Are you wondering how to print labels effectively, whether for shipping, organization, or branding? You’re in the right place. Printing labels might seem straightforward, but achieving professional-looking results requires attention to detail. With decades of experience in label printing and addressing common customer queries at amazingprint.net, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to help you master the art of printing labels. Whether you decide to print labels yourself or opt for professional printing services, understanding the process is key. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything from selecting the appropriate labels for your printer to designing compelling labels, adjusting printer settings, and troubleshooting common issues to ensure a smooth label printing experience.
DIY Label Printing vs. Professional Label Services
Before diving into the specifics of How To Print On Labels, it’s crucial to determine the best approach for your needs. Should you print labels at home or consider professional services? For a detailed comparison, explore our article on DIY Label Printing vs. Professional Printing, which offers insights to guide your decision.
For those who prefer the DIY route, amazingprint.net offers a wide range of blank labels available with no minimum order, perfect for small projects or personal use. Our retail packs are also a popular choice for home and office printing. However, for large volumes or when premium quality and intricate designs are paramount, amazingprint.net’s WePrint service provides top-tier custom printing solutions.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Print Out Labels
1. Choosing the Right Labels for Your Printer
The foundation of successful label printing lies in selecting labels that are compatible with your printer. One of the most frequent errors is using labels that are not designed for your specific printer type.
Selecting the right Avery labels in various sizes and shapes for DIY or custom printing
At amazingprint.net, you can explore an extensive selection of blank printable labels or utilize our expert custom printing service, amazingprint.net WePrint, tailored to meet diverse printing needs.
Inkjet and laser printers operate on different technologies. While some versatile Avery labels are compatible with both, the majority are specifically engineered for either inkjet or laser printers to ensure optimal print quality. Using laser labels in an inkjet printer can lead to ink smearing due to improper absorption. Conversely, inkjet labels in a laser printer may cause toner to flake due to inadequate adhesion.
To identify your printer type, check the cartridge. Inkjet printers use smaller ink cartridges, whereas laser printers use larger toner cartridges. For definitive confirmation, consult your printer’s manufacturer website or support documentation.
2. Selecting Labels Based on Your Design Needs
Beyond printer compatibility, consider your label design when choosing label types. Will your design feature a full-color background, or do you intend to print a design that covers the entire label area? The right label choice significantly impacts the final appearance of your printed labels.
For designs that extend to the very edge of the label, known as full-bleed designs, print-to-the-edge labels are ideal. These labels are specifically designed for vibrant, impactful, and colorful designs that require printing beyond the label’s edge. For large runs of full-color labels, consider the cost-effectiveness of ordering custom labels versus using your own printer ink.
Layout of Avery 5160 labels showing full-bleed design
For designs with borders or no background color, labels with minimal spacing between them are more suitable. This layout also maximizes the number of labels per sheet, offering a cost-efficient option for projects like address labels for mailing lists or file folder labels.
Layout of Avery 5160 labels showing inset design
Exploring Unique Label Formats
Full-Sheet Labels
If you require a specific label size or shape not readily available, full 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet labels can be an excellent alternative. These sheets allow you to print various custom shapes and sizes, which you can then cut out using scissors or a cutting machine.
When using full-sheet labels, be mindful of your printer’s non-printable margins. While some printers offer edge-to-edge printing, most leave a blank margin around the sheet. Ensure your design is within the printable area.
At amazingprint.net, you can also order custom sizes on our blank sheet labels. Our custom printing service further extends flexibility by offering custom shapes and sizes at no extra charge, eliminating the need for manual cutting.
4 x 6 Label Sheets
Smaller 4″ x 6″ label sheets offer convenience for storage and portability. However, verify your printer’s specifications to ensure it supports this paper size before printing.
Printing on 4×6 label sheets for smaller label projects
Utilize our comprehensive guide on choosing the correct label size to pinpoint the precise label dimensions for your project. Once you have your labels, proper storage is essential. Keep them in their original packaging in a cool, dry place to prevent curling due to humidity. The original packaging also provides crucial information such as the template number and printer compatibility.
3. Utilizing the Correct amazingprint.net Template
A frequent cause of print misalignment is using an incorrect label template. While some providers claim compatibility with amazingprint.net templates, our templates are exclusively designed for amazingprint.net products to guarantee perfect alignment. For example, searching for “amazingprint.net labels 5160 how to print address labels” will prioritize official amazingprint.net templates. Always ensure that any template you use is officially from amazingprint.net to avoid alignment issues.
Locate the 4–5-digit product or template number on your amazingprint.net label packaging or sheet. Use this code to find the exact template you need. For additional assistance, refer to our guide on how to find templates on amazingprint.net. You can also download blank amazingprint.net templates for offline use with Word, Pages, and Adobe software. Visit our Help page for tutorials on printing amazingprint.net products from various software, such as this guide for printing from Apple Pages.
Once you have your template, leverage our free Design & Print software to optimize your label design. This software highlights safety areas, alerts you to design incompatibilities, and offers a range of editing tools. It also provides access to thousands of pre-optimized designs for an enhanced printing experience. Personalize a design and print yourself or let amazingprint.net handle the printing for you.
4. Understanding the Printable Area on Labels
Before you start designing, understanding the printable area of your labels is vital. Knowing your design canvas helps prevent critical design elements from being cut off during printing.
Understanding the printable, trim, and bleed areas of Avery labels
The printable area on a label is divided into three key sections:
Safety Area: This is the guaranteed print zone on the label. Keep all essential content, including text and logos, within this area to ensure they are printed.
