Label pitch explained

For a simple repeating label layout, pitch is the machine-direction distance from one label position to the same position on the next repeat.

The basic relationship

A 100 mm label with a 3 mm gap has a 103 mm pitch. If two labels run across the web, the pitch is still 103 mm; each repeat simply produces two finished labels instead of one.

Pitch is not web width

Pitch describes travel in the machine direction. Web width describes the material across the press. Keeping those directions separate prevents one of the most common mistakes in roll and ribbon calculations.

Special constructions

Irregular repeats, staggered layouts, multiple shapes in one repeat and registration features can require a production repeat value that is not simply label length plus gap. In those cases, enter the actual repeat supplied by prepress or converting documentation.