Label Printing
Overview
This module generates an Input tab where the specification of the Label can be updated. The Inputs, in turn, update the costings.
It is also possible to add items directly to the costings using the Specification tab. The price can be displayed on the Quote letter as Unit Price / Label, Price/1000 Labels or Price per Roll – the latter option is rounded, so use it as an indicative price only.
Product Estimating
An Estimate for Labels is produced in the Quotations module using the Product Estimating option.
- Create a new Quotation or edit an existing (pending) Quotation.
- Click Estimate (button) at the top right of the grid.
- Select Products > Label Printing from the Estimate dropdown menu.
- A new Quotation Item is created. Double-click the new item to input all relevant data.
Specification
- Information is input into the fields in the Specification tab, shown below.
Add Quantities
- Quantities are input by entering a quantity or quantities and then clicking Add Qty (button).
- Click Save (button) when the quantities are entered to recalculate the fields.
Cylinders
Only one Material Category must be linked to the Label Cylinders Type.
- Add a Material Category and set the Type to Label Cylinders.
- 1/8 CP and 32 DP modules are supported.
- The Repeat Length (Cylinder Circumference) is calculated according to the Module and number of Teeth.
- Actions are available in the Material Category setup to create all the standard 32DP and 1/8CP Cylinders.
Cylinder Lookup
- The Cylinder lookup adjusts the Qty Around to match the Gaps filter.
- The following fields are situated in the header of the Cylinder lookup and are assigned to the Die when the Cylinder is selected:
- Qty Across
- Gap Across
- The following columns are situated in the Cylinder Lookup grid view (visible only when a Die is added/updated from an estimate):
- Run Length (m) – Based on the selected Qty on the estimate.
- Die Width (mm) – Calculated from the Qty Across and Gap Across.
- Plate Area (sq.cm) – Calculated from the Die Width and the Cylinder Length.
Dies
Only one Material Category must be linked to the Label Dies Type.
- Add a Material Category and set the Type to Label Dies.
- Dies can be added directly in the Materials module, or from Setup > Products > Menu > Edit Label Dies.
- Dies can also be added from within an estimate. However, Dies can only be deleted in the Materials module.
Important Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Shape | Shows the dimension fields for the selected Shape. |
| Cylinder | The Cylinder lookup lets you select DP or CP and rotate the label. It shows the Qty and Gap Across for each item in the selection. By default, it only shows the Cylinders that would result in a gap between 3 and 6 mm. |
| Material | Links the Die to a Material Type. |
| Machine/s | Links the Die to one or more machines (Cost Centres). When the selection is blank, the Die can be used with any machine. The Printing Service is filtered to only show Costings that contain the linked Cost Centres. |
| Image | The Die Pattern is automatically generated for standard label shapes. When Override Image is checked, you can upload a different image. |
| Cost | Edit the supplier and Unit Price of the Die. The price is updated to the Costings tab of the linked material. |
| Gap Around | This value is calculated based on the circumference of the selected Cylinder. The Override function can be used on Rotary and Flexible Dies when the calculated value differs slightly from the gap on an existing Die. However, the Override does not affect the Die Size.
|
Warnings
The following warnings appear in a red band:
- Duplicate Code
- Die Width > Cylinder Width
- Label Depth > Cylinder Circumference
Settings
Label Printing - Default - Label Gap Across (Default = 3): This setting is assigned when a new die is created.
Substrates
Label substrates are generally purchased in jumbo reels (1 000 mm width) and can be slit down to any width based on the quantity to be produced, the width of an existing die and the maximum width of the printing machine.
Substrate Costings
- You must create a costing for each substrate as follows:
- Substrates (sq.m) – Part (WS Area sq.m): Used when you do not have a suitable reel width in stock.
- Substrate (Reel) – Part (WS Length m): Used to make the standard Reel widths available when estimating.
- Dies are made to work with specific materials. It is, therefore, important to link each substrate to a material by using the Subcategory field in materials.
- Default - Substrate margin added to die width (mm/side) (Default = 5 mm): This margin is added twice (for both sides) to the Die Width when calculating the paper width for substrates that are loaded with a unit of sq.m.
