Speak the language of labels.

High-performance adhesive family for real packaging demands: resistance to water, moisture, grease and temperatures from -40 °C to +70 °C in modified versions rated for freezing. It is the standard for cold chains and difficult surfaces (PE, wet glass). When quoting, specify where the container ends up: a general-purpose acrylic can fail in a -18 °C chamber unless it is the cold-rated version validated with a cold-peel test.

Also known as: permanent adhesive · modified acrylic

Cell-etched cylinder that carries ink to the plate; its cell line count (lpc) defines how much ink reaches the substrate. Higher line count = thinner ink film and more controlled densities. A 700–1000 lpc anilox is typical for fine label work; asking for a "clean halftone" without specifying the anilox is the #1 cause of uneven ink between repeat runs.

Also known as: anilox roller · anilox cell

Analysis with a verifier (not just any scanner) that grades the barcode under ISO 15416: symbology, contrast, decodability and edges, with an A–F grade. Retail and pharma reject merchandise with low-grade codes. When printing codes with fine bars, request formal verification and a scan test on the actual point-of-sale equipment: background color and varnish change contrast.

Also known as: GS1 grading · ISO 15416 verification

Artwork excess extending beyond the final cut (typically 2–3 mm) so the die, with its natural few-thousandths tolerance, never leaves white edges. It's why a file "sized exactly" gets rejected in prepress: without bleed, any micro-variation of the cut becomes visible along the label's contour. It also applies to color backgrounds behind white text knockouts on spot colors.

Also known as: oversize · trim margin

Multi-layer label with a fold-out inner booklet (up to 5 pages): the full regulatory text for pharma, agrochemicals or chemicals fits on the container without giving up the commercial front. The booklet is printed, folded, and applied onto the base label. It is the staple of the Mexican pharmaceutical sector for NOM compliance and lot traceability. Minimum runs from 5,000 pieces in large formats.

Also known as: multi-layer label · fold-out label

Biaxially oriented polypropylene: the most used plastic film in labels for its cost/performance balance. It resists water, grease and condensation (cold bottles) and won't crack on curved applications. White for vivid colors, clear for the "no label" look. Typical gauge 50–60 microns. Cheaper than PET and enough for most food and beverage; PET wins when chemical resistance or high temperature come into play.

Also known as: biaxially oriented polypropylene

Gloss or matte coated paper: the most economical option for dry-environment labels (boxes, general line products, price stickers). Its limit is structural: it absorbs moisture, degrades with condensation and wrinkles in cold chambers — never for cold chain or wet containers. For humid terrain the same budget performs better on BOPP. Premium cans and glass combine matte coated + laminate.

Also known as: glossy paper · art paper

Requirement for containers living in refrigeration (2–8 °C) or freezing (-18 °C and below): the adhesive and substrate must keep working at that temperature. Paper + general adhesive = label peeled off at the point of sale. The proven recipe: BOPP or PET film + cold-rated modified acrylic (-40 °C to +70 °C range) + a cold-peel test validated by the supplier before the print run.

Also known as: refrigeration · freezing

Metallic finish (gold, silver, holographic) transferred with UV adhesive and a flexible plate — no engraved die. It allows gradients, halftones and fine detail impossible for hot stamping, with a much lower setup cost on medium runs (the standard for accessible luxury in premium labels). It requires design thinking: the metal is applied BEFORE the color inks, which then sit on top as translucent or opaque depending on the intended effect.

Also known as: cold stamping · cold metallic transfer

Cutting die defining the label's final silhouette (rectangular, oval, logo contour) and internal cuts (windows, flaps). It's another first-run fixed cost, reused on repeats. Exotic formats (complex contours) make the die pricier and consume more material in imposition; sometimes a 1 mm redesign of a rounded corner saves 5% of material waste over the product's life.

Also known as: cutting die · die shape

Allowed variation margin in measurements and cutting: ±0.5–1.0 mm is usual for die-cut flexographic labels (±0.3 mm on precision sleeves). Any serious quote declares it; without written tolerance, every deviation becomes an argument. If your container or labeler has constraints (dispenser windows, sensors), state them in the brief: tolerance is engineered to the right process from the design stage.

Also known as: cut tolerance · allowed variation

The front layer of the pressure-sensitive laminate: the material you see and print (paper or film), before adhesive and liner. The facestock + adhesive + liner combination defines the full "sandwich" and its price — two suppliers saying "BOPP" may be quoting different sandwiches (permanent vs removable adhesive, standard vs easy-release liner). Request the written spec of all three layers.

Also known as: face material · print face

Photopolymer plate imaged with the artwork that transfers ink onto the substrate. It is the main fixed cost of a first print run (made once, reused on repeats). Serious suppliers archive it; when switching suppliers, ask about ownership and condition of your plates — recovering them avoids paying full prepress again. 1.14–1.7 mm plates are typical in labels.

