How I print beer lables for cheap. small runs and long runs, waterproof-ish.

[biohaz7331]

Yeah I had the thought go through my head that it would really suck to clean all of that off. It does really aid in the appearance but I am guessing you only would do this on very good beers.

 

[vogtenstein222]

These ones in the pictures are 3.6" width x 3.25" Height.

If you look at the image of the labels on the physical bottles, you will see that If i had my labels were any larger than 3.25" on the height, they would overlap the curvy neck of the bottle and it would look funny. All bottles are different so measure your label space.

I can email you my template file. I set up each label layer with a clipping mask so you can just drop your artwork in each folder and it wont overlap any of the other labels.

or if anyone knows of any free hosting sites i can upload it to, i can use that so everyone can use it.

can you email this template to me?

 

[241]

Sweet. I have access to a nice laser printer and good paper, just need the gloss and adhesive cans. Great idea.

Any way you could upload that psd file somewhere we can nab it? https://droplr.com/hello would work for hosting I think

Cheers

 

[brianmot]

Thanks 241,

Download here..

http://d.pr/f/a5nJ

 

[241]

Now we're talking - you just made making labels so easy. That template is really well done man, cheers.

 

[BraapBeer]

Thanks for the tip and template. LIFE SAVER!

 

[wickman6]

Braap, awesome warning! Hahahaha!

 

[justabrewin]

Used this method. Thanks for the heads up - worked out great!

 

[brianmot]

Wow guys, Those look great!

 

[Dust]

Awesome labels! I have a question for you guys. How are you guys cutting your labels? Is there a fast/precise way to do it? I printed out around 40-50 labels and I want to get to labeling when I get home today but I realized that using scissors is going to take forever and is also not as precise as I would like (I don't have the steadiest of hands ).

 

[feinbera]

How are you guys cutting your labels? Is there a fast/precise way to do it?

That's what the cropmarks (the little lines just outside the labels on the template) are for -- they show you where you put your ruler, then, holding the ruler steady with one hand, you run an xacto blade or box cutter along the edge of the ruler with the other, and, bam! perfectly straight line, exactly where it needs to be in relation to the printed labels.

Practice a couple times on scratch paper before you start butchering your expensive laser printouts, though (but, don't ask me how I know...).

 

[justabrewin]

Yeah - what feinbera said. Box cutter/exacto blade and a ruler. I stacked my sheets and did them all at once.

 

[Dust]

Ok cool thanks. Another couple of questions; I'm getting these printed at Kinko's or Fedex or whatever it's called now again (first labels had a typo ).

1) I was wondering if there was a specific type of paper that would work best with this?

2) Should I just be using the color copy machines there to make copies or if I should have them printed by another method (say at the front desk or so)? The staff there is very unhelpful, the last time I went an old lady had to start crying in order to get a worker's attention...

 

[justabrewin]

Ok cool thanks. Another couple of questions; I'm getting these printed at Kinko's or Fedex or whatever it's called now again (first labels had a typo ).

1) I was wondering if there was a specific type of paper that would work best with this?

2) Should I just be using the color copy machines there to make copies or if I should have them printed by another method (say at the front desk or so)? The staff there is very unhelpful, the last time I went an old lady had to start crying in order to get a worker's attention...

I used regular copy paper from a laser printer. I have to soak them in water to get the label off though. I just used milk as my 'glue'.

 

[DPBISME]

Awesome labels! I have a question for you guys. How are you guys cutting your labels? Is there a fast/precise way to do it? I printed out around 40-50 labels and I want to get to labeling when I get home today but I realized that using scissors is going to take forever and is also not as precise as I would like (I don't have the steadiest of hands ).

I duh-know how they would do it but if you made your line I thin a Straight-Edge and a razor would work well...

 

[bruben]

I was planning on ordering labels online. But since I'm pretty savvy with photoshop, I'm gonna use this on my first batch. Thank you,,,

 

[ViperMan]

Just throwing this out here: These are what I use. I bought 100 sheets in 2011 and haven't run out yet... I get them printed at Kinkos, using Photoshop for my design (I'm not uber-talented at making labels, but I can get by).

http://www.onlinelabels.com/ol3078.htm

Anyways, the bottom label isn't quite as big as others are using, but I like the added visibility of the neck label.

Here's just one of my designs with this label:

(The typo at top was corrected post-upload!)

