CognitiveTPG Label

Cognitive Media is available in two basic types:

Direct Thermal: A general purpose direct thermal paper label stock suitable for most retail and industrial applications which produces a high contrast black image on a white matte finish coated paper.

Thermal Transfer: A premium coated, ultra smooth thermal transfer label stock suitable for most retail and industrial applications with excellent ink receptivity.

You must order the correct type of media for your printer.

Thermal transfer printers use one of three types of ribbons: wax, wax/resin, and resin. Wax ribbons, the most widely used for shipping, distribution and product identification labels, are formulated for general purpose and have a low melting point for high-speed printing. Wax/resin ribbons are ideal for labels that require increased scratch and smudge resistance. When used in combination with synthetic label stock, a wax/resin ribbon will produce a label that is resistant to moisture and ultra-violet light. This label can also stand up to exposure to rain, sun and cold. Lastly, resin ribbons are the most scratch and smudge resistant. They are ideal for applications that require images to stand up to continuous use in tough environments, including factories and distribution centers. What´s more, certain formulations are steam-press resistant and others are dry-cleanable.

A direct thermal printer applies heat directly to specially treated paper, labels or tags to form the image. The coating on the label media changes color as heat is applied to it. Because of this, no ribbon is required. However, direct thermal printing will wear down the printhead faster than thermal transfer printing. Paper is coarse and will break the printhead down over time. In addition, the edge of each label is striking the printhead, causing further breakdown. Ultimately, you won´t have to buy ribbons, but you´ll have to buy more printheads. This shouldn´t be a deterrent from purchasing a DT printer since today´s printheads last up to 2 million inches. The bottom line is that, in the scope of a year, there is little to no difference in the cost of operation between TT and DT. The difference in cost between DT and TT comes with the initial purchase, as DT sells at a considerably lower price than TT. A downside to DT printing is that the labels, over time, turn yellow, and the print will fade to a faint gray. Overnight carriers typically use DT labels because the labels have a short life span. One last thing to remember is that heat causes the label to change from white to black. Therefore, the labels must be kept from storefront windows.

Key

B=Bar indexing
DT=Direct Thermal
GP=Gap indexing
H=Hole indexing
mil= one one-thousandth of an inch thick
P=Paper
RA=Removable Adhesive
TT=Thermal Transfer