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BARRIER COAT
A coating applied to a face material
on the side opposite the printing surface that
lies between the material and the adhesive coat.
It provides increased opacity to the face
material, and/or prevents migration of adhesive to
the face material, and/or improves anchorage of
adhesive to face material. See also: Anchor Coat,
or Primer.
BASIS WEIGHT
The weight in pounds of a ream
(either 480 or 500 sheets) of paper cut to a given
size.
BATTERY LABEL STOCK
A durable, acid-resistant label
material designed for the demanding environment
associated with automotive
batteries.
BLEED / BLEED THROUGH
The migration of components from the
adhesive or substrate onto the face material,
resulting in its mottled appearance and possible
dysfunction of the adhesive.
BLOCKING
Adhesion between sheets or rolls of
pressure sensitive labels usually due to cold
flow, improper drying of inks, or improper curing
of coatings and adhesives. See also: Cold
Flow.
BLOWN-ON LABELS
A method of label application that
uses air pressure to remove the label from the
carrier and position it on the
substrate.
BRIGHTNESS
The (blue light) reflectivity of a
sheet of paper measured under standardized
conditions on an instrument designed and
calibrated specifically for that
purpose.
BREAKING
The
operation of passing gummed paper or tape over a
dull edge which cracks or breaks the adhesive
layer, retarding curl and improving water
absorption when remoistened for
use.
BRITTLENESS
That property of a material which
causes it to break when deformed by
bending.
BURSTING PERF
A fold perf that permits mechanical
bursting.
BUTT CUT (FACE CUT, KNIFE
CUT)
Labels separated
by a single knife cut through the face material.
No matrix is removed between the
labels.
CALENDER
FINISH
A term applied to a
paper with a glazed surface finish created by
means of calenders (cast iron rollers with
chilled, hardened surfaces). Other terms include
machine finish, English finish, super-calendared
and calendar friction glazed. Semi-gloss litho and
high gloss paper are examples of calendered
paper.
CALIPER
The
thickness of a sheet of paper or plastic measured
in units of one thousandth of an inch; the
measuring units are called mils or points. See
also: Thickness.
CAMERA-READY ART
Black and white or color-separated
artwork supplied in its final form for printing
preparation. Typically, it requires no
modification other than photo enlargement or
reduction. See also: Mechanical Artwork, Line Art,
or Paste-up.
CARRIER
Sometimes used to refer to the liner
material of pressure sensitive
labels.
CAST-COATED
PAPER
A paper coating
which is allowed to harden or set while in contact
with a finishing surface. In general, cast-coated
papers usually have a high gloss
finish.
CHEMICAL DRUM LABEL
A label of durable material (vinyl,
polyester, or Kimdura) which resists adverse
conditions associated with chemical drum
containers.
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
The resistance of a pressure
sensitive label to the deteriorating effects of
chemicals under specified
conditions.
CLEAR COAT
A
coating that protects the printing and the surface
of a pressure sensitive label from abrasion,
sunlight, chemicals, moisture, or any combination
of these. Varnish and lacquer are examples of
clear coats. See also: Lacquer, Overcoat,
Protective Coating, or Varnish.
COAT WEIGHT
The amount or weight of coating per
unit area. This is expressed in various units
including grams per square meter or pounds per
ream. Applies to adhesives, primers, varnishes,
and lacquers.
COHESION
The
internal strength of a pressure sensitive
adhesive, its resistance to cold flow, and its
resistance to failure (or splitting) when labels
are removed or placed under stress. See also:
Cohesive Strength, Internal Bond, or
Shear.
COHESIVE FAILURE
The breakdown of molecular bond by
which particles of a body, or bodies, are united.
See also: Adhesive Splitting.
COHESIVE STRENGTH
The internal strength of the
adhesive. The measure of a label's resistance to
removal. See also: Cohesion, Internal Bond, or
Shear.
COLD FLOW
The
viscous flow of a pressure sensitive adhesive
under stress. See also: Adhesive Bleed, Ooze, or
Flow.
COLD TEMPERATURE ADHESIVE
See: Adhesive: Cold
Temperature.
COLORFASTNESS
The ability of a pressure sensitive
label to retain its true color under normal
conditions and/or to resist change in color when
exposed to light, heat, or other
influences.
COLOR SEPARATION
The process of separating a color
image into its component primary printing
colors.