 

[kombat]

Just throwing this out here: These are what I use. I bought 100 sheets in 2011 and haven't run out yet... I get them printed at Kinkos, using Photoshop for my design (I'm not uber-talented at making labels, but I can get by).

http://www.onlinelabels.com/ol3078.htm

Ah, but for the important question: How difficult is it to remove them from the bottles again afterwards? Will they come off with a simple soak in some warm PBW water (like regular beer labels), or do they leave glue residue behind?

 

[ViperMan]

Ah, but for the important question: How difficult is it to remove them from the bottles again afterwards? Will they come off with a simple soak in some warm PBW water (like regular beer labels), or do they leave glue residue behind?

Soak and peel in plain water - doesn't even need to be warm. In fact I can't really put them on ice because the labels usually fall off in the cooler. They leave a very thin texture on the bottle - don't know that I can call it "residue", though that's probably what it is... What I typically do is take a few paper towels, spray them with Windex, and just wipe each bottle down real quick - goes away completely then. (I don't label EVERY beer I make, so it's not like every bottle requires this kind of maintenance.)

 

[AVLbrewing]

Thanks 241,

Download here..

http://d.pr/f/a5nJ

Thanks for the template! I'm working on a few labels now. I have a few friends who have requested some homebrew, and I think this will really help the presentation.

 

[kombat]

Soak and peel in plain water - doesn't even need to be warm. In fact I can't really put them on ice because the labels usually fall off in the cooler. They leave a very thin texture on the bottle - don't know that I can call it "residue", though that's probably what it is... What I typically do is take a few paper towels, spray them with Windex, and just wipe each bottle down real quick - goes away completely then. (I don't label EVERY beer I make, so it's not like every bottle requires this kind of maintenance.)

Interesting. I've been a little "gun-shy" about trying the self-adhesive labels since I tried one from Staples that left sticky gum residue on the bottles that had to be scraped off with a razor blade.

I'm not a fan of the idea of Windex around my beer bottles, but maybe a hot PBW soak would accomplish the same thing. I might give these labels a try.

 

[ViperMan]

I dunno what PBW is (keep seeing it, but dunno what it is.)

I don't spray the bottles, I just spritz a paper towel, and it's only 'cause I'm a stickler for bottles with water residue and such on them. I usually clean the bottles before applying labels to make sure they stick nicely, and to make them really look nice.

The bottles that make it home aren't sticky when I soak the labels off - you can only tell that they had a label if they're wet: the water beads up differently and sorta "sticks" to the bottle where the label was. I've been putting labels on bottles now for 3 years. I still have most of my original bottles and couldn't tell you which ones were labeled in the past. The ones that didn't come home were sold to my car club - they were considered collectors items.

 

[Lagunitas]

man that template is sweet. good job guys

 

[Hulud]

Hey brianmot,

How do you set those hash marks to lock the image to? I want to make some different sized labels. Specially ones for bombers and some for wine bottles

 

[brianmot]

Hulud,

Since photoshop isnt specifically set up for label making and is more of a photo editing software, it is bit more complicated than that. I just bottled some pinot noir and plan on making labels soon. Ill be sure to post the template when I do that.

 

[Hulud]

Hulud,

Since photoshop isnt specifically set up for label making and is more of a photo editing software, it is bit more complicated than that. I just bottled some pinot noir and plan on making labels soon. Ill be sure to post the template when I do that.

Yea that's what I was afraid of. As soon as you do it I would love to get the template from ya. I am making yoopers table wine with my wife and some Australian Chardonnay with my mother. And I'll see how the size looks for bombers

 

[PanzerBanana]

Sweet work. Have you ever tried wax paper to see if it would leave the adhesive intact on the labels? That way you could spray an entire sheet add the "backing" and then just get a paper cuter to cut them out.

Hmm. Good tips though. I'm laying the ground work for a board game, you just gave me some ideas to go about some of the elements I need for it. My wallet thanks you.

 

[keatz85]

Just wanted to say thanks, thanks, and thank you! This is genius.

I got them printed at staples on glossy paper for around $6 or 7 and they even cut every single one out for me for $1 more. If you have them cut before you have to be careful when spraying the clear coat because they will blow around a bit but to me it was better than cutting them all out.

I noticed if they accidentally touch anything soon after you spray the clear coat the ink will run, so be careful. They were easy and quick to put on and even a bit fun. Held up in water nicely, heck the dishwasher didn't even take the labels all the way off so I would say they're pretty durable. Thanks again!!!

 

[wobrien]

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but does anyone have Brian's template file? The dropbox link doesn't work anymore and I'd love to have the template. PM me if you have a copy. Thanks!

 

[sputnam]

those labels are truly awesome. if i ever bottle again i will come back to this thread. good job!