The stock you choose decides whether a roll label survives its job. Pick the wrong one and it peels off a chilled bottle, curls in the fridge or scuffs to nothing in a courier bag. This guide covers the four stocks we run for custom labels on rolls, what each one is good for, and how to match the stock to your client's product. It's written for resellers, sign shops and designers who spec label work for their own clients, and it covers only what we actually run in production.
The short version: four stocks, one adhesive
We print roll labels on four stocks:
- White BOPP is the everyday workhorse: a durable, water-resistant synthetic film.
- Clear BOPP gives a clear-film "no-label" look on glass or clear plastic, printed over a white underprint.
- Silver BOPP is a metallised film for a premium finish, also printed over a white underprint.
- Matt paper gives a softer, natural, non-plastic look for dry, indoor products.
All four use the same permanent acrylic adhesive. It holds on chilled and frozen product without lifting, which is where a lot of cheaper labels let go. We don't run removable, repositionable or hot-melt adhesives. If a job needs a peelable label, we're not the right fit for it.
The adhesive is not food grade. Our labels are made for the outside of food and beverage packaging, not for direct contact with food.
Pricing is the same across all four stocks at the same size and quantity. Silver costs the same as white, so choose the stock for the application, not the price.
Lamination: BOPP only
You can add a matt or gloss laminate to white, clear or silver BOPP. It's the most useful upgrade for labels that get handled, rubbed or wiped: it protects the print from scuffing and abrasion, and matt laminate gives a soft, premium feel.
We don't laminate paper labels. If a client wants the look of paper but the label needs to handle moisture or heavy handling, matt-laminated white BOPP is the closest option. It feels softer and more premium, but it's still a synthetic film.
Which stock for which job
The right stock almost always comes down to where the product lives and how it gets treated.
Fridge, freezer, ice bucket or condensation
Use BOPP. It's a synthetic film, so moisture and condensation don't break it down the way they break down paper, and the acrylic adhesive holds through the cold. Chilled wine, beer, cider, soft drinks, dairy, deli and frozen goods all belong on BOPP.
Handled, rubbed or wiped a lot
Laminated BOPP. Cosmetics, bathroom products, cleaning products, tools, and anything that rides in a courier bag stay looking new with a laminate. Unlaminated labels look tired within a week.
Premium, high-end look
Silver BOPP with a white underprint and a matt laminate. The metallic base gives a premium feel that paper and white film can't match. The white underprint keeps brand colours solid over the silver, and the laminate protects the finish.
Cheapest option that still works
Unlaminated white BOPP. You still get a durable, water-resistant label, and for most everyday product labelling that's all the job needs.
A softer, natural, non-plastic look
Matt paper. It suits craft and artisanal brands (room-temperature reds, jams and preserves, dry goods, candles, soaps) where the product is kept dry and handled gently. It's the least moisture-tolerant of the four stocks and can't be laminated, so keep it away from anything chilled, wet or heavily handled.
A clear "no-label" look
Clear BOPP, printed with a white underprint wherever the artwork needs to read as solid. It works well on clear or green glass and clear PET, and for products where the colour of the contents is part of the design. We don't run an optically clear stock, so the result is a clear-film look rather than a truly invisible label. For most jobs the difference is minor.
Quick reference by product type
| Product | Recommended stock |
|---|---|
| Chilled whites, rosé, sparkling | White BOPP (matt laminate for a premium finish) |
| Room-temperature reds, craft positioning | Matt paper |
| Reserve and limited releases | Silver BOPP with white underprint, matt laminate |
| Gin, vodka and spirits in clear glass | Clear BOPP with white underprint |
| Beer, cider, soft drinks, water | White BOPP |
| Refrigerated or frozen food | White BOPP |
| Ambient pantry goods (jams, honey, dry goods) | Matt paper, or white BOPP if there's any moisture |
| Skincare and bathroom products | Laminated white BOPP |
| Luxury cosmetics | Silver BOPP, matt laminate |
| Household chemicals and industrial | Laminated white BOPP |
For wine-specific advice, see our wine label printing guide. For food and drink producers, see the food and beverage label guide.
