Label Planet
Synthetic labels have a huge number of benefits over other types of self adhesive labels.
If you’ve ever printed your own blank labels (or simply used sticky labels before), you probably used paper labels – which are extremely versatile sticky labels in their own right. However, this week we’re celebrating synthetic labels – which have a huge range of advantages, especially when you need self adhesive labels that can offer just a little bit extra…
SYNTHETIC LABELS
These are self-adhesive labels made with a synthetic (man-made) face material; the most popular synthetics for use as adhesive labels are polyester, polyethylene, polyolefin, and vinyl. Each of these materials has a broad range of useful properties, including durability and flexibility, and they are all relatively easy and cost effective to manufacture.
WATERPROOF LABELS
Synthetic labels are waterproof, which is ideal if you need self adhesive labels that will survive outdoors OR indoors where they might come into contact with water (or other liquids). To create waterproof labels, you need a laser printer; this is because laser printers use a dry printing process (applying heat and pressure) to bond toner onto a surface – creating waterproof print.
Inkjet printers CAN produce waterproof print BUT this requires a specialist inkjet printer and specialist inkjet inks OR specialist materials like our MWPP. Standard desktop inkjet printers cannot process specialist inks and tend to use water-based inks, which run and/or smudge if they get wet – or get handled a lot.
All of our synthetic labels are waterproof and FOUR of our waterproof labels (MWP, MWPE, MWPO, and MWPP) also qualify as marine labels – i.e. they can be used in marine conditions – because they are made with synthetic face materials AND a marine standard adhesive. These self adhesive labels have to pass extremely strenuous tests (including submersion in sea water at mid-tide for three months) to achieve the marine standard – which is generally accepted to also be a marker of sticky labels that are extremely tough and durable.
TRANSPARENT LABELS
Synthetic materials are also used to make transparent labels; ideal if you want to create window stickers or need to add extra information or design work onto a pre-printed surface.
They’re perfect product labels or retail labels when you need to add extra information onto pre-printed product packaging AND perfect address labels for envelopes or packaging that have been chosen for a special event (such as wedding invitations or parcels being sent as gift items with special wrappings).
We supply options for transparent matt labels, transparent gloss labels, transparent permanent labels, transparent removable labels, transparent laser labels, and transparent inkjet labels. While all of our transparent labels are not “frosted” or “translucent”, neither are they “glass clear” – tair bubbles and dust may be trapped by the adhesive during the application of a label, which prevents them having a truly 100% transparent finish. You can improve the overall finish by taking extra care during the application; start with one edge and then smooth the label down from that side to the other, applying firm pressure to help avoid the formation of bubbles.
LONG LIFE TRACKING LABELS
While paper labels are easily torn or marked over time, synthetic labels are tough and durable, which makes them ideal for use as long life tracking labels – especially on items that need to be shipped long distance or that will spend long periods of time moving in and out of storage facilities. Synthetic labels are difficult to tear and, while they may get marked over time, they can be wiped clean and dry because they are waterproof.
If you need long lasting address or shipping labels OR asset I.D. labels to keep track of high value stock or company equipment, synthetic labels are a quick and easy way to safely and securely label these items with self adhesive labels that will last for the life time of those items.
SECURITY LABELS
Synthetic labels can be used to create security labels; these are self adhesive labels that are designed to provide visual evidence of tampering, which improves the security of high value items by providing a visual deterrent against theft or tampering.
At Label Planet, we supply void security labels; our Silver Void Labels have an adhesive layer that splits to leave behind the message “VOID” when a label is removed from an item.
DECORATIVE STICKERS
Of course, synthetic labels are just for serious applications - they can also be used to make fun and seriously eye-catching decorative stickers. At Label Planet, we supply Mirrored Labels, which are suitable for laser printers and feature a permanent adhesive. The material has an attention grabbing (and interactive) finish that makes these labels the perfect additions to any items designed for special events or occasions.
Buy SYNTHETIC LABELS from Label Planet
Synthetic labels are always going to be a more expensive option because of the specialised materials involved BUT they can offer properties that paper labels simply cannot provide AND they’re ideal if you need self adhesive labels that can survive in more extreme conditions and environments.
To view all of the different synthetic labels available from Label Planet, visit our WATERPROOF LABELS page. The table shows basic information about each product range (including a material description, adhesive type, waterproof status, and printer compatibility); to find out more about any of our synthetic labels, simply click on the “View Products” link to read detailed product information and view the label sizes available – to buy, click on the label size you want to order and select the quantity you need.