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Friday, February 24, 2017

L301

I received my new printer the other day: the L301.

L301
L301
Selling at $1,595, the L301 is the lowest price 4+” color label printer available.  The ability to print up to 6” wide labels at this price point seems like a very interesting proposal for small label producers.  I wanted to try it; so here is my out-of-the-box report.

L301 Label Printer
L301 Label Printer

Prior to taking the printer out of the box, I realized that I could not install the driver.  I needed to get from Afinia a file of the driver to download.  At the time, the driver was not publicly available.  You can now download it here along with the instruction manual and quick start guide:


After unpacking, I started to install the printer by first plugging in the printer and installing the ink cartridges.  Immediately I found discrepancy with the ink cartridge numbers.  The manual called for Cartridges: #26548 and #26562. However the numbers on the bags were different.  In the production units, the part numbers will be on the cartridge outer packaging.  


After installing the ink cartridges, I installed the driver.  However, the driver does not install completely until the USB is connected.  Afinia says do not connect the USB cable until the driver is installed.

Once installed, the driver looks similar to the Neuralabel 300x and Primera LX2000 driver.  Both printers use HP print engines; so that makes total sense to me.  Read my earlier post on the LX2000 here:   


And 300x here:


Next, the instructions gave me information about the media.  Narrowest width is 2”; and shortest label is 2”.  A 2” x 2” label is pretty large for the minimum size.  Afinia hopes to reduce the minimum size to 1.75” x 1” shortly.  And the widest printable label is 6”.  The printer uses a 3” core, and a max OD of 6”.  I then installed the media on the unwinder which was a lot easier than on the VIP 495.  Read my post about this printer here: 


After inserting the paper, the printer pulled the label media into the printer and found the gap.  I then printed my first 6” x 4” matte poly label.  My first print took exactly 1 minute.  And I did lose a label on my first print as the printer had to find top of form.  Here is my first print on a matte poly coming out of the printer:

L301 First Print
L301 First Print
As you can see, my right side was printing on the liner.  To adjust this print start position, I had to simply add space on the “Left Offset” in the driver, found on the “Settings” tab.

L301 Driver Setting Tab
L301 Driver Setting Tab

On my second label, the time to print was cut in ½.  Slightly less than 30 seconds to print a 6” x 4” label.  And the Left Offset adjustment worked! Notice the difference in the location of the ink on the right side of the printer.

L301 Printed Labels
L301 Printed Labels
To cut, I just moved the cutter across the path of the web.  Worked great. Looking at the cut position, I noticed I would want to add about a 1/16” of an inch.  The cutter adjustment in the driver enables this configuration; but does not say which direction is positive or negative.  I’ve learned later that positive ejects the labels out further.

Next, I printed gloss paper labels.  First I used a 6” x 4” label with a .25” gap and blackmark.  When I tried to print, it would not work correctly.  After thinking about the problem, I realized the blackmark was directly in the gap; and may be fooling the gap sensor.  When I changed to blackmark, the gloss paper label printed as expected.

However, the printed label had two issues.  First the print output had lines.

L301 Label Needing Alignment
L301 Label Needing Alignment
By completing an ink cartridge alignment, the lines disappeared.  Look at the Cyan block pre/post alignment.

L301 Alignment
L301 Alignment
I’m not surprised by the fact the cartridges require alignment when you first use the printer.

Second, the black ink came off the gloss paper I tried first.  Look at the barcode in the downspout label above.  As the black is a pigment ink, gloss is a harder match.  I tried our standard gloss paper; and it performed much better. The black ink did not smear.

L301 On Gloss Paper
L301 On Gloss Paper

And the gloss poly printed very nice.

L301 On Gloss Poly
L301 On Gloss Poly

And I found the gloss poly labels waterproof; I was surprised by this result.

L301 Water Resistant Gloss Poly
L301 Water Resistant Gloss Poly
On the matte paper labels, I found the material printed OK using the standard settings.

L301 Printed On Matte Paper
L301 Printed On Matte Paper
Although both barcodes scanned, I though the print quality could be better.  The colors and text looked very nice, however.

On clear film, I thought they printed great.

L301 Black
L301 All Black on Clear Film

But the ink came off easily in water.  Not really an option.

As for ink costs, the L301 is much more expensive than the C3500 or especially the C7500.   For example, this artwork at 5.5” wide would cost ~$0.14 to $0.16/label.

On the LX2000, the ink cost of this label would cost approximately $0.05.

LX2000 Ink Cost
LX2000 Ink Cost

And the ink cost would be only $0.024/label for the C7500G at 4.25” wide:


According to Mike Atkins, Sales Manager for Afinia, “The Afinia Label L301 Color Label Printer is perfect for small and growing businesses. By printing In-house and on-demand, you give your company the flexibility to change your labels as-needed; to accommodate branding, ingredient, or government regulation changes. Powered by an HP thermal inkjet printing technology, the L301 will work well for small businesses wanting to print labels on demand.”

