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Personalized labels track everything!

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Personalized Bar Code LabelLooking to make personalized sequential numbered labels for your products? How about individually bar coded labels?  This way, a scanner can uniquely track each product. Data-driven printed labels, whereby each one is uniquely coded, are a great way to keep track of large quantities of items. You can tag nearly anything you need to track, from blood samples in a doctor’s office to packages in a warehouse.

Manufacturing personalized labels

Labels that can be customized with variable text, images, bar codes, QR codes or consecutively numbered labels can be easily manufactured today. Thanks to advances in high-speed ink jet printing technology, variable printing and consecutive numbering of labels is a cost-effective way to individually personalize your labels.
 
Digital label printers use technology that’s similar to the inkjet printer you use at home to print an image from a digital file. Each label can combine fixed elements, such as a product name or brand logo, with variable elements, such as images, text, serial numbers and colors. Data for the variable elements comes from a spreadsheet or database file and enables you to customize individual labels on a large-scale basis.
 
Now that the printing industry has agreed upon a Personalized Print Markup Language (PPML) standard, brands and converters can work together to create variable data packages that can easily communicate with the raster image processors (RIP) of digital presses. It may sound technical but it's really quite simple.
 

How to use variable printing

Variable printing makes it possible to print an amazing variety of labels including:
  • Serialized barcodes
  • QR codes
  • Consecutive number labels
  • Multiple languages in the same print run
  • Scratch off labels
  • Personalized direct mailers
  • Promotional labels with personalized images and text
  • Variations in color, image, text and other elements from one label to the next
  • Labels for different brands
  • Country of origin labeling – typically used for meat and produce
  • Date labeling (use by, sell by, etc.)
  • Private labeling
Variable data printing is widely used in many industries, including healthcare, financial services, automotive and retail. Are you using it in your business?
 

Ideas for consecutively numbered labels

Consecutively numbered labels are perfect for several applications including:
  • Brand security and protection
  • Contests
  • Variable coding for security, pharmaceutical and industrial markets
  • Inventory tracking and tracing solutions

In the age of traceability, everyone wants a tracking or security code, making this a growing market for converters and brokers.

Remember this:

  • If you’re planning a variable data or consecutive numbering label  project, check with your converter well ahead of time to understand the best spreadsheet and database formats to use
  • Keep in mind that setting up a variable data print job can be time consuming. Also, the data for sequential numbering jobs needs to be carefully proofed prior to the print run, to prevent expensive mistakes.
  • Be sure to carefully consult with your label converter to be ensure the material you select for your variable print job is a good fit. Not all materials are suitable for digital imaging.

Imagine how you can use variable data printing- the uses are endless!

If you're in need of help to make your next labeling project a success, download our new eGuide, How to Create the Perfect Label: The 5 Most Important Questions to Ask.