Want Scratch-proof And Waterproof Labels? Get to Know Film Labels.

Written by: Beichen Lu

July 15, 2024

Time to read 3 min

Film labels are crafted from polyethylene, like plastic material, which renders them more resilient and pliable compared to traditional paper labels. Films represent a highly innovative product that provides distinctive advantages in labeling, presenting opportunities for your benefit.

Table of Content

Advantages of Film Labels Disadvantage of Film Labels Where and When to Use Film Labels. Where and When You Better Not to Use Film labels. Conclusion Products Featured In This Blog Frequently Asked Questions Related Readings

Advantages of Film Labels

Film labels offer several advantages compared to other types of labels:

One notable advantage of film labels is their superior resistance to environmental conditions. Many film materials possess "weatherproof" properties, enabling them to withstand water, heat, cold, fading, and tearing. This makes them well-suited for heavy-duty applications. However, it's important to remember that not all film materials are weatherproof. For instance, our film-based clear inkjet materials do not provide water-resistant capabilities.

Flexibility: Unlike paper labels, film labels have a greater degree of flexibility. This allows them to conform to the shape of various items or products, making them a versatile choice.

Durability: Film labels are known for their durability and ability to endure adverse conditions. Their resistance to environmental factors ensures that the labels maintain their quality and legibility over time.

Disadvantage of Film Labels

However, it's important to note that film labels do have one disadvantage—they tend to be more expensive compared to other types of labels such as paper labels.

Printing film labels presents other several challenges due to the nature of the materials involved. Not all surfaces of film labels are suitable for printing, as their printing characteristics are influenced by factors like surface tension and the surface's ability to retain ink.

Untreated film surfaces, particularly smooth and non-porous plastics, pose difficulties for printing because inks have a tendency to run and struggle to adhere to the non-polar and water-repellent surface of these materials.

To achieve satisfactory printing results on film labels, pre-treatment of the printing side is necessary. Two commonly employed techniques are the application of a permanent top coat and a more cost-effective method known as corona treatment. Corona treatment involves subjecting the film surface to high-frequency discharge, which increases surface tension and improves bonding properties. Pre-treated films can be printed with smear-resistant text, but over time, as the surface energy diminishes, the bonding capacity of the material decreases. However, this issue can be addressed by replenishing the surface energy of corona-treated materials in specialized corona systems immediately before printing, ensuring optimal printing results.

Where and When to Use Film Labels.

Film labels are most suitable for outdoor or humid environments, long-lasting applications, or products that undergo frequent use due to their strength and contemporary nature.

If durability is a critical requirement for your application, investing in film labels can save you time, money, and potential difficulties in the long term.

Where and When You Better Not to Use Film labels.

The trade-off of film labels including printability and cost determines that:

If you either has high requirement of printed content or cost, you better not to choose film labels. Remember, there are no perfect labels. There are only most suitable labels.