COMPUTER IMPRINTABLE LABELS
Typically, pre-printed or imprinted
utilitarian labels carrying variable information,
such as a bar code, or price.
CONDITIONING
The process of subjecting a material
to specific temperatures and relative humidity
conditions for a stipulated period of time.
(American Society of Testing
Material)
CONFORMABILITY
The ability of a pressure sensitive
label to yield to the contours of a curved or
textured surface. See also: Flexibility, or
Pliability.
CONTINUOUS LABEL (PINFEED
LABEL)
Labels
manufactured from a continuous web of label stock
that is not cut into units prior to execution.
Continuous labels are used for data processing
applications. Also called "Impact Labels", or "EDP
Labels."
CORE / CORE SIZE
Refers to the inside diameter of the
(cardboard) core in a roll of
labels.
COUPON BASE
The clear base in a dry peel label
construction. Usually used for instantly
redeemable coupons, the clear base is combined
with a face material in a specialized laminating
process. When the printed face material (or
coupon) is removed, the clear base remains on the
substrate. See also: Dry Peel.
CRAZING
The
network of small cracks that can appear in a
varnish coat or plastic face material. They are
usually caused by expansion and contraction during
weathering or by excessive solvents in an ink
system.
CREEP
The
lateral movement of a pressure sensitive label on
a surface due to low cohesive
strength.
CROSS-DIRECTION
The direction perpendicular to the
machine direction in the plane of a printing
material.
CUE MARK, SENSOR MARK
A black mark on the liner of a
pressure sensitive label which when scanned by the
sensor in the printer tells the printer to begin
the printing process.
CSA
Canadian
Standards Association
CURL
The
tendency of paper to bend or warp, either by
itself or because of a coating or
laminate
DECODE RATING
See: Scanability.
D.P.I.
Dots
per inch; a measure referring to dot resolution in
images created by dot matrix, laser, and thermal
printers.
DESTRUCTIBLE LABEL
See: Tamper-Resistant
Label
DIE
The tool
or device used for imparting or cutting a desired
shape, form, or finish from a given
material.
DIE CUT
The
actual shape of a pressure sensitive label made by
the cutting edge of a die.
DIE CUT LABEL
Pressure sensitive labels on a
release liner where the matrix, or waste between
the labels, usually has been
removed.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY
The property of a material which
relates to the degree of its ability to retain (or
recall) its original shape or state. See also:
Memory.
DIRECT THERMAL
PRINTING
A specialized
printing technology that uses rapidly heated pins
that selectively activate a heat-sensitive coating
inherent in the face material, thereby forming the
desired copy or images.
DISPENSER
A
device that feeds pressure sensitive labels,
either manually or automatically, in
pre-determined units. Dispensers in box form can
serve as containers for a roll of
labels.
DOT MATRIX PRINTING
An economic and versatile method of
printing that produces images by printing tiny ink
dots closely together. First, a computer sends
data that determines the arrangement of pins that
are to be fired against a ribbon. These pins are
in horizontal and vertical rows on the printing
head. As the printing head moves back and forth
across the page, the pins fire (many times per
second), forming an image. See also: Impact
Printing.
DRY PEEL
A
label construction in which two materials are
bonded together with a dry adhesive. The top ply
of the construction can be removed with no
adhesive residue. The bottom ply is typically made
of a clear material, so the substrate can be seen
through it. A common use of this label
construction is for instantly redeemable coupons
or for promotions. See also: Coupon Base, or Dry
Tag.
DRY TAG
An
uncoated tag face material designed to separate
from a liner with no functional adhesive on the
tag. Typical uses are clothing tags, temporary
I.D. cards, and hang tags. See also: Coupon Base,
or Dry Peel.
DWELL/DWELL TIME
(1) The time during which a pressure
sensitive material remains on a surface before
testing for adhesive permanence or removability.
(2) The time during which a hot-stamp, embossing
head or thermal die remains in contact with the
surface of a material during printing. (3) The
amount of time a material is exposed to the fusing
area of a laser printer.
EDP/ELECTRONIC DATA
PROCESSING
Data
processing by electronic equipment. Pressure
sensitive labels produced for imprinting on this
equipment incorporate in-line hole
punching.
EDGE LIFT
The tendency of the edge of a label
to rise off the substrate. This condition occurs
most frequently on small diameter, curved
substrates. Resistance to edge lift is dependent
on the bond strength of the adhesive and the
flexibility of the face material.
