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Printer Media
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	Direct thermal printing uses paper coated with a chemical that changes colour when heated (like the old fax paper). Thermal transfer printing uses a ribbon that is pressed onto the label. When the ribbon coating is heated, it softens and sticks to the label surface. There are ribbons and label materials for hundreds of different applications. Some of the most common are shown here.

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	Ribbons
		Ribbons come in several grades according to the "hardness" of the ink coating. At the "soft" end they are usually made of a type of wax and the coating tends to be thicker (and costs the least). It is easily printed on almost any label material but has one drawback, it can be smudged by rubbing it. This is easier if the surface is smooth as is the case with synthetic or gloss paper labels. Matt paper allows some of the ink to penetrate the pores, making smudging more difficult. At the hard end of the range the ink is a type of resin and tends to be thinner. It is ideal for synthetic labels and glossy paper as it does not smudge but requires higher print temperatures. It is also the most expensive. It does not print well onto rough (matt paper) surfaces. In between there is a range of ribbon grades of varying hardness. There is usually a trade off between cost, smudging and print quality (determined by the label material and surface finish).
	Label Materials
		Label properties that can be specified include material, surface finish, colour and size. In addition adhesive properties can also be specified for specialised applications such as temperature extremes, different surfaces, long life and adhesive strength.

		Synthetic materials (usually plastics) include polyester, "Kapton", polyprop, vinyl etc.

		Paper is made in many different forms. Some of the most commonly used are Vellum (matt), Semi-gloss and High-gloss. Direct thermal labels are usually made from paper due to its low cost.

	Ordering Supplies	Contact us at barcode.tech@mweb.co.za for all of your printing supplies.

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