If you are just getting involved with label printing or are considering outsourcing your label printing needs to a professional, you have probably already encountered a few industry-specific terms with which you may not be entirely familiar. One such term is artwork. Artwork is completely unrelated to your favorite museum pieces and does not necessarily refer to graphical elements, either. Let us look at what artwork for label printing is all about.
In the simplest of terms, artwork refers to the layout of a labels design. That includes factors such as the actual words used (referred to as the copy) and any images that might be involved in the design, as well. In essence, the artwork for label printing is the complete look of the label, including all of its components. Artwork is finalized prior to the label printing companys creation of printing plates or negatives.
Depending upon the label printing company with whom you work, artwork may be your responsibility, their responsibility, or a joint effort. In all cases, the label printing firm should provide you with samples, or mock-ups, of your labels before turning the artwork into a final...