Sticker Labels So Use Varnish, The Effect Is Beyond Your Imagination!

Printing varnish on the surface of printed labels is a relatively common post-print finishing process for label production. Self-adhesive label surface printing varnish can not only protect the printed ink surface layer, increase the brightness of the label surface, but also enhance the waterproof performance of the label, thus playing a very good moisture-proof effect. In addition, some varnishes with special effects, such as printable varnishes, matte varnishes and scented varnishes, etc., can also make the label with more functional properties.

In this article, I will share with you some common types of varnish for self-adhesive labels and the application areas, hoping to give readers some inspiration.

Types of Varnish and Application Areas

At present, there are various types of varnishes available in the market. If we divide them by drying method, they can be divided into water-based varnishes and UV varnishes, among which, water-based varnishes are mostly dried by hot air, while UV varnishes are mainly dried by UV light curing.

If divided from the use, it can be divided into general varnish, high gloss varnish, matte varnish, high temperature resistant varnish, ultrasonic sealing varnish, anti-adhesive varnish, printable varnish, high friction resistant varnish, waterproof varnish, anti-slip varnish, reverse varnish, fragrance varnish, anti-static varnish, touch varnish and food packaging varnish.

Here, I mainly introduce several common varnish application effects from the perspective of usage.

1. Universal Varnish

Sticker labels are made of a combination of face material, glue and backing paper, and the expansion rate of the face material and backing paper of the label will be different when absorbing or losing water, so the label will be curled after absorbing or losing water because of the difference in the expansion length of the face material and backing paper.

The main function of general-purpose varnish is to increase the gloss and brightness of printed products, but also has a certain waterproof effect, printing varnish on the surface of self-adhesive labels can prevent the label from curling due to the influence of environmental humidity.

In daily life, we will often see some side food seasoning or lubricant barrel label surface is very smooth, these labels are often printed generic varnish, the purpose is: on the one hand to make the surface of the label more smooth, bright, on the other hand, so that the label has a certain waterproof effect, to ensure that the label will not appear after labeling expansion and wrinkling problems.

2. Matte Polish

The biggest difference between ordinary matte oil and glossy oil is that: after the matte oil, the surface of the printed material will show a matte frosted effect. This effect is especially suitable for some special design effects, such as some wine,cosmetics labels, in order to highlight the design pattern of the product grade design matte effect, and this effect is often achieved in the printing process is through the matte oil. In addition, matte oil also has a certain waterproof effect.

3. Printable Varnish

Ordinary varnish is not suitable for printing on such varnish surface because it contains silicone additives and the surface is relatively smooth and the printed information is easy to fall off. However, in the actual application process, many labels need to print information on the varnish surface, such as food labels, pharmaceutical labels, etc. need to print the production date, batch number and other information on the varnish surface. Printable varnish can be printed on the surface of the material after printing variable information on its surface, this is because printable varnish can form a high surface energy varnish layer on the surface of the material suitable for printing, so that the printed information can be firmly attached to the label surface.

4. Friction-resistant Varnish

Anti-friction varnish is a kind of varnish that can make the surface of printed products very smooth. There are some label products need anti-friction performance, this is because labeled bottles boxed in the process of transport will be due to vibration friction, if the anti-friction performance of the label is not good, it is easy to lead to the label printing pattern is worn flowers, wear off, such as some cosmetics or alcohol products, need to often long-distance transport to reach the stores, in the long-distance transport process of bottles packed in boxes rubbing against each other is easy to destroy the label surface pattern.

This situation requires the use of friction-resistant varnish, this varnish contains more silicon additives, so after printing can form a relatively smooth varnish layer. Because the label surface is protected by a very smooth varnish layer, so it greatly improves the friction resistance of the label.

5. Reverse Varnish

If you want to make a kind of granular effect on the surface of the print, such as a raindrop effect, or a coarse grained frosted surface effect, then you can use reverse varnish to achieve it. Reverse varnish is a kind of varnish that has been applied on a large scale only in recent years, and this kind of varnish consists of two kinds of varnishes: top and bottom.

In the process of use, the two varnishes printed on the label surface at the same time will produce a chemical reaction, forming a kind of granular varnish layer on the surface of the print, and the size and thickness of the particles can be adjusted according to the needs. As can be seen, reverse varnish is a very special varnish, completely free of silicon additives, varnish effect is determined only by its own chemical properties. Because the reverse varnish can play a very good decorative effect, so in recent years is very popular with the majority of end users.

6. Scented Varnish

Some cosmetics or high-end food products need to be scented on the label, and this scent often needs to be similar to the scent of the product itself. This can be achieved by using scented varnish.

The principle of scented varnish is to add microcapsules containing fragrance to the varnish, after printing, the microcapsules will remain on the surface of the label, and once squeezed or rubbed, the microcapsules will break and release the fragrance.

There are many kinds of scented varnishes, such as various fruit flavors and flower flavors, which are often used for food and cosmetic labels. In recent years, there are some children's books also began to use scented varnish, such as in the children's book screen printed with lavender flowers, if then printed with lavender flavor scented varnish, then the children will be released through friction when reading the book, this design is very popular with children.

7. in Addition to Static Electricity Varnish

When printing some film-like material labels may generate very strong static electricity, causing considerable trouble for the printing and post-die cutting process. In order to eliminate the problem of static electricity on the finished label, you can choose to remove static electricity varnish. The antistatic varnish contains antistatic additives, which can effectively eliminate the static electricity on the surface of the material after printing, thus achieving the ideal antistatic effect.

8. Tactile Varnish

Tactile varnish means that the varnish will be automatically raised after printing on the surface of the material and has a distinct tactile sensation when touched by human hands. When you need to achieve a clear bump effect on the surface of the label, you can use the tactile varnish.

Tactile varnish is currently available in two ways: screen printing and flexographic printing, where the screen printing ink layer is thicker and the touch is more obvious. Tactile varnish is mainly used to produce some special design labels, such as some labels printed with Braille is more suitable for the use of this varnish.

9. Food Grade Varnish

Traditionally, varnish cannot come into direct contact with food and can only come into indirect contact with food, but in recent years food grade varnish has been used more and more. The main component of food grade varnish is ethyl ester wax, which meets the current domestic and international requirements related to food grade packaging, and thus can be in direct contact with food. In the past, PE lamination was mainly used for this kind of packaging products, but now PE lamination can be replaced by food grade varnish.