Resources & FAQ

RESOURCES & FAQ

RESOURCES YOU NEED

We try our best to make the preparation and ordering of items to be an easy process.
Please look over our valuable provided resources to help you along the way.

If you can’t find what you need, we will be more than happy to assist you any way.
Call us during operating hours or click on the link below.

LABEL SPECIFICATIONS

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Download Our Templates

NOTE! The PDF templates below may differ in size from the containers you will be using and should only be used as a reference point for designing your label. If you have a sample of the container you will be using and want assistance in determining the correct size for your final artwork, please call us at 516-280-7939.

FILE PREPARATION

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What type of files should I supply?

All files should be supplied to paintcanlabels.com in PDF format. Whenever possible, outline all fonts to ensure no font problems.

What color mode should I use?

All images used in creating your PDF should be in CMYK mode. All printing is done in CMYK (4/C Process) plus spot colors and any images supplied in a color mode other than CMYK will experience a color shift:

These colors are RGB.

cmyk

These are the same colors in CMYK.

You should always start and finish your designs in CMYK color mode.

What resolution should I supply my files in?

All PDFs should be supplied at 300 dpi or greater at 100% of size. Creating your PDF, or using images in your page layout program when designing your paint can label, a dpi lower than 300 will result in poor quality finished paint can labels.

72-300dpi-2

This is the difference between 72 DPI and 300 DPI.

How much bleed should I use on my supplied files?

Bleed is image area that extends past the cut-line and will be trimmed from the paint can label when it is cut to final size. When the image is required to extend all the way to the edge, bleed is needed to preserve the finished look and the quality of the final label. Standard bleed size for paint can labels is 0.125”. We recommend referencing our templates. In addition, place crop marks on your supplied PDF to ensure accurate cutting of the finished label.

bleed-cut-safety

Should I send ‘sample’ files?

When sending artwork, ONLY SEND THE FILES YOU WANT PRINTED. Unless requested by one of our employees, DO NOT send files that you do not want printed such as preview files, lo-res proof files, etc.

What is ‘overprint’?

Primarily used to intentionally overlap inks for a number of reasons, overprint can cause unexpected results. We suggest that you check that all overprint settings are as you want them before submitting your files.

overprint

Knockout                             Overprint

“Purple” Blues?

When using a blue in your design, always make sure to leave at least a 30% difference in your Cyan and Magenta values.

Blue as seen on screen and after printing.

Blue is close to purple in the CMYK spectrum. Remember, use a low amount of magenta whenever using high amounts of cyan to avoid purple. EXAMPLE: C-100 M-70 Y-0 K-0

Exporting PDFs

When exporting from any program such as Indesign or Illustrator, use these settings to make sure your .PDF files export correctly.

EXPORT SETTINGS FOR .PDF FILES

Adobe PDF Preset is set to: Press Quality
Compatibility is set to: Acrobat 4 (PDF 1.3)
Compress Text and Line Art is set to: Off

CMYK Grayscale Images

Grayscale images that are converted to CMYK will have a color shift in the final print. That shift may be green or yellow. Always check the CMYK values of your grays in the final CMYK document. If there are values other than K in your gray image, there is a chance that the color will vary. To eliminate all values other than K, use your Channel Mixer (adjustment layer) in Photoshop, then click “Monochrome” and adjust accordingly.

Gray Balance

Gray color can be achieved several different ways two of which are with a tint of black only or by using varying percentages of CMYK. Examine the image immediately below. The block on the left was created using black only. The block on the right was created using CMY (no K). They are very close is shade. However, using the tint of black only will allow for a far more consistent press run for your label. If black only is too ‘weak’ for your design add percentages of CMY to add ‘weight’ to the final color. Please ensure that the CMY are in balance and that the black is the dominant color.

Grayscale-Comparison-1024x585

What is Rich Black and should I use?

Rich black is an ink mixture of solid black, 100% K, with additional CMY ink values. This results in a darker tone than black ink alone. If you print black alone as 100% K, the resulting black may not be as dark as you might like. 100% K is fine for text that is 18 pts or smaller.

blacks1

100% Black After Printing                            100% Black On Screen

We recommend using C 50 M 25 Y 25 K 100. This will give you a deep, dark, rich black.

What is “Banding” and how can I avoid it?

Banding is the appearance of lines in a gradient. Many things can cause banding. Banding can be caused by the program that it is exported from. Also, too many gradient steps, for example going from a very light color to a dark color, in a small area will cause banding.

