Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
Cardboard hang tags are most often printed with offset printing for larger runs and with digital printing for small runs and variable data such as prices and barcodes. Screen printing is used for special effects – opaque white on dark card, solid colours and raised varnishes. The choice of method depends on the quantity, the brand colours and whether every tag is identical.
Printing cardboard hang tags: the main methods
Offset printing
Offset is the classic method for printed materials. The image is transferred from a metal plate via a rubber blanket onto the card. Preparation (plates, machine set-up) takes time, but after that each tag comes out quickly and with consistent quality.
- Very accurate colour reproduction, including Pantone.
- Fine lines and small fonts stay sharp.
- Suitable for large runs with an identical design.
- Not economical for small runs, because the preparation is the same regardless of quantity.
Digital printing
A digital press prints directly from the file, without plates. This makes the method flexible and quick to set up.
- Economical for small runs, samples and test collections.
- Allows variable data – a different price, size, barcode or number on each tag.
- Colours are built from CMYK, so corporate Pantone colours are approximated but do not always match exactly.
- Some digital presses also print white, silver or clear varnish.
Screen printing
Ink is pressed through a fine mesh (screen) onto the card. The layer is thicker than with offset, so colours are solid and rich.
- Opaque white on kraft, black or coloured card.
- Solid spot colours and metallic inks.
- Raised (thick-layer) varnish you can feel to the touch.
- Better suited to simple graphics with few colours than to photographs.
Letterpress
With letterpress, the printing form presses the ink into the card, leaving a barely noticeable impression. This effect is valued on premium tags made from heavy cotton card. The method is slower and is used for few colours.
Comparison of methods
| Method | Run | Colours | Variable data | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offset | medium and large | CMYK and Pantone | no | quality and consistency |
| Digital | small and medium | CMYK, sometimes white | yes | flexibility, samples |
| Screen printing | medium | spot colours, white | no | solid colours, dark card |
| Letterpress | small and medium | 1–2 spot colours | no | tactile effect |
CMYK or Pantone
CMYK is a mix of four process colours – cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Photographs and multicolour images are printed with it. Pantone (a spot colour) is a pre-mixed ink with an exact shade. If the brand logo is in one specific colour that must be the same on the tag, the packaging and the sewn-in label, Pantone is the safer choice.
Colours look different on different cards. The same Pantone on white coated board and on uncoated card gives a different result, which is why Pantone guides have separate swatches for coated (C) and uncoated (U) paper. State which code you are using.
Printing variable data: prices, sizes, barcodes
If each style has its own barcode and price, there are two main approaches:
- Shared background + digital overprint. The front and branded elements are printed in a large run, and the data on the back is added digitally for each item.
- Fully digital printing. Each tag is printed with its data from a spreadsheet (Excel or CSV), sorted by style, colour and size.
Send the data table in a clear structure: one column for each field, one row for each tag and the number of tags for each row. Check the barcodes before sending – an error in the table is printed exactly as many times as there are rows.
Preparing the print file
- Vector format (PDF, AI, EPS) for logo and text, with fonts converted to outlines.
- Images at about 300 dpi at actual size.
- A bleed of 2–3 mm for backgrounds that reach the edge.
- A separate layer for the cut line, the hole and the finishes (foil, varnish, embossing).
- Black text in 100% K, not "rich black" made from all four colours, so it stays sharp.
Printing and finishing
Printing is only the first step. After it, the tag can be laminated, varnished, foiled, embossed and die-cut. It is best to plan the finishes at the design stage, because they affect the choice of card and printing method. For example, with gloss laminate colours become richer, and with matte laminate softer.
Cardboard tags go together with the textile labels in the garment. For sewn-in printed labels, see printed labels – different technologies are used there, because the label must survive washing.
Common mistakes when ordering printing
- An RGB logo from the website – the colours come out paler on paper.
- Type below 6 points or thin reversed-out lines that fill in during printing.
- No bleed, leaving a white strip along the edge after cutting.
- Approving the colour on screen only, without a proof or sample.
You will find the possible materials and finishes under hang tags with logo.
Hang tag printing at Polkom
Polkom makes custom cardboard hang tags – from simple one-colour printing to tags with Pantone colours, variable data, foil and embossing. We will help you choose the method according to the run and design and send a sample for approval. Minimum quantities depend on the article. Send an inquiry with your file and the number of tags.
