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Protective Coatings

A protective coating is recommended if your labels will be exposed to chemicals, abrasion, moisture, cold or freezing temperatures, or frequent contact by human hands.

Not all protective finishes offer the same benefits, so care should be taken to select the right finish for your application.

Limitations of Protective Coatings

Protective coatings do not provide protection from color fading caused by prolonged exposure to the sun, and will not make a paper or foil stock more durable if it is used outdoors and exposed to weather conditions.

Types of Coatings available

There are three types of protective coatings available. We can add any one of these to almost any label listed anywhere shown here or in our catalog.

Varnish:

This is an inexpensive coating that is applied during the printing process and is priced as a standard ink color(#18). Varnish provides limited protection from the cracking, peeling and flaking that can occur if the labels are handled frequently; and provides protection in refrigerator and freezer environments. Varnish will not prevent fingerprinting and is not recommended if the labels will be exposed to chemicals and/or solvents. Varnish can make a subtle difference in the appearance of ink colors - especially very light colors - and will tend to be absorbed by uncoated stocks. For a shiny finish on uncoated stocks, we recommend UV coating or lamination.

UV Clear Coat:

UV Coating is a solvent-based coating that is applied after the labels are printed and before they are die-cut. This coating gives labels a hard shiny finish which resists fingerprinting, abrasion, surface moisture, and exposure to chemicals and solvents.

UV Coating can cover the entire surface of the label, or an area can be left free of coating for later writing, typing, or imprinting. UV Coating will not prevent fading, and will not make a paper of foil label more durable in outside conditions when the label is exposed to weather.

Lamination:

Lamination is a premium protective coating where a 1-mil poly film is fused to the labels after they are printed and the ink is dry. Lamination offers the highest gloss finish with the best resistance to handling, chemicals, scratches, or abrasions. Even lamination won't make a label stand up under the wrong conditions. Please be sure the stock, adhesive, and coating combination you choose is designed for your application.