Why isn't the white in my design printing?

Most home or office printers don't have the capability to print white ink. As a result, any white in your design is seen as the absence of color and will not print. Below are examples of how your design may look in various applications without white ink.

Design on white label material

Print should appear as intended.

 

Design on colored label material, example 1

The label material will show through lighter colors, distorting their appearance.
Label material shown: Brown Kraft

Design on clear label material against white/light backgrounds

The background color will minorly affect the appearance of your design colors.

Label material shown: Clear Gloss

Design on clear label material against black/dark backgrounds

The background color will substantially affect the appearance of your design colors.

Label material shown: Clear Gloss

Why this happens:
Professional printing companies typically start with a layer of white ink on your label before printing the actual colors in your design. This creates an opaque layer so the colors stand out. Without this capability, desktop printers will produce muted or dull designs.