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Printing Considerations
There are many factors and variables that will affect your choice
of ribbon and label media. The following section describes some of the
criteria you should consider when making your choices:
Type of printing method -- thermal transfer or direct thermal?
Your labeling application -- how will the label be used (asset
tracking, warehousing, retail product identification, etc.)?
The operating environment -- how often is the label exposed to
heat, cold, moisture, dirt, ultraviolet light (sunlight), or chemicals?
Adhesive selection -- what type of surface (paper, plastic, glass,
metal, etc.) will the label be applied to and how long does it have to adhere
to the surface? Different adhesives have certain characteristics which can be
affected by the surface to which it is applied.
Archivability -- what is the life expectancy of the label? How
long does it have to last - hours, days, months, years?
Rules and regulations -- does your label have to meet your
customer's requirements, government regulations, or industrial standards?
Print speed vs. print quality and materials choice -- for example,
direct thermal printing is slower than thermal transfer. Resin ribbons
combined with synthetic labels are more durable, but print slower than wax
ribbons on paper labels.
Print head wear (thermal transfer vs. direct thermal) -- print
head wear is normal, but it is minimized using thermal transfer printing
because thermal transfer ribbons protect the print head from label abrasion,
whereas direct thermal does not use a ribbon and the label material abrades
the printhead as a result. Choosing a ribbon that is wider than the label
media protects the print head from abrasion.
Scanning method -- visible vs. infrared -- scanners are limited to
specific facestocks.
Recycling issues -- are there recycling considerations? If the
surface material must be recycled, then the label facestock and adhesive used
on that surface must be recyclable as well.
These factors are only a few you should consider when choosing
your ribbon and label media. View the media selection and ribbon selection topics to determine how your answers to these questions translate to the media for your solution.
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