For the positives, the L301:
  • Costs much less than competitive printers.
  • Makes label printing easy to do.
  • Prints great looking labels up to 6” wide.


As for the negatives, the L301:
  • Uses expensive ink.
  • Prints very slowly.
  • Does not offer a networking option.
  • Limits gloss media to selected options


Overall, I found the L301 as an affordable option to print low volume quantities of labels wider than 4.25” wide.  At $1,595, the L301 is under ½ the price of the LX2000; the competitive option.  You can purchase a lot of ink for $2,000+ dollars.  For those businesses printing 10 to 20 labels per day, who need wider than 4.25” labels and want to limit their investment, the L301 is a good option.

If you are interested in learning more about the L301 or any other label printer, contact us to discuss your requirements in detail.

Guy Mikel
855-962-7670

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Full-Bleed Label Media

Color Label Solutions (www.colorlabel.solutions) is pleased to announce the availability of full-bleed specific labels.  With these new labels, you don’t have to worry about overspraying ink onto the liner; then transferring the excess ink to the labels.  With these labels, the ink dries immediately on the liner.

Full-Bleed Circle Labels
Full-Bleed Circle Labels
Basically, we now offer inkjet coated liners for your labels.  Just like your labels, ink dries immediately on the liners; making it much easier to print full-bleed. If you have ever gotten ink on your fingers while applying labels, then you’ll understand the benefits of this new liner.  The full-bleed specific labels are just easier to use.

C7500G Full-Bleed Circle Labels
C7500G Full-Bleed Circle Labels
To print full-bleed labels, I recommend generally the C7500 series printers.  These printers offer something no other color label printers have: precise media handling.

C7500 Media Handling
C7500 Media Handling
Media in other print on-demand color label printers may move slightly horizontally while printing; making it more difficult to print full-bleed.  With the media handling design of the C7500, labels don’t move horizontally; enabling better full-bleed printing.

C7500G Full-Bleed Label
C7500G Full-Bleed Label
To print full-bleed labels, I recommend the following:
*   Design your labels slightly larger (1/16”) than the actual size of the label.  This step is critical to get full coverage.  Most people send me files different than the actual size of label I have.  This difference makes it virtually impossible to print the label correctly.
*   Set the label size in the driver .03” larger than actual.  This adaptation helps insure the label is more likely to be completely covered.  If the driver is much-more larger than the actual size, you get skips and “head maintenance” in the printer.

Too Large Label Format Error
Too Large Label Format Error
*   Use the narrowest edge of the label possible in the driver settings (0.06”) as the default is 0.08”:

C7500 Default Label Boarder Setting
C7500 Default Label Boarder Setting
This setting helps center the image on the template; especially important for circle labels.

If you print full-bleed, contact us to order the new labels designed for your application.  You’ll save time, money and hassle by moving to the new, full-bleed labels.


Guy Mikel
855-962-7670

Saturday, February 11, 2017

WestPack 2017

Color Label Solutions exhibited at WestPack (http://westpack.packagingdigest.com/in Anaheim from February 7th to 9th again this year.

Beatriz Molina At WestPack
Beatriz Molina At WestPack
In addition to demonstrating the C7500, C7500G, the C3500 and the C831, we showed an exciting new item; the CMYK printer with the Fixed Thickness Feeder.  Now you can print coasters, coffee sleeves, bags, cards, corrugated boxes and any number of thick items on-demand in color.  Watch us print here: https://youtu.be/r9PC9puLeYM

The CYMK printer is the perfect income producer for printers and manufacturers who want to print thick paper and other inkjet-coated items.  The CYMK printer and feeder ushers in a new age of on-demand printing, enabling many more personalized items at a much lower cost and labor requirement.

CMYK Printed Coaster
CMYK Printed Coaster
For the first time at the show, we demonstrated the 8” version of this printer.  You may remember, we demonstrated a 4” version at WestPack for folded corrugated boxes:


And erected corrugated boxes at EastPack last year:


In addition to the new 8” version, we’ll release a new RIP (raster image process) for the CYMK printer next month.  This new RIP will enable better, higher resolution printing with more image and color control.  Look for more information shortly.

In addition out the new CYMK printer, we saw in-person a new item we’ll begin selling next month; the BenchMax round container applicator integrated with the C7500 and C3500 printer:

C3500 Integrated With BenchMax Applicator
C3500 Integrated With BenchMax Applicator
This new applicator launches next month once the Interface devices receives approval.

