Printing & Application Guide

From digital to physical — how to apply autheIDs to your products. Every autheID is unique, so your printer must support variable data: each unit gets its own code, not all units sharing one.

File formats at a glance

PNG
Universal raster — any printer
PDF
Driver-native, office printers
SVG
Vector — scalable, no blur
EPS
Vector — pad/screen printing
ZPL
Zebra / most thermal printers
EPL
Older / budget thermal
DXF
Laser / CAM (LightBurn etc.)

Which method is right for me?

What are you printing on?

Collectibles & High-Value Items

When the label wears off, the authentication chain breaks. These methods last.

Why this matters: If the autheID is damaged, faded, or removed, verification becomes impossible. For collectibles, stickers alone are not enough. Use permanent or tamper-evident methods.

Recommendations by item type

ItemUseIf unavailable
Jewelry (metal)Laser engravingNFC in packaging
WatchesLaser engraving (case back)NFC card in box
Sneakers & FashionNFC sewn labelQR on hang tag
Art & PaintingsNFC behind frameQR on certificate
Ceramic & PotteryLaser markingNFC in packaging
Trading CardsTamper-evident holographic
Wine & SpiritsNFC on cap/closureQR on label
SculpturesLaser engravingNFC in base
Sealed CollectiblesTamper-evident sealNFC inside package

Desktop & Small Batch

Label printers, inkjet, UV, garment, and sublimation — for runs from 1 to a few thousand.

Permanent & Industrial

Laser engraving, production lines, and specialty methods for durability and scale.

Next step

Before full production, always export a small test batch in your chosen format and run it through your printer.

autheID sticker is a code-only label on HERMA or custom stock. Full product label adds brand, QR, barcode, icons, compliance marks on a single sticker.

Prices and availability verified April 2026. Contact vendors directly for current specs. authe is not affiliated with any manufacturer.