Banding

Gradient Showing Banding

To prevent this, check your digital files before sending. If you use a gradient, make sure it has enough room for a smooth transition. Starting the gradient at 99% and ending it at 2% (rather than 100% and 0%, respectively) will also help to smooth the transitions. Remember, if you see the banding on screen it will show on the printed label.

Can I use Pantone colors on my labels?

Absolutely! Paintcanlabels.com prints most orders in 4 color process (CMYK) but has the capability of printing 6 colors plus coating in a single pass.

SALES TAX CERTIFICATES

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Links to Each State's Sales Tax Certificate

Download or file your State Sales Tax Certificate below and email it to us before placing an order.

Alabama
http://revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/stforms.cfm

Alaska
http://www.juneau.org/finance/forms.php

Arizona
http://www.azdor.gov/Business/TransactionPrivilegeTax.aspx

Arkansas
http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/exciseTax/salesanduse/Pages/Forms.aspx

Colorado
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Revenue/REVX/1178305431219

Connecticut
http://www.ct.gov/drs/lib/drs/forms/1995forms/resalecert.pdf

Delaware
http://dor.wa.gov/Docs/forms/ExcsTx/ExmptFrm/StreamlindSalsTxExempCert.pdf

Florida
http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/annual_resale_certificate_sut.html

Georgia
https://etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/st3forms/st3_indx.aspx

Hawaii
http://www6.hawaii.gov/tax/2009/g17.pdf

Idaho
http://tax.idaho.gov/s-results-form.cfm?doc=EFO00149

Illinois
http://www.revenue.state.il.us/TaxForms/Sales/index.htm

Indiana
http://www.in.gov/dor/3504.htm

Iowa
http://www.iowa.gov/tax/forms/31014.pdf

Kansas
http://www.ksrevenue.org/pecwelcome.html

Kentucky
http://revenue.ky.gov/forms/cursalefrm.htm

Louisiana
http://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/sections/business/resalecertificate.aspx

Maine
http://txldistribution.com/taxforms/ME.pdf

Maryland
If anyone has the link for Maryland, please email it to us.

Massachusetts
http://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/dor/forms/wage-rpt/pdfs/st-4.pdf

Michigan
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/taxes/3372_216612_7.pdf

Minnesota
http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/Forms_and_Instructions/st3.pdf

Mississippi
N/A

Missouri
http://dor.mo.gov/forms/149.pdf

Montana
http://revenue.mt.gov/formsandresources/downloadable-forms/default.mcpx

Nebraska
http://www.revenue.ne.gov/tax/current/f_13.pdf

Nevada
http://tax.state.nv.us/forms.htm

New Hampshire
N/A

New Jersey
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/sales/st3.pdf

New Mexico
http://www.tax.newmexico.gov/Forms-and-Publications/Pages/Home.aspx

New York
http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/st/st120_fill_in.pdf

North Carolina
http://www.dor.state.nc.us/downloads/sales.html

North Dakota
http://www.nd.gov/tax/salesanduse/forms/resale-cert.pdf

Ohio
http://online-tax-id-number.org/Ohio-Department-of-Revenue.html

Oklahoma
http://www.tax.ok.gov/publicat/Uniformsalescert.pdf

Oregon
http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/Pages/salestax.aspx

Pennsylvania
http://www.gtsdistribution.com/images/PA-resale.pdf

Rhode Island
http://www.tax.ri.gov/taxforms/sales_excise/sales_use.php

South Carolina
http://www.sctax.org/NR/rdonlyres/A66254B4-E02D-4D81-8327-1DC5187F2D42/0/ST8A.pdf

South Dakota
http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/forms/businesstaxforms/E1932V10-StreamlinedCertificateofExemption.pdf

Tennessee
http://tennessee.gov/revenue/forms/sales/f1300701.pdf

Texas
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/01-3392.pdf

Utah
http://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-721.pdf

Vermont
http://www.state.vt.us/tax/pdf.word.excel/forms/business/s-3.pdf

Virginia
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/taxforms/Business/Sales%20and%20Use%20Tax/ST-10.pdf

Washington
http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FindTaxesAndRates/RetailSalesTax/ResellerPermit/default.aspx

West Virginia
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/taxforms/Business/Sales%20and%20Use%20Tax/ST-10.pdf

Wisconsin
http://www.revenue.wi.gov/forms/sales/s-211.pdf

Wyoming
http://online-tax-id-number.org/Wyoming-Department-of-Revenue.html

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Is paintcanlabels.com a manufacturer or broker?

