Labeling: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:49, 24 November 2025

Labels and signs are essential for Kanthaus to work. In this article the term "label" is used for smaller signs (e.g. on food containers) and "sign" for those which contain more (abstract) information.

Application methods

TL:DR; use patafix—don't use masking tape


Method	Surface				Method notes
Method	Glass	Plastic (PET/PE)	Wood	Wall(paper)	Method notes
Thermal labeller	Good	Good	OK	Bad	Text deteriorates with heat/light
Embossing labeller	Good	Good	Bad	Bad	Limited character range
Permanent marker	Good	OK	Bad	Bad	Quality depends on handwriting
Patafix + sign	Good	Good	OK	OK	Most flexible
Sticky paper labels / masking tape	OK	Bad	Bad	Bad	Adhesive often only removable with acetone, damaging many surfaces

Key:

Good: Label stays in place and can be removed from surface with minimal clean-up and without damage.
OK: Label mostly stays in place, or removal requires clean-up or leaves visual trace.
Bad: Label falls off, or removal requires extensive clean-up or damages surface.

Attributes

Durability

Labels are more or less exposed to decay. They can get wet, oily, hot, sun-bleached and touched in various ways.

Informational value

The informational value is not only in the sign but is created with the person reading it. This means that there's signage which might contain zero information for members but a lot for visitors. Also vice versa. While creating a sign, it makes sense to think about who is mainly addressed.

Design

Contrast

High contrast is important for readability and accessibility. The contrast checker by legibility.info can help put this in perspective. Unless you have a good reason to do something else, black on white is recommended.

Handwriting vs Printing

Handwriting can be hard to read, even though it may add points on the personality scale. If it's important that everyone reads it, printing is recommended.

Case

Just write normally and properly. Add emphasis with bold or italic, NOT BLOCK CAPS.

Information 🛈 Want to learn more? Check out legibility.info offered by The German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV) based on WCAG and DIN 1450!

Tools

Printer

See Printing for information on setting the printer up.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Labels and signs are essential for Kanthaus to work. In this article the term "label" is used for smaller signs (e.g. on food containers) and "sign" for those which contain more (abstract) information
+Labels and signs are essential for Kanthaus to work. In this article the term "label" is used for smaller signs (e.g. on food containers) and "sign" for those which contain more (abstract) information.
-== Different kinds of labels ==
+== Application methods ==
-* Labels which show what a container contains (e.g. salt, detergent)
+'''TL:DR; use patafix—don't use masking tape'''
-* labels for finding stuff
+{| class="wikitable"
-* labels to inform about rules and customs
+|+
-* instructional
+! rowspan="2" |Method
+! colspan="4" |Surface
+! rowspan="2" |Method notes
+|-
+!Glass
+!Plastic (PET/PE)
+!Wood
+!Wall(paper)
+|-
+|Thermal labeller
+|Good
+|Good
+|OK
+|Bad
+|Text deteriorates with heat/light
+|-
+|Embossing labeller
+|Good
+|Good
+|Bad
+|Bad
+|Limited character range
+|-
+|Permanent marker
+|Good
+|OK
+|Bad
+|Bad
+|Quality depends on handwriting
+|-
+|Patafix + sign
+|Good
+|Good
+|OK
+|OK
+|Most flexible
+|-
+|Sticky paper labels / masking tape
+|OK
+|Bad
+|Bad
+|Bad
+|Adhesive often only removable with acetone, damaging many surfaces
+|}
+'''Key:'''
+* Good: Label stays in place and can be removed from surface with minimal clean-up and without damage.
+* OK: Label mostly stays in place, or removal requires clean-up or leaves visual trace.
+* Bad: Label falls off, or removal requires extensive clean-up or damages surface.
-== Different requirements for labels ==
+== Attributes ==
 === Durability ===
-Labels are more or less exposed to decay. They can get wet, oily, hot, sunlighted and touched in various ways.
+Labels are more or less exposed to decay. They can get wet, oily, hot, sun-bleached and touched in various ways.
-=== Readability ===
+=== Informational value ===
-Handwriting can be hard to read, even though it may add points on a personality scale. We think that printed letters are the way to go.
+The informational value is not only in the sign but is created with the person reading it. This means that there's signage which might contain zero information for members but a lot for visitors. Also vice versa. While creating a sign, it makes sense to think about who is mainly addressed.
+== Design ==
+=== Contrast ===
+High contrast is important for readability and accessibility. The [https://legibility.info/contrast-calculator contrast checker by legibility.info] can help put this in perspective. Unless you have a good reason to do something else, '''black on white is recommended.'''
+=== Handwriting vs Printing ===
+Handwriting can be hard to read, even though it may add points on the personality scale. If it's important that everyone reads it, '''printing is recommended.'''
-=== Informational value ===
+=== Case ===
-The informational value is not only in the sign but is created with the person reading it.
+Just write normally and properly. Add emphasis with '''bold''' or ''italic'', NOT BLOCK CAPS.
-This means that there's signage which might contain zero information for members but a lot for visitors. Also vice versa. While creating a sign, it makes sense to think about who is mainly adressed.
+{{Information|Want to learn more? Check out [https://legibility.info/ legibility.info] offered by The German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV) based on WCAG and DIN 1450!}}
 == Tools ==
-=== Labeling Machines ===
-Right now (Nov'24) there are three labeling machines in the house. two are embossers, the other one prints.
-Pro:
-* It's a low threshold option to make a somewhat durable label
-Con:
-* The printed ones don't do well on kitchen spices, not too durable
-*
-=== Typewriter ===
+=== Printer ===
-WIP
+See [[Printing]] for information on setting the printer up.