Barcode Printing Tips: 7 Easy Ways to Print Quality Barcodes

These gadgets use heat to melt ribbon ink onto the facestock. Ribbons have a wide variety of colors. Thermal transfer printers also process various facestock materials, making them more versatile than other office printers.

Ribbons are of three types—purely wax, wax-resin hybrid and purely resin. How do they differ? Ever seen candle wax melt on cloth? It melts at fairly low temperatures—just above 99ºF—and can stay on the fabric surface if left undisturbed. However, it comes off easily when scraped off.

By comparison, resin is made of plastic that is akin to water bottles and stretch wrap. It melts at much higher temperatures, and, when it hits cloth, it meshes tightly with the fibers rather than simply stick on the surface. Thus, resin print is extremely durable.

From this analogy, you’re probably guessing that the higher the ribbon’s resin content is, the more durable is the print. That is actually true, but resin also significantly raises ribbon price.

Generally, wax ribbons are used on uncoated paper. Their color variety makes them better than direct thermal printers at customizing package labels, shipping stickers and other retail tags. Even though they work with similar color palettes, thermal transfer printers still have the edge over laser printers in terms of barcoding efficiency.

If you want to print more durable images, resin-containing ribbon will serve you better. Wax-resin hybrids can be used on glossy paper labels and other facestock materials that need weatherproofing. Purely resin ribbons can be used on PVC IDs, washable tags and labels that may be exposed to harsh chemicals.

In our blog, 2020’s Best Direct Thermal Printers for Small Businesses, we mentioned that some direct thermal printers have a dual function in that they also possess a thermal transfer mode. The TSC TE210 is one of those, and it costs about the same as the more popular Brother QL1110NWB, which only has a direct thermal mode. With all its other features, the TSC TE210 is a bargain at its price point.

These are the kinds of gadgets you can use for printing barcodes. Each has its pros and cons, and studying them can help you figure out which one is the best for your business.