The no-label look on glass: when it works (and when it doesn't)

A well-chosen clear label disappears: all you see is the text and logo, as if they were printed straight onto the glass. It's the look plenty of cosmetics, drinks and fine-food brands are after. But it doesn't work on every pack.

Where clear labels work

• Clear glass with an evenly coloured product behind it: oil, syrup, spirits, creams.
• Clear plastic such as PET bottles and tubs, as long as the surface is smooth.
• Single-colour packaging, where you want the colour of the bottle or box to show through.

The pitfalls

What's behind the label. Black ink on a dark liquid disappears; light text on a light background vanishes too. Always think about what will sit behind the label once the product is filled, not about the empty bottle.

Light colours. On clear film, pale shades (white, light yellow, pastels) don't cover well. White or very light text needs a white underprint, so raise it with your printer from the start.

Air bubbles. A small bubble goes unnoticed on a white label; on a clear one it jumps out. Machine application, or a squeegee on a clean, dry surface, makes all the difference.

Domed surfaces. A bottle that curves in two directions, almost like a ball, makes the label crease. Cylindrical shapes cause far fewer problems.

What about barcodes?

A barcode on a clear label scans well if the background behind it is light and even. With a dark liquid or a colourful pack, test with your own scanner before the full run, or leave a small white patch behind the code. We cover this in more detail in clear barcode labels.

Variable data: the thermal option

To add a batch number, date or price at dispatch, there are transparent thermal labels. They print without a ribbon on a normal thermal printer, and the label itself fades into the pack.

Ordering printed clear labels

For a logo and fixed text printed on clear film, on rolls and in volume, ask for a quote through our custom roll label printing page. Tell us the bottle type, the colour of the contents and how the labels will be applied – those three details decide the right choice.