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Re: Labelling?
This thread has thrown up some interesting possibilities.
Having read through it now, it seems like the basic options for labelling are;
- print on normal paper (probably 100g/sqm), cut out by hand, then use milk as an adhesive
- use pre-cut address label sheets with fixed sizes
- print on label paper (whole sheet is one big label), cut out by hand, then attach
- use a digital printing service
I can see that there might be scenarios where each of these methods seems the most valid. However, if we're going to have the ability to generate/print labels directly from within BF then I think we'd need to support the first and last options. The "print it out at home and get your scissors" option is probably going to be the most accessible and popular option, but I can see the need for a high quality professional looking option (digital printing) for things like homebrew events/contests etc when the issue of branding and perception becomes much more important and I wouldn't necessarily be comfortable turning up with hand-cut labels. This is a long way off for me, but still...
On the face of it, digital printing seems the most expensive method of doing this, but once you factor in things like the cost of colour inkjet cartridges and the additional time you're going to spend printing, re-printing, cutting out and re-cutting out because of inevitable mistakes or quality issues, you could argue that there's not a lot in it.
The site mentioned above, Zazzle, has an API that could be used to integrate a digital printing service (http://www.zazzle.co.uk/sell/developers/createaproductapi). I think it'd be fantastic if we had the ability to design and save label templates within BF, associate them with our recipies (and share them maybe?) and choose whether to print them out ourselves or pay the extra to get them printed professionally. That particular site also offers printing of custom 16oz beer glasses and coasters - so even those who keg shouldn't feel left out!
I should also mention my own interim means of keeping track is to use a wax pencil to write straight onto the glass bottle.
This thread has thrown up some interesting possibilities.
Having read through it now, it seems like the basic options for labelling are;
- print on normal paper (probably 100g/sqm), cut out by hand, then use milk as an adhesive
- use pre-cut address label sheets with fixed sizes
- print on label paper (whole sheet is one big label), cut out by hand, then attach
- use a digital printing service
I can see that there might be scenarios where each of these methods seems the most valid. However, if we're going to have the ability to generate/print labels directly from within BF then I think we'd need to support the first and last options. The "print it out at home and get your scissors" option is probably going to be the most accessible and popular option, but I can see the need for a high quality professional looking option (digital printing) for things like homebrew events/contests etc when the issue of branding and perception becomes much more important and I wouldn't necessarily be comfortable turning up with hand-cut labels. This is a long way off for me, but still...
On the face of it, digital printing seems the most expensive method of doing this, but once you factor in things like the cost of colour inkjet cartridges and the additional time you're going to spend printing, re-printing, cutting out and re-cutting out because of inevitable mistakes or quality issues, you could argue that there's not a lot in it.
The site mentioned above, Zazzle, has an API that could be used to integrate a digital printing service (http://www.zazzle.co.uk/sell/developers/createaproductapi). I think it'd be fantastic if we had the ability to design and save label templates within BF, associate them with our recipies (and share them maybe?) and choose whether to print them out ourselves or pay the extra to get them printed professionally. That particular site also offers printing of custom 16oz beer glasses and coasters - so even those who keg shouldn't feel left out!
I should also mention my own interim means of keeping track is to use a wax pencil to write straight onto the glass bottle.
