Can clear mailing labels work like decals?

[Mark Hammer]

It's our younger son's bar mitzvah this fall, and my wife bought a wad of clear maiing labels yesterday to use for the invitations.  She bought way more than we need. So, naturally my mind starts considering what I might do with the leftovers.  "Are they laser-compatible?", I ask her.  "Yes, laser or inkjet".

So, is there a good reason why I would not want to use clear mailing labels, with color laser images printed on them for legending or other graphics?  For instance, should I be afraid of the adhesive?

[jacobyjd]

IIRC, I've had trouble in the past with laser colors not working so well with adhesives/clearcoats--the colors tended to bleed pretty badly. I think inkjet worked ok though--don't hold me to it.

I'm pretty sure those labels you're referring to are very similar to the ones I use. I tend to use only black anymore, just for the sake of contrast. However, they work really well as long as you watch the air bubbles

[beens]

Regarding trouble with bleeding colors. Could it be a solution to stick a clear label over the printed label? or would that make the whole label to thick/high?

[anchovie]

For full-face graphics, I use the white heavy-duty Avery labels (4 per sheet) in a Dell 1320CN colour laser printer. The labels are classed as heavy-duty as they are made of polyester (I think, poly-something anyway) rather than paper and once they're stuck on the box I give them 4 coats of aerosol clear enamel (15 minutes between coats) and leave them to dry on the balcony of my flat overnight. I've never tried with paper labels, but with these plastic ones I've had no colour bleed whatsoever. They were specifically designated for laser printers though, I don't know what the difference would be with something that claims to be fine for both laser and inkjet.