Frequently
Asked Questions

Not necessarily! We may be known primarily for our printing capabilities, but our solutions are numerous! You can check out our Services page to see what other services we offer our customers!

Some people use the terms 'tag' and 'label' interchangeably, leading to some confusion when ordering. Tags typically hang freely and can be repositioned indefinitely, while labels have an adhesive backing and can be adhered to a surface. You can read our blog post "Tags and Labels - What Makes Them Different" to learn more!

Absolutely! We can handle any size or shape you need! We keep many specialized dies on hand to cut specific shapes, but you will need to let us know your tag or label specifications or send us your artwork so we can make sure we have a die that works for you. If we don't have one on hand, we will order the custom die you need!

Of course! Though you will need to provide us with a bit more detail. Send us an email at orders@trebnick.com and let us know what your labeling needs are. We will help you determine what will work best for you!

Sadly, there is no easy answer to this question. Product label specifications largely depend on the type of product, package size, your intended content, regulatory needs, and so on. As such, there is no "standard size" for product labeling. But we can help you figure all of that out! Send us a sample of your package and let us know what information you need on your label, and we can recommend a size that will work for you!

A proof allows you to check your artwork to ensure it is correct before you invest in a large print run. Due to the setup cost of our presses, we only offer digital PDF proofs to our customers. These proofs are emailed to you at no charge, and we will not go into production until this proof is approved. Proofs are our only way of knowing that we have correctly interpreted your vision for your tag or label, so you must check your proof carefully! We take no responsibility for errors that weren't caught during the proofing process. Please note that computer screens display colors differently than printers do. So there may be slight color variations between the digital PDF and the final printed product.

Of course! Contact us at orders@trebnick.com to talk to one of our friendly customer service representatives, and we can mail you some samples to test on your product or printer! Need to test the product even further? Let us know what your labeling requirements are, and we can print some samples to allow you to see how any ink or ribbon will hold up in various conditions!

Yes, we do! Sustainable labeling is important to our environment as it minimizes greenhouse gas emissions and landfill waste. We are pleased to offer environmentally sound materials that are FSC-certified! You can contact us at orders@trebnick.com to learn more about our various stocks and materials!

Yes, but only to an extent. Our label materials and adhesives are approved for indirect food contact. This means they are safe for most food packaging, but you shouldn't apply them directly to food products.

Yes! We have a wide selection of durable labeling materials that can withstand freezing temperatures and extreme chemical conditions. However, you should test these materials before investing in a large print run. Email us at orders@trebnick.com, and we can send you some samples to try out in your extreme environment!

Absolutely! Blank tags and labels allow you to print on demand and clean up your supply chain. Need a printer to go with your blank stock? We have a wide selection of durable printers that could meet your labeling needs!

Typically it takes about five weeks from when we receive your purchase order. This timeframe can vary depending on the job. For example, new print jobs take longer due to the proofing process and ordering of any material, plates, or dies. Blank tags or labels tend to be produced faster due to their simplicity. Regardless, don't wait to place your order until the last minute. We can not guarantee supplies needed for your order will be available at the time of order, so ordering early will take a load of stress off all parties!

Unwind direction refers to the orientation of the labels as they come off the roll (i.e. as you unwind the roll of labels). For example, Unwind Direction #1 (Top Off First) indicates that the top of the tag or label will be the leading edge when the roll is unwound. Every printer has different sensor requirements and specifications. So, the unwind direction can be critical if you are printing on your tags or labels. Ensure your unwind direction is correct on your PDF proof in the "Direction Off" section!

We will send you a packing list and invoice the day after your product ships. We ship worldwide, so how long it will take to get to you will depend on your location and the shipping company. But you can always send an email to orders@trebnick.com to check on the status of your order!

Of course! Our on-site graphics team has years of experience and can help you design the perfect tag or label! Just let us know what you're imagining, and we can send you a concept proof where you can see various approaches or layouts before choosing your final design. From tag specifications to compelling print-ready artwork, we can guide you through the process from start to finish!

Our preferred file format is Adobe Illustrator, a vector-based program that produces the best prints. Files from this program end in ".ai" or ".eps." PDF files also work, though your PDF's source files should be vector in origin, not simply an embedded raster image. If you don't have a vector file for us to work with, we can work with high-resolution raster files, but these files take more time to get press ready. We understand that these graphic terms may go over some people's heads. Check out our blog post "Raster Vs. Vector - Art Tips to Get the Best Quality Print" for more detailed information on various file types!

You can email your art files to orders@trebnick.com, and we will get started on a PDF proof for you to approve! We prefer art files to be in a vector format (such as .ai, .eps, or .pdf files). We can work with other file types, but these will take longer to process. Please let us know if there is a specific color that we need to match in your logo. You can read through our blog post "How to Prepare Your Artwork for Print" for more details on the best way to send artwork over!

There are two different types of images, raster and vector. Vector files are algorithm-based artwork that produces the best prints, so it is our preferred file type. Raster files are pixel-based and are limited in their resolution. This can be a lengthy topic, but you can check out our blog post "Raster vs. Vector - Art Tips to Get the Best Quality Print" for more detailed information on various file types and the differences between raster and vector.