ELECTROSTATIC PRINTING
A method of printing in which the
ink is affixed to the face material by
electrostatic methods. See also: Ion Deposition
Printing, Laser Printing.
ELMENDORF TEST
A standard test for determining the
tearing strength of paper.
ELONGATION
The increase in length of a material
produced by extending it to the point of rupture.
See also: Stretch.
EMBOSS/EMBOSSING
A condition in which an image is
pressed into a material to create an image that is
raised above the normal level of the
material.
EMULSION
A
mixture wherein two or more unmixable components
are held together by the action of a third
agent-the emulsifying agent. Many modern pressure
sensitive adhesives are emulsion system
adhesives.
ENGRAVED DIE
A cylinder of steel that has been
ground down leaving protruding lines to cut the
shape of a label.
EXPOSURE TEMPERATURE
The temperature to which a labeled
product is exposed. See: Service
Temperature.
FACE MATERIAL/FACE
STOCK
Any paper, film,
fabric, foil, or plastic material suitable for
converting into pressure sensitive labels. In a
finished construction, the face material is bonded
to an adhesive layer and carried on a liner. It is
the functional part of the
construction.
FACE SPLIT
A
linear cut in face material during coating or
converting to meet specialized end use
requirements. See also: Split
Face.
FADE/FADING
A gradual decrease in brilliance of
color; often applies to the change in color
produced by prolonged exposure to
light.
FAN-FOLD/FAN-FOLDED LABELS
Pressure sensitive labels on a
continuous backing that is perforated, then folded
back and forth along the perforations, so as to
create a flat pack.
FDA/FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION
FDA
regulations for pressure sensitive applications
apply to the following
areas:
ADHESIVE
(1) Direct food contact,
such as labeling of raw fruits and
vegetables
(172.125).
(2) Seam contact where
incidental contact between an adhesive and a food
may be possible (175.105).
FACE
MATERIAL
(1) Contact between paper and dry
foods (175.180).
(2) Contact between paper and
aqueous and/or fatty foods (176.170).
FEATHERING
Printing which is characterized by
ragged, uneven, or coarse edges.
FILM
Plastic
face material manufactured from synthetic high
molecular weight polymers. Examples are: Kimdura,
polyester, polyethylene, and vinyl.
FINISH
The
surface property of a paper sheet determined by
its surface contour and gloss.
FISH EYES
Round or eye-shaped deformations in
a coating.
FLAG
A
marker, usually made of strips of colored paper,
placed in rolls of pressure sensitive materials
during printing (or converting) to designate a
deviation from a standard - such as a splice,
defect, or specification change.
FLAT PACK
A
continuous web folded at a cross perforation at
regular intervals.
FLEXIBILITY
A
property of face material, measured under
specified conditions that indicate how readily it
will conform to curved surfaces. See also:
Conformability or Pliability.
FLEXOGRAPHY
A
rotary web letterpress method of printing
characterized by flexible, raised-image
photopolymer or rubber plates and fast-drying
inks.
FLOW
See:
Adhesive Bleed, Cold Flow, or Ooze.
FLUORESCENT PAPER
A paper coated with a pigment that
reflects light in such a way that it has a glowing
appearance or effect.
FOIL
A thin
metal sheet used as a face material.
FOIL PAPER LAMINATE
A face material consisting of metal
foil laminated to paper. The foil usually carries
a clear coat to improve ink
receptivity.
FOOD CONTACT ADHESIVES
Adhesives meeting specified sections
of the Food and Drug Administration Code of
Federal Regulations. These regulations cover
direct food labeling as well as incidental
contact. Special product recommendations are
necessary for specific applications.
FOUR COLOR PROCESS PRINTING
Printing and reproduction of full
color images using the four process printing
colors - yellows, cyan, magenta, and black - to
create an image with an indefinite number of
resultant colors.
FROZEN EDGE
The INABILITY to separate a pressure
sensitive label from its liner along one edge.
This is generally caused by an absence of silicone
on that edge.
FREEZER GRADE ADHESIVE
See: Adhesive: Cold
Temperature.
GHOSTING/GHOSTS
Indistinct image patterns appearing
as solids or reverse printing, typically caused by
poor ink distribution, inconsistency in plate
and/or substrate thickness, and/or poor base ink
formulation. See also: Shadows.
GHOST PRINTING
Involves the use of a low-density
screen to print a ghost-like background
image.
