Labels are crucial to how we find products, gauge prices and buying potential, and make many of our decisions. For example, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University found in a new study that food labels were responsible for a 13% cutback in unhealthy food options. Apart from nutrition facts, labels also tell us what a product is, how much it costs, and helps brand your products and company. We likely can identify certain labels from places we shop at or frequent a lot. If you're producing your own, having a good inkjet label printer is imperative to making custom high gloss labels that are good quality. We'll discuss the four different types of printing technologies used and what might be the best option for your business. 

The Power of a Label


As mentioned above, labels have major identifying power. It's a great way to promote your business, solidify your branding, and overall makes your business looks good. Obviously bigger companies and manufacturers can crank out thousands of labels for their products, but smaller businesses might be painstakingly crafting and producing labels by hand or in small batches for their products.


Digital label printing can make a huge impact on their quality, turnaround, and costs, though there other types of printing technologies available that each have their own advantages.


When creating your label, it's important to consider its size and shape -- both the size and the shape can say a lot about the brand. If it's too big for the product, it can dwarf or overpower it; if it's too small, the information might not be readily available or it might not stick in people's minds.


What are the Four Different Types of Printing Technologies?


Printing has evolved over the years and now there are a variety of options for consumers to choose from. Direct thermal printing and the three subsets of water-based inkjet technology are four of the common types of printing technology used these days.


If you're looking for mostly black and white printing, most businesses opt for direct thermal printing. The printhead heats the dots of the label to turn it into black or thermal transfer. A ribbon is melted onto the label by the printhead. It's an extremely durable form of printing and versatile -- you can print on anything from wristbands to labels.


Water based inkjet technology can either have dye-based inks or pigment-based inks. Dye-based inks are your best bet for vibrant colors on glossy labels, whereas pigment-based are best for durable labels on a matte finish. Laser printing is also a popular option -- heat is applied in the fuser to heat up the toner, which then bonds with the paper.


Digital printing often makes use of the inkjet technology and is a popular option, especially for smaller businesses. Start-up costs are low, there's a quick turnaround time for production, and it can be a less expensive options for smaller batches.


What Kind of Label Printer Should I Purchase?


This really depends on what kind of needs your business has. If you're sticking solely to black and white, direct thermal printing is usually the way to go, and it can be quite versatile and durable, as we mentioned above.


Small businesses often prefer printers that work with digital printing technology, since they can produce small batches at a lower cost, but with much less hassle. If you're a very small business, there are smaller hand-held label printers or ones that can easily fit on a desk that can produce much smaller batches as needed.


In all, it's best to evaluate your printing needs and then make a decision -- there are multiple "Best-of" lists that you can find online as well, once you've decided on the route you want to go.


Labels are an absolute necessity when it comes to your company's branding and promoting your products -- find the best label printer for your needs!