Label Planet
This week, we're taking a closer look at our different types of transparent labels.
Here at the Label Planet office, we’re currently surrounded by fog and the less than clear view from our windows has got us thinking about transparent labels – the labels that you CAN see through.
WHAT ARE TRANSPARENT LABELS?
Transparent labels are, well, labels that are transparent. They are made using materials that you can see through – our labels are made of transparent polyester and transparent adhesives.
There are a range of labels that are described as “transparent” but there is variation in exactly how transparent these labels are – some will actually be “frosted” or “transluscent”. So what’s the difference?
A material is transparent because it transmits light (allows light to pass through itself) without scattering the light in all different directions in the process. The transparency of a material is determined by how much scattering of light occurs as light travels through the material – frosted and transluscent materials will scatter light a little bit, which prevents the materials from being totally see through.
Our labels are all made of transparent materials, so they are not frosted or transluscent. However, they are also not “glass clear” – glass clear refers to 100% transparency. When our labels are applied to a surface, tiny air bubbles may form in the adhesive or tiny particles of dust may be trapped between the label and the surface, which prevents a truly 100% transparent appearance.
Our transparent range includes:
- Gloss Clear Polyester labels (GCP)
- Gloss Transparent Polyester labels (GTP)
- Removable Gloss Transparent Polyester labels (GTR)
- Matt Transparent Polyester labels (MTP)
WHICH TRANSPARENT LABELS SHOULD I CHOOSE?
We have a range of five different transparent options to choose from, so how do you know which one is right for you?
- Laser or Inkjet
Four of our transparent labels are suitable for use with laser printers only, so if you have an inkjet printer, you’ll need to choose our Gloss Clear Polyester labels. - Matt or Gloss
Do you want a shiny, glossy finish or do you need a flat, matt finish that will blend in? GTP, GTR, and GCP are all transparent labels with a gloss finish. If you want a matt finish, you’ll need to choose our Matt Transparent Polyester labels. - Permanent or Removable
Are your labels supposed to be permanent or removable, and is it important that they don’t leave any residue behind?
Our GTP, GCP, and MTP all have standard permanent adhesives – you CAN remove these labels if you really try, but they will leave adhesive residue behind.
Our GTR labels are gloss transparent polyester labels with a removable adhesive – these labels are designed to be removed from a surface (although they may leave some trace of residue behind, depending on how long they remain on a surface for).
WHAT CAN I USE TRANSPARENT LABELS FOR?
Generally, transparent labels are used for decorative purposes and/or because you can see through them to whatever is behind or beyond the label itself. This means that they are a popular choice for window stickers, but they can also be used on decorative surfaces so that the label doesn’t block out or cover up the pattern or colour that has been selected; for example, this could be a pattern on product packaging, or decorative envelopes that have been chosen to suit a special occasion (such as wedding or christening invitations). Transparent labels help to avoid issues with colour matching and don’t distract the eye from transparent objects (such as glass vases or see-through containers). They are an easy way to add information in a subtle way – a transparent label will blend in with its background, rather than standing out from the crowd as white or coloured labels will do.