Choosing the Right Label

Type of Printer	How it works	Advantages	Disadvantages
Laser	A laser draws the image on a master surface in the printer (the laser light neutralizes static charge). Plastic powder (toner) sticks to charged areas of the master which have not been exposed by the laser. The toner is transferred and fused to the paper by a hot roller.	Excellent resolution Printer can be used for other tasks Good speed Economical for large-format labels (eg. 8.5" x 14")	Synthetic labels usually do not give good results (the hot fuser can wrinkle or melt plastics) Prints whole sheet of labels at a time; not ideal for small batches of labels Color laser printers are expensive Printers with convoluted paper path risk peeling off labels inside the printer
Inkjet	Miniature electronic "plungers" shoot tiny droplets of ink onto the paper. The ink is absorbed into the surface of the paper or, in the case of special high-quality paper, into the special surface coating.	Can be low cost Good resolution Printer can be used for other tasks Color often available at reasonable cost	Not as precise as laser or thermal for barcodes Moderately slow Inks usually run or bleed if exposed to water Prints whole sheet of labels at a time, not ideal for small batches of labels Requires some drying time Ink cartridges can be expensive
Dot Matrix	Miniature electronic actuators bang the tips of fine (but tough) wires into an inked fabric ribbon which in turn smashes into the surface of the paper, leaving behind a smudge of ink.	Small/slow printers can be low cost Printer can be used for other tasks Using 1-across labels can print one label at a time Can be economical for very large labels (eg. 11" x 17") Can print multi-part carbon forms	Low resolution; barcodes must be large to insure readability Printers generally slow and noisy Ink ribbons fade, often not replaced soon enough to avoid substandard barcodes
Direct Thermal	The paper from which the label is made is chemically treated and reacts to heat by turning black. The printer has a row of individually controlled tiny electronic heaters (typically 200 to 300 per inch); these turn on and off as the paper passes by, producing the desired image.	Printers fast and quiet Simple to load labels (no ribbons or toner required) Printers can be small and economical Can deliver small batches of labels quickly and with no waste Barcodes are precise	Chemically sensitive labels fade with age (6 months to 1 year); accelerated by exposure to sunlight and heat Some chemicals can trigger darkening of labels (eg. highlighter or permanent marker pen fumes) Surface of direct thermal stock is slightly abrasive; printheads wear a little faster than if using thermal transfer method Printer dedicated to labels
Thermal Transfer	Uses thin plastic ribbon with a thin coating of wax or resin impregnated with pigment. The labels (made of plain paper or synthetic material) and the ribbon are pressed together as they pass a thermal printhead (same type used for direct thermal). The heat transfers the wax/resin from the ribbon to the surface of the label.	Printers fast and quiet Printers can be small and economical for low-volume applications Can deliver small batches of labels quickly and with no waste Can print all types of label stock (paper and synthetic) Labels are durable, have good finish and long life expectancy Barcodes are precise Color ribbons available	Printers for high-volume applications or large label sizes can be expensive In addition to labels, printer consumes one-pass ribbons Multi-color thermal transfer printers can be expensive Printer dedicated to labels

We hope this information will help you select the type of label and printing method that are best for your application. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your project in detail, please contact us.