Self-adhesive label printing, also known as self-adhesive printing, trademark printing.

It is the use of a certain printing method to print the label into a self-adhesive material, the finished product can be uncovered, glued to the product or packaging for its identification.

So, what are the methods of self-adhesive label printing? Let’s find out the answer in the following article.

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5 Types of Printing Methods of Self Adhesive Label Printing

Printing Method 1: Letterpress

The use of letterpress printing sticker label, printing plate for photosensitive resin letterpress, printing label has the advantage of full ink.

But now the letterpress printing equipment grade difference is large, some are still using circular press letterpress machine, some use ordinary rotary letterpress machine, some have used professional oblique back, satellite or unit type sticker label printing press.

Professional self-adhesive printing machines based on relief printing have the ability to print film labels, but they need to contact suppliers to replace some related parts, such as increasing the tension control system controlled by servo motors, adding film surface treatment units, and increasing the precision registration system for high-end machines.

For enterprises that use circular flat letterpress printing presses to print self-adhesive labels, if they print film labels, they can change the photosensitive resin plate to a high-elastic flexographic plate, use water-based inks or UV inks suitable for flexographic plates, and change the nature of the ink to adapt to the change of the substrate.

Printing Method 2: Offset Printing

Offset printing is the main way for Chinese label printing plants to print paper self-adhesive.

Offset printing is characterized by fine graphics, rich layers, suitable for mass printing, and printing equipment can be used in one machine, suitable for the characteristics of the Chinese label market.

However, sheet offset printing is not suitable for printing films with non-absorbent surfaces, because film labels are mostly roll-to-roll printing and require volatile drying inks.

Offset printing can print thicker plastic materials, such as in-mold labels, but it is necessary to install UV curing devices on the machine, which requires a small cost.

Printing Method 3: Flexographic Printing

At present, the quality of flexographic printing is no less than offset printing, and even has its own unique place.

The advantages of this printing process are that the machine structure is simple, the cost is low, the printing quality can be compared with offset printing, gravure printing, and has the advantages of thick ink layer than offset printing products, Flexographic printing using water-based ink and UV ink, does not pollute the environment.

However, due to the large elasticity of flexographic plate, the reappearance of the step tone is different from that of intaglio plate and ordinary relief plate, the dot from the highlight to the middle tone of flexographic plate printing is larger, the printing contrast is small, and the high light level is prone to fault.

In order to make up for the defects in the level of fine graphic and text labels, the highlight part can use frequency modulation dot, dark tone or the middle call amplitude modulation screening to improve the quality.

Label printing plants that do not have a flexo machine can introduce a laminated narrow-width flexo press dedicated to self-adhesive label printing, which is suitable for film label printing.

Because flexographic printing machines use circular die-cutting, die-cutting roller prices are high, the production cycle is long, only suitable for long version of the live, for domestic self-adhesive label short version of the live demand is not suitable.

However, it is an easy to transform label printing equipment, which can work online with film scuttling, stitching and sealing processes.

Printing method 4: Gravure Printing

Intaglio printing using short ink path ink delivery system for ink supply, reel printing, a high degree of automation, the use of solvent-based ink, ink layer drying quickly, is the first choice for film printing.

General gravure printing machine speed is higher, many gravure printing machine back end is also equipped with drum die-cutting device, die-cutting, indentation, suitable for a variety of label printing.

However, due to the long cycle of gravure plate making and the high cost of plate making, it is only suitable for mass label production.

Printing method 5: Screen Printing

Screen printing is the most adaptable printing method for substrate, at present, there are many screen printing factories using low-cost screen printing equipment to contract self-adhesive label and film label printing business.

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