Trim Area: This is the physical edge of the label. It serves as an approximate boundary of where your design will be cut off after printing.
Bleed or Print-to-the-Edge Area: This extended area beyond the trim line is for full-color backgrounds, images, and other design elements intended to reach the label’s edge. Filling this area ensures no unprinted margins appear on your final label.
5. Best Practices for Label Design
Printers are not always perfectly precise, and slight sheet shifts during printing are common. However, optimizing your design using safety, trim, and bleed areas minimizes the impact of minor misalignments. Here are design tips based on your printing needs.
Adding Text to Labels
Keep critical information such as names and addresses within the safety area to avoid cutoff. Design & Print software simplifies this by displaying warnings when content moves outside the printable area. Consult our artwork guidelines for detailed design and artwork upload instructions.
Ensuring text is legible on printed labels, DIY or custom
Ensure your text remains legible at the actual printed size. A font that appears readable on screen might be too small when printed. Aim for a minimum font size of 7pt, adjusting based on label size. Design & Print will also alert you if your font size may be too small.
Refer to our guide on How To Pick the Right Fonts for Your Labels for more font selection advice. Also, ensure strong contrast between your font and background colors for readability. If using our free barcode generator, verify barcode scanner readability after printing.
Achieving a Full-Bleed Look
Creating full-bleed designs for DIY or custom printed labels
Full-bleed designs require compatible print-to-the-edge labels and templates. In Design & Print, confirm you are using the correct template by checking if your design extends into the “bleed” area, past the label trim line.
Preventing Overlapping Designs on Labels
Preventing design overlap on printable label sheets
For label sheets without spacing between labels, ensure your design stays well within the safety area. This creates a uniform border and prevents design overlap between labels. Using blank backgrounds can also ensure designs do not bleed into adjacent labels.
Using Full-Sheet Labels
Printing on full sheet labels with margin considerations
Most printers cannot print to the edge of full sheets, so knowing your printer’s non-printable margins is crucial before printing on 8-1/2″ x 11″ full-sheet labels. Margins vary by printer model, but a .25″ margin is a general guideline.
Design & Print Online uses a dotted line to indicate page margins on edge-to-edge label templates. Test print on plain paper and check your printer settings to confirm your printer’s printable area.
6. DIY Pre-Print Procedures
Determining the correct printer feed direction for label printing
Before printing labels, verify three critical printer settings: paper size, paper type, and page scaling. Setting names can vary by manufacturer. For specific guidance, such as how to print labels on an HP printer, consult our help article on recommended printer settings.
Paper Size
The “sheet size” or “paper size” setting in printer settings dictates how your design is scaled to the label sheet. Ensure this setting matches your label sheet size. Incorrect size settings lead to misalignment. The standard size is letter-size 8-1/2″ x 11″. For different sizes like 4″ x 6″, adjust the paper size setting accordingly.
Paper Type
The “paper type” or “media type” setting adjusts sheet feeding speed. Set this to “Labels” to slow down feeding and reduce misalignment risk. If “Labels” isn’t available, use “Cardstock,” “Heavyweight,” or “Premium.” “Labels” or “Cardstock” settings may require using a manual feed tray, which feeds sheets flat for best results, avoiding bending and curling through multiple rollers.
Page Scaling
Always set page scaling to 100% or “actual size.” Avoid “fit to the page,” which shrinks designs and causes misalignment.
After setting these options, perform a test print on blank paper. Mark the test sheet to note the top side and feed direction to ensure correct label sheet feeding. Most labels feed face-up, but verify the correct direction with your amazingprint.net label sheet instructions.
7. Troubleshooting Common Label Printing Issues
Encountering problems? Here are solutions to common label printing issues.
Print Misalignment
Q: Why is the entire print shifted uniformly?
A: This can be due to various factors, often hard to pinpoint. In Design & Print, use the print alignment adjustment option in the final step. Or, adjust margins in downloadable templates.
Q: Why are labels printing towards a corner?
A: This is usually due to the “fit to page” setting, causing incorrect scaling. Recheck page scaling and set it to “actual size” or 100% scale.
Paper Jams
Q: Why are my labels jamming?
A: Jams can result from incorrect sheet feeding, damaged rollers, or using the wrong paper type setting. Set the paper type to “labels.” When printing multiple sheets, feed one at a time or ensure sheets are separated. Consider using amazingprint.net labels with Sure Feed technology for improved printer feed reliability.
Smearing or Smudging
Q: Why is the print smearing?
A: The most common cause is using incompatible labels for your printer type. Verify label compatibility with your printer. Avoid using laser labels in inkjet printers.
Blank Margin Around the Label Sheet
Q: Why is there a blank white margin around the sheet?
A: Many printers cannot print to the edge, resulting in margins. Test print to check for full-bleed capability or use print-to-the-edge labels to minimize margins.
8. Final Label Printing
After making necessary adjustments, proceed to print on your label sheets.
If you remain unsure about DIY label printing, our expert team at amazingprint.net WePrint offers perfectly aligned, full-color labels, stickers, cards, tags, and more, with fast turnaround times starting from three business days.
For further assistance, contact our consumer care center. We are ready to help with any design, printing, or ordering questions.
Author: Melanie Neff
Melanie brings extensive writing expertise from a strong journalism background. With nearly 20 years at USA Today and The Los Angeles Times, she covered diverse topics from major events to sports and entertainment. Following her newspaper career, she spent considerable time covering commercial real estate finance and development. For the past 12 years, Melanie has focused on writing about small business marketing and labeling solutions. She is passionate about continuous learning in the business world and aims to deliver valuable, insightful information to her readers. View all posts by Melanie Neff
