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Labels: 4 Common Artwork Problems and How to Avoid Them

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Label artwork with Font Subsitution

We’ve been in the label business since 1984, so we’ve seen a thing or two when it comes to label artwork. While we’ve received some truly stunning designs, we’ve also seen customers waste time, money and energy on avoidable mistakes. Here are the top four label artwork problems we’ve seen and how you can avoid them:

1. Font conflicts

Fonts have inherent challenges that complicate the handoff from designer to printer. Depending on the program used to create or read a font, a program or software version may interpret font styles and sizes differently. Just because a font has the same name doesn’t mean all programs will read it consistently. There are also thousands of fonts available to the design community, and many designers create custom fonts, making it impossible for a label supplier to access that font by having it preloaded on its computer.

The only way to avoid these issues is to provide your label printer with the font file or convert your label’s text to paths.

2. Color replication imperfections

If you see a color you like, perhaps on a website or article of clothing, it’s difficult to flawlessly reproduce that color in print unless it’s a solid color like the red, white and blue of the American flag. Introducing any variation of color, like a lighter blue, gradients of a flag waving, or shadows, complicates the color composition. Similar to when you match paint for your home, artwork colors can be reproduced using a color matching system, but it isn’t perfect.

For a perfect color replication, provide your label printer with the Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors. By specifying the Pantone name or number, you can guarantee that your color is exact.

3. Low-quality images

If an image looks great on your website or Facebook page, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the quality will translate to your label. For a crisp and professional look, the pixels or tiny dots of color need to be smaller and closer together than for the web, which typically only requires a resolution of 72 to 120 dpi (dots per inch).

Before sending your artwork to your label printer, make sure you include high-resolution images or photos that are a minimum of 600 dpi.

4. Drop shadow preset styles

A drop shadow, or a visual effect that looks like a shadow, allows artists to add depth or a raised effect to an otherwise flat object. While this effect looks great on a computer, it doesn’t always translate to print. Drop shadows look black on a computer monitor but actually require a four-color process to make the effect convincing. Design programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator make it easy to add effects like this with preset styles, but they typically default to lower quality images with ambiguous color makeup.

When including special effects like drop shadows in your label artwork, create high-resolution images that are at least 600 dpi; control your color values by providing your label printer with a Pantone name or number (PMS).

In conclusion

Advancements in technology have paved the way for design innovation, but have also opened up room for digital issues with fonts, colors, image quality, and design effects that, if not caught, can result in a label that misrepresents your brand. To make your next labeling project a success, be mindful of these tips and also download our eGuide, How to Create the Perfect Label: The 5 Most Important Questions to Ask.

4 Traits of a Quality Label Supplier

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quality label supplierWhether your label needs are simple or complex, finding the best solution is more complicated than meets the eye. From art preparation and materials to printing and logistics, a quality label supplier will save you time, money and frustration. Here are the most important factors to consider when evaluating an existing or new label supplier:

1. Experience

When you hire a seasoned and knowledgeable label supplier, you can be confident in their recommendations.

Look for a company with a long legacy and a solid reputation; chances are they know a thing or two about the industry. Also, don’t expect suppliers to be a one-size-fits-all solution. Inquire about their specialties. Medical and healthcare label solutions differ from household product label needs.

An experienced team will not only give you advice on ideal materials for your unique requirements but will also have the production know-how and equipment necessary to deliver the best results. When issues arise, a team of experts should be there to anticipate problems, resolve them swiftly and proactively communicate with you along the way.

2. Customer service

Regardless of your order or company size, you deserve superior customer service from consultation to delivery. Often, suppliers tout exceptional customer service but fall flat when it matters most.

Having a dedicated contact and direct access to a decision maker, rather than a customer service center of inexperienced representatives, goes a long way toward effective consultation, communication and problem resolution.

While responsiveness and thoroughness are critical, you also need guidance. Selecting the perfect label for your needs can be overwhelming, but with the proper assistance and line of questioning, you can choose the best labels, sizes, colors, adhesives, and inks to make your project a success.

3. Product integrity

You need a partner that takes pride in not only their recommendations and service but also their product. It is common for suppliers to sacrifice quality for bottom line by downgrading or using low-quality materials like remnant cuts.

Beware of inconsistencies from one order to the next, as this is usually a sign that the supplier replaced a product component to improve their margins. If your adhesive seems less effective, it likely is.

A quality supplier considers the long-term needs and value of their customers and doesn’t make shortsighted decisions that impact the integrity of their product. If you are working with a team dedicated to finding the best label for your custom project, they will guarantee your satisfaction all the way down to the product they use.

4. Innovation

From cured inks to UV coatings to color application and design, label suppliers need to innovate and educate themselves on the ever-changing solutions available. Many suppliers or online label services rely on outdated techniques, equipment and materials, which limit customization, slow production, and impact product quality and agility.

Ask your supplier when they purchased their production equipment. Cutting-edge equipment is crucial; it produces higher quality results, cuts lead times and reduces material and labor waste. This innovation minimizes supplier costs, which trickle down to the consumer. Sounds like a win-win!

