Protective Varnishes
This clear protective varnish is applied to the labels at the end of the production process before cutting in order to extend the life of your labels as much as possible.
Protective varnishes are available as either a gloss or a matt finishing. Thus, it not only protects the print work from minor scuffs but it can be an optical complement for your label as well. If your labels’ material is matt it is best to choose the matt varnish. Labels that are finished with a protective varnish can of course still be processed by machine. They are also suitable for subsequent printing in a thermal transfer printer. All of the above mean protective varnish is a great option for products that need to withstand the impact of daily use, while maintaining legibility.
Film Lamination
The film lamination process, as the name suggests, adds a protective plastic film layer to our self-adhesive labels. This has various advantages in terms of their look, feel, and durability.
As with the protective varnish, film lamination is available in gloss or matt, but creates a particularly strong effect that varnishes can’t replicate. Both provide a slightly more premium feel to labels too, due to the added thickness they give the material.
Gloss film lamination is particularly effective for premium and high-impact labels due to the super glossy look it creates. This proves especially popular for sports nutrition labels, as well as for paint and chemical product labels, for example.
Matt film lamination has the same protective qualities of its glossy twin, but creates a silk finish to labels, providing a soft yet striking aesthetic. This has proven popular for a wide variety of self-adhesive labels from beer through to cosmetic product labels.
Finally, laminated labels are particularly durable due to the added layer of protection. In particularly harsh environments, the extra layer of protection ensures that the print work can withstand heavier impacts, scuffs and contamination. This is why lamination is more suitable for outdoor use than varnished labels, for example.