- The Material field in the Die setup lets you select from the list of Materials (Subcategories) of the Substrate Material Category. The Material field is available in the Die list, hidden by default.
- If the Subcategory field on a substrate is blank, it can be used with any Die and vice versa.
Settings
Label Printing > Material Category used for Substrates: Identifies the Material Category used for label substrates. Required for the Material Type lookup in the Dies setup.
Costing Setup
Recommended Qty Types:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Substrates (sq. m) | Part (WS Area sq.m) |
| Substrate (Reel) | Part (WS Length m) |
| Printing (Service) | Part (WS Length m) |
| Printing (Ink) | Part (Area sq.m) – Excludes the gaps between the label |
Waste % : Do not add any Overrides for the Substrate Costings.
You must create Printing Costings as follows:
- Service: The printing service. The Fixed Hr/s = Make-ready time and the Qty/hour = Run Speed in m/hr. The Qty = Part (WS Length m).
- Mat: You must add a Material (Ink), with a unit of Kg, for each colour. Fixed Qty = setup/washup waste. The Unit Qty = Ink usage in kg / sq.m at the average coverage. The Qty = Part (Area sq.m).
Product Setup
Use the Input column in the Printing and Finishing Views to create the lookup lists on the Input tab. If a lookup list is empty, the field does not appear on the Input tab.
Printing Inputs
The Costings for Plate Changes and Colour Changes must be linked to the same Cost Centre as the Printing Costing.
If all of the above lookups are empty, the Printing Part is hidden.
- Printing: The Printing Service – add options that include/exclude Plates
- Variable Data
- Foiling
- Plate Changes: The Printed column defaults to Setup only
- Colour Changes: The Printed column defaults to Setup only
Finishing Inputs
- Die Cutting
- Embossing
- Lamination
Substrate Waste
- The Substrate Waste is managed by Printing and Finishing Services at a Product level.
- The Setup and Run Waste of all the Services that are added to the estimate are summed together.
- You can assign a Setup Waste and Run Waste to the printing-related services (Printing, Colour Changes and Plate Changes) in the Product Estimate setup and in the estimate.
- Setup Waste (m): Enter the metres of waste required for the Service.
- Run Waste %: Is applied to the Net Qty.
The Setup Waste and Run Waste of the printing-related services are added as follows:
| Service | Setup Waste (m) | Run Waste % |
|---|---|---|
| Printing | Added once. | Added once. |
| Colour Changes | Added once for each colour change. | Added once if the number of colour changes is greater than 0. |
| Plate Changes | Added once for each plate change. | Added once if the number of plate changes is greater than 0. |
| Finishing services | Added once for each unit of the service's quantity. | Added once if the service's quantity is greater than 0. |
Estimate
Specification
- Die - Charge: The Die is added to the estimate by default, when Charge is unchecked, the Cost of the Die is cleared.
- Substrate: Select from Reels with a fixed width or from Reels (sq.m) where you can override the width.
Printing
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Colours | Select a Printing Service. |
| Plate Changes | Select from Services linked to the Printing Cost Centre (selected in the Colours field). |
| Colour Changes | Select from Services linked to the Printing Cost Centre (selected in the Colours field). |
Substrate Summary
- A Substrate Summary appears at the bottom of the Specification.
- The Setup Waste and Run Waste are summed from the Printing and Finishing Services (see Substrate Waste). These values can be adjusted in the Input tab.
Fields include:
- Setup Waste (m)
- Nett (m)
- Run Waste (m) and (%): Metres are calculated from the %
- Total (m) – Setup Waste + Net + Run Waste
When the Colours (Printing Service) selection is changed, the Plate and Colour Changes are cleared.
Warnings
- Die Qty Across is not divisible by Rewind Qty Across.
- Stock Waste > 20%.
- The Material type of the Substrate does not match the Material type linked to the Die.
- Worksheet size: The Worksheet size defaults to the Die size when a Paper (sq.m) is selected – an option is available to override the stock width, however. When a Reel paper (fixed width) is selected, the Worksheet size defaults to Die Depth x Reel Width.
- Plate Costs: Platemaking must be included in the Printing Costing (you must add Costings for each colour option, with and without plates).
Output
For the data available on output templates, see Output Data Pipelines.