Packaging and Label Design Label Typography and Visual Hierarchy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'bleed' in label printing?
- Artwork that extends beyond the trim line to prevent white edges after cutting (Correct answer)
- Ink that runs when the label gets wet
- The overflow of one color into another
- A printing defect caused by excess ink
Correct answer: Artwork that extends beyond the trim line to prevent white edges after cutting
Bleed is extra artwork extending 1/8 inch beyond the die-cut line so that trimming variations don't leave unprinted white edges.
Question 2: Which type of typeface is generally considered most legible for small label copy?
- Sans-serif (Correct answer)
- Decorative script
- Slab serif
- Blackletter
Correct answer: Sans-serif
Sans-serif fonts lack the small strokes (serifs) that can blur at small sizes, making them cleaner and more legible for fine print.
Question 3: What is the 'information panel' on a US food product label?
- Any panel adjacent to the PDP that carries required nutritional and ingredient information (Correct answer)
- The back of the package only
- The panel displaying the brand logo
- The panel listing marketing claims
Correct answer: Any panel adjacent to the PDP that carries required nutritional and ingredient information
The information panel is defined by FDA as the panel immediately to the right of the PDP, where mandatory information like nutrition facts is placed.
Question 4: What does 'reversed out' text mean in label design?
- Light-colored text printed on a dark background (Correct answer)
- Text printed upside down
- Text that has been mirrored
- Text with an outline stroke applied
Correct answer: Light-colored text printed on a dark background
Reversed-out text (e.g., white on black) can improve contrast and create visual drama, but thinner fonts may lose legibility at small sizes.
Question 5: What is a 'die line' in label design?
- The outline shape that defines where the label will be cut (Correct answer)
- The line that separates colors on press
- A guideline for placing mandatory label content
- The border printed around the label artwork
Correct answer: The outline shape that defines where the label will be cut
The die line is the vector path used by the printer/converter to cut the label to its final shape.
Question 6: What is the function of a 'safe zone' on a label template?
- An area inside the trim line where important content should stay to avoid being cut off (Correct answer)
- A region reserved for regulatory warnings
- Space for the barcode to scan safely
- Area designated for allergen statements
Correct answer: An area inside the trim line where important content should stay to avoid being cut off
The safe zone is a margin kept inside the die-cut line to ensure critical text and logos are not accidentally trimmed.
Packaging and Label Design Label Typography and Visual Hierarchy 2
What is a 'bleed' in label printing?