We are and always have been a paint can label manufacturer, not a broker. We handle all phases of label manufacturing from typesetting through fulfillment, in-house. In addition, we offer a broad range of print products other than paint can labels including brochures, posters, calendars, newsletters, door hangers, annual reports and journals. We are also a packaging manufacturer providing diecut, folded and glued boxes to many customers. And, it is all done in-house.

How do I create an wholesale account?

An account can be created for those customers that wish to order on-line. With the on-line ordering system, customers can place orders, check inventory and review previous orders. As the system is on-line it can be accessed from any device and privileges can be assigned to more than one user or location. Please note that this ordering app is separate from this website.

Does paintcanlabels.com provide templates for use in creating artwork?

Yes. Under the Resources tab you will find lots of information on how to set up and create your files before uploading. Please review the File Requirements FAQ. It will give you detailed information on common issues and tips. We also provide PDF templates for all sizes of labels printed at paintcanlabels.com. Please note that these templates are generic and all art should be created to fit the container being used. Lastly, you can download both In-Design and Quark file options for use in creating PDFs from either program.

Does paintcanlabels.com offer products other than labels?

Yes. paintcanlabels.com manufactures a wide range of products. To get pricing on any product please send us the specifications using our request for quote form. A quote will be sent to the requesting email address within 24 hours.

In what ways can I contact paintcanlabels.com?

We have many ways you can contact the Customer Support Department. Contact us by phone: 1-516-280-7939. You can contact us by email at any of the email addresses listed on our Contact Us page.

What do I do if I have a problem with my order?

To get your problem solved quickly email us george@paintcanlabels.com or call 1-516-280-7939.

In what ways can I place my order?

If you are ready to place an order or if you have any questions for us please: 1) Call us directly at 516-280-7939; 2) Use the Request for Quote form on this website; 3) Use the Contact form on this website, or 4) send an email to george@paintcanlabels.com. In all cases please be as complete as you can with the specs for your label and your order.

What browser should I use when accessing paintcanlabels.com?

We recommend using the latest version of all browsers with our website.

How can I provide paintcanlabels.com with a resale certificate or tax exempt form?

A valid and applicable resale certificate form is required to place an order on paintcanlabels.com. A state tax license does not qualify as a resale certificate. California does not accept resale certificates issued by other states. If shipping to California, please provide a BOE230 form. Please check with your tax adviser for additional information and clarification. Please download, complete and return the appropriate form(s). Forms should be e-mailed. Tax forms for some states can be downloaded using the links in the Sales Tax Certificate section above.

Does paintcanlabels.com charge for printing plates?

The pricing quoted by paintcanlabels.com is inclusive of most pre-press charges. There is an additional charge for hard-copy proofs (Epsons). If you require a hard proof please let us know when requesting your quote and we will include the charges therein.

How do I request a sample packet prior to placing an order?

Using any of the email links or by using the request for quote or contact form on this website. You can also call us at 516-280-7939.

What is the minimum amount of paint can labels I can order?

In general, 500 labels is the minimum order amount. However, for label sizes other than gallon, we can accommodate almost any order amount. Please call for pricing. Also, for labels up to 13″ x 19″ we can produce very small quantities on our digital equipment. With this equipment we also offer variable data imprinting.

SHIPPING FAQ’S

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Does paintcanlabels.com ship to PO Boxes?

Yes.  We ship with UPS, Fedex, USPS, and LTL.

Does paintcanlabels.com do split shipments?

Yes. Provide us with any and all necessary info and we can drop ship your orders anywhere you want to.

Does paintcanlabels.com drop ship?

Yes. We can drop ship to your customer.

Does paintcanlabels.com provide guides for shipping weights and pricing?

As shipping costs vary greatly depending on location, number of cartons, total weight, shipping carrier and class, etc., we do not provide any guides regarding shipping.

Can we use our own shipping account?

Yes. Provide us with your shipping account information when placing your order and we will use it when shipping your order.

How does paintcanlabels.com box their shipments?

We use custom cartons to ship your labels. Carton dimensions are based on label size and quantity.

Does paintcanlabels.com shrink wrap the labels before boxing?

Yes. We shrink wrap all labels in packages of 500. Each package has a label wrapped around the end with the front copy on display so as to be easily read after being placed on shelving.

Does paintcanlabels.com ship outside the US?

No. Currently we ship only within the United States.

What if my ship to address is invalid?