GLASSINE
A
super-calendared, dense transparent or
semi-transparent material manufactured primarily
from chemical wood pulps that have been beaten to
secure a high degree of density in the
stock.
GLOSS
That
property of a surface which causes it to have a
mirror-like finish or the ability to spectrally
reflect light.
GLOSS PAPER
See: Cast-Coated Paper
GRAB
Ability
of an adhesive to quickly adhere to a surface with
a minimum of pressure (usually, merely touched to
the surface with its own weight). Also called
instant adhesion, initial tack, or finger
tack.
GRAIN DIRECTION
The direction taken by the majority
of the fibers in a sheet of paper. Synonymous with
machine direction, the opposite of cross
direction.
GRAVURE PRINTING
An intaglio printing process
employing minute engraved wells. In general
principle, the deeply-etched wells carry more ink
than a raised surface, and, therefore, print dark
values. Shallow wells print light values. A
scraping device, called a doctor blade, wipes
excess ink from the cylindrical printing surface
before the ink is pressed into the face material.
Rotogravure employs etched cylinders and web-fed
stock. Sheet-fed gravure, as its name implies,
involves individual sheet feeding.
GUM
A generic
term, referring to a broad class of synthetic and
natural adhesive materials that exhibit good tack
characteristics.
H.P.D.E.
High density polyethylene. Commonly
used for milk jugs. (Recycling number is
2.)
HALFTONE
A
method of screening a continuous tone image (like
a photograph) for printing or reproduction. The
dots in the screen vary in size and density, so as
to recreate the complete range of highlights,
low-lights, and mid-tones of the original
image.
HEAT SEAL (HEAT ACTIVATED)
LABELS
Label paper that
has a plastic coating that melts under heat to
form the bonding agent.
HEAVY COAT WEIGHT
A higher-than-standard weight of
coating per unit area.
HIGH GLOSS PAPER
A cast-coated gloss paper that
features high strength material and excellent ink
receptivity.
HIGH TEMPERATURE ADHESIVE
See: Adhesive: High
Temperature.
HOLDING POWER
The ability to withstand stress,
involving both adhesive and cohesive strength. The
term usually
refers to rigid label materials on
small diameter cylindrical objects.
HORIZONTAL SPACES
The horizontal space created by the
removed matrix, revealing only the liner in a
pressure sensitive label
construction.
HOT STAMPING
An image producing method that
involves a film carrying a thin leaf of color that
is transferred to a material using heat and
pressure. It is commonly used with gold or
metallic leaf, but many colors, patterns, and
finishes of leaf are available. It is especially
popular for labels used in the textile and apparel
markets.
I.P.S.
Inches per second: A measure of the
speed at which labels are processed through a
direct thermal or thermal transfer
printer.
IMPACT
PRINTING
A printing
method that uses a hammer striking a ribbon to
transfer ink onto a material. See also: Dot Matrix
Printing or Platen.
IMPRINTING
Technique in which copy is applied
to blank or previously printed labels with a
secondary printing device such as an imprinter,
computer printer, or typewriter.
INK JET PRINTING
A non-impact printing process
whereby fluid ink is projected from a nozzle
directly onto a material to form the desired
image.
INTAGLIO PRINTING
A method of printing in which an
engraved or acid-etched printing plate (or
cylinder) carries ink to the material surface. The
material, when pressed against the printing plate,
actually squeezes into the inked grooves and
thereby, receives the image.
INTEGRATED LABELS
A sheet of bond or tag paper that
has a small area of adhesive and liner applied to
the back. The laminated area is die cut to produce
the integrated labels. See: Rotary Screen Adhesive
Coater.
INTERNAL BOND
See: Cohesion, Cohesive Strength, or
Shear
INVERTED FACE MATERIAL
A face stock that has the adhesive
applied to the surface normally printed
upon.
ION DEPOSITION PRINTING
An electronic printing process
whereby a static charge is created on a printing
cylinder, attracting toner. The toner is
subsequently transferred to a printable surface,
creating the image. See also:
Electrostatic
Printing or Laser Printing.
KIMDURAŽ
A
biaxially oriented polypropylene film consisting
of three layers of polypropylene laminated
together. This material is highly resistant to
moisture and many chemicals. The most common use
of Kimdura is for chemical drum labels. It is
available with a top-coating to allow printing and
imprinting.
L.D.P.E.
Low density polyethylene. Commonly
used for plastic bags. (Recycling number is
4.)
