What to print a label on? Label printer – choose the right one!

19 Nov 2024 - Joanna Heler-Kończakowska

Labels and markings are essential components in production and warehouse management, logistics, and e-commerce whether used for marking products, shipments, or documents. As a carrier of information, the label should be diligently made and printed as the correctness of the data read from it depends on that. Therefore, selecting the suitable material and printing equipment is important. The options are varied, and each label printing method has advantages and limitations. Explore various label printing options, and select the label printer that best suits your needs.

Can you print labels on a standard printer? Is a label printer the only option?

Printing on a standard label printer is possible, but there are several issues to take into account. The type of paper plays a significant role here. Inkjet and laser printers commonly available in offices and homes, print self-adhesive labels prepared on A4 and smaller-size sheets. In the case of inkjet printers, it is worth noting that the label paper should be dedicated to inkjet printing. Failure to choose the right paper can result in smearing. Moreover, standard office printers are not particularly efficient. They work well only when address labels or labels for archiving documents are printed occasionally.

What are the printers for printing self-adhesive labels?

If you intend to print labels in larger quantities, it is worth considering purchasing a specialized label printer. Such devices are specifically dedicated to this purpose, which ensures better print quality and higher efficiency. Self-adhesive labels are then prepared on a roll that can accommodate, depending on the label size, from several to tens of thousands of labels. In addition, label printers have a built-in barcode generator thanks to which the printed code has the right proportions and is of better quality than the one that is inserted into the label as an image. That is why these printers are commonly called barcode printers.

There are several types of self-adhesive label printers:

thermal printers – these are devices that use special thermal paper, which does not require printer ink or toner. Thermal label printers are common in logistics and retail as they print price, address, and shipping labels quickly. However, thermal labels darken over time and the printed information becomes invisible or poorly legible.
thermal transfer printers – use a special ribbon (the so-called thermal transfer ribbon), which, during printing, transfers the dye from the ribbon onto the label. Thanks to that, label print is resistant to smudging, scratching, temperature, detergents, and chemicals, making them perfect for industrial applications.
inkjet printers – use ink contained in cartridges for printing. Inkjet printers have several cartridges containing various colors, making it possible to print multicolor labels on an industrial scale.

What type of printer should you select for self-adhesive labels?

You already know what types of printers are available. Now it is necessary to consider which printer to choose. Selecting a device depends on your own needs and financial capabilities. On the market there are plenty of devices for label printing of different classes and for different applications:

high-resolution label printers – with a print head that has a resolution of 300 dpi and 600 dpi – they are designed for printing very small fonts, precise symbols, logos, barcodes, and 2D codes. High-resolution printers are used for printing 2D codes on very small labels for marking electronic components or for labeling test tubes in laboratories.
large-format printers – with 6” and 8” print heads – are most commonly used for printing 150×210 mm logistics labels, as well as other logistics and production markings.
printers with a code verifier – thermal transfer printers fitted with a built-in barcode verifier. The verifier automatically checks each printed code on the label for precision, print quality, and compliance with the standard. Such printers are used in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, where quality standards for labels and printing are extremely stringent.
printers with a standard 4” printhead width and 203 dpi resolution are the most commonly selected label printers, designed for printing labels of various sizes.

Printer manufacturers offer a wide range of label printing equipment, differing in design, performance, and price. Printers are most commonly divided into three groups:

small desktop printers for printing low and medium print runs
mid-range industrial printers with enhanced standards designed for high-volume label printing
industrial label printers – devices dedicated to industry, which can operate on production lines 24/7.

What is a thermal transfer printer?

A thermal transfer printer is a highly specialized device. The printing element is a heated printhead, which melts the dye from the thermal transfer ribbon and transfers it onto the label. Depending on what materials the label is made of – paper, foil, or textile – different thermal transfer ribbons are used. The type of thermal transfer ribbon determines the quality and durability of the information printed on the label. For example, prints made with a resin ribbon on PP, PC, PE, and PCV labels are extremely durable and resistant to weather conditions, chemicals, and abrasion. Thermal transfer printers are versatile as they can print on paper, foil, plastics, and textile labels. That is why they are common in the automotive, chemical, food, pharmaceutical, electronics and logistics industries.

Which is the best label printer?

There are plenty of manufacturers of very good and reliable printers on the market, including Zebra, TSC, Citizen, Printronix, Honeywell, and Toshiba Tec. It is sometimes difficult to decide for yourself which device to select and which will be the best. The choice of the printer depends on the intended use, the type of labels you want to print, your production needs, and your budget.

If you need help choosing the right printer or selecting labels and thermal transfer ribbons, contact us! We have been involved in the manufacturing of labels and thermal transfer printing for more than thirty years. Our offer includes all models of label printers available on the market, we provide warranty and post-warranty service for the equipment, and we offer HelpDesk technical assistance, consumables, and ETILABEL software for label design and printing.

Do you need to choose a printer or consumables? Contact our expert!

Joanna Heler-Kończakowska

Worked as a journalist for "Dziennik Zachodni", graduated from Political Science at the Silesian University. In Etisoft works in the Marketing department and is responsible for communication. She believes Napoleon was right claiming: "I am more afraid of three newspapers than of three thousand bayonets." Word lover and a passionate tracker of verbal absurdities. While shopping she spends her time by reading…labels. Skiing during winter, she chooses nordic walking poles in the summertime.