#printproduction

From build-in-progress to a refined final outcome — delivered with Indigo’s commitment to precision, consistency, and quality.

By Diana Mocanu, PRINTCO SRL, Romania

Adhesive labels might seem simple. After all, how hard could it be to stick a label on a product?

But once you’ve spent a few years in the printing and packaging world—like we have at PRINTCO SRL in Romania—you quickly realize that getting adhesive labels “right” involves a surprising amount of science. From the materials used, to the surface the label’s applied to, even the environmental conditions in which the label is applied and stored… every step can influence the outcome.

And when labels fail—when they peel, bubble, fade, or slip—it’s not just a small annoyance. It affects brand perception, regulatory compliance, shelf appeal, and customer trust.

So, let’s peel back the surface (pun intended) and talk about the science behind adhesive labels—and what you need to know to make sure yours do their job beautifully.

Adhesion Is Chemistry, Not Guesswork

At the heart of it, an adhesive label relies on two things: the face material (what the label is made of) and the adhesive (the sticky part that makes it stay put). Sounds straightforward—but it’s a balance of chemistry and physics.

There are three primary adhesive types:

1. Permanent Adhesives These are designed to stay. Once applied, they form a bond that’s difficult to break without damaging the label or the surface. Most consumer goods—bottles, food jars, shipping labels—use permanent adhesives.

2. Removable Adhesives These create a bond that’s strong but reversible. They’re ideal when labels need to be removed cleanly, like on promotional stickers or re-usable containers.

3. Repositionable Adhesives A bit of a hybrid—these allow for initial adjustment and reapplication before eventually setting into a more permanent bond.

Choosing the wrong one for your use case can lead to disaster. A removable adhesive on a juice bottle in a humid supermarket? That label will slide off faster than you can say “quality control.”

Surface Matters More Than You Think

One of the most misunderstood factors is the substrate—the surface the label is being applied to.

Is it glass? Cardboard? Plastic? Is the surface smooth or textured? Clean or coated with oil?

A label that works perfectly on a matte cardboard box might behave very differently on a slick PET bottle. And while it might sound tedious, testing adhesion on the actual surface, under real conditions, is a must.

At PRINTCO SRL, we’ve had clients bring us beautifully designed labels that failed miserably in practice because no one tested how they adhered to curved, moist, or low-energy plastic surfaces. In one case, a beverage brand’s labels kept bubbling during transit—not because of a printing error, but because the container had a very slight condensation issue. The solution? We switched to a stronger, moisture-resistant adhesive with slightly higher tack. Problem solved.

Environmental Conditions Can Ruin Everything

Temperature, humidity, and even time of day during application play a huge role.

Most adhesives are pressure-sensitive, meaning they bond better when a certain amount of pressure is applied during labeling. But if a label is applied in a cold warehouse? Adhesion can be weak. If it’s too hot, the adhesive can become too soft, causing slippage or mess.

Also, over time, labels can become brittle if exposed to UV light or fade if the inks aren’t UV-resistant. That’s why we always ask clients about storage and distribution conditions—because the label has to survive the journey, not just the print line.

Face Stock: More Than Just Looks

The face stock—the material on which the label is printed—is just as important as the adhesive.

Paper face stocks are cost-effective and great for dry, indoor environments. Filmic face stocks (like polypropylene or polyethylene) are better for durability, flexibility, and water resistance.

Need a label to wrap around a shampoo bottle? Go filmic. Want something rustic for a small-batch jam? Paper might do the trick. But even that decision should be made with longevity and end-use in mind.

Liner Materials and Application Speeds

Here’s a detail that often gets ignored: the liner—the backing paper or film that carries the label before application.

Some liners work better in high-speed labeling machines, while others might tear or slip. A poorly matched liner can stall production or jam the machine, costing time and money.

If you're printing in large runs or using automated application, the liner choice matters. It’s not something that gets printed on, but it plays a silent, essential role.

Testing and QA: The Unsung Hero

This is the unglamorous part—test runs, peel strength testing, aging simulations, and accelerated exposure testing. But without these, you’re essentially gambling with how your product will perform out in the world.

At PRINTCO SRL, we often run small batch simulations in our workshop, mimicking extreme conditions to see how a label behaves. It’s not about being overly cautious—it’s about being realistic. A label that looks good in the lab but fails in real-life logistics adds cost, rework, and reputational risk.

Why It Matters

You might wonder—does the customer really notice this level of detail?

Here’s what I believe: customers might not consciously notice a perfect label. But they will absolutely notice a flawed one. A peeling corner, a bubbling surface, a faded logo—all send subtle messages of neglect, even if your product is top-tier.

Adhesive labels are silent brand ambassadors. If they do their job right, they quietly affirm your product’s quality. If they fail, they shout.

Final Thoughts

The science of labels isn’t just about chemistry—it’s about care. It’s about aligning form and function. And it’s about collaboration between designers, print specialists, engineers, and brand owners.