LABEL
The
functional portion of a pressure sensitive
construction comprised of the face material and
adhesive, cut into various shapes.
LABEL HEIGHT/LABEL LENGTH
The vertical measurement of a label
(from top to bottom) when the label is traveling
in the machine direction.
LABEL, ROLL
Label stock packaged in continuous
roll form.
LABEL, SPLIT TOP (BUTT CUT, KNIFE CUT,
PEEL CUT)
See Butt
Cut.
LABEL WIDTH
The measurement from the left to
right horizontal edges of a single
label.
LACQUER
A
coating applied to a face material for protection
or decoration. Lacquer usually requires
ultraviolet curing or drying. See also: Clear
Coat, Overcoat, Protective Coating, Top Coat/Top
Coating.
LADDER
See:
Matrix, Skeleton, or Waste.
LAMINATE
A
web material formed by bonding two or more
materials.
LASER PRINTING
Also known as electrophotographic
printing, a process where light, generated from
either a laser or diode, creates a static charge
on a photographically-sensitive cylinder. The
charged cylinder attracts toner, which is
subsequently transferred to a printable surface,
creating an image. The image is "set" into the
printed surface by means of pressure. See also:
Electrostatic Printing or Ion Deposition
Printing.
LATEX PAPER/LATEX-IMPREGNATED
PAPER
Paper saturated
with latex during its formation making it
stronger, more resistant to moisture and abrasion,
more flexible, and more durable. See also:
Saturated
Paper.
LEGGING/LEGS
The stringy appearance of adhesive
when a pressure sensitive label is separated from
a substrate or its release liner. It can also
occur when the matrix is removed from a die cut
pressure sensitive material.
LETTERPRESS PRINTING
A printing process in which ink is
applied from the raised portion of a plate or from
foundry type.
LIFE CYCLE
The length of time a label is to be
used before being discarded.
LIFT TAB
A
label edge not coated with adhesive allowing for
easy removal of the label from the liner. Often
used for order picking labels. See Adhesive:
Pattern Coated, or Rotary Screen Adhesive
Coater.
LINE ART
Black and white artwork that is
reproduced as is. See: Camera Ready Art,
Mechanical Art, or Paste-up.
LINE HOLE PUNCHING
Round holes punched in the edges of
a liner to maintain the registration of computer
imprintable labels during the printing process.
See: Pin-Feed Holes or Tractor Feed.
LINER
A paper
or film that is a carrier for pressure sensitive
labels. Typically, the liner is coated with
silicone to allow the release of the labels. See;
Backing, Carrier, Release Liner.
M.R.
An identifier for multi-resin and
other plastic blends.
MACHINE DIRECTION
The direction of the paper in its
forward movement through a printing
press.
MACHINE FINISH
See: Calendar Finish
MACHINE READABLE
The scanning of a barcode by a laser
or similar scanning device. See:
Scanability.
MATRIX
The face material and adhesive
layers of a pressure sensitive construction
surrounding a die-cut label which is typically
removed after die cutting. See Ladder, Skeleton,
or Waste.
MATTE LITHO
A
litho paper with a satin or dull finish. Ideal for
bar coding.
MECHANICAL ARTWORK
See: Camera-Ready Art, Line Art, or
Paste-up.
MEMORY
The
property of a material that causes it to shrink or
return to its original dimensions after being
distorted, die cut, or subjected to temperature
change. For example, vinyl (being very flexible)
has more memory than polystyrene. See also:
Dimensional Stability.
METALLIZED FILM
A plastic or resinous film that has
been coated on one side with a very thin layer of
metal.
METALLIZED PAPER
Paper that has a thick deposit of
metallized particles that resemble a layer of
foil. Metallized paper offers reduced stiffness
and better flexibility than metallized film and
has an appearance similar to laminated foil
papers.
MICR/MAGNETIC INK CHARACTER
RECOGNITION
The process
of reading characters by means of magnetic
sensing.
MIGRATION
(1)
The movement of one or more of the components of a
pressure sensitive adhesive to either a substrate
or face material.
(2) The movement of one or
more of the components of the face material and/or
the substrate into the adhesive and/or ink.
(3)
The uncontrolled spread of ink due to improper
printing or curing. See also: Penetration, or
Plasticizer Migration.
MOISTURE CONTENT
The moisture present in a material.
This is particularly important in
liners.
MOISTURE
EQUILIBRIUM
The
condition reached by a material when it shows no
change in weight, in relation to the amount of
moisture absorbed or released by the
material.
