AVON SECURITY PRODUCTS - Tips to Ensure You Buy the Correct Printer Ribbon
High-tech
fabrications in printer ribbon have led to a new generation of products
that last longer, resist smudging, and reduce melting temperatures. In
plain English, that means your printing will be easily scannable, long
lasting, and crisp. You can leverage technology to your benefit without
weighing too heavily on your budget if you understand the features of
each ribbon.
Thermal Printing
Direct thermal printers and thermal transfer printers are not the same
thing. Only the latter requires a printer ribbon.
Sizing Your Ribbon
Printer widths vary enormously. The width of your ribbon needs to be
the same as or less than the width of your printer. The length is
equally important and is measured in inches.<
Ribbon Materials
While there are recommended materials for different types of printers,
you do get the freedom to be somewhat flexible.
· Wax
ribbon is budget-friendly and long lasting. It’s ideal for packaging
labels and retail tags. It can only be used with paper labels because it
causes smudging on synthetics, rendering bar codes and text illegible.
· Wax/resin
hybrids combine the best features of wax and resin, offering an
economical way to gain better quality than wax alone. The result is
smudge and scratch-resistant enough for outdoor locations and warehouse
usage. They’re ideal for retail, warehouse, and shipping environments
and can be used on synthetic labels as well as paper.
· Wax can be enhanced by resin to achieve a balance between wax and wax/resin hybrids.
· Resin
is the most durable, expensive option, and is thus used in environments
that expose labels to chemicals, abrasion, and water. Resin is durable
enough to use on synthetic labels and for medical device tracing. Its
high definition quality also makes it ideal for bar codes, although it’s
typically limited to computer and micro label printing.
Selecting Your Media
Your ribbon needs to be chosen according to the medium you’re printing
on as well as the label’s function. Adhesive labels are remarkably
forgiving, so it’s pointless to choose expensive resin ribbon for them.
Cardboard tags are just as easy to print on, so wax will suffice.
However, when printing barcodes on smaller media that are exposed to the
elements, a wax/resin hybrid will serve you better.Wristbands and
clothing labels must withstand plenty of wear, so the expense of resin
might be a necessity, particularly in hospital environments where errors
can cost lives.<
Label Materials
Your goal when choosing your printer ribbon is to obtain a clear,
lasting print, and your label materials
are highly influential on longevity.
are highly influential on longevity.
· Paper and wax is only a useful combination if your label won’t be exposed to humidity and wear.
· Polypropylene is a rugged synthetic that resists tearing. It usually suits a wax/resin hybrid.
· Polypropylene is a rugged synthetic that resists tearing. It usually suits a wax/resin hybrid.
· Polyester
is the hardiest labelling material available, so a resin/polyester
combination is ideal for environments that expose tags to the elements.
It’s used for vehicle tagging and the labelling of chemical containers.
It can also be used in laboratories and for certain medical
applications.
Longevity
Some labels only need to last as long as they stay on the
shelf, whereas others are a part of a product’s functionality and need
to have extreme longevity. The latter are best served by full resin
ribbons and polyester combinations. Wax/resin hybrids are ideal for
labels that are used indoors but will be exposed to light handling,
sunlight, and temperature changes.
Thermal transfer printers can leverage an enormous range of
ink formulas and other features, so although general guidelines will
work for most businesses, some expert advice and a little trial and
error will get you past the finishing line of your project.
Contact us to buy the printer ribbon you need today!
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