Frequently asked questions
We’ve put together some of the questions our customer service team are asked when they receive label enquiries. Give us a call or drop us an email if you can’t find what you’re looking for below.
Material & Adhesive
For anything about the material and how they stick.
Label Production
For anything technical about labels
Artwork and Design
For anything about artwork & colour management
Paying and Shipping
For anything about credit accounts, shipping & despatch
Downloads and Forms
Artwork
Artwork specifications, including maximums and minimum requirements
Winding
Reeling specification guidelines so your labels are wound the right way.
New Account
Link to form to apply for a customer credit account
Enquiry Form
Sometimes it’s the best place to start when you need labels
Label Materials and Adhesives
We hold over 450 label materials in stock to cover all label requirements
Can you print on any kind of self adhesive material?
Virtually any kind! We have printed on a wide range of materials, ranging from 20 micron film up to 350gsm non-adhesive board. We can print on almost any type of self adhesive material, however some very thick materials will not run through our presses.
We hold a wide range of materials in stock. Have a look at our Bakers Materials website to find out more or call the Materials team on 01277 281910 if there is something specific you’re looking for.
So many material choices- how do I know what I want?
If you have a new label enquiry and don’t know what material to ask for, just contact our customer service team. They will ask you a few simple questions to point you in the right direction.
What product are the labels for?
What surface are they being stuck to?
How are they being applied? e.g. by hand / applicator
Do they need to stay on in extreme conditions? e.g. heat / cold / wet / chemical
What finish do you want to achieve?
With so many materials to choose from, we can guide you towards the best solution and send you samples to trial. Just ask!
Can you produce waterproof labels?
Yes, however testing is always recommended. We offer a range of synthetic materials and saltwater approved adhesives that would be suitable. Please give our sales team a call to find out more 01277 281900
What will be the shelf life of my labels and how should I store them?
Your labels will last 18 months from the day of material manufacture when stored according to the recommended conditions.
Labels should be stored at 20-22*C at 50-55% humidity. Reels should be stored horizontally, not vertically, and should not be in direct sunlight or close to heating sources. A ‘first in, first out’ stock rotation system is recommended.
If you need the specification for a particular material, contact our Materials division on 01277 281910 or sales@bakermaterials.co.uk
Do you do environmentally friendly labels?
We can produce labels on a range of sustainable materials. Whether you’re looking for compostable labels, biodegradable labels, recyclable labels or just need to know what the different options are, we can help. Environmentally friendly labels
I don't want my labels too sticky but still sticky enough...
That’s the great thing about choosing the right material. You can order labels with a peelable adhesive, a permanent adhesive or semi permanent. You can even have some areas stickier than other areas if you want. Just tell our sales team what you need and we’ll find the right material and adhesive for you.
Label Production
Do you have a question about technical capabilities?
Can you produce multi layer / peel and read labels?
Yes and we’re very good at them despite how tricky they are! When you need to label a small product with a lot of regulatory information, multi layer peal and read are often the only option. The most popular options are either 3 printed pages (2 ply) or 5 printed pages (3 ply). Throw in a bit of serial numbering, tactile varnish and multiple texts….yes we can do that too.
What are the maximum and minimum print sizes of your presses?
The maximum web widths of our digital presses are:
320mm x 980mm on the HP Indigo WS6900
322mm x 2400mm on the Truepress L350UV Inkjet
If you need tiny micro text, the HP Indigo WS6900 can print 0.7pt font size at 100% density in any of the seven colours. Impressive!
Can you print any colour or shape label?
Yes. Due to the wide range of presses and their various capabilities we can cover the full colour gamut.We also have thousands of cutters in stock for each of our printing presses. If we do not hold a cutter for the size or shape of label you require we can order one within 24 hours.
Can you produce flat sheet labels?
Yes if that’s what you want. All our printing presses are reel fed but we have finishing machines that can finish onto a sheet of the size you want, rather than a reel if required.
What is the winding specification?
As the majority our label orders are supplied on reels, we will need to know which winding specifications you require before starting production. This will vary depending on the applicator to be used when your labels are applied to the final product. If your labels are to be hand applied then the winding specification is not required.
