Labeling Terms & Definitions: E-F

Posted on 06-27-2018

E

EAN
European Article Numbering system, the international standard bar code for retail food packages.

EDGE CURL
See curl.

EDGE DEFINITION
Bar code readers require sharp, well-defined edges to differentiate between bars and spaces and properly decode symbols. Poor edge definition may indicate that the ribbon and media are not properly matched for use with each other. Printing bar codes in a vertical (ladder) orientation can also cause edge definition problems, so horizontal (picket fence) orientation should be used whenever possible.

EDGE LIFT
When the edge of a label rises off the surface of the substrate. This condition occurs most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge lift is dependent on the bond strength between the adhesive and surface to be labeled, the flexibility of the face stock, and the method of application. There are specific label materials and adhesives made for small diameter and curved surface applications.

EDP LABELS
Electronic Data Processing (EDP) labels are pressure sensitive labels, custom or bland manufactured for use on computer printing equipment. Webs are usually perforated, fan folded, and hole punched (line holes) for pin-wheel feeding.

ELASTIC MEMORY
A tendency of some materials to attempt to return to their original length after being elongated.

ELECTRONIC PRE-PRESS
Computer assisted designing of new labels from conceptual through to the separated, stepped and repeated films or files required for plate making.

ELECTRONICS/ELECTRICAL LABELS
These labels are used on PCs, hand-held computers, consumer electronics equipment (audio/video equipment), digital cameras, electronic games, mobile phones, rechargeable batteries, power supply cables and electronic devices.

ELEMENT
A single binary position in a character; also dimensionally, the narrowest width in a character-bar or space.

ELMENDORF TEST
A standard test for determining the tearing strength of paper.

ELONGATION
The distance a material will stretch lengthwise before breaking, expressed as a percentage of original length. Elongation is not necessarily an indication of conformability.

EMBOSSING
The process of raising a design or image above the label surface, adding another design element to the finished label. It often utilizes a set of matched rolls to get the desired effect. See blind embossing.

EMULSIFICATION
The process of dispersing one liquid in another when the two liquids normally do not mix.

EMULSIFYING AGENT
Substance used to produce an emulsion of two liquids which do not naturally mix.

EMULSION
A type of mixture wherein two or more immiscible (or unmixable) materials are held together in a homogeneous mixture by the action of a third agent. The term ’emulsifying agent’ is applied to the material which is added to hold the emulsion.

ENCAPSULATED INK
Ink encapsulated with a coating giving a free flowing dry system which can be activated by heat or pressure.

ENCAPSULATION
The process of encapsulizing or trapping a substance (I.e. fragrance) within a coating so that it can be applied on press.

ENCODED AREA
The total lineal dimension consumed by all characters of a code pattern including start/stop codes and data.

ENGRAVING

A general term normally applied to any pattern which has been cut into or incised into a surface by hand, mechanical, or etching process.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

EPS
Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) is a graphic file format used to transfer PostScript image information from one program to another, or for importing into other applications. Virtually all page layout, word-processing, and graphic applications accept imported or placed EPS files. The EPS format preserves many of the graphic elements you can create with Adobe Illustrator, which means that EPS files can be reopened and edited as Illustrator files.

EYEMARK/TIMING MARK
A small rectangular printing area, usually located near the edge of a web or design, that activates an automatic electronic position regulator for controlling the register or printed design with subsequent equipment or operations. Eyemarks are typically printed black on the liner backing and equally spaced between adjacent labels for variable printing.

F

FACE MATERIAL
Any paper, film, fabric, laminate or foil material suitable for converting into pressure sensitive label stock. In the finished construction this web is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the construction.

FACE SLIT
A slit in the face material of a pressure sensitive product that facilitates the removal from the backing. Placing a slit on the face of the label will create a peel tab in which the line can be removed in its entirety with ease.

FACE SPLIT
See face slit.

FACE STOCK
A paper, film, foil or any other material which is bonded to the adhesive layer and forms the functional part of the label construction. The top layer of a pressure sensitive laminate consists of the label, adhesive, and backing or release liner.

FACE-CUT LABEL
Any pressure-sensitive label where the face material is cut to the liner.

FADEOMETER

Instrument used to measure the fade resistant properties of inks and other pigmented coatings.

FADING

A gradual decrease in brilliance of color. The term is often applied to the change in color produced by exposure to light.

