Media FAQs

Labels or tags are our goal, printers and software are just the means to that goal.
Whether your requirements are standard or exotic, we can help you.

Paper - most applications

Thermal Transfer Paper- Standard

Direct Thermal Paper

Synthetics- Waterproof

Vinyls

Polyester- Waterproof, Suitable for Outdoor use.

Polyimide- Super High Temperature

TAGS- Bin tags and Hang tags

Cardstock
Synthetic- Tear Resistant: Lumber and steel tags.

Coatings

Varnish- A clear coating over the preprint
Flood Coatings- A colored background for your label
Lamination- A clear layer of polyester film over
your preprint

Adhesives

Permanent - Standard acrylic adhesive
Heavy Coat weight - Thick coating for stickier labels
Removable - Initially removable that hardens to permanent
Dispersion - Removable non-hardening; leaves no residue
Opaque - Black adhesive for covering existing labels
Freezer - For application to items that are at Freezing temperatures*
Cryogenic - Application to Frozen objects and extreme low temp resistance.

* Standard adhesive will work in many applications dealing with frozen items. Standard adhesive has a minimum application temperature of 20°F and a service temperature down to -40°F. Freezer adhesive has the same service temperature as the standard adhesive, but differs in that it has a minimum application temperature of -20°F.

Actually, the standard Permanent adhesive is more than adequate and much less expensive. If the label is being applied to a frozen object, then it might be necessary to use:

Stock Labels
Wherever possible we recommend the use of Stock labels. They are the most cost effective solution. Stock labels are produced in quantity, cased and inventoried. This allows you to buy as few as a case while taking advantage of the economies of large production. The majority of our stock labels are paper thermal transfer labels, but we also have a fair number of paper direct thermal labels, many polyester labels, high temp polyamides, and some specialty labels.

Custom labels and tags
Labels unique to your application; any size, shape, color, material and adhesive. If your application requires a unique size not available in our stock labels. Customize your label by having us preprint your color logo or other information.

Ribbons
Ribbons are available in WAX, WAX/RESIN and pure RESIN. Wax is the least expensive and most common, but also smudges more that than the others. Wax/Resin offers greater smudge resistance. Pure Resin ribbons are used with synthetic stocks and are extremely smudge resistant. Within each category are various formulations.

They are available in various lengths and widths, wound-in or out for various printers. We sell only top quality ribbons and routinely retest them for print quality over a range of media, smudge resistance and sharpness.

For trouble free printing and economy we recommend selecting a ribbon about 1/8” wider than the backing of the label that you’re printing. This will protect the thermal print head and minimize the chance of the ribbon wrinkling.