Scratch-off Label Design and Printing

What Is a Scratch-off Label?

A scratch-off label conceals printed information under an opaque coating, removed with a coin or fingernail. The mechanism answers one question: has anyone seen this before me? An intact coating means no. A disturbed one means the label has already been used.

That irreversibility is what separates it from simply covering information. A sticker that peels off and reattaches provides no such guarantee.

Layer Structure

From bottom to top: label material, the variable code printed on it, a release varnish protecting that print, and the scratch coating. The release varnish is critical — without it, scratching removes the printed code along with the coating.

Three Applications

Concealing information

Top-up PINs, licence keys, promotional codes, digital access credentials. The coating must not let the print show through when held to a light.

Authenticity

The code is queried once. A second query is flagged by the system. See scratch-off QR labels.

Promotions

Each label carries a different outcome or entry code. Fair distribution requires winning labels to be dispersed and the allocation recorded during production.

Design Decisions

• Scratch area sized to cover the code with margin
• Silver is standard; gold and custom colours available
• Paper is most economical; PP and PET resist moisture and abrasion
• Destructive adhesive prevents the label being moved to another product
• Coating resistance balanced: survives shipping, scratches easily by hand