Thermal Transfer Ribbon Questions

Thermal Transfer Ribbon Guide

• Thermal Wax Ribbon - Standard
  This ribbon has a  low melting point, high contrast, suitable for printing on labels with standard shelflife. Suitable for label materials such as Cardboards, Papers, Raw Vellum paper, and cardboard.
  
  
• Premium Wax
  A best wax quality ribbon material with high pigment density. Offers good mechanical resistance, high resolution for small fonts, universally applicable to most label materials, with excellent printout quality. Suitable for label materials such as Synthetic Films, Vellum, Raw Vellum, Coated paper, Cardboard  & Cardboard Labels. 
  
  
• Premium Wax/Resin
  A all-purpose wax/resin quality ribbon material require little to medium energy or high speed (up to 300 mm/ second). It has good smear, scratch and partially chemical resistance. Suitable for label materials such as coated paper, vellum, cardboard with glossy or matt surface, synthetic materials PE, PP, PVC…etc. 
  
  
• Premium Wax/Resin 
  A premium grade wax/resin quality ribbon materials applicable for nearly all materials and surfaces. Excellent resolution, chemical resistance, high sensitivity, dark printout, and long lasting product labeling for higher demand on resistance. Suitable for label materials such as coated paper, vellum, cardboard with glossy or matt surface, synthetic materials PE, PP, PET, PS, PVC…etc. 
  
  
• Wax/Resin for High speed (Near-edge Printers) 
  The perfect high quality resolution images on a wide variety of label stocks and has good resistance to smudging and scratching. The ultra smooth back-coating provides unparalleled print-head protection, while the superior ink coating delivers the darkest, most durable images. It can be p rinted at high speeds up to 10 inches per second and prints on a wide range of papers and synthetic films. Suitable for foodstuff labeling and packaging.
  
  
• Performance Resin 
  For long lasting product labeling with high resistance requirements and long life (smear, scratch, chemicals, temperature, environmental influences. Recommended for printing on film, synthetic materials PE, PP, PET, PS, PVC acetate with glossy or matt surfaces, polyester. Not recommended for vellum and coated paper.
  
  
• Premium Resin 
  Offers highest mechanical demands and a very good resistance against chemicals and solvents. Extremely fine and high resolving printout, suitable for 600 dpi printers. Recommended for printing on film, synthetic materials PE, PP, PET, PS, PVC acetate with glossy or matt surfaces, polyester. Not recommended for vellum and coated paper.

COATED SIDE IN (CSI) RIBBON VS COATED SIDE OUT (CSO) RIBBON

Thermal transfer ribbons are either Coated Side In (CSI also called Inkside In ) or Coated Side Out (CSO also called Inskside Out). It basically pertains to the side of the ribbon where the coating is or where the ink is. The way to tell which side is coated is by unwinding the Thermal Ribbon. By noticing after unwinding you would see that one side is shiny and the other side has a more dull matte finish. The dull side is the side with the ink or what is called the coating.This side should face the label when you put the thermal transfer ribbon onto the spindle. It all depends on the printer which side to use.  The difference between an CSI & CSO is the direction that the thermal ribbon is wound.

 Thermal printing technology uses heat to print and is a very popular method today.

Thermal printing requires the right combination of printer ribbons like Wax Thermal Ribbons, Wax-Resin Thermal Ribbons, Resin Thermal Transfer Ribbons. 

Coated Side In (CSI or Inkside IN) 

• Some printers require a CSI ribbon. Sato and Datamax printers are two good examples among many.
• If your printer requires ribbon with coated side in you would have to set up your ribbon accordingly.
• Since the ink is coated on the inside of the ribbon, configure the ribbon so that it unrolls from the top in the direction or refer to your manual..
• When you feed around the print head, the ink should be facing the label.
• If you set this up backwards( the wrong way) the coating or ink will be facing the print head instead of the labels. This wont work !!.

Coated Side Out (CSO or Inkside OUT) 

• Other printers require a CSO ribbon. Intermec Zebra and some of Datamax .
• If your printer requires ribbon with coated side out, set up your ribbon accordingly.
• Since the ink is coated on the outside of the ribbon, place the ribbon in such a way that it unwinds from the bottom.
• When it feeds around the print head, the coating or the ink shall be facing the label.