Do you print digitally or conventionally?
Both! We now operate with 3 HP Indigo WS6900 digital presses alongside 2 Truepress Jet L350 UV (one L350UV+LM) Inkjet digital press. Click here for more information on our Digital Printing equipment.
We do most of our high volume printing on our Nilpeter FB-3. Click here for more information on Flexo printing capabilities.
Can you varnish, foil and emboss labels?
When it comes to adding embellishments such as hot and cold foil, embossing, debossing, high build varnish, textured varnish and anything else that makes your product label stand out on the shelf, we can help you do it. Discover more about Label Finishes
Artwork and Design
Do you have a technical question about artwork, colour, design?
Can you design a label for me?
We do have an in-house studio to assist with preparing your artwork designs for print however we do not design the labels for you. If you speak to our customer services team on 01277 281900 they will be able to advise you on suitable design companies that could help.
How do I deliver an artwork file to Bakers?
Files can be sent to us in four different ways: email (sales@bakerlabels.co.uk), FTP, Wetransfer or using DropBox.
We can accept PDF /x, Illustrator CC, Indesign CC. We would rather have native files, but we know that this is not always possible.
What about pre-flighting digital files?
All files are processed through our pre-flight procedure where we manually check all aspects supplied i.e. fonts, colours, size, colour space, image resolution, bar codes etc.
What is required to produce a variable data label?
Consecutive numbers can be created by us, but if it is a complex serial numbering sequence, then we would require an Excel file (i.e. data saved as a .txt/csv file). Please call our customer service team on 01277 281900 to find out more.
Did you know you can also have variable images, shuffle spot colours and other clever digital print technologies? Read about HP Smartstream Mosaic and Collage
Can I have a proof before my labels are produced?
Yes. Uncut press proofs are available and can be quoted for.
All orders must have an approved digital pdf proof before anything is produced.
Does printing on clear or silver material need different artwork?
Your artwork may need a white ink layer printed behind your design if you want a solid colour on a clear or metallised material. It may even only be in specific areas of your artwork such as behind barcodes to ensure they can be read clearly. This will be done by our Pre-Press Studio if required.
Download our guideline on White Ink FIle Preparation
Despatch, Accounts and Shipping
Anything about credit accounts, shipping and despatch.
What is your standard lead time?
As a trade supplier, we pride ourselves on being able to offer very quick turnarounds yet maintaining the high quality expected. The average lead time is 4 days from receipt of approved artwork but repeat work or orders with pre-approved artwork can be even quicker. If you have a short deadline to hit we will always do the best we can to help you reach it.
Helping our customers out of those sticky situations is our forte!
Do you charge for delivery?
The cost for standard next day delivery within the UK is included in the price for orders over £300. The cost for same day or overseas deliveries will vary. To find out more please contact our Customer Service Team on 01277 281900.
What do I need to do to set up a credit account with Bakers?
If you require a credit account please contact our Customer Service Team on 01277 281900 to discuss.
You will need to complete our online New Customer Credit Application form. Until this has been approved, all orders will be subject to a pro forma invoice being paid.
How will you deliver my labels?
Your labels will be despatched by courier in secure packed boxes. You will be notified when your order has been shipped, with an accompanying tracking number. All our orders are delivered to customers under plain cover or if requested, with your own branded delivery notes.
We have quality checks throughout our order, production, finishing and despatching processes. Finally, nothing gets the go ahead to leave without the QC team casting their expert eyes over the product.
Our despatch team work hard to ensure your labels arrive in perfect condition and on time.
Get a Quote for Labels
Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch with a quote.
Still More Questions?
We are very good at printing and producing labels. It’s not always straight forward but we’ve been doing it for decades so we have quite a few tricks up our sleeve! We are always happy to help our trade customers understand the print and finish processes.
Take a Virtual Tour
Instantly explore our label production floor through a 360 degree virtual tour. See our different presses up close and in action.
Pay Us a Visit
We love showing trade customers around our facility here in Brentwood, Essex. Speak to our sales team to book in a visit.
Learn from our Team
If your team needs to understand label production better, book in a training session with our team.
