Self-adhesive labels are such everyday objects that we take them for granted. People sometimes think of a label as a label as a label without realising the possible variations. Quite apart from what you might put on the label - one or more colours and possibly text or a design - the first thing to consider is what the label should be made of. Most labels are paper - for paper is a strong, effective and inexpensive medium. But even a paper label may be of lighter or heavier material, may be glossy, semi-glossy or matt or it may be protected from spillages or marking by a laminating coat. This latter is a plastic film that makes a paper label tougher and more durable as well as giving it a gloss, varnished finish.
The other medium in common use is plastic, polyester, vinyl or polypropylene. Labels printed on plastic are tougher than those printed on paper and thus last longer. It is not always easy to tell just from looking whether a label is made from a plastic material or from paper that has been over-laminated. But if you try to tear the label you will find it is virtually impossible to tear the plastic while the over-laminated paper label tears much more easily.
Then there’s the question of adhesive. Does the label have to stick permanently or do you want to be able to pull it off again, like a post-it note? We mainly use labels with two kinds of adhesive - permanent and removeable (sometimes called peelable).
Removeable is a better word because as self-adhesive labels are designed to ‘peel’ easily off a waxed backing called a web produced slightly wider than the label itself.
For specialist applications - for instance labels that have to operate eg in cold stores or in hot places there are specialist adhesives designed to cope with such adverse conditions.
Most labels are usually rectangular, square or circular. Square and circular labels can only be manufactured in one way, but rectangular labels can come off the press either Narrow Edge Leading - like a string of sausages - or Wide Edge Leading - which is where the labels are oriented in a landscape fashion. Wide Edge Leading is the commonest presentation because it makes for rolls that are wider but not so fat. There is also less label to have to pass through a printer.
