Thermal Transfer Ribbon Ink In vs Ink Out

Thermal transfer labels require TTR ribbons, they are either coated side in (csi) or coated side out (cso). This refers to the side of the PET carrier where the ink is present. In order to determine which side a ribbon is coated, unwind the roll past the leader. Once the printing area is reached apply and quickly remove a small section of adhesive label to a side, if there is ink residue on the label adhesive then this is the ink side. This side should face the labels when you put the thermal transfer ribbon in the barcode printer. Depending on the specific thermal transfer printer that you have, you will either use one or the other. The only difference between an ink-in ribbon and and ink-out ribbon is the direction that the thermal ribbon is wound.

Coated Side In(CSI)

thermal transfer ribbon ink in

Some printers require a CSI ribbon. Examples are Sato and Datamax printers.If your printer requires ribbon with coated side in, you will have to set up your ribbon similarly to the diagram on the left. Since the ink is coated on the inside of the ribbon, configure the ribbon so that it unrolls from the top. When it feeds through the print head, the ink side should be facing the label.

If you load the ribbon upside down, the ink will be facing the print head instead of the substrate, and no ink will be transferred.

Coated Side Out(CSO)

thermal transfer ribbon ink out

Other printers require a CSO ribbon. Examples are Intermec, Zebra and some Datamax printers. If your printer requires ribbon with coated side out, set up your ribbon like the diagram on the left. Since the ink is coated on the outside of the PET carrier, configure the ribbon so that it unrolls from the bottom. When it feeds through the print head, the coated side should face the label.

Thermal printing uses heat technology to print. It is one of the most popular printing methods on the market today. Thermal printing requires the correct combination of printer, printer ribbon matching the substrate that you printing onto.

The ribbons to choose from are:

  • Wax Thermal Transfer Ribbon
  • Wax-Resin Thermal Ribbons
  • Resin-Based Thermal Transfer Ribbon
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