Solving The 10 Most Common Label Printing Problems

The Importance of Perfect Labels

In today’s fast-paced world, inkjet and laser printers are a great tool in both business and home settings for labeling options. From product packaging and shipping labels to organization and personal projects, printer sheet labels play a crucial role. That's why the potential costs associated with sheet labels and your printer can be frustrating. In this blog, we’ll walk through 10 common label printer problems and how to fix them, so you can print with confidence every time.

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The Top 10 Label Printing Problems and Their Solutions

1. The Text is Not Legible

• Problem: Text appears too small or is difficult to read.
• Causes: Small font size, poor font choice, low color contrast.
• Solutions:
  • Use a font size between 8 and 12 points.
  • Choose legible fonts; use script fonts sparingly.
  • Ensure good color contrast between text and background.
  • Zoom to 100% in design software to check actual size.

2. The Design Looks Blurry

• Problem: Images or the entire label design appears pixelated or out of focus.
• Causes: Low image resolution (below 300 dpi), designing for the wrong label size.
• Solutions:
  • Use images with a resolution of at least 300 dpi.
  • Check image resolution in file properties.
  • Zoom to 100% in design software to check for blurriness.
  • Double check your label size.

3. The Labels are Not Printed Edge to Edge (White Margins)

• Problem: A white border appears around the printed design.
• Causes: Lack of bleed in the design or printer limitations.
• Solutions:
  • Include a sufficient bleed in your label document (extend background beyond trim line) in your design.
  • Use templates compatible with edge-to-edge printing.

4. The Text is Cut Off

• Problem: Parts of the text are missing after printing.
• Causes: Text placed too close to the print margin.
• Solutions:
  • Keep all text at least 2 mm away from the trim line.
  • Utilize margin lines in design software. Shifting can happen sometimes when printing, but as long as your design is within the margin, your labels should print perfectly!

5. The Labels Have a White Outline (Dark Backgrounds)

• Problem: A thin white line appears around dark-colored labels.
• Causes: This could be due to your media not being set to the proper setting for material type. If your printer is set to "plain paper" mode, it won't apply enough heat for thicker or glossy materials. This can cause the toner to not fully adhere to the label edges.
• Solutions:

  • Set your material type to “Labels,” “Heavy Paper,” or “Glossy” depending on your label stock. Laser and inkjet printers adjust heat and speed based on the media type—selecting the correct setting ensures the toner fuses properly, especially on thicker or coated materials.

  • Check the GSM (Grams per Square Meter) of your label sheets. GSM is a quick way to understand how thick or heavy your paper is. Standard printer paper is around 80 GSM, while label sheets are often 150-250 GSM. If your printer thinks it’s printing on thin paper when it’s actually thick stock, it may not apply enough heat - leading to toner not fully adhering at the edges, which can cause that thin white outline.

     

6. The Design is Not Centered on the Label

• Problem: The printed design is misaligned on the label sheet.
• Causes: Off-center design, incorrect template, printer misalignment or wrong print settings.
• Solutions:
  • Ensure your design is centered. In design software like Adobe Illustrator, there are tools that can align your selected artwork to the artboard (your artboard should match the size of either one of your labels, or the entire template - depending on how you are working)
  • Use the correct template for your label size and brand.
  • Verify your print settings are set to 100% scale or actual size.
  • Print from Adobe Acrobat Reader or your prefered software system, if using a PDF.

7. The Labels are Not the Right Size

• Problem: Printed labels don't fit the intended object.
• Causes: Ordering the wrong size, incorrect product label design dimensions or printer limitations.
• Solutions:
  • Double-check the ordered label size. If you ordered the wrong size, our team would love to help you find the right label solution for your printer.
  • Check your label printers size guide.
  • Ensure your design matches the label dimensions.
  • Be aware of printer's printable area limitations.

8. The Labels Should Be Clear But They're White

• Problem: You're trying to print on clear labels, but your design is coming out with a white background instead of being transparent.
• Causes:  Your design file includes a white background, which commercial-grade white toner laser printers will actually print—unlike standard printers that skip over white by default.
• Solutions:
  • Use a transparent background in your design (PNG, PSD, AI formats).
  • Utilize background remover tools in design software. Canva and Adobe Photoshop are both great tools to use if you're looking for a background remover tool.

9. The Colors are Not What I Expected

• Problem: Colors print different from what was on the screen.
• Causes: Difference between screen (RGB) and print (CMYK) color modes, screen calibration.
• Solutions:
• Double check that your file is in CMYK color mode before you submit your designs.
• Print or request a physical proof. This will help to ensure your design is color matched to your brand.

10. The Labels Are Not Water Resistant

• Problem: Labels become damaged or fall off when exposed to moisture.
• Causes: Not using waterproof materials.
• Solutions:
• Choose water resistant materials such a vinyl, plastic, and polypropylene labels. Choosing the right custom waterproof label can be tough, but knowing what your indented use can be helpful. If your not sure where to start our team is here to help!
• Consider adding a varnish for extra water resistance.

Beyond the Top 10: Other Common Label Printer Issues

Paper Jams:

• Causes: Misaligned paper, incorrect type of label, debris.
• Solutions: Power off and carefully remove jammed paper, ensure correct paper loading and type, clean rollers. Test print your labels to make sure they print correctly before you print a large batch.
  
  

Ink Smearing / Toner Flaking:

• Causes: Wet ink (inkjet printer), incorrect material settings (laser printer). How can I fix ink smearing on my labels?
• Solutions: Reduce print quality (inkjet), adjust material settings (laser). This should be quick solution for ink smears. Always test print your labels before printing more.

Connection Issues:

• Causes: Outdated drivers, loose cables, wireless problems.
• Solutions: Update/reinstall drivers, check cable connections or troubleshoot wireless. Not only do we carry a range of labels, but we also have software and drivers for Dymo LabelWriters. This can help speed up the process.

Tips for Preventing Label Printing Problems

• Regularly clean your label printer heads and rollers.
• Use high-quality, recommended label materials. At LabelValue, we craft all our labels with high-quality, premium materials because our customers deserve the best.
• Keep printer drivers updated.
• Store labels in a flat, dry place. Read our guide on how to properly store and handle your labels for a few tips on proper label storage.
• Calibrate your printer as needed.
• Check printer settings before each print job.
• Avoid overloading the printer tray.

Achieving Label Printing Success

Dealing with label printing problems can be frustrating, but knowing how to handle them makes a difference. With a few simple tips and the right setup, you can keep things running smoothly and get great results every time.

Looking for high-quality labels or expertise guidance? At LabelValue, we offer a wide selection of printer labels to help with your printing needs. Explore our collection today and experience the LabelValue difference!