There are different kinds of label printers used for industrial printing, depending on the type of beverage labels:
- Offset
- Digital
- Flexographic
Home Printing
If you want to print labels at home, you can use laser or inkjet printers (which are also digital). However, laser and inkjet printers are only good for paper labels. White glossy labels are usually a good choice. Though less durable, they can provide high quality graphics.
Barcodes!
It is important to remember that your beverage label is certainly going to contain a barcode (Universal Product Code). Having this in mind, make sure that your beverage label is printed in a way and in color that will not obstruct the barcode scanning.
Offset
Offset printing is very popular with beer labels because of lower costs, compared to digital printing. Aside from being the cheapest method in commercial printing, it provides a consistent high image quality.
Digital
While traditional types of printing – offset and flexographic – are still used for wine labels, digital printing is becoming the dominant printing method in this industry.
Flexographic
The advantage of flexo printing is that it can use a wide range of water based inks, and is good for printing on different materials – plastic, foil, acetate film, etc. Flexo technique enables faster drying up and faster production, which results in lower costs. Flexographic printing is the best technique for beverage cans . It is also widely used for beer and other types of beverages labels.