How Can I Prevent My Labels From Fading?

When your labels are destined for outdoor use, a major concern is fading. The Australian sun is harsh - Your labels need to be tough to stand up to the challenge of high UV. The reality is, all labels will fade somewhat in sunlight over time due to photodegradation, a process by which the suns rays break down the chemical bonds in the ink used. However, by using the right manufacturing methods you can protect your labels and extend their life as much as possible for years to come!

It's important to know how long you want your labels to last outdoors, be it weeks, months, or years, as this will determine what printing method and finishing options will be best suited.  Remember, the length of outdoor lifetime required will have a big impact on the price of your labels so try to narrow it down to what you actually need rather than defaulting to 'just as long as possible'.

Fade resistance in printing is measured using the Blue Wool Scale, which rates the lightfastness of different ink colourants on a scale of 1-8 (one being 'very low' and eight being 'excellent'). There are some methods of label printing that perform well on the Blue Wool Scale and others that do not. This is due to the thickness at which the ink is applied during the various processes (a thicker application equals better protection), and the chemical composition of the ink.

The best label printing method for maximum lightfastness is screen printing, thanks to its extra thick depositing of ink and many different binding agents. However it has the downside of being expensive, particularly when printing large volumes. A great alternative print method for long-term outdoor labels is digital inkjet printing. This method is slightly less lightfast than screen printing, however far more cost effective in most instances.

For short-term outdoor use, offset, inkjet, thermal transfer and flexographic methods can all be suitable depending on where the labels are being used, what colours are being printed, and the substrate they are printed on. When considering what printing method is best, an important point to note is not to be fooled by printers who use 'UV inks'. This terminology refers to the method of drying the ink using UV light during the manufacturing process, as opposed to resistance to UV light. 

Regardless of which printing process you use, it's usually possible to add a laminate to prolong the life of the print. UV resistant laminates act like a sunscreen for your labels, preventing UV light from fading their print. Application of a UV resistant laminate can add between a few month to two years onto the outdoor lifetime of your labels.  

Cohesion Labels is a local Australian label manufacturer you can trust. As one of Australia’s most experienced label producers, we combine a history that stretches back to 1925 with the industry’s most modern and innovative mindset. Get in touch with us for a quote - we'd love to see how we could make labelling easy for you!