast-drying inks. It is a high-speed print process that can print on various kinds of materials.
Offset Lithography
This print process works by transferring an image photographically to thin metal, paper, or plastic printing plates. Rollers apply oil-based ink and water to plates. As oil and water don't mix, the oil-based ink won't stick to the non-image areas. The inked image is transferred to a rubber cylinder that then transfers the image onto the label as it passes between it and another cylinder beneath the label. The term offset refers to the fact that the image isn't printed directly to the label from the plates, but is instead offset (or transferred) to another surface that makes contact with the label.
Digital Press
This printing process starts when electronic documents are transferred digitally from a computer directly to the press. A digital press analyzes text as it's being printed, adding dots to fill gaps at the edges. This produces crisp, sharp text and images that enhance the quality of the label. In addition, it creates rich, vibrant colored images at 812 x 812 dpi.
What Kind of Technology does Bottle Your Brand Use to Print Water Bottle Labels?
We use the latest in commercial printing technology combined with the highest quality label materials to provide you with the best labels at affordable prices. Our labels are printed with a digital press on synthetic composite labels. This guarantees that you receive outstanding label color quality combined with durability.
Our Goal
At Bottle Your Brand our goal is to provide our customers with quality products, at affordable prices, with fast service.