Create Do Not Bend Label

Keep the instruction connected to the item

A useful note might say "Art prints enclosed / keep flat" or identify a document packet briefly. The fixed heading already tells the handler what to avoid, so there is no need to repeat the same sentence in several forms. Do not use the note as a replacement for a complete delivery address. If the item requires special packaging or handling arrangements, make those decisions through your normal packing and shipping process. The sticker cannot prevent a flexible envelope from bending, and it does not confirm that a particular service will treat it differently.

Think about the label after the envelope is filled

A flat mailer can become uneven once the contents and protective materials are inside. Test a printed copy on the actual filled package so the main wording remains visible and any codes sit on a reasonably smooth area. Keep the instruction clear of the opening strip if that will tear it apart before the recipient reads it. For several flat items, a short reference can help match the outside package with an order, but prepare and check each version before attaching it.

Before a flat item is posted

• Use suitable protective packaging for the contents.
• Keep the do-not-bend message visible.
• Add only a concise contents or handling note.
• Avoid seams or curves through the code area.
• Keep the separate address and postage labels readable.

Choose whether a flat-item reference adds value

An order reference can help a studio or office recognise which print or document packet is being prepared. The barcode encodes that short value rather than a description of the item. Leave the QR field blank to use the same reference in both codes, or choose no codes if the only purpose is the handling instruction. The code does not add delivery tracking.

The generator creates QR codes and Code 128 barcodes locally. Both use your reference by default; optional custom QR text can instead contain your own short URL or text. A blank reference produces a stable internal ID derived from the submitted label details. These are your identifiers, not official carrier tracking numbers. The tool does not buy postage, reserve a shipment or send the encoded data to a code-generation service.

A 4 by 3-inch instruction for flat packaging

Print the single-label PDF at its intended size or use a repeated landscape sheet for multiple identical stickers. If the item is too small to hold the label flat, reconsider the packaging or choose another format rather than heavily shrinking the PDF and its machine codes. Test the heading, note and scan on paper at 100 percent. The sheet formats include trimming marks outside each sticker and are not tied to an unverified pre-cut adhesive grid. Keep the white margins around each code when cutting.

Do-not-bend label answers

Will this keep an envelope rigid?
No. It is a printed instruction rather than a protective material. Choose packaging appropriate to the item; the label can communicate the request to keep it flat but cannot provide that support itself.

Can I use it for certificates or photographs?
Yes, when the message accurately describes how the packed item should be handled. Use a short note if useful and keep a complete destination and required carrier label separate from this supplementary sticker.

Find related address layouts and supplementary stickers in our Shipping & Packaging Labels collection.