Can You Waterproof a Label After Printing?
Posted by : Mercury Labels Ltd on Friday, October 14, 2022 in Waterproof and Weather Proof Labels.
Bespoke labels can be designed to withstand almost any environment. This includes wet and humid conditions, which would take a toll on the appearance and physical integrity of most types of conventional labels.
Considering the conditions in which your product labels will be used before ordering is therefore essential. Your labels can be as durable as you need them to be, but this needs to be factored into the design process from the start.
But what if you need to add protection to some or all of your labels after they have been printed? Is it possible to waterproof a label at a later date, or is waterproofing only possible as part of the design process?
Waterproof vs. Water-Resistant
In answer to the first question, yes – it is possible to add protection to printed labels at a later date. But when it comes to protection from moisture, it is important to understand the difference between waterproof and water-resistant.
Many types of labels offer a certain level of water resistance, meaning they can cope with moderately humid environments and deal with the occasional splash. Elsewhere, others are designed specifically for use in high-humidity environments, or even for use underwater; the more demanding the conditions in which the label will be used, the greater the importance of factoring this into the design process.
The extent to which a label can cope with humidity and exposure to moisture will be determined by both the materials it comprises and the type of adhesive used. Neither of these can be altered after the printing process, but it is still possible to afford additional protection to most types of labels where called for.
Adding Durability and Protection to Printed Labels
For sticky labels that have already been printed, there are two options available for boosting their durability and water resistance:
Use An Overcoat Spray
The first of the two is to apply an overcoat spray, which can be picked up from most craft stores or online. Sprayed thinly and evenly onto the surface of stick labels, this specially designed product adds a protective coating to the material. Overcoat sprays are compatible with a broad range of label types and can be useful for protecting labels in moderately humid environments.
They also create an attractive glossy sheen on the surface, which could make your labels more visually appealing.
Use An Overcoat Sheet
The second option is to manually apply a physical overcoat sheet in order to act as a protective barrier for your labels. This is essentially the same as laminating the labels you have already printed, though on one side only. The sheet can be cut to size to fit any type of label, before being pressed firmly onto the surface and precision-cut to match the label’s design.
Where appropriate, this can provide a greater level of protection than an overcoat spray and the resulting protective layer is thicker and more durable.
Before vs. After
While it is perfectly possible to add moisture protection to pre-printed labels, it is always better to consider your requirements carefully during the design process. Once the labels have been printed, there is nothing you can do to alter the structural integrity or properties of the primary material or adhesive layer.
If you plan on using your labels in high-humidity environments, this should form the basis of your design decisions. Choosing the right material and an appropriate adhesive will ensure your labels stick fast in even the toughest environments, irrespective of the level of moisture they are exposed to.
For more information on any of the above or to discuss your own labelling requirements in more detail, contact a member of the team at Mercury Labels today.