FAN FOLD

Labels manufactured from a continuous web of label stock and then folded into a zigzag accordion style format for packing flat in packaging. The fold is created by horizontal perforations in the release liner. Fan folded labels are mostly used for data processing applications.

FEATHERING
A defect which is characterized by ragged, coarse edges, or undesirable irregular edges around a print.

FEED SLOTS
Round or rectangular holes or slits put in pressure sensitive label stock to maintain the register of pressure sensitive labels while they are being printed or imprinted.

FILLING-IN
Refers to the filling-in of small reverse areas or a copy of a printed design.

FILMS
Face and liner material manufactured from synthetic high molecular weight polymers.

FINISH
The surface property of a material determined by its texture and gloss. Also an important physical property of paper. It describes surface contour and characteristics measurable by smoothness, gloss, absorbability and print quality. Finish of paper can be aesthetic or functional.

FINISHING
The last work to be carried out on a clients order prior to the job being shipped. Slitting, rewinding, inspection, packing, and labeling are all included in the finishing process. Finishing is also a quality management step to ensure the product leaves the facility under the correct specifications.

FISH EYES
Round or oval deformations in an adhesive, coating, or ink. Certain types of clear laminations create visible defects immediately after laminating the surface of the label, but will often disappear over a short period of time.

FLAGGING
Usually refer to the ‘lifting’ of a pressure sensitive label from the surface to which it has been applied. This condition most often occurs when the label has been applied around a curved surface.

FLAME-RESISTANT
A material that resists flame because it has been treated with chemicals. While not actually fireproof, it will not support combustion. It will char, but not carry a flame.

FLAMMABLE
Capable of being ignited.

FLEXIBILITY
A property of face stock materials, measured under specified conditions, which indicates how readily they will conform to curved surfaces such as bottles, vials, or syringes. Some labels materials are rigid and will not work well around curved surfaces. Vinyl label material is a good example of a material that has good flexibility and conformity.

FLEXIBLE DIE
A thin, flexible, steel die cutting plate for use on magnetic cylinders (see magnetic dies). Flexible dies are an inexpensive alternative to engraved tooling. They are typically used for short-run applications as they cannot be re-sharpened like an engraved tool and have a shorter run life than an engraved tool.

FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING
A method of rotary printing which employs flexible plates, rotary die cutting, rapid-drying inks, in-line laminating, and other converting operations.

FLOCK
A commercial fuzz or lint consisting of fine strands or filaments from textile fibers, animal hair, synthetic resins, among others. It is applied to an adhesive coated surface to produce a decorative felt-like appearance.

FLOOD COAT
The coating of an entire label surface with ink, adhesive or varnish.

FLOW OUT
The capacity of an ink or adhesive to spread, filling in the hills and valleys on the surface of the printed or non-printed substrate.

FLUORESCENT PAPER
A paper that is coated with fluorescent pigment which reflects a visible wavelength. It is activated by the remaining absorbed light and re-emits it as color of a longer wavelength which reinforces the reflected color. Fluorescent labels are often used for information, warnings, and instructions.

FLUORESCENT PIGMENTS
By absorbing unwanted wave lengths of light and converting them into light of desired wave lengths, these colors seem to possess an actual glow of their own.

FLUOROCARBON FILMS
A film with very high and low temperature limits, excellent electrical characteristics, and a very slippery, non-sticking surface.

FOIL
A very thin metal sheet that can be used as face stock material in label production.

FOIL PAPER LAMINATE
A foil laminated to a sheet of paper used as a face stock. The foil is usually topcoated to improve ink receptivity. These labels have the appearance of a metal label, but are very thin and can be printed or embossed.

FONT
A complete set of typeface characters of the same design, size, and face which includes upper and lower case, bold, italic, numerals, punctuation marks, and accents. Labels can be printed with any font supplied in artwork files.

FOOD CONTACT ADHESIVES
Adhesives meeting specified sections of the Food & Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations cover direct food labeling as well as incidental contact. Special product recommendations are necessary for specific applications.

FOUR-COLOR PROCESS
Printing with cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CYMK) inks using screens to reproduce the wide spectrum of colors. This is referred to as process printing or CMYK printing.

FRAGILE MATERIALS
Materials based on a range of films and papers that provide tamper evidence due to their low structural integrity. Available as destructible paper or film materials and used in applications such as safety warning labels, warranty labels, package seals, and licensing labels.

FREEZER ADHESIVES
Adhesives that will function at temperatures below the freezing point. They are usually removable at room temperatures.

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