You’d be surprised how fast some labels fade out.
I’ve seen panels less than a year old with tags that look like they’ve been sitting in the sun for a decade.
If your labels need to hold up long-term — through heat, sunlight, cleaning, or chemicals — the design matters just as much as the material.
Here’s what I’ve learned that actually works.
1. Go for Contrast Over Color
High contrast beats fancy colors every time.
Black-on-white, white-on-black, or yellow-on-black are classics for a reason — they stay readable when everything else fades.
Laser-engraved two-ply plastics like Duets XT hold that contrast for years because the color isn’t printed; it’s cut into the material.
2. Watch Your Font Weight
Thin, fancy fonts look nice on screen — but in the real world, dust and glare eat them alive.
Use bold, clear typefaces with enough line weight to stay visible from a few feet away.
If someone’s wiping a label with solvent once a week, you want that text to survive.
3. Size for Distance
Design labels for how they’re used, not just how they look.
If a label needs to be read at arm’s length inside a cabinet, 1/8" text might work.
If it’s on a panel someone reads while standing, go bigger — 3/16" to 1/4".
There’s nothing worse than having to lean in with a flashlight to see what button does what.
4. Use the Right Material
Forget vinyl or inkjet.
They look fine at first, but UV, oil, and heat destroy them fast.
Laser-engraved UL-rated plastics last the longest — and they stay readable without touch-ups.
5. Don’t Forget Adhesive Compatibility
Even the best engraving won’t matter if the label falls off.
Always match the adhesive to the environment: metal panels, powder coat, or outdoor exposure all need different bonding strengths.
That’s why we standardize with 3M 468MP — it just works everywhere.
Bottom Line
Readability over time isn’t luck — it’s planning.
If you build labels for contrast, clarity, and durability, you’ll get a decade or more out of them without a second thought.
Good design doesn’t just look better — it lasts longer.