Finding a trusted label supplier can be challenging, but can make all the difference to your business. Contact T&L Graphic Systems to find the best custom label solutions to meet your needs. We are here to help!

Flexographic vs. Digital Label Printing – Which is Best for Your Labels?

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Printing Inks on Press

Selecting the right printing technology for your labels depends upon a number of factors, including the quantity of labels needed, the label material and ink you require and any special treatments, such as laminating or die-cutting of your labels.

Flexographic printing advantages

For sheer variety of label materials, finishes and inks, flexographic printing offers a significant advantage over digital printing. In addition, most enhancements, such as lamination, die cuts and other special treatments, can be done in a single pass on-press. To do the same with digital labels usually requires separate offline processes.

For longer print runs, the unit cost of flexographic printing tends to go down steadily, as the cost of plates and label stock becomes spread out over a larger number of finished labels.

In addition, flexographic printing enables you to tweak ink colors as needed to match your brand, by adding other colors to them on press. In contrast, digital inks are somewhat of a one size fits all and depend upon the file specific digital profile to achieve the desired match. In short, you’re dependent upon off press digital file alteration as well as trial and error to obtain the desired result.

Flexographic printing disadvantages

For short print runs, flexographic printing tends to be more expensive than digital, because it requires the production of printing plates. In addition, the dot patterns it produces aren’t as tight as those a digital press can create.

Digital printing advantages

For certain applications, digital printing’s higher resolution gives it the edge versus flexographic printing. Also, digital doesn’t require the production of printing plates. That means you can tweak the design of your labels as needed without incurring additional pre-production costs.

Digital printing disadvantages

As label print quantities increase, the cost of digital printing plateaus compared to flexographic printing. That’s because digital inks tend to be 20 to 30 times as expensive as those used in flexographic printing; in addition, in most cases they must be certified to print on specific label media. This cost disadvantage multiplies even faster for full-color labels; they tend to become cost prohibitive to produce more than 10,000 labels.

Digital printing is also limited in the types of inks that can be applied to label media. For example, metallic inks are not available, and most digital printers cannot print graduated tints – a printing technique that requires variable dot sizes.

Which printing technique is best for your label application? Contact us to discuss your needs. We’re here to help!

Benefits of Custom Printed Labels for the Healthcare Field

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A good medical and healthcare label helps get the job done

The right medical and healthcare label solutions can streamline your operations and provide your staff with easier workflows and processes. Self-stick labels are especially effective in fast-paced medical environments and can help your employees manage their duties more effectively. Here are some of the most important ways in which specialized medical labels can benefit your facility.

Added Productivity

Central service medical and healthcare label systems can help your clinic, hospital or patient care facility manage routine admitting and tracking tasks more easily. By printing labels for patient charts, medication allergies and other frequently needed alerts and reminders, you can help your staff manage their workflows and duties more effectively.

Increased Accuracy

Printed labels can help to eliminate mistakes in the healthcare environment. A clear and easy-to-read medical and healthcare label can go a long way toward reducing errors in the administration of medications and the overall treatment plan for your patients. By incorporating these label systems into your everyday routines, you can enhance the quality of care for your patients in the hospital, clinic or medical office setting. Custom labels can also be used for pharmaceutical supplies and medications stored in your medical facility to promote easier identification and retrieval of these essential items.

On-the-Spot Printing For Your Medical And Healthcare Label

Laboratory thermal labels are specifically designed for optimal flexibility and versatility in the healthcare field. These labels are available in an extensive array of configurations and can be used on all types of products, folders and equipment. Labels can even be applied to prescription bottles and equipment to provide further guidance on the proper use and dosage for these medical necessities. By opting for thermal labels, you and your colleagues can enjoy optimal convenience and flexibility when managing your labeling requirements in the medical environment.

A Safer Working Environment

Labels can also be used to maintain a safer working environment and to provide warnings for patients and staff about hazards in the healthcare field. By providing clear and easy-to-read labels on waste disposal containers, you can ensure that hazardous items are stored safely both on-site and on their way to the disposal facility. This can reduce the risk of accidents in your healthcare facility.

Working with an established custom label company can help you manage all aspects of your healthcare operations more easily and conveniently. By choosing a proven leader in the labeling industry, you can ensure the highest quality for these items. T&L Graphic Systems can create custom medical and healthcare labels designed to your precise specifications, allowing you to enjoy greater productivity and improved patient care throughout your medical facilities.

What Does Great Customer Service Mean?

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If you want to get more clients and to grow your business faster than you once thought possible, you might be wondering what steps will enable you to reach your desired outcome. Although having great products and a strong marketing plan is a vital part of the process, it’s not enough on its own. When you want to get the most from your business, you need to have great customer service skills, but many people don’t even know where to start. No matter how good your products might be, your business won’t last long without this vital piece of the puzzle. You are about to learn what great customer service means and how to use it to grow your business.
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