MOISTURE-PROOF
The property of a material which
makes it virtually impervious to moisture. Tyvek
is a moisture-proof material.
MOISTURE VAPOR TRANSMISSION
(MVTR)
A measure of the
rate of water vapor transmission through a
pressure sensitive label and it's protective
coatings and/or through any protective packaging
materials such as poly-bags or
poly-wrapping.
MOTTLED SURFACE/MOTTLING
Non-uniform appearance or coloring
of a face material-blotching.
MULTI-WEB CONSTRUCTION
A construction consisting of forms
and pressure sensitive materials combined into a
single web. See also: TransWeb, or
TwinWeb.
NATURAL AGING
The change, if any, in a material
from exposure to normal environmental conditions
over time.
NON-READ INK (REFLECTIVE
INK)
Any ink with a
sufficiently high reflectance to prohibit
detection by an optical scanner. Non-read inks are
used as visual guides that do not interfere with
data reading.
OCR (OPTICAL CHARACTER
RECOGNITION)
Recognition of valid machine and/or
hand-printed characters using an optical character
reading device. A reliable means of high speed
automatic data entry where printed data is
directly converted into machine readable
language.
OPAQUE ADHESIVE
Colored adhesive used to eliminate
the show through of previously printed
information.
OPTICAL CHARACTER READER
An information processing device
that accepts and processes machine or handwritten
characters.
OFFSET/OFFSETTING
The partial transference of ink from
a freshly printed surface to an adjacent surface.
A printing process in which a right-reading image
is printed from a plate onto a blanket cylinder.
This mirror image is then pressed against the
surface to be printed, thus creating the final
image. The term offset applies because the
printing plate never actually contacts the printed
surface.
OOZE
See:
Adhesive Bleed, Cold Flow, or Flow
OPACITY
The
measure of the amount of light that can pass
through a material.
ORANGE PEEL
The mottled or textured appearance
of a label that can occur from air bubbles trapped
between a laminate and face
material.
OVERCOAT
See:
Clear Coat, Lacquer, Protective Coating, Top coat,
Top-coating, or Varnish.
OVERLAMINATE / OVERLAMINATING /
OVERLAMINATION
The application of a clear film to
label material for the purpose of protection or to
enhance visual aesthetics.
P.E.T.
Polyethylene terephtalate. A plastic
commonly used for 2-liter soft drink bottles.
(Recycling number is 1.)
P.P.
Polypropylene. A plastic commonly
used for straws and diapers. (Recycling number is
5.)
POLYSTYRENE
Expanded foam plastic material.
(Recycling number is 6.)
P.V.C.
Polyvinyl chloride or vinyl.
Commonly used for three ring binders. (Recycling
number is 3.)
PASTE-UP
See:
Camera-Ready Art, Line Art, or Mechanical
Art.
PATTERN COATED
ADHESIVE
See: Adhesive,
Pattern Coated, or Rotary Screen Adhesive
Coater.
PATTERNED RELEASE COATING
Applying release coating beside
non-coated areas, in strips that run parallel to
the machine direction. Where there is no release
coating the result is a permanent bond (depending
on physical properties of a given adhesive)
between the face material and the
liner.
PEEL ADHESION
Peel adhesion is the force required
to remove a pressure sensitive label from a
standard test substrate at a specific angle and
speed after that label has been applied in
accordance with specified testing procedures. See
also: Adhesive Strength.
PEELBACK
Method of separating two flexible
materials or a flexible and a rigid material that
have been bonded with an adhesive.
PENETRATION
The change in appearance of the face
material due to movement of one or more components
from the adhesive or substrate. See also:
Migration, or Plasticizer Migration
PERFORATION
The series of small cut and uncut
areas made to a material to facilitate tearing or
folding.
PERMANENCY
The measure of an adhesives ultimate
holding power or bonding strength. A bond that
makes label
removal difficult or impossible
without destroying the label and/or the
substrate.
PERMANENT ADHESIVE
See Adhesive:
Permanent.
PHARMACEUTICAL LITHO STOCK
A lightweight, uncoated stock with
the flexibility and high-performance require for
pharmaceutical applications.
PICKET FENCE
A bar code characterized by vertical
bars and spaces. See also: Bar Code
Symbol.
