Maximum Visibility with Shrink Sleeve Labels When it comes to your company’s product, you want to maintain maximum visibility so that your customers will keep coming back for more. Shrink sleeve labels offer maximum visibility to help your product continue to stand out among the competition. We previously discussed the benefits of utilizing shrink sleeve labels for your product, but let’s take a closer look at gaining maximum visibility with your shrink sleeve labels. The Sizing First, it is important to know the type of container you are labeling. Once you choose the container, the label will easily follow. The dimensions that are used in shrink sleeves are lay flat and cut height. To determine the lay flat size, measure your container at its widest circumference. Once that is determined, a mathematical formula will be used to determine the actual lay size of your container, which will determine the appropriate size to fit the container. Next, the cut height is determined by where you would like the label to finish. Do you want it to cover the entire product? Do you want it to only cover part of the container? Determine how much of the container you would like the shrink sleeve to cover in order to determine the appropriate cut height. The choice is up to you. Shrink Films The next most important thing to determine with your shrink sleeve label is the type of film you would like to use for your product. Film choices for shrink sleeve labels are determined by:

·         Percentage of shrink needed·         Desired finish·         End user requirements·         Application considerations·         Sustainability initiatives Before you choose a film for your product, it is important for the shrink percentage needed to conform to the container to be calculated. The percentage is calculated by determining the smallest diameter in contrast to the widest circumference, and is needed to establish the cut height of your container. This information will help to ensure your product’s label covers properly and provides the best visibility. Create a Template When it comes to designing your shrink sleeve label, the first thing you need to determine is the location of the seam within the label – this is relevant to orientation, graphics placement and application equipment. Types of perforations

and locations of seams vary based on the ease of opening, end use, and the film type used for the label. Once the lay flat, cut height, seam location and perforations are decided, a template can be created based on the size. The template is the basic layout for artwork to be inserted and will allow you to visualize the label concept in a flat space. Graphic Placement In many containers, there are areas within the label that can shrink up to 60 to 70% of the original label size. As you might imagine, this can significantly impact your graphic surface area. By knowing the amount the label will shrink, you can better prepare your graphics for optimal visuals. Graphic departments will often block off these areas within the template to indicate that artwork would be distorted in that specific area. With these helpful tips you can gain optimal visibility for your product with shrink sleeve labels. If you are ready to take the next step in marketing your product with a shrink sleeve label, contact Fort Dearborn Company at (847) 357-9500.