As PRINTCO SRL prepares to attend the 2025 Go Global Awards in London this November—where we’re honored to be nominated—we’re reflecting on what it means to build products that last. Not just visually, but structurally. Thoughtfully. Scientifically.

Because the right label doesn’t just stick—it sticks with people.

By Diana Mocanu, PRINTCO SRL, Romania

Print-ready. It sounds straightforward, doesn’t it?

But if you’ve ever sent a design file to a printer and received a polite (or not-so-polite) “This isn’t print-ready,” then you know—it’s one of those terms that hides a lot of details. And those details can make or break your timeline, your budget, and the final result.

At PRINTCO SRL here in Romania, we receive all kinds of files from all kinds of clients—from seasoned designers to entrepreneurs just figuring things out. Over time, we’ve noticed that the same questions keep coming up. So I thought it might be helpful to answer some of the most common ones in one place.

Not too technical, but practical. Think of this as a behind-the-scenes chat before you hit “send.”

1. What exactly does “print-ready” mean?

In the simplest terms, a print-ready file is a digital design that meets all the technical specifications needed to produce a high-quality print. That includes:

Correct dimensions (matching the product size, plus bleed)

High-resolution images (usually 300 dpi)

CMYK color mode (not RGB)

Embedded fonts or outlined text

Proper file format (typically PDF, AI, or EPS)

If a file checks all those boxes, it's probably in good shape. But “probably” is doing a lot of work there—each print job might have its own quirks.

2. What’s a “bleed” and do I really need it?

Yes, you need it. Really.

Bleed is the extra space around the edge of your design that allows for slight trimming variations. If your design runs right to the edge of the page (say, a background color), we extend it beyond the final cut line by about 3 mm (sometimes more, depending on the project). This way, there won’t be any accidental white edges.

Think of bleed as insurance. You hope you don’t need it, but you’ll be glad you had it.

3. Why can’t I just use RGB colors? They look better on screen.

This one’s a classic.

RGB is for screens—phones, laptops, websites. It uses red, green, and blue light to create color. CMYK is for printing—cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. They’re not interchangeable.

If you design in RGB, the colors might look bright and vibrant on your screen but shift dramatically in print. Some neon hues, for example, don’t even exist in CMYK. So when you send an RGB file, we have to convert it… and that can lead to disappointment.

Design in CMYK from the start if you can. Or at least preview your file in CMYK mode before finalizing.

4. Do I have to embed or outline fonts? Isn’t it fine the way it is?

Not embedding or outlining fonts is one of the most common mistakes—and it can ruin a print job.

If your file references a font that we don’t have, our system might substitute it with something else. That can shift the layout, break the text, or just look off. Embedding the font ensures it prints as intended. Outlining it (converting it to shapes) is another safe option, especially for logos or headers.

Once text is outlined, though, it’s no longer editable—so save a copy before you do this step.

5. What file format should I use? Can I just send a JPEG?

We prefer PDFs. They’re stable, compact, and preserve layout and vector data well. If you're using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or another professional design tool, exporting a press-ready PDF is usually a safe bet.

JPEGs are fine for photos, but not for print layouts. They’re compressed and may lose quality. PNGs? Even worse—great for screens, terrible for print. AI or EPS files can be acceptable too, especially for logos or vector artwork.

We always review files before production, but clean, well-prepared PDFs save everyone time.

6. Why does the printed color look different from my screen?

This can be frustrating, especially when you’ve labored over every detail.

The short version: screens emit light. Paper reflects it. Every screen is calibrated differently, and even glossy vs. matte paper can affect the final color.

For color-critical jobs, we recommend requesting a physical proof. It’s the only way to really know what you’re going to get.

We had one client launching a skincare line whose digital blue looked completely different in person—too green on matte, too purple on coated stock. A few printed tests helped us land exactly where they needed to be. It took a little longer, but it was worth it.

7. Can I use images I found online? They look good to me.

Short answer: probably not.

Images pulled from the internet are usually low resolution (72 dpi) and optimized for screen—not print. They may look okay on your monitor but turn out pixelated and blurry on paper.

Always use high-resolution images—300 dpi at actual size is the industry standard. And be sure you have the rights to use them.

8. What if I’m not a designer? Can someone help me prepare the file?

Absolutely. In fact, this happens all the time. At PRINTCO SRL, we often support clients—especially small businesses—who have a vision but need help translating it into a technical file that works for print.

We’d rather spend a bit of time upfront helping you get it right than go through costly reprints later.

The Bigger Picture

Preparing print-ready files might sound tedious, and honestly, sometimes it is. But it’s also the foundation of quality. The packaging might be beautiful in theory, but unless the files are accurate, sharp, and production-friendly, the final result can fall flat.

As a print and packaging company proud to be nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, which will take place this November in London and be hosted by the International Trade Council, we see our work as more than just production. It’s a craft. It’s a collaboration. And events like these remind us that even the smallest details—like bleed lines and embedded fonts—are part of a bigger global conversation around excellence, creativity, and precision.

So, the next time you send a file to your printer, take a breath. Check it twice. Ask questions. Or just ask for help.