What
Do I Need To Know
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The types of labels you need to print, their size, and what you need to print on them will effect your selection of a label printer. Not all labelers can print on all types of materials, or have all types available. Some labelers are highly specialized. Others are generic and have a variety of label materials available. Here are the key questions to ask: |
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| What
size? (width and length) |
What size labels will you be printing? What is the minimum and maximum width? What is the maximum length you expect you'll need? (For example, 6 inches or 6 feet?) In some cases codes or standards specify the label size required in some situations. |
| What colors? | What color does do your labels need to be? (Background color of the label tape.) What color does the printing on the label need to be? Do you need multiple color labels. Check to see if there are labeling standards you'll need to follow. For example, the IIAR standards for labeling ammonia pipes specify colors that should be used for identifying pipes. |
| Based on the environment. | Where will the label be used? Will the environment effect the printing? Will the environment effect the adhesive? Will the environment effect the tape itself? For example, a label that is exposed to liquid nitrogen (such as labels used in laboratories) needs an adhesive that can stay stuck at very low temperatures. |
| Temporary or Permanent? | Do you need your labels to last more than six months, or do you do a lot of temporary labeling. (For example, temporary labeling would be used for in-house tracking of supplies and materials, for inventory tracking, shipping information, etc.) |
| What needs to be printed? | You probably need to print text. What fonts do you need? What size text? How many lines of text on a label? Do you need to print boxes around text? Do you need to print lines? Do you need to print bar codes? Do you need to print graphics? Are you printing the same standard graphic over and over, or printing custom graphics? |
