Clear Labels

Why choose a clear label?

A clear label makes the pack look printed rather than labelled. On a glass bottle of amber oil, white lettering on clear film reads as if it were screen printed on the glass. On a jar of bright sweets, a small clear label lets the colour do the selling.

Clear BOPP is also a water-resistant film, so it copes with a damp shelf, a quick rinse or condensation from a fridge better than paper.

Clear film works on plastic too. A clear tub of salad, a lidded cup of granola or a transparent gift box all look tidier with a clear label than with a white rectangle that blocks the view of the food.

• Glass jars and bottles with a smooth surface
• Clear plastic tubs, cups and lids
• Coloured pouches where you want the pouch colour to show
• Candle jars in tinted glass
• Windows and display cases for opening hours or a logo

What does white ink do on clear film?

Printing inks are partly see-through. On white stock that does not matter, because the white shows through and makes the colour bright. On clear film, the contents of the jar show through instead, and a pale colour can almost vanish.

We fix this by printing a layer of white under the parts of the design that need it. You can have white behind everything, behind the logo only, or as a solid white panel for the ingredients while the rest stays clear.

White ink is also how we print white lettering on clear film for dark bottles. Without a white layer there would be no way to print white at all, because standard print simply leaves the film clear where white should be.

Which contents suit clear labels?

If you are unsure, send a photo of the filled pack and we will advise on the proof.

How do I avoid bubbles under clear labels?

Bubbles show more on clear film because there is nothing to hide them. Most come from applying too fast, onto a cold surface, or from one edge rather than the middle.

1. Wipe the glass with a dry lint-free cloth so there is no dust or grease.
2. Let cold jars reach room temperature first, so no condensation forms.
3. Line up the label and touch down the centre first.
4. Smooth outwards to each edge with a soft card or your thumb.
5. Leave the jar for a day before boxing, so the adhesive settles.

Can clear labels go on curved glass?

Yes, as long as the label sits on the straight part of the jar or bottle. Clear film wraps a cylinder well. It does not like going over a shoulder or the curve at the base, where it can crease.

Measure the straight wall from shoulder to base and keep the label a few millimetres shorter. Our guide to sizing labels for jars and bottles explains how to measure.

Square and hexagonal jars are easier still, because each flat face takes a label with no curve at all. Keep the label inside the flat face so it does not bend over the corner of the glass.

Gloss or matt clear?

Gloss clear film is the most invisible: it catches the light the same way as the glass, so the edges vanish. Matt clear film looks frosted, which suits a soft, apothecary style but shows the outline of the label more.

If the label must disappear, choose gloss. If you like a frosted panel behind the text, matt does that nicely.

Matt clear also takes a pen better than gloss, which helps if you want to add a fill date or a batch number to each jar by hand.

How much do clear labels cost?

Prices start from £0.05 a label. White ink adds a little to the cost because it is an extra layer. Size, shape, finish and quantity set the rest, and every quote comes back by email within one working day with a free proof.

Clear labels are often ordered alongside a white back label for ingredients, where legibility matters more than looks. Both can go on the same quote and share one round of proofs.

What happens once I approve the proof?

We print in 3 to 5 working days, then send your labels by free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses in 2 to 3 working days.

Clear labels show any print fault clearly, so we check them closely before they leave. If anything arrives misprinted or damaged, tell us within 10 days and we reprint the labels or refund you.

Keep spare labels flat and away from heat. Clear film is stable, but the backing paper can curl if the box sits in a warm car, which makes the labels harder to start.

Can clear labels carry ingredients and small print?

They can, though small type on clear film needs care. Thin text over busy contents is hard to read, so we usually suggest a white ink panel behind the ingredients and keep the rest of the label clear. That gives you the clean front you wanted and a back panel that reads easily.

Keep body text at about 6 pt or larger and avoid fine serif fonts at that size. If the label is on a dark product, white or a light cream text on a white ink base reads best.

Do clear labels suit candles in glass?

They suit tinted and frosted glass candle jars very well, because the colour of the glass shows through and the label looks printed on. On clear glass with a pale wax, dark lettering on clear film reads crisply without hiding the wax.

Apply them before filling if you can, or wait until the candle has cooled fully. Warm glass softens the adhesive and makes bubbles more likely.

Is a clear label right for my first order?

Clear labels look their best on smooth glass and simple designs. If your artwork is busy, full of small text, or meant for a dark product, a white BOPP label may serve you better and costs a little less.

Send the design and a photo of the product, and we will tell you honestly which works better before you spend anything.

There is no charge for the advice, and you are under no obligation to order once you have the proof and the price.