Also known as: printing plate · photopolymer plate

Seal guaranteeing the paper fiber comes from responsibly managed forests, with chain-of-custody traceability (FSC-C#####) from forest to your label. More retailers and consumer brands require it as a purchasing condition for sustainability. When quoting certified paper, confirm the supplier maintains an active chain of custody and can invoice with their certificate code — otherwise the seal in the artwork is not claimable.

Also known as: Forest Stewardship Council · chain of custody

Material thickness in microns (μm) or points (1 pt = 25.4 μm). The right gauge depends on the container: tight curved surfaces (thin PET bottles) need low gauges (50 μm) to avoid wrinkling; flat rigid surfaces tolerate more. A heavier gauge is not "better quality": it costs more and may lift at the edges. The conversion that matters: 60 μm ≈ 2.4 pts.

Also known as: thickness · caliper

Label printed on PET-G or PVC film, applied loose around the container and shrunk with heat (130–160 °C tunnel) until it hugs the full geometry: 360° decoration including shapes impossible for flat labels. Allows transparent windows, microperforations and full neck coverage. Typical minimum: 10,000 pieces. Ideal for redesigning an existing container without changing the container itself.

Also known as: shrink sleeve · sleeve label

Metal transfer using heat and pressure through an engraved metal die: flawless mirror shine and solid coverage, the classic of pharma and premium beverages. Its high fixed cost (the die) only amortizes across millions of pieces; for medium runs with fine detail or gradients, cold foil delivers the effect at a much lower setup cost.

Also known as: hot foil stamping · foil blocking

Melt-applied rubber adhesive with immediate grab (tack) on dusty or low-energy surfaces — corrugated board, recycled plastics. Its weakness: under heat (hot-fill lines, summer transport) it can flow and stain. Cheaper than acrylic; use it for palletizing and logistics labels, not on containers that go through shrink tunnels or retort processes.

Also known as: hot melt · rubber-based adhesive

Technology where the label is placed inside the injection or blow mold and fuses to the container wall during molding: it cannot peel, doesn't wrinkle, resists moisture and grease, and removes the post-molding labeling line. It requires coordination with the molder/blower (container and label are purchased as a system). ETIVAL produces IML in coextruded PP from 30,000 labels.

Also known as: in mold · molded-in label

The label's measurement laid flat, before curving around the container — the datum that dimensions the die and the price (quotes are calculated by printed area, not by "jar size"). For sleeves it is critical: the development includes the full perimeter + overlap for the seam (typically 8–10 mm). Ask the supplier for the measurement breakdown in the quote: without an explicit development, quotes between suppliers are not comparable.

Also known as: unwound size · flat dimension

Plastic film layer (polyester or BOPP, gloss or matte) bonded over the printed label. It delivers maximum protection against abrasion, moisture and chemicals — more than UV varnish — plus a premium tactile finish. The trade-offs: more cost and more total gauge (it can affect die-cutting and application). Rule of thumb: severe abrasion or long shelf life → laminate; normal friction → varnish is enough.

Also known as: overlaminate · film overlay

Siliconized paper or film that carries the labels on the roll and is discarded at application. Its stiffness determines whether the roll runs cleanly on your labeler (a poorly chosen thin liner stretches and breaks application registration). In the recycling era, linerless exists: less waste and more labels per roll, but it requires a compatible labeler.

Also known as: carrier · release liner

Halftone screen density: more LPI = smoother transitions and finer photographic detail, but demands plates, anilox and materials up to the task. Commercial standard sits around 120–133 LPI; at ETIVAL we can print up to 180 LPI — and also at 150 and 130. It's the detail that separates a clean gradient from a jagged one. If your brand has portraits or critical gradients, ask for the supplier's actual screen ruling, not just "high quality".

Also known as: screen ruling · halftone resolution

Official Mexican Standards governing label content: NOM-051 (food and beverages: warning octagons, nutrition declaration), NOM-138, NOM-072 for pharma, among others. Non-compliance stops goods at customs or triggers recalls. For imported product, re-labeling in Mexico with a shrink sleeve that covers the original label is the most flexible strategy: the complete regulatory block is printed here in 15 days.

Also known as: NOM-051 · official Mexican standards

Microscopic punctures in a sleeve's or label's film that let air escape in the shrink tunnel (preventing bubbles and wrinkles) or ventilate the product (wet wipes, products that "breathe"). Nearly invisible to the eye but critical in full-body sleeves: without them, trapped air creates irregular pockets on containers with concavities.

Also known as: air vents · pin perforation

Minimum sellable quantity per technology — it reflects the cost of setting up press and materials: ETIVAL runs from 5,000 pieces for flexographic and booklet labels (formats ≥ 50×50 mm), 10,000 for shrink sleeves and 30,000 for IML. Below the minimum, unit cost skyrockets (fixed costs never dilute). If your volume is lower, the price breaks show where the quantity jump pays for itself.