You are responsible for all information used on your order including shipping information. UPS makes every effort to deliver your order. However, if your order is returned to paintcanlabels.com because of an invalid address we will contact you for the correct information and re-ship your order. Additional charges will apply.

INDUSTRY LINKS

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List of Industry Links

American Coatings Association
http://www.paint.org/

Coatings World
http://www.coatingsworld.com/

Metropolitan New York Coatings Association
http://www.mnyca.org/

Dallas Paint & Coatings Association
http://www.dallaspaint.org/

International Paint & Printing Ink Council
http://www.ippic.org/

Wisconsin Paint & Coatings Association
https://wpca-online.com/

Paint & Decorators Retailers Association
http://www.pdra.org

World Paint & Coatings Industry Association
http://www.wpcia.org/

Paint & Coatings Industry Magazine
http://www.pcimag.com/

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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AQUEOUS COATING (AQ)

An aqueous coating is a fast-drying, water-based, protective coating which is applied in-line on press. This clear coating provides a sealed surface which protects the surface from scuffing and scratching. Aqueous coating improves durability. We currently use gloss, matte / dull and soft-touch aqueous coatings.

BARCODE

A series of vertical bars and spaces that represent any numerical series. The barcode facilitates automated processing by barcode readers and scanners.

BINDERY

The finishing department, which performs operations to the label after it has been printed.

BLEED

Bleed is image area that must extend past the cut-line and will be trimmed from the product during the final cutting phase. When the image is required to extend all the way to the edge, bleed is needed to preserve the finished look and the quality of the final product.

Please keep all text at least 0.125″ inside the cut-line.

– The standard bleed is 0.125″

Please see our templates for further information regarding bleed.

CAS REGISTRY NUMBER

Unique numerical identifiers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to every chemical described in the open scientific literature (currently including those described from at least 1957 through the present.

C1S PAPER

Paper with a coating on one side. All labels are printed on 60# C1S stock at paintcanlabels.com. Other basis weights (70#, 80#, 100#) are available by request. Special pricing will be necessary.

CMYK

The primary colors used in 4-color printing. CMYK are used to reproduce full color on the printed sheet. CMYK also called PROCESS COLOR.

C: Cyan (Blue)
M: Magenta (Red)
Y: Yellow
K: Black

COATING

The mixture of clay materials that are applied to paper to improve the smoothness of the paper’s surface and improve ink holdout during the printing process.

COLOR PROOF / EPSON PROOF / MATCH PRINT

Color Proofs, other than PDFs, made via a digital ink-jet printer. Paintcanlabels.com makes all color proofs using an Epson ink-jet color printer through our Heidelberg Prinect software. Our proofing is G7 certified.

CROP MARKS (GUIDE MARKS)

Lines printed in the margin of sheet that indicates to the cutter and bindery where the finished product should be trimmed. They are also used to show what part of a label should be used and what part should be cropped off.

CTP

Computer to plate (CTP) is an imaging technology used in modern printing processes. In this technology, an image created in a Desktop Publishing (DTP) application is output directly to a printing plate.

DOTS PER INCH (DPI)

A measurement of resolution of input, output and display devices. 300 dpi means that when printed, each square inch of your image will contain 90,000 pixels (dots), the higher the dpi (the more pixels per inch) the more crisp the printed image will be. Our electronic (digital files) have to have a resolution of at least 300 dpi. Anything less than that is considered as low resolution and may appear blurry when printed.

EAR HOLES

A 1 3/8” hole drilled into a gallon wrap label to accommodate the ears on a gallon can that the bale wire is attached to. We drill (punch) these holes 10 ¼” apart, on center.

FINISHED SIZE / TRIM SIZE

The sizes of a printed product after all production operations have been completed.

GLOSS FINISH

A coating on paper that provides a higher reflection of light, which results in a shiny appearance. Gloss coatings reduce ink absorption, which allows excellent contrast and color definition.

GLOSS PAPER

Paper with a gloss finish, usually used for higher quality printing. Examples would be Bindakote Cast Coated paper.

GLUE FLAP

An area of the finished label where glue is applied as a method to secure the label to itself as it wraps around the can. There can be no printing in this area. Not all sizes of labels require a glue flap. Our templates incorporate a glue flap that is ½” wide on the left side of the label.

LINE SCREEN

A transparent screen which has been etched with fine lines. It is used to convert a picture or photograph into a halftone dot pattern so that can be printed. At paintcanlabels.com we do our best to maintain the fidelity of your creative intent through the complex process of reproduction in print by using 200 lpi.

