Ribbons

When choosing the right thermal ribbon for your application you will need to figure out how the ribbon is coated as well as the media type you are printing on.

An easy way to determine which ribbon you might need is based upon the brand of the printer you are using. For example, all Zebra Printers use coated side out (CSO) ribbons, while all Datamax and Sato Printers use coated side in (CSI) ribbons.

Another quick way to determine which ribbon you are using is by sticking a label to the outside of your ribbon roll. If ink sticks to the label that means you are using a coated side out (CSO) ribbon and if nothing appears on the label you are using a coated side in (CSI) ribbon.

If you are still unsure, we have a "compatible printers" section on every product page of our website. Please look for your printer make and model there.

In addition to CSO and CSI, thermal ribbons also come in several different materials. This includes:

• Wax - commonly used with paper labels
• Wax/Resin - often used with polypropylene
• Full Resin - used with polyester, vinyl and nylon and other synthetics.

It is important to know which type of ribbon to use as different materials can affect the print quality and durability of your labels.