PIGGYBACK
The type of label consists of a face
material on top of two (2) liners-a three (3)
layer lamination. The bottom liner is removed and
the label and remaining liner are applied to a
substrate. The label can then be removed and
applied to yet anther substrate. Typically, the
label are applied to business forms which allows
the user to process his forms and shipping labels
in one pass through a printer.
PLASTICIZER
A
substance added to polymeric materials to impart
flexibility.
PLASTICIZER MIGRATION
The movement of plasticizers from a
plastic into an adhesive or face material, or
both. This cause degradation of the adhesive and
bleed-through of adhesive components into the face
material. See also: Migration, or
Penetration.
PLATEN
The
roller which carries paper through a typewriter
and some dot matrix printers. It acts as the anvil
for the impact printing process.
PLIABILITY
See: Conformability or
Flexibility
POLYESTER
A
strong film that is resistant to moisture,
solvents, oils and chemicals. It is available as a
clear or a white material and with a metallized
finish.
PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABEL
A self-adhesive label that is the
die cut, useable part of a pressure sensitive
material that has been converted through roll-fed
production equipment. The end product can be
delivered in rolls, sheets or fanfolded
pack.
PRE-DISPENSING
Term used when a label comes off the
carrier before it was supposed to.
PRESSURE SENSITIVE MATERIAL
The combination (laminate or
sandwich) of a face material, pressure sensitive
adhesive and a release liner from which pressure
sensitive labels are manufactured.
PRICE MARK LABELS
Labels for retail operations.
Normally these are imprinted with information
like: unit price, stock number, style number etc.
(UPC barcodes are quickly replacing most price
mark labels.)
PRIME
LABEL
Usually a
descriptive or decorative product label; typically
the label on the front of a
container.
PRIMER
A
coating applied to a label on the side opposite
the printing surface, to improve anchorage of the
adhesive and prevent migration of the adhesive
components into the face material. A primer can
also be an ink applied to the face of a label for
the purpose sealing the face. This can yield
better anchorage of the printed inks and better
aesthetic of the graphics. See also: Anchor Coat
or Barrier Coat.
PRINT RESOLUTION
The quality of print; the level of
detail achieved by a printer. Measured in d.p.i.
(dots per inch), typical capabilities are 203 or
300 d.p.i. for direct and thermal transfer
printers. Most lasers are 300 or higher d.p.i. In
general, the higher the d.p.i. the better the
print quality.
PROTECTIVE COATING
A coating that protects the printing
and the surface of a label from abrasion,
sunlight, chemicals and moisture, or a combination
of these. See also: Clear Coat, Lacquer, Overcoat,
or Top coat/Top-coating.
PULL TAB (TEAR TAB)
Adhesive-free area on a face stock
that facilitates easy removal of the
label.
REAM
A number
of sheets of paper, 480 or 500, according to
grade. For physical testing, a ream is considered
500 sheets.
RECYCLING NUMBER
A reference number assigned to the
various types of plastic for segregation by the
recycler.
REFLECTANCE
The measured level of light
reflected by a paper or imprinted characters
thereon, expressed in percent of a standard
reference material.
REGISTRATION
The exact, corresponding placement
of successively printed images and/or successively
die cut pressure sensitive
labels.
RELATIVE
HUMIDITY
The ratio of
the amount of water in the air at any temperature
to the amount required at that
temperature to
saturate the air. Important to pressure sensitive
materials because too much or too little humidity
can cause stacking problems and/or induce a curl
in the material.
RELEASE
The
force required to separate a pressure sensitive
label from its liner.
RELEASE COAT
The coating (silicone) on a liner
that allows a label to be removed from that
liner.
RELEASE COATING: PATTERNED
See: Pattern Release
Coating
RELEASE LINER
The component of the pressure
sensitive label material that functions as a
carrier for the actual label. Silicone coated, the
liner separates from the label when the label is
ready to be applied.
REMOVABILITY
A term applied to pressure sensitive
labels to describe the force needed to remove a
label from a substrate. Removable labels require
much less force to remove from a substrate than
permanent labels.
REMOVABLE ADHESIVE
See: Adhesive:
Removable
REPOSITIONABLE
A type of pressure sensitive
adhesive designed to be applied, removed and
reapplied to surfaces.
RESIDUE
Adhesive left on surface after a
label is removed.
ROLL LABEL
See Label: Roll
RESOLUTION
See: Print
Resolution
RETAIL
LABELS
See: Price Mark
Labels
ROLL LABELS | 