OFFSET PRINTING

The transfer of an inked image from a plate to a blanket cylinder, which in turn transfers the image to the printing material as it passes between the blanket and the impression cylinder and pressure is applied. Also referred to as offset lithography. Paintcanlabels.com uses offset printing.

OVERPRINTING

Printing an image over an area that has already been printed. In printing process colors, one process color is printed over another creating a secondary color, which is a combination of two primary colors. Sometimes in the files that customers send us there will be overprinting issues such as type or logos not printing. Customers should be aware that we do not check for this and their overprinting situation must be evaluated before sending the files to us.

Please read our FAQs which provide info on how to avoid these and other issues.

OVERRUNS / OVERS

The quantity of an item produced over the quantity that was originally ordered.

PAPER GRAIN

The direction in which the fibers line up during the manufacturing process. Here at paintcanlabels.com we print all labels GRAIN SHORT. If your labeling equipment requires grain long, please advise when placing your order  by using the order comments field when checking out.

PIXEL

The smallest unit of a digitized image created by a digital device, such as a computer, camera, or scanner. Pixel is short for “picture element.” The more pixels per inch the better the resolution. On computer monitors, the display is divided into rows and columns containing thousands or millions of pixels. Each pixel is composed of three dots representing the three color channels of red, green, and blue light that are necessary for creating a color image on computer monitors and television screens. Because of their small size, the pixels appear to merge, simulating a continuous tone image, but when magnified they appear to be tiny square blocks of light, as shown in the illustration.

PLATE

A metal sheet that holds an image. During the printing process, the image area picks up ink, which is then transferred to a blanket and then to paper.

PROOFS

A copy of the artwork representing the finished product. It is used for review and approval. Paintcanlabels.com offers two types of proofs:

1.  PDF proof is an electronic proof that we send via email. The cost is included in the label price.

2. Epson Proof is a printed proof, which also called hard copy proof. It is avery close  match with the final printed product and it is sent through mail for the customer to approve before the job is printed. Our proofs are G7 certified.

PROOFREAD

Checking a proof for errors or discrepancies from the original copy.

PUNCHING

Drilling of holes through a stack of paper. We use hole punching to create the ear holes necessary on gallon paint can labels. We use 1 3/8” as a standard size for ear holes.

REGISTER MARKS

The printed marks used to align color separations for printing so that each color registers with each other.

RESOLUTION

The measurement of output quality expressed in pixels (dots) per inch on a computer monitor or dots per inch on printed media. For example, a monitor displaying a resolution of 800 by 600 refers to a screen capable of displaying 800 pixels in each of 600 lines, which translates into a total of 480,000 pixels displayed on the screen. When referring to printed media, a 300 dpi (dots per inch) printer for example, is capable of outputting 300 dots in a one-inch line, which means that it has the ability of printing 90,000 distinct dots per square inch (300 x 300).

RGB

The additive primary colors, red, green and blue, used to display color in video monitors. Printing with a file in RGB color mode will produce a washed out appearance. Please check your files for RGB images before uploading them to paintcanlabels.com

SHRINK WRAPPING

A method of wrapping packages or products with a plastic film and then applying heat so that the wrap fits tight to the product. Shrink-wrapping is used to package a product in specific quantities and is also used for protection purposes. It also adds some stability to the product when storing. Also referred to as plastic wrapping. We wrap all label orders in quantities of 500 per package.

TEMPLATE

A preset model that acts as a structure for setting up a similar product. Paintcanlabels.com offers several templates for download on our resources page.

TRIM

The process of cutting the product to its finished size. The excess that is cut off is also referred to as the trim.

TURNAROUND TIME

The accumulated time between receipt of an order and completion of the finished product.

TYPESETTING

The process of converting text into type used for printing.

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)

VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions.

ZIP

Zipping is a way to compress electronic files A compressed file is considered “zipped.”

READY TO ORDER?

PAINTCAN LABELS... IT’S WHAT WE DO.

Paintcan-Labels-Logo-White-Large

Paintcanlabels.com is the leader in web-based paint can label printing and order fulfillment for both retail stores and paint & coatings manufacturers of all types.

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ADDRESS

305 Suburban Avenue
Deer Park, NY 11729, USA

HOURS

Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 4:00 pm EST
Closed Saturday & Sunday

CONTACT INFO

 516-280-7939

  george@paintcanlabels.com

  www.paintcanlabels.com

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