Digital Labelling Equipment Requirements

SAM Digital Labelling Equipment Requirements

The information outlined in this fact sheet is intended to assist Art centres in getting set up with equipment for using Digital labelling from SAM. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Digital Labelling Team.

Jane Chambers: Digital Labelling Project Coordinator
(08) 8921 4222 or digitallabelling@desart.com.au
 

EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

What you will need:

1. 

   Choose a Printer: Able to print on the type of labels you want to use. 
   Please take a look at the options and comparisons below.

2. Adhesive Labels: You can use labels on A4 sheets or on a roll, depending on your needs and what printer you purchase. 
   A4 sheet labels have multiple labels per sheet and can be printed using a laser or inkjet printer. Sheets can be challenging to manage, and there can be a lot of wastage if you don’t use all the labels on a sheet. 
   Labels on Rolls are designed for use with a label printer, which allows you to print one or many labels at a time. The ease of only printing what you need makes this a better option. 
   When selecting the size of your label, consider the content you want on it and the space you are sticking it onto. 
   If you are unsure, we recommend a 48 x 69mm label as a good size for item details, price, QR code, and barcode.
3. Swing tags/Packaging: We suggest you create custom branded tags or packaging that can accommodate your labels
4. Materials to securely attach swing tags to Artworks / Products (eg. twine, fasteners, string, stapler)
5. Barcode Scanners: to make entering sales in SAM and stocktake easier, faster, and more accessible to artworkers, etc.
   Adhesive labels are not suitable to stick directly to artworks – always attach them to a paper tag first.

TIP: Using a graphic designer to design your swing tags will make them look professional and build your Art Centre brand. Be sure to include your Art centre logo and website address at a minimum. It’s a good idea to include 1 or 2 sentences about your Art centre, and the IAC logo.

CHOOSING A PRINTER

Printer Type 1: Thermal Transfer label Printer (Recommended)

Thermal label printers are ideal for barcode labels because they produce accurate, high-quality images with excellent edge definition and are easy to use, fast, and convenient. They enable batch or single label printing with virtually no waste.

There are two types of thermal printers available: 
Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer.

1. Direct thermal prints use chemically treated, heat-sensitive media that blacken when they pass under the thermal printhead. 
   These labels can fade after 6-12 months. Receipts are often printed using this method.
2. Thermal transfer printing uses a ribbon to produce durable, long-lasting printing on a wide variety of materials. 
   Thermal transfer printing is recommended for longevity, stability and clarity.
    

Label Type: Roll

Quantity: Approx 1000 Labels per roll, depending on size & manufacturer.

Label Example: 69 x 48mm blank perforated direct thermal labels – rectangle white.

$$ Price comparison: $22 (per 1000 labels).
 

PROS & CONS

Printer Type 2: A4 Laser/Inkjet Printer

You can print on A4 sheets with popular printers that print high-quality colour images using toner or ink. It is harder to manage day-to-day labelling, and it is not recommended unless it's your only option, or you want to use clear label sheets. 

Note: We don't recommend Inkjet printers due to their variance in resolution. Lower resolution can impact scanner readability, refilling ink is expensive, and it needs to be replaced regularly.

Label Type: Single Sheets (A4)

Quantity: 1000 labels (A4 100 sheets, ten labels per sheet)

Label Example: Avery 70mm x 52mm – white rectangle (matt or gloss) 10 per A4 sheet.

$$ Price comparison: $51.99 (per 1000 labels, more cost-effective when purchased in bulk).
 

PROS & CONS

Printer Type 3: Epson ColorWorks CW-C4010 - 4inch Colour Label Printer (Auto-Cutter)

You can print on A4 sheets with popular printers that print high-quality colour images using toner or ink. It is harder to manage day-to-day labelling, and it is not recommended unless it's your only option, or you want to use clear label sheets. 

Note: We don't recommend Inkjet printers due to their variance in resolution. Lower resolution can impact scanner readability, refilling ink is expensive, and it needs to be replaced regularly.

Label Type: Single Sheets (A4)

Quantity: 1000 labels (A4 100 sheets, ten labels per sheet)

Label Example: Avery 70mm x 52mm – white rectangle (matt or gloss) 10 per A4 sheet.

$$ Price comparison: $51.99 (per 1000 labels, more cost-effective when purchased in bulk).
 

PROS & CONS

LABELS

To utilise the full functionality of labels, you will need to print both QR codes and barcodes on your labels. Consider what other information you want on your label for customers; remember, they can scan the QR code to find out more.

If you are wholesaling items to a retailer, they may not want the price and often put their own barcode on your product, which works with their POS. It is a good idea to ensure you have allowed space for this on your product packaging; otherwise, they may place it over valuable information on your label, such as the QR code.

In the new SAM, you can set up multiple label templates with different sizes and display various information. There are limitations on the sizes of labels you can use. See the table below for the full list.
 

Label report example – Retail sales (69mm x 48mm) Includes Product title, Artist name, size, QR code, Barcode and RRP price	Label report example – Wholesale sales (69mm x 48mm) Includes Product title, Artist name, size, QR code and enough space for retailer to place their barcode

How many labels do we need?

