6 Tools to Make Buying Labels Easier
It can feel overwhelming. As you start buying labels for your product or packaging, you will soon find that there are some important decisions to make. Colors, measurements, and shapes can make ordering your labels a little trickier.
There are a few tools available to help make the process a little easier. These are the tools we use as printers, as well as some handy common objects that you can use in place of these tools if you don’t have them lying around.
1. A PMS Book
This isn’t a book with an attitude. PMS stands for Pantone Matching System. These books, sometimes called formula guides, are most often used by graphic designers.
Printers print in CMYK, or four color process. With this process, the range of colors we can create are limitless. Still, the color must be spot on, especially when printing your logos or when you want the color to pop. That’s where the PMS book comes into play.
Instead of choosing between blue, off-blue, light blue, or the one that’s a tad bit darker, Pantone has a system for identifying colors. This keeps everyone on the same page for what your standard is. It’s similar to choosing a paint color. Pantone assigns a number for both coated and uncoated materials so each color is easily identifiable from printer to printer with the same system.
With a PMS book, your colors stay consistent. For example, your bottle labels will have the same color as the cap on the bottle or the folding carton it goes in. It won’t matter where they were printed because they’ll all three use the same reference. Amazing!
But what happens if you don’t have a PMS book? Using a program that shows your color as RGB (Red, Green, Blue) or in Hexachrome (such as is used in Canva or other six digit hex color programs) you can figure out the CMYK equivalent and find the CMYK color that closest matches your Pantone color.
2. Flexible Ruler
It’s essential to measure your container to fit your label. To do this, you’ll need a ruler to gather your dimensions. In the print world, it’s crucial that measurements are accurate and precise. For this, we recommend a flexible ruler.
The most popular one at The Label Link and among our cohorts is the Schaedler Precision flexible ruler. This ruler (and other flexible rulers) can wrap around the container and get the most accurate measurement down to the smallest millimeter or 1/32”. I use the 12” Single “A” – #46-IM to measure in inches, pica and metric. It costs around $25, which is well worth it if you need to measure a lot of items with precision. And if you damage it, they will exchange it at half price.
If you’re not at the point where you feel you need the flexible ruler, an everyday tape measure will work for a quick ballpark. This will get you by for supplying specs for most quotation requests, but don’t forget, it’s always a good idea to have them double checked by your printer when size is critical.
3. Containers
Ideally, you’ll want to use the container you plan to actually use with your product or packaging. Although this is not exactly a tool to use when buying labels, it will help you determine the shape, dimensions, look and feel of your label.
Keep in mind who will need to see it. Your graphic designer, printer, label applicator, contract filler and more will want to have access to your containers. Get at least a dozen samples to have with you. Don’t forget to keep a few for yourself too! You’ll want them to reference along the way and take with you to press checks.
4. Target Samples
Are you trying to copy a previous design or printed carton? Are you switching printers and want the new printer to use the same specifications and colors for continuity? Bring your target samples with you to share with the printer before they proof it. Bonus points when you bring multiple samples – not just one.
Many people bring target samples to match to a press check but the proof doesn’t match. If you do that, the printed label won’t match either. The prepared proof should match what is printing at the press.
5. Proof
Your printer will give you, at least, one (maybe two) types of proofs prior to printing your labels.
- A digital PDF proof. This one will arrive via email. It’s used to check the copy (text), layout, and confirm callouts for size, copy position and colors printed. It is NOT used to review actual colors.
- A matchprint proof. Matchprint proofs are used to confirm the CMYK colors are exact. It is delivered on a special printed high-end gloss photo paper. This is done by calibrating the proofing printers to the presses so the proof becomes the press target. If you have the target samples, your printer can correct the color (for a fee) to the sample so the proof looks like your target label. NOTE: PMS colors will not print correctly here. This proof is just to be used to specify the legend and match the numbers provided. Your printer will use the PMS color to match the color.
- A press proof. If you want to know exactly how your labels will look prior to the full print production, a press proof may be what you need. Press proofs are a “one-off” or “first-article” print of your labels. They are printed using the exact material and inks and sometimes have a printed die line. They are especially common on digital printing because there are no plate fees and the costs to produce an actual printed sample are relatively inexpensive. Generally, they range $50 – $200.00 depending upon the print. The only caveat is that they are typically not die cut (unless requested) as that adds significantly more costs to the process. For Flexographic print, press proofs are less common as the press setup and plate fees can easily run $1000 or more. In this case, the matchprint proof is what is most commonly provided.
What to do with your proof
With the proof in hand, be sure to set your printer to output an actual size copy and place it on your container to confirm the size called out fits. It’s equally important to confirm the color on matchprint proofs or digital press proofs when printing in CMYK.
6. Correct Lighting
The lighting where you view your proofs is also important. It’s so important, in fact, that the printing industry has created a standard.
In the industry, we use light boxes to review color for proper matching. These boxes often show various types of lighting including daylight, fluorescent lighting, UV light and more.
Consider the environment where your labels will be sold. If you plan to sell your products at Walmart or Costco, take note of the lighting that they use. Is it fluorescent? LED lighting? You get the gist. This is how you can see your product through your consumers eyes. Then, when you approve the labels at your printer, you can choose the appropriate lighting again. It should always mimic the environment you’re selling into.
Question: Have you seen a difference in your labels after using one of these tools?
There are plenty of other tools we use as printers, such as loupes for reviewing print or micrometers for measuring material thickness, but those are not necessary for you to purchase. They can always let you borrow them If you have one of these six tools, you’re in business!