From Plates to Press: What Really Happens When We Print Your Labels
When you see a beautifully finished label on your favorite beverage or food product, it’s easy to forget the craftsmanship, technology, and expertise that go into getting it there. At DWS, every label we print carries not just your brand, but 160 years of a family printing legacy..
Today, we’re pulling back the curtain and walking you through what really happens when your labels go from digital artwork to finished rolls. This behind-the-scenes process is just one of the reasons why quality packaging is never “just a label”.
It all starts with your design files. Even if you’ve worked with top designers, every file has to be inspected to meet our press specifications.
Our prepress team checks:
Color profiles (ensuring consistency across CMYK, spot, or Pantone shades).
Dielines & bleeds (so your art lines up perfectly once cut).
Fonts & images (to avoid resolution issues).
This process ensures your vision translates seamlessly into print. That’s where the pre-press fee comes in- it covers the time, expertise, and adjustments needed to prep your artwork for the presses.
Next, we provide PDF and output hard copy proofs for your approval. This step is crucial because it confirms spelling, layout, and positioning before we go to press. For specialty projects or color-critical jobs, we can also run live press proofs- actual printed samples on your chosen material.
This step protects your investment and keeps surprises off the shelf.
If your job is running flexo, we create printing plates- custom pieces of polymer that transfer ink onto your label material. Each color in your design gets its own plate. While digital printing skips this step, flexo requires it, which adds both time and cost upfront.
But the payoff is efficiency- once plates are made, we can run millions of labels with speed and precision, at a lower cost per thousand.
Now the magic begins. Depending on your job, we’ll run it on one of our digital presses (perfect for short runs, multiple SKUs, or variable data) or our flexo presses (ideal for high volume).
Our press operators are artisans in their own right- meticulously matching color swatches, adjusting ink density, and ensuring every detail is consistent from the first label to the millionth.
Once the ink is laid down, the label still isn’t complete. It goes through finishing steps such as:
Lamination or varnish for protection (matte, gloss, or tactile finishes).
Cold Foil for premium shelf appeal.
Perforations for tamper-evident seals or easy open features.
Die-cutting to create your custom label shape.
These details don’t just look good- they protect your label against water, friction, and wear, ensuring your product stays looking sharp from production to point of sale.
Every stack or roll of labels is carefully inspected for accuracy and consistency before it leaves our floor. But it doesn’t stop at machines and checklists- our team members put their own pride into the work. You might even find a roll sealed with a sticker reading a member of our finishing crew. It’s our way of showing that every job is personal, and every label has a name and a face behind it.
Then, once approved, your labels are packaged, shipped, and ready for your bottling line, canning line, or hand application.
You’re investing in a process designed to protect your brand, deliver consistency, and ensure your product shines on shelf.
At DWS, we’ve built our reputation on more than just printing labels- we’ve built it on trust, service, and legacy. Because for us, it’s never just a label, it’s a legacy.
