What’s The Difference Between LASER LABELS & INKJET LABELS

Our labels have one of three printer compatibility types; laser labels, inkjet labels, or laser and inkjet labels.

All this means is that the labels have been made using materials that are either well-suited to the laser printing process, the inkjet printing process, or that are suitable for use with either printing process.

So why do different printing methods need labels made of different materials?
Laser printers and inkjet printers work in two very different ways, which means that – to get the best possible print results – you need to print onto materials that suit the particular printing method in use.

LASER PRINTERS bond toner (a dry powder) onto a surface using heat and pressure; this means that laser labels are made with materials that have a consistently smooth surface and that are heat resistant (paper laser labels, for example, often have a higher moisture content to ensure they survive the heat used during laser printing).

INKJET PRINTERS disperse inks (usually water-based) onto a surface where they dry and form the final printed image; this means that inkjet labels are made with materials that are slightly porous – allowing them to absorb some of the ink, which means that the ink dries in place much more efficiently and accurately.

At Label Planet, our label products are made with materials that naturally possess properties that make them well-suited to a particular printing method or that have been treated in a particular way (for example, having a special coating or finish applied) to make them better suited to a particular printing method.

So what label products do you supply for laser printers and for inkjet printers (and for both)?

And what happens if I use the wrong labels with the wrong printer?
At best, you’ll end up with a batch of very poor quality printed labels – at worse, you could end up damaging your printer. Whether you print laser labels with an inkjet printer or print inkjet labels with a laser printer, the print you apply to your labels won’t be able to fix or set in place properly, which will result in your print flaking away or smudging and smearing. You may also damage the labels themselves, which could result in those labels (and your toner/inks) doing damage to the internal components of your printer.

This is why you should ALWAYS make sure that your labels are compatible with your printer BEFORE you start printing. To help you out, all of our label products will have their printer compatibility type listed on the range page, product page, and packaging for that particular item.

For more hints and tips you can take a look at our HELP section or have a browse through our FAQ blog posts.