Label knowledge
Learn labels from the people who make them
Thirty years of production experience, written down — printing processes, materials, adhesives, artwork prep, and how to buy labels smarter.
What Is Flexographic Printing? The Process Behind Most Labels on the Shelf
Flexo prints the majority of pressure-sensitive labels in North America. Here's how the process works, why it wins at volume, and what plates actually pay for.
Read the guideA flexographic press die-cuts, strips the waste matrix, and rewinds finished rolls in the same pass as printing — your label goes from blank material to applicator-ready in one trip through the machine.
Paper vs. Film Labels: How to Choose the Right Facestock
Semi-gloss paper, white BOPP, clear BOPP, PET — the facestock decision drives cost, durability, and shelf look. A practical guide to choosing.
Read moreLabel Adhesives Explained: Permanent, Removable, Freezer, and All-Temp
The adhesive is invisible until it fails. What each adhesive class actually does, and how surface and temperature decide the right one.
Read moreDirect Thermal vs. Thermal Transfer: Which Labels for Your Printers?
Both run through the same printers — but one needs a ribbon and lasts for years, while the other fades in months. How to pick, and how to pair ribbons correctly.
Read moreFDA Direct Food-Contact Labels: What They Are and When You Need Them
The sticker on an apple touches your food — so the material and adhesive have to be approved for it. What direct food contact means in practice for produce and food brands.
Read morePreparing Label Artwork for Print: A Prepress Checklist
Bleed, dielines, spot colors, barcode sizing, and the file formats that keep your label sharp — everything to check before you send art to your label printer.
Read moreHow Label Quotes Work: Why Quantity, Colors, and Size Drive Your Price
Label pricing looks opaque until you see the structure: fixed setup costs, material area, and volume breaks. How to read a quote — and lower it.
Read moreLabels That Survive the Cold Chain: Refrigerated and Frozen Products
Condensation, frost, and near-freezing application temperatures kill standard labels. The construction that works — facestock, adhesive, and finish as a system.
Read moreUV Varnish vs. Lamination: Which Label Finish Do You Actually Need?
Both protect your print and change how the label looks and feels — but one is a thin coating and the other is a second film layer. When each finish is worth the cost.
Read moreChoosing Thermal Label Stock for Clinical Environments
Alcohol wipes, refrigeration, condensation, and years in an archive freezer break ordinary label stock. How hospitals, labs, and pharmacies should spec thermal labels — and exactly what to send a supplier.
Read moreQuestions your product is asking?
Configure your label in our quoting tool for an instant estimate, or talk to a specialist about materials and adhesives — English or Spanish.