BenchMax Interface
BenchMax  Applicator Interface
The Interface sets between the printer, applicator and the computer; managing the print jobs based on the output of the applicator.  You can watch the C7500 with the BenchMax here:


At approximately $10,000, the BenchMax is the most affordable round container applicator available that is integrated with the C7500 and the C3500 label printers.  This unit is perfect for chemical, food, beverage or other manufacturers with round containers that want to apply labels more productively and accurately; in the same position every time.

In addition, I learned that the BenchMax could be configured with a Thermal Transfer printer to apply over-laminate on labels produced by the C7500.  With this system, you can use much less expensive materials; and then apply over-laminates to add durability and a glossy look.  It’s an elegant solution to a common requirement.

Finally, I saw the Swiftcolor 4” color label and tag printer print and cut great looking tags on-demand.

SwiftColor Printed Tag
SwiftColor Printed Tag

Watch the Swiftcolor print/cut 20 4” x 1” tags in 4 seconds here: 


The Swiftcolor printer is perfect for apparel manufactures who need to print tags and care labels on-demand and in-color.

I’m very excited by the prospects of the new 8” CYMK printer with the Fixed Feeder, the BenchMax integrated with the C7500 color label printer and the Swiftcolor printer for apparel tags.  If you are a printer, the CYMK printer and Feeder are the prefect addition to your production assets.  If you use round containers and want to print color labels on demand, the BenchMax applicator is a great new option for you.  And if you are an apparel manufacture, the Swiftcolor printer offers a new capability to produce great looking tags on-demand and in color.  Contact us to learn more about these valuable new machines.

Guy Mikel
855-962-7670

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Cannabis Label Solutions

On January 31st and February 1st, 2017, we exhibited at the Seed To Sale Show (http://www.seedtosaleshow.com/denver-2017/)  in Denver, CO; the national show focused on innovative best practices, science, and cutting edge technology in cultivation, processing, and sales strategies for the cannabis market.  Over 2,000 people attended; and many came to our booth.

Beatriz Molina of Color Label Solutions at the Seed to Sale Show
Beatriz Molina of Color Label Solutions at the Seed to Sale Show
During this event, we demonstrated several technologies, some of which are new, that fit the cannabis market.  I’d like to recap the technologies we showed.

During the show, the C7500G received the most interest; especially the great-looking labels we were printing on gloss poly.


Gloss Poly Label Produced By A C7500G
Gloss Poly Label Produced By A C7500G
For manufacturers of products, the C7500 produces the great looking labels needed for the cannabis industry.  Brands are very important; pushing manufacturers to use premium looking labels.  As regulators require the identification of items in the cannabis industry, the C7500 allows the printing of labels with variable data, simplifying the production process.  Look at the label with variable data on the left side produced by one of our customers in the Denver area:

C7500G Color Label with Variable Data
This label looks beautiful; in large part by the designer.  The C7500 color label printer is quickly becoming the standard label printer for the cannabis industry.

In addition to the C7500, we showed, for the first time, the ClariSafe Dispensing Color Label Printer.

ClariSafe Dispensary Printer
ClariSafe Dispensary Printer

With it’s very small footprint and very affordable price, the ClariSafe label printer is perfect for prescription labels at checkout.  This printer produces labels up to 2.25” wide with sufficient print quality, one-at-a-time, with text, barcodes and color images like the THC icon:

At $899.90, the ClariSafe Label printer is affordable; especially given it comes with BarTender Basic for designing and printing labels.  Consider adding the ClariSafe Color Label Printer in your dispensary; your budtenders will love it.

In addition to the new ClariSafe printer, we showed the C831 printing pot stakes and plant wraps in color and on demand.

C831 Color Pot Stakes and Plant Wraps
C831 Color Pot Stakes and Plant Wraps
Now you can use color in your growing operations to identify strains or communicate dates, for example.

Color Pot Stakes
Color Pot Stakes

Plus, they stakes and wraps are very durable, lasting throughout the life cycle of the plants.

Color Plant Wrap
Color Plant Wrap
Color can become a great new tool for your growing operation.

Also, we showed the MPack vial; the first new pharmacy vial since the 50’s.

MPack Child Resistant/Tamper Evident Packaging
MPack Child Resistant/Tamper Evident Packaging

This packaging is perfect for edible products, where child-resistant and tamper-evident packaging is required.  The clips on the sides of the MPack are relatively easy for adults to open.  And with the addition of our label, the MPack becomes tamper evident.  If you’re looking for child resistant, tamper-evident packaging, contact us to discuss.

Finally, we started using our new URL just prior to the show: www.cannabislabel.solutions. Check out our new page.

The Seed To Sale Show was a valuable experience for us.  If you could not attend this tradeshow but see something of interest, contact us to discuss how these tools will fit into your operation.

Guy Mikel
855-962-7670