A label that prints perfectly on a desktop printer can still go on upside down or sideways in an automatic applicator. The cause is usually not the label but the roll's wind direction. This guide covers inside and outside wound rolls, the 8-position chart and what to put on your order.
Label wind direction describes two things: whether the face of the labels points outward or inward on the roll, and which edge of the label comes off the roll first. Together they decide whether a label is printed or applied straight, readable and in the right place, on a desktop barcode printer and on an automatic labelling machine alike. Below you will find the difference between inside and outside wound rolls, the common 8-position label unwind direction chart and the details to specify when you order.
What does label wind direction mean?
Wind direction is really two pieces of information. The first is the wind type: is the label face on the outside of the roll (outside wound, also called face out) or on the inside (inside wound, face in)? The second is the unwind direction: as the roll unwinds, does the top, bottom, left or right edge of the label lead? Together they form the wind position. On quote and order forms the same information may be called wind direction, unwind direction, rewind position or simply position.
For blank labels that you print on your own thermal printer, the unwind direction is more flexible, because you can rotate the layout in the printer software. Pre-printed labels with a logo, text or barcode are different: the orientation of the artwork is fixed in production. A pre-printed roll delivered in the wrong position means labels applied upside down or sideways on your product.
Inside wound vs outside wound labels
On an outside wound roll the labels sit on the outer side of the silicone-coated liner, so you see the labels when you look at the roll. On an inside wound roll the label face points towards the core; from the outside you only see the back of the liner. Which one is right depends on the feed path of your device.
| Feature | Outside wound | Inside wound |
|---|---|---|
| Label face | On the outside, visible | On the inside, hidden |
| What you see on the roll | The labels | The back of the liner |
| Typical use | Desktop barcode printers, hand application, many labelling machines | Printers and applicators whose feed path is designed for inside wound rolls |
| If chosen wrongly | A machine expecting inside wound is fed with the label face the wrong way | In a printer expecting outside wound, the printhead meets the liner instead of the label |
In short, there is no universally correct wind: the right one is the one your machine expects.
Which wind do desktop barcode printers use?
Most desktop thermal barcode printers are designed for outside wound rolls, which is why stock label rolls are usually supplied outside wound. Some models also accept inside wound rolls or need an adjustment to do so; check your printer manual to be sure. Yayex roll labels are produced in sizes, cores and wind directions compatible with Zebra, TSC, Argox and Godex printers, for both direct thermal and thermal transfer printing.
Besides the wind type, core size and outer diameter matter on a desktop printer: the roll has to fit the media holder and the cover has to close. Yayex supplies 40 mm and 76 mm cores, so the roll can be matched to your printer.
The 8-position label unwind direction chart
In the label industry, wind direction is usually expressed with an 8-position chart. It combines the four unwind directions with the two wind types: four positions for outside wound and four for inside wound. A widely used numbering looks like this:
| Position | Wind type | Edge that comes off first |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outside wound | Top edge (start of the artwork) |
| 2 | Outside wound | Bottom edge |
| 3 | Outside wound | Right edge |
| 4 | Outside wound | Left edge |
| 5 | Inside wound | Top edge |
| 6 | Inside wound | Bottom edge |
| 7 | Inside wound | Right edge |
| 8 | Inside wound | Left edge |
Important: The numbering can vary between label manufacturers and machine brands; a direction that is position 3 on one chart may carry a different number on another. How left and right are defined also differs from chart to chart. So do not order by number alone: share the chart you use, show with a sketch or photo how the label should come off the roll, and confirm it with your supplier before production.
How to find the right position
- Check in which direction your machine or printer delivers the label to the product or the output.
- Decide how the label must read on the product: upright or sideways?
- If you have a roll that runs well on the machine, unwind a few labels, note whether the face is outside or inside and which edge leads, and take a photo.
- Add this to your order together with the chart name, a sketch or the photo.
Wrong wind direction on a labelling machine: the consequences
In automatic labelling machines and applicators, the label is separated from the liner at the peel edge and transferred straight onto the product. The machine applies the label in exactly the orientation it comes off the roll; unlike a printer, there is no software rotation. That is why a winding error shows up on the line immediately:
- Labels applied upside down or sideways: the logo, text or barcode ends up inverted or turned by 90 degrees.
- Scanning problems: an inline barcode scanner may struggle to read a barcode arriving in an unexpected orientation or position.
- Peeling failures: when a roll of the wrong wind type is fed face the wrong way, the label does not release at the peel edge and cannot be transferred.
- Machine downtime: the operator has to remove and rewind the roll or wait for the correct one; the line stops.
- Waste and rework: mislabelled products are sorted out and relabelled, costing material and time.
A roll delivered with the wrong wind can sometimes be corrected on a rewinder, but that is extra work. And if the label comes off sideways, rewinding will not turn it into a top or bottom edge lead. The most efficient fix is to settle the position at the ordering stage.
What to specify when ordering labels
Wind direction alone is not enough. To make the labels run on your machine first time, include the following:
- Label size: width × height in millimetres. Yayex cuts from 20 × 10 mm up to 100 × 150 mm, which is close to, but not the same as, the 4x6 inch shipping label (about 101.6 × 152.4 mm); the standard size is 50 × 30 mm.
- Material: eco thermal, top-coated thermal, coated paper, white PP, clear PP or silver matte metallized polyester, plus the surface the label will stick to.
- Core (inner diameter): 40 mm or 76 mm, matched to the spindle of your machine.
- Maximum outer diameter: the largest roll your printer cover or the machine's roll holder can take.
- Wind type and position: inside or outside wound and unwind direction, with the chart name, a sketch or a photo.
- Labels per roll: typically 1,000, depending on the outer diameter limit and the label length.
- Print method and device: direct thermal or thermal transfer, and the make and model of your printer or machine if available.
With these details at hand you can get an indicative price from our instant quote calculator and clarify any machine-specific requirements during the quotation.
Custom die-cutting and wind direction at Yayex
Since 1999, Yayex has printed, die-cut and wound labels in its own facility in Pendik, Istanbul. Wind type, unwind direction, core and labels per roll are set to your order, for blank roll labels as well as printed labels. Flexo and digital printing runs up to 7 colours, with print inspection by a camera system. Not sure about the position number? Send a sketch or a photo and we will confirm it together before production.
Frequently asked questions
Is inside wound or outside wound better?
Neither is better in itself. The right choice depends on which wind the feed path of your printer or labelling machine expects. Desktop thermal printers usually take outside wound rolls.
How can I tell the wind direction of a roll I already have?
Look at the roll from the outside: if you see the labels, it is outside wound; if you only see the liner, it is inside wound. Then unwind the end and check which edge of the label comes off first; that is your unwind direction.
Is a position number enough on the order?
Not always. The numbering of the 8-position chart can vary between manufacturers. Sharing the chart, a sketch or a photo of a working roll along with the number is the safest way.
Does wind direction matter for blank labels?
The wind type (inside or outside) does: if it is wrong, the printer cannot print on the label. The unwind direction is more flexible for blank labels, because you can rotate the layout in the printer software. The label still has to arrive in an orientation that fits the printer's width.
Conclusion
Wind direction looks like a small detail, yet it decides whether your labelling line keeps running. Settle the wind type, unwind direction and position chart before you order. Contact us to find the right roll for your machine; a photo of a label or a roll that already runs well is the fastest way to start.