Digital labels can be generated for both catalogued artwork items and products. They are powerful promotional, provenance and stock management tools. 

The number of labels and swing tags required will depend on the art centre's needs:

• Does the art centre want QR code labels for both products and catalogued artwork items?
• Check SAM for available artwork and product numbers (or do a physical count if required).
• We recommend art centres order enough labels and swing tags to cover the initial digital label implementation and future needs. At least a year's supply to ensure a continuous workflow is optimal.
   

What size labels do we need?

Determine which information you want on each label, and note the fields from SAM. 
Eg. Artist name, RRP, Medium, size, QR code etc.

• Create a mock-up of your label layout in Word or a similar program, including information from SAM, so you can see how this will look.
• Play around with how much text you can fit based on the font sizes below as a guide. Print out your label to see it on your product / packaging and check sizing.
• Once you have an idea of what size label you need, refer to the label sizes that are available in new SAM for your style of printer (thermal label printer or laser printer).
   

Label Examples

TIP: Approx 48mm x 69mm or larger is recommended. Anything smaller may be problematic, as QR codes and barcodes must be large enough to scan correctly, and you need room for other information such as title, artist name, price etc

BARCODE SCANNERS

We recommend that art centres implementing digital labelling purchase a barcode scanner to speed up and streamline their sales and stocktake processes through SAM. These are available as either a wired (USB cable) or wireless (Bluetooth) unit. They are relatively inexpensive and readily available for Mac/PC desktops, laptops and tablets, so it’s good to have a few on hand. 

Each unit has its own Pros and Cons as below:

Wired Barcode Scanners (USB cable) 
When it comes to reliability, wired scanners have the upper hand. Their direct connection ensures a consistent, uninterrupted data transfer, guaranteeing precise, immediate scanning results. They also don’t require charging and are simple to setup and are relatively low cost. However, they don’t provide the same level of flexibility in the user's movement to scan a barcode that a wireless device does.

Wireless Barcode Scanners (Bluetooth) 
These units require regular charging, and it can be frustrating when they are removed and not returned to the charging station; however, they offer the convenience of freedom from cables, allowing users to move around while scanning. Bluetooth can require more setup time; however, technology has improved, and we have tested several scanners and found the CS6080 very reliable, working well with devices such as mobiles and laptops. Budget wise, they are more expensive than wired units and are priced from $250.

TIP: A combination of a USB and Bluetooth scanner is a good solution, especially during a stocktake or where more than one workstation is processing sales. Having a wired USB scanner means that if someone forgets to charge the Bluetooth scanner, the USB scanner can be used.

OUR RECOMMENDED MODELS & WHERE TO PURCHASE

Please note these details will change regularly as new models & supplies are released. 
This is a guide only; Desart is not affiliated with these suppliers in any way. Please do your own research.
https://www.barcodes.com.au
https://shop.peacocks.com.au
https://www.thermallabels.com.au
https://www.pos99.com.au 
https://www.datanet.com.au 
 

THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTER & LABELS
(Recommended for longevity and not fading, can also print direct thermal)

Printer: Zebra Thermal Transfer Printer
Product Code: Zebra ZD421 Thermal Transfer Desktop Label Printer 300DPI
Price: Approx $880 exGST (depending on supplier)
The standard model comes with a USB cable that can connect to only one computer at a time.
If more than one computer will be printing to the printer, we suggest purchasing the Wi-Fi upgrade kit below to network the printer. 

Zebra WiFi Upgrade Kit
Product Code: Zebra WiFi Upgrade Kit For ZD421
Price: Approx $182 exGST (depending on supplier)
Specs: PC & Mac compatible. Reliable, compact unit. Set-up required. 
YouTube demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B5rxDYlYds 
 

Labels: Thermal Transfer Labels LT6948-6A Roll Labels
Product Code: LT6948-6A 69mm x 48mm Thermal Transfer Labels
Price: $120 exGST per box of 6000 labels
Label size: 69mm x 48mm
Colour: White
1 roll with 1000 labels
Perforated labels for easy tearing
For use in thermal transfer printers
Core size 25mm
 

Ribbon: TTRCW11074 Compact Thermal Ribbon
Product Code: TTRCW11074 Compact Thermal Ribbon
Price: $12.50 exGST per ribbon roll (recommend purchasing six at a time)
Ribbon width: 110mm
Ribbon length: 74m
Colour: Black
For use in thermal transfer printers
Core size 25mm

SCANNERS
1D and 2D barcode readers are available from multiple suppliers. It is worth shopping around for the best price. All scanners/readers listed below are compatible with Mac or PC. This is not an exhaustive list; other options are available. However, these were tested as part of the digital labelling project and proved to be the most reliable scanners we purchased for the price.

Zebra 1D/2D Barcode Scanner (USB)
Product Code: Zebra DS4608 Retail Barcode Scanner 1D/2D
Price: $198 exGST

Zebra 1D/2D Barcode Scanner (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi)
Product Code: Zebra CS6080 2D Bluetooth Scanner Kit    
Price: $528 exGST

Zebra CS6080 2D Bluetooth Scanner with USB Charge Pad    
Product Code: Zebra CS6080 2D Bluetooth Scanner with USB Charge Pad MFI
Price: $298 exGST