CMYK and RGB both have a huge role in design! The CMYK color mode is for the print industry, as they break down into the base colors of ink. Screens, however, display everything in the RGB color modes. This can cause colors to look bright and vibrant on our screen and dull when printed. Due to this, you should never assume that the color on your monitor will look the same when printed. You can read our blog post "RGB vs. CMYK vs. PMS - How to Get the Best Colors for Your Print" to learn more about the various color modes!

Color consistency is a common problem in the print industry, as analog presses use liquid ink that is hand mixed for each job. Thus, it is somewhat reliant on human involvement and individual judgment. Here at Trebnick, we do most of our printing using the Pantone Color Matching System (PMS), a color system designed for color consistency! But can minor color variations occur? Technically yes, but these shifts should not be noticeable to the human eye. So you can expect excellent color consistency across all of your orders!

If you want to utilize white ink in your product, it is important to indicate that early in the design process. The easiest way to do this is to show the white ink as a custom spot color in your artwork file, be sure to include a key that distinguishes that custom color as white ink. Use a bright color like bright green or magenta to indicate what will get printed in white. We will send you a PDF proof for you to approve before we start production so you can make sure we understand your vision!

That is a tricky question, as the answer will change from person to person. To help you find the right printer, we need to know what you are trying to accomplish and the type of conditions the printer will be in. Contact us at orders@trebnick.com! We'll help you find the perfect printer for your operations! You can also visit our Blog post "Inkjet vs. Laser vs. Thermal – What is the Right Printer for You?" to get an general idea of what printer may work for you!

There are many answers to this question! The cause of this issue often has to do with your printer's calibration. Whenever you replace your tags or ribbons, double-check that your media and ribbon are fed into the printer correctly, and try recalibrating it! If you still have issues, check out our Blog for helpful printer tutorials, or call us!

Yes! We sell various industrial printers, but not all have cutter attachments preinstalled. Contact us at orders@trebnick.com and let us know your printer's make and model. We will do the legwork for you and see if a cutter attachment is available!

RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, uses radio waves to communicate information between a unique item and a system. RFID inlays use microchips embedded into an antenna to store data and automate tracking. Radio waves are transmitted from the inlay to an RFID scanner/reader to communicate various information stored in the inlay. This is a generic overview of a complicated topic, but we have several RFID Blog posts that go over the details for you to review!

The simple answer is that an RFID inlay is only one component in a constructed RFID tag. For example, an RFID tag is a layered piece, with the first layer being the tag material. The second layer is the RFID inlay, which consists of a microchip that can store data and a silver antenna that allows that data to be scanned and transferred to an RFID reader. The last layer of an RFID tag's construction is the adhesive that attaches the inlay to the tag substrate material!

Yes! RFID inlays can store a wide variety of information. But to extract that information, you will need a scanner on the same frequency as the inlay. Check out our RFID System & Devices page to see available scanners!

Both systems have their advantages. The primary benefit of RFID is that it does not need to be in line-of-sight to be read by a scanner, allowing the scanner to be able to read multiple inlays at once. Combine that with the inlay's innate ability to store more detailed data than a barcode, and your inventory process is instantly streamlined. Check out our post "RFID vs. Barcodes - Which is Better for Inventory Management" to learn more!

As many things are with RFID... it depends. Variables such as inlay type and environmental conditions will affect how long an RFID tag or label will last. In general, a passive RFID inlay will last longer than an active RFID inlay because active inlays rely on a battery and passive inlays do not. Test your system before investing in a large run of RFID tags or labels!

Active RFID tags contain a small battery and occasionally transmit the stored information with a much greater range than passive tags. Passive tags hold their stored data and only send it when they receive power by electromagnetic induction via the RFID scanner. Once the scanner powers the inlay, it responds by transmitting its unique information back to the scanner. Active tags are more expensive but perform better when adhered to metal surfaces and offer features such as GPS locating. Passive tags have a longer lifespan than active tags, tend to be cheaper, and can come in smaller sizes.

Another "it depends" answer. If the walls are simply drywall, then the answer is yes. But RFID inlays do have trouble transmitting data through metal walls. RFID also has trouble reading through people as the water in our bodies absorbs the radio frequency energy used to transmit the data.

In general, RFID does not do well on liquid-filled containers. Technological advancement has developed RFID inlays that perform better on these containers, though their read range is shorter. Test the inlay's capabilities before implementing them across all your products!

The simple answer is no. If you want to use RFID to track metal products, try an RFID hang tag instead. The extra space between the inlay and the metal product will allow the data to be transferred easier. There are specialized RFID inlays designed to work on metal surfaces, but it is still wise to test the readability of your inlay before applying them to all of your products.

The simple answer is in an area where the RFID inlay can easily transmit radio waves to the RFID scanner. Radio waves can easily pass through dry wood, paper, and plastic, but not metal or liquids. This means that you can put an RFID tag inside or under wooden furniture and still be able to read the inlay. However, you can't affix an RFID label to a metal drum full of liquid and expect it to work. If you attach the RFID label to a cardboard box, the readability will depend on the box's contents. Once again, wood, plastic, or paper items won't affect the readability of the RFID inlay, while metallic or liquid items might require a more specialized inlay. This is why it is important to test your RFID system on-site to see what will work best for you!

Yet another "it depends" answer. We specialize in durable tags and labels designed to withstand harsh environments. But to develop a long-lasting RFID tag, we need to know what kind of environment it will be in. If you need your tag or label to withstand certain conditions, let us know! We can recommend the materials and inlays that best fit your needs!