Save 10% off your first LabelValue order | Top 6 Mistakes Designing Artwork For Custom Labels
- By LabelValue Team
- Jan 9, 2023
Custom labels are an investment for your business, so you will want to maximize this opportunity all you can. You can do this with awesome custom label artwork. And you can take it to the next level by choosing an awesome material.
When consumers are looking at your custom labels in the stores they are seeing your artwork first. Next they see your custom label. When your custom labels are in stores you want to make sure there are no errors or mistakes. Mistakes on your custom label artwork do not look good for your brand
Here are some of the biggest mistakes you can make when designing artwork for custom labels. But dont worry, many of these artwork fixes are simple to avoid, and easy to correct.
1. Fonts not converted to outlines.
You will want to make sure you 'convert fonts to outlines. This process saves the font structure so others can open it.
If you do not convert fonts to outlines for the label company when they open the .Ai file your fonts will change to a default, like times new roman.
Since switching to digital file preparation years ago, this has become a common problem with artwork files. But dont worry it's simple to fix.
You may love the font you have selected for your artwork, but unless your label printer has it, they will only receive an error message when opening the file. Make sure you outline all fonts prior to sending the file. Watch the 1 minute video below to see how to convert text to outlines.
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2. Spelling mistakes or typos.
While this may seem so obvious, it is still incredibly common. While your label printer may catch typos, you should not rely on the label company to be your spellchecker. Make sure you always have more than one person proof your labels before you start label printing.
3. Missing Images, graphics or links.
Similar to converting your fonts to outlines, if you are using old versions of Photoshop or Illustrator, your label printer may not be able to access them. Make sure that your graphics are embedded in your document before sending them to the label company in order to avoid a delay in label printing.
4. Exact Label Colors.
Different label companies can print the same label in slightly different color shade. To solve this problem there are two solutions.
#1. you can pay for a press proof in CMYK. Or,
#2 you get a standardized label color with Pantone colors.
By choosing a Pantone color, your labels will print the same color at any label company in America.
And it will match other printed materials like boxes, flyers and signs.
5. Label Artwork Sizing.
Oftentimes artwork is sent of a different size than the dimensions of the actual label. Whether this is intentional or not, always include instructions for the placement and sizing of the image.
How much extra white space is needed? Do you want it centered or cropped? Again, these detailed instructions will only save time and headaches during the label printing process.
6. No white layer.
If you are printing clear labels or on the metallic foil you will want to make sure your label designer includes a white layer into the artwork. This white layer tells the label company which areas will be metallic or clear. If you dont have this white layer in your artwork the label company will need to add it, and could add extra artwork fees.