These seven tips will help you evaluate any color Label Printing Solution. Whether you’re printing your labels for products or are considering printing labels for your business, you’ll need to make sure you’re making the correct choice and the best investment for your company. Many companies are considering their first or second systems for various reasons, including keeping up with demands, seeking to lower the total cost of ownership or cost per label, or improving operational efficiency. However, the primary reason is that people are looking to manage their labeling within their own premises.
Although there are undoubtedly many benefits that were printing labels on demand and in-house, there are a number of aspects to consider before making a choice. Concern of label printing systems for your business can be more complex than looking at the standard desktop printer at home.
Here are some helpful tips for making this procedure more straightforward for you:
1. Watch as a complete roll of labels is printed
Get an in-person demonstration
It’s crucial. It’s vital not to rely upon “canned” printed label samples or videos provided by the manufacturer. Watching the label print can show any flaws in the printer’s technology. You are the expert on your tags and what they should look like. If printing quality and color-matching are your top priorities, You’ll receive the most impressive display of the capabilities of your color label printer by seeing the artwork for your labels printed. Therefore, before purchasing a product, you should schedule a demonstration and make an appointment to observe printing your brand rapidly.
2. Request to see the label’s format printed
You can test your brands far better than a pre-printed or sample label
To ensure that you are aware of all the printer’s features, send the digital artwork to your salesperson before your demonstration. If your design was created on a different device, such as your office inkjet or commercial flexographic press, the salesperson might have to adjust the colors to accommodate your needs.
3. Comparing “how long it takes to print” and not simply “print speed.”
You can time the printing job while you are watching.
When evaluating “print speed,” it’s common to think that you’re looking at “how fast it takes to produce a print job.” But there are many technical reasons why this isn’t the situation. Things like pauses during cleaning procedures, processing delays, and the time required to set up printers with blank labels and inks can impact productivity. These are all aspects that your production team must examine in looking at.
4. Check out “print quality,” not just “print resolution.”
Let the jury decide
Label printers all have the specifications for “resolution,” but this doesn’t necessarily mean “print quality.” “What resolution should I be looking for?” is extremely difficult to answer since there is often a trade-off in print performance and speed. Alongside the physical size of dots created by the printer for labels and the halftoning algorithm used to print them, the substrate material, substrate, and ink set influence the brand’s appearance and color spectrum. When comparing 1200 dpi or 2400 dpi, your perception of quality is more precise than the technical specifications.
5. Find out how much it will cost to label your roll
Request a quote
In addition, once the entire purpose of your label designs are printed and sold, have your sales representative estimate the cost of the label roll that was published, including the cost of ink and material for the label. This will provide you with an accurate estimate of the final price per label, meaning that ultimately you’ll be able to calculate the amount you’ll spend every time you create the titles yourself.
6. Find out where you’ll buy the labels
Choose a suitable substrate and service
If you’re looking for a specific printing or performance need, you’ll likely want to “spec in” a particular material for labels that is compatible for your printing. Therefore, you must determine which company offers brands made of the material, and if the delivery timeline and cost of the label cut by die is compatible with your requirements. Ensure that a reputable label provider can provide an array of compatible materials at various price ranges. AstroNova’s GetLabels division has the most extensive range of top-quality labels for all your labels needs.
7. Find out who can take care of or repair the printer?
Who will fix and service any issues?
Regular maintenance on site of a printing equipment is required to avoid breakdowns caused by wear and tear. Be bold and ask who is available for on-site maintenance (or whether you’re expected to perform this work yourself). Since a label printer is crucial to packaging, it is essential to know if on-site repair services and 24 hour support via phone are offered. These options may come at an additional cost or be covered under the warranty. Find out!
