This section will provide you with a general overview of the different methods and products used to apply decoration to plastic packaging.

Decorative Rings:
Generally used to dress-up a closure. Decorative rings can be used to pull a color theme through the closure without the headaches associated with custom colors (high minimums, long lead times, additional set-up and color charges). Decorative rings can be metalized to add a little elegance and drama to your packages' presentation.

Sleeve Labeling:
Extremely economical and are generally used for large containers. Bottles must have a recessed panel to hold the label in place. These labels can be easily applied by using automated labeling equipment.

These labels are not permanent. Problems associated with ripped, torn, and missing labels are quite common.

Heat-shrink label:
These labels are applied to the bottle and passed through a heat tunnel where the label is shrunk and securely attached to the bottle. This method works best when several products share the same container but require different labeling or when a package has numerous contours that need to be decorated. As with the standard sleeve label, this labeling process is vulnerable to rips and tears.

Pressure Sensitive Labeling:
An economical way to achieve a multi-color label design. The low cost of tooling and high speed application process adds to the cost effective of this method. Pressure sensitive labels are available in paper, vinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, or mylar. This method of decoration may be used in conjunction with other printing methods such as offset printing, silk screening, or hot stamping.

Offset Printing:
This method of decoration is most often used for wide mouth containers such as jars, tubes, and vials. Offset printing can print up to five colors at. The initial set up costs (Plate Costs) are quite high. Yet, the process is fast and economical on large runs. A lacquer over-coating is recommended to protect the products labeling. When compared to other decoration processes (i.e. silk screening) offset printing can appear a little flat.

Therimage Labeling:
Cost effective for high volume packaging projects. The labels can print up five colors. Special tooling such as turrets and cylinders are required. These labels are either Rotogravure printed or Decal labels. Rotogravure printed labels yield a low-cost label but the initial printing plates are costly. Decal labels are screen-printed and have a higher per label cost. Yet, decals have a much lower set up costs making the ideal for product runs of 100M or less.

Hot Stamping:
Hot stamping can be elegant, dramatic, and costly. Metallic foils can be applied via 360-degree bands (roll printing) or straight stamping. Roll Printing requires a die and cylinder fixture; straight stamping needs a die and shroud.

Silk Screen Printing:
This method of decoration is the most utilized procedure for decorating plastic packaging. Silk screening forces ink through a photographically treated screen producing a thick and even print.

Silk Screening is a versatile and cost effective method of decoration, especially for one-color decoration and small product runs. When decorating bottles a margin of 3/8" off the base and neck is required. 360-degree decoration is possible although a 1/4" horizontal break in the printing area is necessary.

Colors are applied in single passes and each additional pass will add to the decoration cost. Some creative approaches to minimize these costs are reverse printing on a colored container or half-tone printing. Minimum type size for a reversal is 3 points, or 6 points for text. When silk screening UPC codes special care is needed to allow for ink spread and dot gain.