Thermal transfer labels are used for printing. The thermal transfer technology is used on a large scale especially for industrial purposes. The thermal transfer technology refers to usage of heat and pressure in a thermal transfer printer to transfer wax or resin based dye on the label. Thus thermal transfer technology requires thermal transfer ribbons for thermal transfer labels printing.

Thermal transfer ribbons are used for thermal image printing of bar codes, text and graphics on pressure sensitive and synthetic thermal transfer labels materials, flexible packaging films and plastics. Digital printing with thermal transfer ribbons offer several product advantages that other types of on-demand printing do not, such as faster speeds, uv light resistance, high durability levels, superior color tones and no wet ink to handle or dispose of. The thermal transfer printers use the thermal transfer ribbons along with matching tag stock material to transfer an image onto the thermal transfer labels material.

A thermal transfer printer has many optional thermal transfer labels. Thermal transfer labels made by thermal transfer printing does not fade over time and does not require special paper either. Moreover, the color on the thermal transfer labels has high quality and these thermal transfer labels with thermal transfer printing can be used by many different materials than other printing methods. The following thermal transfer labels can be applied to those products, which are made from plastic, wood, metals, fabric, shoes etc.

Thermal transfer labels are available in varied colors, shapes and sizes. Removable adhesive labels are also used sometimes for printing. Thermal transfer labels are available in paper and synthetic materials with several adhesive types like permanent adhesive, removable adhesive, etc. Paper thermal transfer labels are inexpensive, offers excellent print quality and also used in multiple general purpose applications. Synthetic thermal transfer labels used in these printers are durable, long lasting and also resistant to abrasion, moisture, heat, tearing and chemicals.

Many manufacturers like zebra, tec, avery, eltron, datamax, intermec, rjc, fargo, tlp, and sato and many more provide custom thermal transfer labels, thermal labels, barcode labels, thermal transfer printers and colored thermal transfer ribbons for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications. Some of them undertake polyester lamination to protect thermal transfer labels that are required to last even in harsh environment.