In order to ensure an appropriate quality level, the following three criteria must be met:

• Label printer that has to ensure the right quality of ink transfer onto the label
• Raw materials which the labels are made from need to have the right surface layer
• Thermal transfer ribbon should have ink of appropriate quality in order to ensure the required durability of the printed image for a particular application

The Ink types available for Ribbons are:

• Wax Ribbons
• Wax / Resin Ribbons
• Resin Ribbons

Wax Ribbons:

The ink is made from wax, however it may contain a small quantity of resin additive. Wax ribbons are mostly used to print labels produced on un-coated paper. The printed image is characterised by low abrasion resistance; therefore, the ribbons are dedicated for printing short-term markings. Wax ribbons are used mainly where low cost is priority (in retail and logistics, for printing collective packaging labels). It is the lowest cost thermal transfer ribbon.

Wax / Resin Ribbons:

In a wax / resin ribbon, the ink is a combination of wax and resin. The ribbons are used mostly when there is a probability that the marking will be exposed to higher temperature or abrasion. A wax / resin thermal transfer ribbon is  mainly used for printing labels produced on coated paper and some types of film. Wax / resin thermal transfer ribbons are generally used to mark products and packaging in transportation and logistics industries.

Resin Ribbons:

The resin thermal transfer ribbons is used for printing permanent markings mainly in industries where the printed image is exposed to many factors such as high temperatures, chemicals and abrasion. The ink is made from resin with the some additional chemical components. Sometimes low-quality resin ribbons contain wax additive. A wax additive will certainly speed up and facilitate the process of ink transfer onto the label, but it has negative influence on the resistance of the printed image to solvents and abrasion.

While selecting a TTR Ribbon, you should pay attention to the print head of the printer that will be used in the process. There are flat-head printers and near-edge printers available on the market. The type of the print head is an important element for the selection of the appropriate ribbon.

Near-edge printers are characterised by higher print speed and temperature, which, for example, disqualifies the application of wax ribbons.

The barcode label printer market has 4 or 5 main companies that supply over 90% of the global market. These companies have products from low end desktop printers that will print a 100 thermal transfer labels per day, up to 4 inches wide to high end, industrial printers capable of printing 1000’s of labels per day. Industrial Barcode Label Printer width range from 2 inches to 8 inches. Zebra thermal transfer printers are the market leader and these Zebra printers use Zebra Thermal Transfer Ribbons. These Zebra Ribbons come in various widths and are available in Wax, Wax/Resin and Resin. Zebra Ribbon products are normally the standard black thermal transfer ribbon.

No, while black thermal transfer ribbon sales constitute 90% of the market, there are also white, colour (primary colours) and metallic TTR ribbons available.

With some specialised ribbons it possible to achieve a printed image in the form of a hologram and also ones that are only visible only in ultraviolet light, these are normally used  to counteract product fraud and ensure the authenticity of products.

When choosing which ribbons to use in your printer, the large choice is often daunting. From type to model. For example, Zebra produce a wide range of different quality printing – from which you can find the suitable ribbon for your business needs.

The first choice to establish is what kind of ribbon – wax, wax/resin or resin.

Wax ribbons are the lowest cost choice, they are ideal for general label applications such as address labels. However, wax ribbons are the softest ribbons making them vulnerable to smudging and scratching.

Wax/resin ribbons are suitable if you are printing onto semi-gloss paper or synthetic labels, they combine wax and resin to make the ribbons smudge and smear resistant.

Resin ribbons are the hardest type of ribbon, being scratch and chemical resistant. Resin ribbons are the best choice for printing onto synthetic labels which will be going into harsh environments where the print needs to be resistant against scratching, smearing, liquid, chemicals and extreme temperatures.

Other items to consider when selecting a TTR ribbon are the print speed at which you will be running the label printer, the small font print ability and abrasion.