Selçuk Aker · Graphics & Printing

Label Designer: Product Line and Print Preparation

How should you prepare the size, product information, variant, barcode area and manufacturer template when working with a label designer?

By Selçuk Aker · Published · 3 min read

Label Designer: Product Line and Print Preparation — Selçuk Aker

Label designer organizes brand and product information in a readable format on a limited surface. The work does not only consist of color and visual selection; The packaging in which the label will be placed, actual size and production conditions also affect design decisions. It is often not enough to reduce the same design in every weight.

A bottle label, jar label, and flat can surface offer different reading conditions. When starting out as Selçuk Aker, I would like to see the manufacturer's template and how the label will look on the product. The graphic surface and the physical structure of the packaging are separate responsibilities.

Prepare exact product information

Collect product name, quantity, usage text, barcode area and other approved information in a single file. Content and mandatory statements must be verified by the relevant business managers. Frequent changes of texts during the design phase may affect the entire information layout on a small surface.

If there is a barcode or variable data field, obtain the manufacturer's technical specifications. The readability of the code should not be confirmed by looking at the screen alone; control should be planned on the actual production sample.

Separate product types with a system

Explaining differences in taste, smell, size or product type by color change alone may not be sufficient in some uses. Plan the product name, distinguishing information and variant location together. When a series is placed side by side, it must be from the same brand and distinguishable from each other.

As an example, consider a three grammage product. If the size of each label is different, it should be tested from the beginning which surface the longest description will fit on. Later, it may be necessary to rearrange the order of the information instead of constantly reducing the text.

What samples do you require before printing?

Actual size output, placement on the product, and manufacturer proofing answer different questions. The color on the screen may not look the same as the result on the material. Cutting allowance, safe area and joints must be checked according to manufacturer's specifications.

We can create scope by sharing the number of products and variants in label design service. Packaging variant planning guide explains how to maintain order when the series grows.

Frequently asked questions

Does label design include printing service?

Design and printing are separate businesses. Production purchasing and physical rehearsal responsibilities should be agreed upon separately.

Can I start without ready-made label measurements?

The visual aspect can be worked on; however, the production-ready file requires the correct measurement and template.

Can the same design be applied to all products?

A common system can be established. Due to differences in content length, size and product, each adaptation must be checked separately.

Related articles

Have a design project in mind?

Let’s agree on your requirements, deliverables and timeline. Work directly with Selçuk Aker.

Request a design proposal ↗