Brendon McLoughlin´s Blog

Choosing the right barcode Labels, Tags or Bands

While everyone knows what design they would like to see printed on their new barcode labels, clothing, asset or carcase tags, event or patient wrist bands.

Few people consider the key factors of a label, tag or band, which may have a major impact on its lifecycle, application, grip, mounting surface, mounting position, transport, transfer, handling, cost, durability, flexibility, presentation, longevity and readability.

The simple barcode label, tag or band also has some key component parts, the label material, the backing (sub straight) material, the glue, the transport medium, the print surface (wax or resin), the print surface (direct thermal or thermal transfer), the dye cut and perforation or join.

Bringing these factors together within a single component, one must also keep in mind the considerations of production, application and distribution of the label, tag or band.

Having brought the factors, components and considerations together, it then becomes a questions of sourcing and the right materials and print methods needed to accommodate these requirements.


The 20 Questions for good Label Design and Production.

When you need to know where to begin, always start with some basic simple questions, like:

1. Will the finished look of your label, tag or band be presented as a single or multicoloured presentation?

2. Would you prefer totally blank labels, tags or bands, or would you have a preference for partial or fully pre-printed presentations?

3. What are your short, intermediate and long term requirements in relation to the quantities for each label, tag or band you may require?

4. Currently, do you already have a matching production printer or do you require a printer for in-house label production?

5. What portions of the label, tag or band are printed and will dynamically change between individual, print runs or batches of labels, tags or bands?

6. Is there a pre-defined / specific material required for the label, tag or band? (paper, plastic, card or metal etc..)

7. Is there a pre-defined / specific material required for the label, tag or band transport media? (honey backing paper, sprocket feed, perforation etc..)

8. Is there a pre-defined / specific production format required? (Two Up, Two Across etc..)

9. Is there a pre-defined / specific durable print required? (wax, resin, etc..)

10. Is there a pre-defined / specific glue / tack required? (temp, semi-permanent, permanent)

11. Will rear surface of the label, tag or band is to cover, attached or adhered too require any special consideration? ( i.e. the label needs to last 10 years or more, it needs to withstand petroleum products, brushing, wasting, scratching, scuffing, IPA wipes, steam cleaning, exposure to high levels of UV etc..)

12. Will the front surface of the label, tag or band be required to pay any special consideration to any object or other surface the label, tag or band may come into contact with, to ensure the contact surface is preserved? (Paintings, Furniture, Skin, Clothing, judicial evidence etc..)

13. Will the label, tag or band need to be removed at a later point in time or require some form of tamper detection and remove prevention?

14. Will the presentation of the label have any secondary applications i.e. Marketing, Safety, Identification, batch tracking and traceability?

15. What are the minimum colours required for the best production, presentation and application?

16. Is all the required artwork and components of that artwork available for label production?

17. Where special symbols are required, do these meet the required standards and specifications? ( i.e. ISO, Safety and Lingual requirements. )

18. What final surface finish best perceives the design for the application? ( i.e. Lamination, Spot Varnish etc.. )

19. When post printing onto pre-printed materials, will the post printing printer require a special wind and core? ( i.e. 4¨, 1¨, .5¨, .25¨ core or left inside, right outside winding).

20. When you have brought all the above together into one single production component, which method of pre-printing (if required) will best suit all your requirements and budget? ( i.e. Digital v Press v In-House Print Production )

As you can see, there can be many questions and much homework which needs to be considered to best ensure the overall results from your label, tag or band.

We began by saying ´While everyone knows what design they would like to see printed … Few people consider …´, perhaps now consider each of these questions above and what the results maybe.

The results of which should help narrow and focus the options into a more manageable focused sub-set of possible choices.

Only following such research, specification and consultation with your prospective label, tag or band supplier or specialist can one hope to be in the best position to establish the final design on a truly solid, reliable, efferent, cost effective and productive foundation.

Please Also See:
¨A simple colour label design specification¨
http://gomobile.ie/bar_code_media.html