Label Planet
Learn more about compatible label templates.
Here's our guide to compatible label templates and how they can be used to print labels from different label manufacturers and suppliers.
What are compatible templates?
Basically, a compatible template is a template that uses the same label size and layout as the labels you want to print.
Why do label companies (like Label Planet) mention compatible templates – when they don’t sell a particular brand?
There are a number of "standard" label sizes sold by label manufacturers and suppliers across the labelling industry. Each of these standard label sizes are made using the same label size and layout.
This means that you can use any template designed for a standard label size to print any labels in that label size that you have purchased from any label manufacturer or supplier. This is especially important if you have to use software to design and print your labels that requires you to use a label template that is built-in to that particular piece of software - meaning you can't use a standalone template provided by the label manufacturer or supplier.
Do all label companies supply standard label sizes?
Most companies sell at least some label products in "standard" label sizes. These particular sizes tend to fit well onto an A4 sheet – without leaving waste around the labels – and are useful in a range of label applications, which means that they tend to be the most popularly requested sizes.
Why do some label sizes have more than one compatible template code?
Some manufacturers supply label templates for EVERY product they supply - even when they supply one particular label size in a range of material options. When they also use the same code to refer to an individual product and its related template, you end up with multiple template codes for a set of templates that are actually identical.
For example, a company may supply label size "A" in gloss paper and matt paper; the gloss product could have the product code "A-Gloss" and the matt product could have the product code "A-Matt". Both of these products also have their own label templates, named with the same codes, which means that label templates "A-Gloss" and "A-Matt" are exactly the same.
This also means that if you are printing labels bought from another manufacturer or supplier that use the same label size, you can print your labels using either label template code "A-Gloss" or label template code "A-Matt".
Label Planet product codes are made up of two parts – the label size and the label material. We have named our label templates using the label size only, so you can use the one template to print onto any products that are made in that label size. For example, you can use our template LP24/40R to print LP24/40R, LP24/40R REM, LP24/40R C, and LP24/40R FC.
Why can’t I find a particular code in my software?
The contents of the set of built in templates available to you will be dependent on the software you are using AND the version of that software you are using (software manufacturers may update the list of available built in templates each time they release a new version). The code you want to use might not have been deemed popular enough for inclusion OR it may belong to a product that has been discontinued by the manufacturer used for the built-in list (but not by other label manufacturers and suppliers)
The other reason you might not be able to find a specific code is that it could be a code for an American label size; American label sizes are measured in inches and are produced on label sheets in the American Letter paper size (8.5 inches wide by 11 inches high or 215.9mm by 279.4mm), while UK label sizes are measured in cm/mm and are produced on label sheets in the A4 paper size (210mm wide by 297mm high or 8.27 inches by 11.7 inches).
Some software will contain built in templates for both UK/A4 Sizes and American/Letter Sizes, so you will need to select ONE of these options before you start looking for your code.
Likewise, if you have downloaded design software you need to make sure you have downloaded the UK version and not the US version. If you are using American software that only contains built in templates for American sizes, you will have to find an American company that can supply labels into the UK as these label sizes will not be manufactured or supplied in the UK.