Lexmark MC2325 Paper and Specialty Media Guide PDF - Page 21

Label characteristics, Face sheet printable stock, Topcoats

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Guidelines for selecting and using paper 21 Face sheet (printable stock) Paper, vinyl, and polyester are the most common materials used for printable stock. Printable stock must withstand temperature up to 225°C (437°F) and pressures up to 25 psi. For more information, see your label supplier. Carefully test the printable stock to make sure that it functions satisfactorily with your printer. Topcoats Topcoats for non‑paper labels may be either water‑based or solvent‑based. Avoid topcoats containing chemicals that emit hazardous fumes when heated or exposed to pressure. Topcoats affect the print quality, feed reliability, and adhesion of toner to the face sheet. Topcoats should withstand temperatures up to 225°C (437°F) and pressures up to 25 psi for 100 milliseconds to prevent fuser damage. Water‑based topcoats tend to be more conductive than solvent‑based topcoats and are more difficult to fuse. With some water‑based topcoats and heavy liners, the fuse grade may fall below acceptable levels. Solvent‑based topcoats tend to be lower in conductivity than water‑based topcoats. With some solvent‑based topcoats, fuse grade is within acceptable levels when heavier liners are used. Print quality may degrade when using topcoats on labels with heavier liners. Using a lighter liner may reduce the appearance of splatter. Carefully test the labels to make sure the topcoat functions satisfactorily with your printer. Label characteristics The materials used to construct labels have a wide range of properties that can affect printing. Volatile components are in the label materials and in the adhesive itself. We recommend that volatile emissions from the label, up to 160°C (320°F), should be a minimal amount. The volatile components, which have low boiling point, produce emissions when heated in the fuser and could emit vapors that can damage the printer. Preprinted inks can also cause printer contamination, and may be present on one or both sides of the label sheet. Before purchasing large quantities of labels, make sure that you extensively test the labels with your printer. Labels with a stripped edge matrix do not have the area around the outer edge of the cut sheet. Labels with a total strip matrix do not have the die‑cut stock around and between the labels. This property makes it easy to peel the labels from the backing. Butt cut labels are cut flush to one another, with no extra area between them. Avoid using butt cut labels without a stripped edge matrix. Die‑cut labels are cut with a non‑print area between each label. For best results, do not print within 2.3 mm (0.09 in.) of the edge of the label, of the perforations, or of the die‑cuts of the label. If you are using a butt cut or die‑cut label, then make sure that adhesive contamination does not occur. Labels use varying levels and types of adhesive, and various liner materials and face stock papers. Adhesive can ooze from all label stocks. Make sure that die‑cuts are free of adhesive stringers. To prevent adhesive contaminations, use zone coating or pattern adhesive with a non‑adhesive border of about 1 mm (0.04 in.) or larger. If zone coating is not used, then we recommend a stripped edge matrix. The stripped edge matrix varies with the type of face stock, liner, and adhesive materials. The following table shows the guidelines for stripped edge matrix. Note: Measurements may vary ± 0.5 mm.

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Face sheet (printable stock)
Paper, vinyl, and polyester are the most common materials used for printable stock. Printable stock must
withstand temperature up to 225°C (437°F) and pressures up to 25 psi. For more information, see your label
supplier.
Carefully test the printable stock to make sure that it functions satisfactorily with your printer.
Topcoats
Topcoats for non
‑
paper labels may be either water
‑
based or solvent
‑
based. Avoid topcoats containing
chemicals that emit hazardous fumes when heated or exposed to pressure. Topcoats affect the print quality,
feed reliability, and adhesion of toner to the face sheet. Topcoats should withstand temperatures up to 225°C
(437°F) and pressures up to 25 psi for 100 milliseconds to prevent fuser damage.
Water
‑
based topcoats tend to be more conductive than solvent
‑
based topcoats and are more difficult to fuse.
With some water
‑
based topcoats and heavy liners, the fuse grade may fall below acceptable levels.
Solvent
‑
based topcoats tend to be lower in conductivity than water
‑
based topcoats. With some solvent
‑
based
topcoats, fuse grade is within acceptable levels when heavier liners are used.
Print quality may degrade when using topcoats on labels with heavier liners. Using a lighter liner may reduce
the appearance of splatter. Carefully test the labels to make sure the topcoat functions satisfactorily with your
printer.
Label characteristics
The materials used to construct labels have a wide range of properties that can affect printing. Volatile
components are in the label materials and in the adhesive itself. We recommend that volatile emissions from
the label, up to 160°C (320°F), should be a minimal amount. The volatile components, which have low boiling
point, produce emissions when heated in the fuser and could emit vapors that can damage the printer.
Preprinted inks can also cause printer contamination, and may be present on one or both sides of the label
sheet.
Before purchasing large quantities of labels, make sure that you extensively test the labels with your printer.
Labels with a stripped edge matrix do not have the area around the outer edge of the cut sheet. Labels with a
total strip matrix do not have the die
‑
cut stock around and between the labels. This property makes it easy to
peel the labels from the backing.
Butt cut labels are cut flush to one another, with no extra area between them. Avoid using butt cut labels without
a stripped edge matrix.
Die
‑
cut labels are cut with a non
‑
print area between each label. For best results, do not print within 2.3 mm
(0.09 in.) of the edge of the label, of the perforations, or of the die
‑
cuts of the label.
If you are using a butt cut or die
‑
cut label, then make sure that adhesive contamination does not occur. Labels
use varying levels and types of adhesive, and various liner materials and face stock papers. Adhesive can ooze
from all label stocks. Make sure that die
‑
cuts are free of adhesive stringers. To prevent adhesive contaminations,
use zone coating or pattern adhesive with a non
‑
adhesive border of about 1 mm (0.04 in.) or larger.
If zone coating is not used, then we recommend a stripped edge matrix. The stripped edge matrix varies with
the type of face stock, liner, and adhesive materials. The following table shows the guidelines for stripped edge
matrix.
Note:
Measurements may vary ± 0.5 mm.
Guidelines for selecting and using paper
21