Label order & quote templates · Custom roll-label buying guide ·

The Label Spec Cheat Sheet

Every field a printer needs to quote and run your label — condensed from the PackOS label library.
PACKOS · packos.ai

1 · The spec — what a complete order answers

1Size & shapeFinished W × H, plus shape: rectangle (corner radius — 1/8 in is a typical default), circle, oval, or custom. Sized from the container's flat area, not the artwork; standard sizes reuse existing dies.
2MaterialThe face-stock family — paper vs film. Dry & indoor leans paper; wet, oily, chilled, or squeezed means film. Table below.
3AdhesiveThe adhesive family, matched to the surface and the environment the label must survive. Table below.
4FinishLamination, varnish, foil — or nothing. Protection first, shelf presence second. Strip below.
5Cut & formatKiss-cut on rolls is the production default (rolls feed applicators); sheets suit small hand-applied runs; die-cut singles are event stickers.
6Roll specUnwind position + core ID + max OD + labels per roll — all dictated by the applicator that will run them. Box below.
7Quantity & versionsTotal count and how many artwork versions share the run. Setup amortizes, so unit price falls as runs grow.
Common size families: 2–3 in circles (jar lids) · ~7×2.25 to ~9×3 in bottle wraps · 4×6 in shipping · 1×2.625 in address. Typical, not mandatory — the container decides.

2 · Wrap math

WRAP WIDTH
  W = π × D            (π ≈ 3.1416)
  partial wrap:  W = π×D − gap
                 gap 1/8–1/4 in typical
  full wrap:     W = π×D + overlap
                 keep art clear under the
                 overlapping end
HEIGHT
  H = straight wall only — clear the
      shoulder taper & base curve
EXAMPLE
  3 in dia jar → π × 3 ≈ 9.42 in around
Better still: wrap a flexible tape around the container — it measures the true circumference, including out-of-roundness. Overlap or gap, decide deliberately: a near-miss butt seam telegraphs every application tolerance.

3 · Face stock — material families

Uncoated / textured paperDry goods, craft & premium looks. Absorbs moisture, scuffs — short indoor life.
Semi-gloss paperThe retail default — food, boxes, barcodes. Sheds splashes; edges still wick water.
White BOPPBottles, jars, fridge & bath. Waterproof, oil- and chemical-resistant.
Clear BOPPThe "no-label" look on glass & clear containers. Needs white ink under the art.
VinylSqueeze bottles, compound curves, outdoor. The most conformable film.
PETHarsh service — chemicals, heat, UV, outdoors. Stiff: flat or simple curves only.
Rule of thumb: if the product sweats — a cold bottle out of the fridge — paper is out and film is in.

4 · Adhesive families

PermanentThe default. Bonds hard, keeps building over dwell time; removal tears or leaves residue.
RemovablePeels cleanly within a designed window; time or heat can set it harder.
RepositionableLow first grab so you can lift and re-place at application, then it sets.
High-tack / LSELow-energy plastics (HDPE, PP), textured, powder-coated, recycled surfaces.
Freezer / all-tempCold chain & frozen — standard adhesives stiffen and lose tack in the cold.
Wash-offReleases in a caustic or hot-water wash; returnable & refillable containers.
Two questions catch most mistakes: what is the surface, exactly — and how cold is the container at application?

5 · Finish

LAMINATIONGloss, matte, or soft-touch film bonded over the print. The workhorse protection for anything handled wet or often.
VARNISHPrinted coating, gloss or matte, spot-applicable. Thinner and cheaper than laminate; protects less.
FOILHot-stamped or cold-applied metallic. Highest shelf impact; adds tooling and setup, so it rewards larger runs.

6 · Roll spec — from the applicator's manual, not from memory

CORE IDMust match the applicator mandrel. 3 in (76 mm) is the common automatic fit; 1 in (25 mm) hand & desktop; 1.5 in (40 mm) also seen. The machine manual is the authority.
MAX ODCapped by the equipment. Order the largest outer diameter the machine accepts — bigger rolls, fewer reloads.
LABELS PER ROLLSet by core + OD + label height + gap + stock thickness. Have the supplier calculate the exact count.
WIND DIRECTIONPrint faces out (visible on the roll) or in (toward the core) — dictated by the machine's peel path.
UNWIND POSITIONWhich edge of the copy leads off the roll — the eight positions below. Machine application must match exactly.
HAND VS MACHINEHand-applied: almost any unwind works — take the stock wind. Machine or co-packer: copy the spec sheet exactly before ordering.

7 · Unwind positions 1–8

WOUND OUT — PRINT FACES AWAY FROM THE CORE 1 A 1 · top leads 2 A 2 · bottom leads 3 A 3 · left leads 4 A 4 · right leads WOUND IN — PRINT FACES THE CORE 5 A 5 · top leads 6 A 6 · bottom leads 7 A 7 · left leads 8 A 8 · right leads
The 1–8 numbering is a widely used convention, not an enforced standard — converters' charts vary. State it in words ("position 4 — right edge of copy off first, wound out") and confirm against your applicator's spec sheet.