Which Ribbon for Which Label Material

Use wax for paper, wax-resin for coated paper and light synthetics, resin for PET/PP/polyimide facing chemicals or heat, and wash-care for fabric.

Start with the face material of the label, then consider what the finished print must survive. Two labels with the same dimensions may need different grades because one is paper and the other is plastic. The table uses the same material-to-grade matches as the ribbon selector and the products page, so you can move from a material to a grade without guessing from its code.

A match in the table is a starting point for testing, rather than a reason to skip the test. Use your actual label stock and printer, and check the print under the conditions the label will meet. For a broader comparison of the three ink families, read wax vs wax-resin vs resin.

Wax ink sits on top of the label surface rather than bonding into it. That is fine for paper labels, but hard rubbing, moisture or solvents can smudge the print. The distinction matters when a paper label looks satisfactory at the printer but is later handled or exposed to liquid. Choose the grade for the finished label's use, rather than only for how dark the first print looks.

The wax ribbons family contains CW-11 and CW-12. CW-11 lists uncoated and matte-coated paper; CW-12 lists coated and semi-gloss paper labels. Start with the product's substrate list and compare it with the description on your label roll. A coated or semi-gloss paper face is still paper, but its surface changes the choice within the family.

Wax-resin resists smudging, scratching and moderate chemical exposure. It suits coated paper and light synthetic labels, including PP and PET for lighter duty. This makes it the family to compare when wax prints well initially but the finished label needs more resistance to handling. It also avoids choosing resin just because the application needs something more durable than wax.

The wax-resin ribbons family contains CW-15, CW-20, CW-22, CW-25 and CW-30. The shared material table names CW-12, CW-15 and CW-20 for coated or semi-gloss paper, and CW-20 and CW-22 for light synthetic or polyester stock. Compare each grade's substrate list with the actual label face before choosing.

Polypropylene is a synthetic label face, so wax is a mismatch. Wax ink does not bond to the plastic and scratches off. A dark barcode straight after printing does not prove that the ink has bonded: the rub and scratch checks are part of deciding whether the combination is usable.

Wax-resin CW-22 or CW-25 can suit PP for lighter duty. Resin CW-28 is the option to compare where a PP label faces chemicals or solvents. The material table gives starting grades; the final choice also depends on what happens to the label after it leaves the printer. Use the same PP stock for each comparison so a change in label surface does not disguise a change in ribbon performance.

Resin bonds to synthetic labels such as PET, PP, polyimide and film, and resists chemicals, solvents, heat and abrasion. It bonds poorly on paper. The resin ribbons family includes CW-28, CW-33 and CW-66; use the substrate list on each grade page to check the label material rather than treating every resin grade as interchangeable.

PET labels can also use wax-resin for lighter duty. CW-20, CW-22 and CW-25 suit polyester labels where that level of resistance meets the application. For full durability, compare CW-28 or CW-33. Test against the liquid and handling the finished label will actually encounter, not a different stock chosen only because it is available beside the printer.

Polyester is not enough for repeated autoclave sterilisation or solder reflow. Those applications need polyimide labels. Selecting a more durable ribbon does not turn a polyester label into polyimide; both the label face and the ribbon must match the requirement.

Fabric care labels use the wash-care family rather than the paper-label route. CW-60 is made for nylon satin, polyester satin, taffeta and woven fabric labels, and is rated for 60+ wash cycles. See wash care ribbons for the grade rather than choosing wax because the label is small or because it looks clear immediately after printing.

These faults are reasons to check the pair before changing the printer. A faint print may need a settings adjustment, while ink that scratches off plastic can be a material mismatch. Ribbon width is a separate check: even the correct ink family can leave the head exposed or create creases if the ribbon is the wrong width. Use the ribbon width and length guide when ordering the sample.

1. Print 20 labels using the actual label stock and the proposed ribbon grade.
2. Rub the print with a dry thumb and look for smudging or lifted ink.
3. Scratch the print with a fingernail and compare the result across the labels.
4. Wipe it with the liquid it will meet in use, rather than testing a different exposure.
5. Scan every barcode; a print that looks dark is not a substitute for a successful scan.
6. