Label Lingo
Label Core Measure-ment - I.D. - Inner Diameter
I.D. - refers to the inner diameter of a label roll also called the core. Labels are rolled usually on a cardboard core. The I.D. core is the measurement between the inner edges of the cardboard label core. 3" is the most popular sized I.D., although other sizes can be 1" and 1.5".
Wound-Out Labels - refers to the direction the label is wound after production. With wound out, the label is wound so the label goes over the top of the label (instead of under the label - that would be wound-in).
Wound-out is the most popular and widely used format.
Facestock - refers to the actual label material whether it be paper, tag or synthetic and most come top coated.
Label liners - (also referred to as backings, carriers or release liners) are required for die cut, butt cut die cut labels. The liners hold labels to feed them through thermal or direct thermal printers. The liners can be perforated to make label separation by hand.
Adhesive - is what makes the label adhere to your product. There are various types of adhesives: permanent - strong bond after applied; removable - for temporary labeling though heat can affect its bond's strenght; repositionable - allows a label to be repositioned without damage to either the label or the substrate and freezer adhesive for cold freezing temperatures.
Die Cut vs Butt Cut Labels - die cuts have a margin of open space around the label. The standard gap/ space between the rows of labels is 1/8". Butt cut labels occupy the whole liner with no spacing. For your thermal or direct thermal printer to sense the beginning and end of the butt cut, the printer would have to be set to exact label size. Die cuts - the printer's sensor would read the gap between the row of labels.
Thermal Printing Glossary
bar code character - a single group of bars and spaces that represent a specific number, letter, punctuation mark or other symbol; the smallest subset of a bar code symbol that contains data.
bar code
A binary coding system consisting of vertical marks or bars that, when read by an optical scanner, can be converted into machine language; An automatic identification technology that encodes information into an array of adjacent varying width parallel rectangular bars and spaces. Check out our Barcodes 101 Ebook.
abrasion
A scraped spot or area, the result of rubbing or scraping.
abrasion resistant
The ability to withstand scrapes.
adhesion
The bond established on contact between two surfaces.
adhesive
A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.
aggressive adhesive
A tenacious adhesive.
air holes
The holes punched through tags so that strings may be affixed to the tag and then attached usually to a garment, piece of jewelry, shrubbery, etc.
application temperature
The environmental temperature at which the label will be applied.
backing
The liner of pressure-sensitive label stock which functions as a carrier.
bar code
A binary coding system consisting of vertical marks or bars that, when read by an optical scanner, can be converted into machine language; An automatic identification technology that encodes information into an array of adjacent varying width parallel rectangular bars and spaces.
bar code character
A single group of bars and spaces that represent a specific number, letter, punctuation mark or other symbol; the smallest subset of a bar code symbol that contains data.
bar code density
The number of data characters that can be represented in a linear unit of measure, often expressed in characters per inch.
bar code reader
A device used to read a bar code symbol, usually connected to a CRT or personal computer.
biaxially oriented
Stock with fiber layers at angles to each other for strength.
black stripe
A black line pre-printed on the back side of the label or tag that printers equipped with reflective sensors use to signal the end of one label and the top of the next.
butt cut labels
Rectangular labels in continuous form, separated by a horizontal face cut.
Centronics connector
A 36-pin connector usually used for parallel applications, especially printers.
coated paper/tag
Paper or tag stock which has one or both surfaces covered with a substance to produce certain desired properties for use in specific printing processes.
coatings
A layer of material covering the facestock usually to provide a smoother finish.
continuous
Labels feeding directly one after another in quantity rather than one at a time.
deposit buildup
The residue accumulated from constant activity in a certain spot.
die cut
The severance line between a pressure-sensitive label and its matrix or adjoining label, made by the cutting edge of a die.
direct thermal
A printing system using heat sensitive paper in which heated areas of the paper turn dark.
edge notches
Holes punched on either one/both sides or the center of the label that printers equipped with transmissive sensors use to signal the end of one label on the top of the next.
environment
The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence an object.
facestock
Any paper, film or foil material that can be converted into labels; Retains the printed image.
fanfold
Labels with perforations in the release liner so they can be folded into stacks.
gap
For die cut labels the distance between one label and the next.
general purpose permanents
Permanent adhesives for a wide variety of surfaces and environments.
high tack
A high degree of stickiness to the adhesive.
infrared
The band of light wavelengths too long to be seen by the human eye; represented by waves that are between 750 and 4 million nanometers.
ladder
A vertical bar code presented in such a manner that its overall length dimension is perpendicular to the horizon; the bars are presented in an array which look like a ladder.
laminate
Web of material formed by bonding two or more materials together; in labels, the liner, adhesive and facestock.
laser scanner
An optical bar code reading device using a low energy laser light beam as its source of illumination.
light pen
In a bar code system, a hand held scanning wand that is used as a contact bar code reader held in the hand (wand scanner).
liner
Material used as a label carrier which enables the labels to be released.
media
The label or tag stock used as the receptor for the printed image.
perforations
A series of holes used to separate labels on a roll for easy tear off.
permanent adhesive
Adhesive capable of long-lasting bond strength to a wide variety of surfaces.
picket fence
A horizontal bar code presented in such a manner that its overall length dimension is parallel to the horizon; The bars are presented in an array which look like a picket fence.
pin feed
Round holes in label stock that help maintain the labels proper alignment during printing.
polyesters
Strong film that resists moisture, oils and many chemical solvents.
polymids
A synthetic polymeric resin resistant to high temperatures, wear and corrosion.
polypropylenes
Any of a group of durable, thermoplastic resins.
preprinted
Printed in advance of use.
pressure sensitive label
Label material with adhesive backing and protective silicone-coated release liner to permit it to adhere instantly to most surfaces with the application of slight pressure.
print head energy levels
The amount of energy (heat) at the point of contact on the print head.
print quality
The measure of compliance of a bar code symbol to the requirements of dimensional tolerance, edge roughness, spots, voids, reflectance, print contrast, quiet zone, and encodation.
processing temperature
The temperature a label would be expected to withstand as its normal environment.
quiet zone
A clear space, containing no machine readable marks, which precedes the start character of a bar code symbol and follows the stop characters.
reflectance
The light which is reflected from the white spaces of a bar code during scanning; this light is converted to an electrical signal, amplified and transmitted to a data entry terminal.
removable adhesives
Pressure sensitive adhesive that offers low ultimate adhesion to a variety of surfaces for easy removal.
repositionable adhesive
Pressure sensitive adhesive that can be cleanly removed and repositioned on a variety of surfaces.
resolution
In a bar code system, the narrowest element dimension which can be distinguished by a particular reading device or printed with a particular device or method.
scanner
An electronic device that electro-optically converts optical information into electrical signals.
scratch resistant
The ability of an image to withstand abrasion.
smudge
The tendency of an image to smear or streak onto an adjacent area when rubbed; involves the redisposition of abraded material.
smudge resistant
The ability of an image to withstand smudging.
static
Electrostatic discharge caused by two surfaces coming together.
substrate
The surface on which a bar code symbol is printed.
synthetic label
A manmade compound or material, usually a plastic film.
tack
The amount of stickiness of an adhesive.
tag
A paperboard card or synthetic material considerably stiffer and heavier than label facestock.
thermal transfer
A printing system where dots are selectively heated against a ribbon and common paper is used as a substrate; usually produces the highest print quality and eliminates the problems of fading or changing color inherent in direct thermal.
UL recognized label
Underwriters Laboratory tested and approved device rating labels.
ultraviolet
High frequency light present in sunlight, which causes fading of printed characters especially direct thermal images.
Universal Product Code (UPC)
The standard bar code symbol for retail food packages in the United States.
UV varnish
Ultraviolet light-cured coating applied to label surfaces for a protective finish.
visible light
Used in some hand laser scanners to project a beam of light visible to the human eye, simplifying the scanning process.
wand scanner
In a bar code system, a wand that is used to scan bar codes.