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About Labels - stock used and adhesives
Labels are a form of tag, which is attached to an object with some form of adhesives.
The purpose of the label is to identify either the object itself or the contents
within the object. You can purchase labels in several different shapes, sizes and
made from various base materials, also known as stock. How a label is identified,
is usually by the material the label is printed on, as well as the type of adhesive
used, such as the sticker, which is a label created with paper, the most common
type of stock, and having a permanent adhesive. Another way that labels are identified
is by he function they perform, such as thermal transfer labels. Even though these
have several other functions, because they are primarily used for printing bar codes,
they have become known as bar code labels. Different Types of Stock used to Create Labels: While paper is the most common type of stock used for printing labels, latex is
also popular giving the label the ability to be flexible and allowing it to form
around certain curved objects easily. Other materials such as acetate, vinyl, and
PET film, (polyethylene terephthalate polyester film most commonly known as Mylar
and Melinex), also offer various valuable features to the label like durability,
high tensile strength, flexibility, transparency, etc. However, many of these materials
require special printing methods and equipment because they do not accept normally
conventional ink well. An example of this is direct thermal label stock. This
paper requires a heating element in the shape of letters or images to create the
image on the paper. When the thermal paper comes in contact with the heat, the
paper will change color, which is usually black. A major disadvantage with this
form of printing is that if the label comes in contact with another heat source
the label can be ruined. The Many Different types of Adhesives: Permanent adhesives are designed so that the label cannot be removed without tearing
the label or using solvents, which typically will also destroy the label. In addition,
the adhesion strengths and speed at which they adhere can also vary. An example
of this is repositionable labels that allow the user the ability to reposition the
label if it was applied incorrectly at first. However, once the label has been
in place of a period of time, it becomes permanent Removable labels have the ability to adhere fairly strongly and will not fall off
under normal circumstances however the label also has the ability to be removed
with relatively ease without damaging the label or leaving behind any adhesive residue.
Usually the label can be reapplied elsewhere. Freezer permanent labels have special type of removable adhesive, which under certain
temperatures is permanent. This is often used for objects stored at or below freezing
for any period of time. Tamper evident labels are often used to protect chain of custody in order to ensure
that evidence used in court proceedings, police, or forensics evidence is protected.
These labels can use one or both of the following methods to ensure security. The
first is the use of stocks, which are weak materials and break easily, or the use
of adhesives that reveal any attempt of removal, replacement, or tampering. Specially Designed Labels: There are several different types of labels, such as piggyback, thermal transfer,
blockout, and holographic, to name a few. Piggyback labels are as their name implies.
They are made by combining two layers of adhesive substrate, the first or bottom
layer forms a backing for the top layer. These labels can then be applied normally
to any object such as an envelope. The top layer of the label can be removable
and applied elsewhere. With some, piggyback labels the message or markings remain
on the label underneath. Bar Code Labels are usually made of a tamper-evident, permanent, or frangible stock
and contain valuable information, which is identified or accessed by a bar code
reader. These are also thermal transfer labels. Blockout labels are specifically designed to block the ability to be seen-through.
They conceal any information located underneath and are usually applied with a strong
permanent adhesive. Holographic labels can be used for decoration, but most often are used to ensure
authentication and to protection against counterfeiting. Holographic labels are
also used on ID cards, credit cards, and such products as computer software and
CD/DVD's, etc. It is important to know that holographic labels are placed on items
to protect against counterfeiting in such a way, as they cannot be removed. An
example of this is with Microsoft software, the holographic labels are actually
part of the disc and cannot be removed. Many bootleggers and counterfeiters use
holographic labels that very closely resemble those of Microsoft's, however, these
labels are removable.
Small business guides: , Thermal Transfer Labels Guide.com |
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