Zebra Ribbons

No, all Zebra Printers can use Direct Thermal Labels. Direct Thermal Labels are made of a special label material that do not require the use of a ribbon. However, if your label will be exposed to a fair amount of direct heat or extended exposure to direct sunlight, then you should consider using a Thermal Transfer Label with the appropriate ribbon.

There are three primary formulations of ribbons for Zebra Barcode Printers - Wax, Wax/Resin, and Resin. Wax ribbons are ideal for paper labels. Wax/Resin Ribbons are ideal deal for glossy paper labels and Polypropylene BOPP labels. Resin Ribbons are ideal for Polyester Labels requiring maximum durability. For additional information, read our full article here

First, you want to choose a ribbon that is slightly wider than the width of your label. For example, if you are printing on a 4” x 6” Label, then you will want to choose a 4.17” or 4.33” wide ribbon. The length of the ribbon you need depends on the model of your Zebra Printer. Most Zebra Industrial Printers (except the ZT220) can accept a ribbon up to 1476’ long. Most Zebra Desktop printers can take a ribbon up to 243’ long.

Direct Thermal Labels are great because they do not require a ribbon and are easy to use. An example of a Direct Thermal Label is the UPS Package Labels. The primary downside to using Direct Thermal Labels is that they aren’t quite as durable as Thermal Transfer Labels and are not designed for applications that involve the label being exposed to a fair amount of direct heat or extended exposure to direct sunlight. For additional information, read our full article here