Tack: The property of a pressure sensitive label, which causes it to adhere to a surface instantly with a minimum of pressure and contact time. It is the feeling of stickiness obtained when the surface of an adhesive is touched or when a label is applied to a surface and quickly pulled away.
Tension: The pressure difference between the unwind and the rewind. Rewound labels can cause several dispensing conditions that may be considered defects. Labels should be wound tightly enough to support the label core. If they are wound too loose, they can collapse during transport and damage will occur to the liner edge. If they are wound too tightly, labels may stick to the liner and not dispense (curling or even ripping the liner) or the adhesive may flow under the labels, causing adhesive spots on the liner that may pick off other labels (called adhesive bleed).
Tight Release: The act of the adhesive wanting to stay with the liner rather than release from it. Will generally result in labels staying with the liner rather than dispensing. An amount of force used to remove the face material from the liner outside of specified requirements.
Tooling: Usually refers to die cutters, butt cutters, etc., used to cut out the labels.
Topcoat: A surface treatment or coating on a material which enhances inks receptivity. Sometimes refers to a protective coating.
Transparent Label: A pressure sensitive label whose face material, adhesive and protective coatings, transmit light so that objects can be seen through it.