Roll unwind direction or Copy position
CTO / R&D Manager at Quadriga USA,
Printing Specialist
What is roll unwind direction or copy position and why is it important?
Roll unwind direction is the orientation of the label as it unwinds. If your labels will be applied by hand, then the roll unwind direction is not that important. This is important for automated dispensing and application so you can be sure that the label is applied in the proper orientation.
If we want to be on the same page, we need to make sure that we have an understanding of these concepts so that we can understand each other as accurately and quickly as possible while avoiding any mistakes.
First, when discussing directions, we need to establish the fact that we are talking about the position in which the label will be placed on the product (the bottle, box, or other product). And it is important to position the artwork in the file in that exact direction so that we can avoid any misunderstandings.
And it is important to position the artwork in the file in that exact direction so that we can avoid any misunderstandings.
The printing industry has given numbers to each of the different roll directions. As a result, it has prepared a standard so that things can be made easier for everyone and so that we can eliminate the possibility for misunderstandings.
The roll directions are as follows:
The most common are the first four, which are outbound directions: #1 Top off, #2 Bottom off, #3 Right off, #4 Left off. Directions #5 to #8 are inbound directions.
The most common are the first four, which are outbound directions: #1 Top off, #2 Bottom off, #3 Right off, #4 Left off. Directions #5 to #8 are inbound directions.
When including the roll direction, it is important to emphasize the label’s height and width. For example, H3.5 x W5 roll direction #4.
If you do not include the height and width, it is possible for there to be some confusion. For example, if you list the size as 3.5” x 5” and roll direction #4, but you do not mention the height and width, and you accidentally placed the design in the wrong direction in the file, then this is what may be understood:
Did you see the difference? Therefore, we advise that you place the artwork in its proper direction in the file (the same direction in which the label will be applied to the product) and include the height and width in your request.
Your design could be a bit confusing (see picture below), but there is no need to worry. Just remember that you need to use the direction that the label will be applied on the product as your basis, not the design.
Just remember that you need to use the direction that the label will be applied on the product as your basis, not the design.
In this example, it is possible to see the position in which the artwork needs to be in the file. Often, designers position it in this way so that it will be easier to read. But in the future, it becomes confusing during the printing process and it is difficult to understand what the roll direction needs to be.
We hope that this article has helped you to make a decision. If you have any more questions, our experts will be happy to answer them.