Recently, one of our clients came to us asking for the glossiest finish possible for their gourmet food labels. After looking through some samples of our previous work, they still wanted something with a bit more shiny gloss to it than anything we’d produced in the past. This company sought the most brilliantly reflective, wet-look labels available; and we agreed that such a label would really set them apart from competing products.

But how to accomplish this goal?

We already have multiple ways to provide our customers with a varnished, glossy product label. Could we improve on that? Could we make it … shinier? Could we set up the design, and then somehow add a deeper, gleaming shine to the finished run? At Rose City Label, we relish a challenge such as this one.

Experimenting With Label Finishes

For many of our current labels, from food and beverage to personal products, we already use a clear coat—rather like a varnish—as the final step in label printing. This liquid coating is then cured under a powerful UV light. This seemed like a good place to start.

Could the solution to this challenge be as simple as using a heavier dose of clear coat for this client’s food labels? That presented a problem. Too much, and the UV light won’t penetrate deeply enough into the coating. This would result in a tacky, unfinished surface. Still, it seemed to be the best place to begin.

We ended up adjusting the printing press to deliver just the right amount of clear coat to obtain a deep, polished gleam without applying a heavier coat than the UV light can penetrate. It took some trial and error, but we found just the right amount of clear gloss to overlay onto the printed labels for an intense shine, fully cured and smooth to the touch.

Do You Have a Labeling Challenge?

For most labeling challenges, we may already have the ideal solution to provide custom product labels you—and your customers—will love. Your business faces enough trials on a daily basis. Let us handle the responsibility of providing the look and feel you desire for your custom product labels. We’ll find just the right process to deliver a high quality, consistent result.

Give us a call at 1-800-547-9920 or contact us online. We welcome the opportunity to provide the custom label solutions you seek for your product.