Labels on rolls are not an outdoor product
This is where labels most often get specified wrong. Roll labels are made for product packaging that lives indoors or under cover. Unlaminated BOPP is only rated for a few months outdoors, and a laminate doesn't turn a label into an outdoor product. If the job needs to survive longer in Australian sun and weather, a roll label is the wrong product.
For outdoor work, use a product built for it:
- Large format stickers on outdoor-rated vinyl for decals on equipment, windows, vehicles and bins. See how long outdoor stickers last.
- Corflute for short- to medium-term outdoor signs.
- ACM (composite panel) for longer-term outdoor signage. See corflute vs ACM vs foamboard.
A winery asking for cellar-door wayfinding or a producer wanting outdoor product signage needs one of those, not labels.
Colour and artwork: what to know before you design
Clear and silver need a white underprint. Without white ink underneath, colours print see-through on clear film and muted and grey on silver. White prints first and CMYK prints over the top. The file needs a spot colour named exactly "White" under every area that should read as solid.
Design for cut movement. The cut can move by up to 2mm, so keep important content 5mm inside the trim and avoid thin borders around the edge. A 1mm keyline will look uneven if the cut shifts even slightly.
Bleed is 3mm on every edge.
The full setup, including the Thru-cut line for custom shapes and how to check white ink in Acrobat, is in our roll label artwork setup guide. For sizes, core and wind direction, see the roll label sizing guide.
Common stock mistakes on incoming jobs
- Clear or silver supplied with no White layer. The result is washed-out or grey colour. The file goes back for a White spot layer.
- Paper specified for a chilled product. The edges curl and the stock marks within weeks. Switch to white BOPP.
- Paper specified with a laminate. We can't laminate paper. Either keep paper unlaminated or move to matt-laminated white BOPP.
- Labels quoted for an outdoor application. Redirect the job to large format stickers, corflute or ACM.
- A label that will touch food directly. Our adhesive isn't food grade, so this is outside what we supply.
Frequently asked questions
Which stock is best for wine labels?
White BOPP for anything chilled or likely to see an ice bucket. Matt paper for room-temperature reds where a craft look matters more than moisture resistance. Silver BOPP for premium and limited releases, and clear BOPP for a "no-label" look on clear or green glass.
Can I get a paper label with the moisture resistance of BOPP?
No. We don't laminate paper, so you choose between the look of paper and the durability of BOPP. Matt-laminated white BOPP is the closest compromise.
Will the labels survive the freezer?
Yes, on BOPP. The acrylic adhesive holds on chilled and frozen product without lifting. Paper isn't suited to cold or damp storage.
Are the labels food safe?
They're suitable for the outside of food and beverage packaging. The adhesive is not food grade, so the labels must not contact food directly.
Are roll labels waterproof or outdoor-rated?
BOPP labels are water-resistant and handle condensation and damp environments well. They are not outdoor durable. For outdoor use, specify large format stickers, corflute or ACM.
Does silver cost more than white?
No. Pricing is the same across all four stocks at the same size and quantity.
Do you offer removable labels?
No. We run a single permanent acrylic adhesive.
Can I mix stocks in one order?
Yes, but each design and stock combination is its own production job. You can combine several jobs in one order for shipping.
Key takeaways
- We run four stocks (white, clear and silver BOPP, and matt paper), all on one permanent acrylic adhesive that isn't food grade.
- BOPP is the answer for anything chilled, frozen, damp or handled. Matt paper suits dry, gently handled, natural-look products.
- Matt or gloss laminate is available on BOPP only. We don't laminate paper.
- Clear and silver need a white underprint for solid colour.
- Roll labels are not outdoor durable. Use large format stickers, corflute or ACM outdoors.
- Pricing is the same across all four stocks.
Order roll labels
Mediapoint prints trade-only, blind-shipped roll labels on all four stocks, laser cut with a clean edge, from two business days. The minimum order is $120 + GST per job ($60 + GST for labels on 312mm rolls). See labels on rolls for live trade pricing, or send your artwork through and we'll confirm the right stock before it prints.