Also known as: minimum order quantity · MOQ

Spot ink reference system (Pantone Solid Coated): guarantees the brand color looks IDENTICAL on every run and across suppliers — unlike process color (CMYK), where the same file can shift per machine. Brands with their own corporate color (a soda green, a dairy red) specify their Pantone in the brand manual and the supplier must certify the formula per batch.

Also known as: spot color · PMS color

Glycolized polyester: the standard film for heat shrink sleeves thanks to its uniform, controlled shrinkage (up to ~75% in high-shrink formulas) and natural gloss. It holds high-definition inks and resists food grease. It's printed by rotogravure or high-end digital flexo; tuning the shrink profile to the container's geometry is the technical step that separates a perfect sleeve from a wrinkled one.

Also known as: glycolized polyester

Large-format plotter print of your design to validate content, measurements and palette BEFORE production: it delivers a minimum of 80% similarity with the actual on-press result — it can exceed 90% — (the exact ink formula only exists on press). ETIVAL includes it at no cost on every new project; formally approving it prevents the industry's most expensive mistake — discovering a wrong text across 100,000 delivered labels.

Also known as: digital proof · printed mockup

Stage where artwork becomes printable material: color adaptation to the press line, separations, imposition, plate and die making, color proofs. It is a fixed cost paid once per design — repeats don't pay it again if the supplier keeps your plates. Careless prepress translates into color and registration drift on press; ask to see the digital (or plotter) proof before authorizing production.

Also known as: pre-production · file setup

Volume discount table that any serious quote must include: unit cost drops 15–35% going from 50,000 to 250,000 pieces because fixed costs (prepress, setup, plates) spread over more units. Comparing only one small run's price is the classic mistake: a supplier expensive at 50k can be the cheapest at 200k. Always request at least three break levels.

Also known as: volume pricing · quantity breaks

Economical film with aggressive shrink for sleeves (up to ~60% with low-temperature onset) and complex-shape applications. Counterpoints vs PET-G: environmental stiffness and lower chemical resistance; several brands are migrating to PET-G or PLA under sustainability pressure. It remains valid on single-use containers where the shape demands its shrink profile.

Also known as: polyvinyl chloride

Mandatory empty space around the barcode — GS1 standards require clean margins of at least 10 times the narrowest bar. Without it, retail scanners can't decode and the rejection happens in-store, with goods already labeled. In design, also protect the zone from texts that "creep" into the code area and from textured varnishes over it.

Also known as: clear zone · barcode margin

Alignment between inks and design elements in multi-layer printing (up to 8 inks). Poor registration produces double edges on text and "ghost" outlines — most visible on fine strokes and codes. It's controlled with registration marks in the artwork and on-press verification; if your design uses very fine reversed-out rules of opposing colors, discuss trapping in prepress to compensate the process's natural tolerance.

Also known as: ink registration · color alignment

Two-layer label that opens and recloses without residue: the top layer peels off revealing inner text (instructions, promotions, extended legal info) and repositions. It's the alternative to booklets for medium-length texts, with better layer durability (the user can consult it repeatedly). Widely used in agrochemicals and under-cap promotions.

Also known as: two-layer label · peel and reseal

Standard delivery format for pressure-sensitive labels: printed and die-cut material wound on its liner, ready for the labeler. The unwind direction and the maximum roll diameter your equipment accepts are data the supplier needs in the brief: a roll that doesn't fit the dispenser stops the line. Alternative: cut singles, only for manual application.

Also known as: coil · roll-fed format

The material printed on: papers (coated, kraft) or films (BOPP, PET, PE, PVC). It defines 40–60% of the label's variable cost and all its field performance — resistance to water, grease, temperature and curved application. The right choice is the first technical question of any serious quote; the wrong one isn't visible on the sample but is, three weeks later, at the point of sale.

Also known as: print material · face material

Ink that dries instantly under UV light: enables high press speeds without waiting for drying (conventional ink "sets" hours later and can offset onto the back of the roll). It delivers more vivid, run-to-run stable colors. It's the standard in the premium segment of label flexography; the counterpart is the minimal residual odor (low-migration) required in food packaging — ask for inks certified for indirect food contact.

Also known as: ultraviolet-cured ink

Liquid coating cured with ultraviolet light that protects ink against transport friction and delivers tactile gloss or matte. Available spot (only over the logo, highlighting it against a matte field) or full-coverage. On containers that rub against each other (six-packs, sleeves) it is practically mandatory: without varnish, ink transfers to the back of the neighboring label (blocking).

Also known as: UV coating · gloss varnish

Printing of information that changes from label to label within the same run: consecutive numbering, unique QR codes, lots, dates, track-and-trace codes. In flexo it's done with inkjet modules integrated into the web. It's the backbone of pharmaceutical traceability and unique-code promotions; specify the numbering scheme and who safeguards the code master file.

Also known as: consecutive numbering · variable printing