How to Determine Roll Direction

Roll Direction, also called Unwind Direction or RD for short, refers to how your labels are oriented as they unwind from the roll. This is critical for machine application—labels must feed into the applicator in a specific position to avoid being applied upside down or reversed.

Choosing Your Roll Direction

To simplify things, the label industry uses 8 standard roll directions:

• Roll Directions 1–4: Labels are wound outside the roll (most common).

• Roll Directions 5–8: Labels are wound inside the roll.

  
  

At Sttark, we offer Roll Directions 1–4 only:

1. Top First
2. Bottom First
3. Right Side First
4. Left Side First

Why the Correct Die Matters

Selecting the correct die size is essential for your chosen roll direction:

• For landscape artwork (e.g., 4" x 2"), use a 4" wide x 2" long die for Roll Direction 1 or 2.
• If you select the reciprocal die (2" x 4"), it won’t align correctly with your artwork or roll direction. This would be considered an incompatible roll direction for that die.

The same applies for Roll Directions 3 or 4—portrait artwork (2" wide x 4" long) must match the correct die size.

Here’s an example of the correct die selection for Roll Direction 1 or 2 with landscape artwork:

• The first two rolls use a 4" wide x 2" long die, which aligns correctly. Selecting a 2" x 4" die instead would result in incompatibility, as shown in the second set of rolls.

The first two rolls shown below are configured for Roll Direction 3 or 4, using a 2" wide x 4" long die. Selecting a 4" x 2" die instead would result in incompatibility, as seen in the second set of rolls.

Quoter Tip

Our quoter automatically flips dimensions to run the most cost-effective way (e.g., 4" x 2" becomes 2" x 4"). If you require a specific orientation, re-enter the size manually to lock it in place before selecting your roll direction.

Here is an example of what the quoter does when you enter the larger number first:

Need Help?

We’re here for you! Reach out:

• Email: support@sttark.com
• Phone: 877-277-4682 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–6 PM EST)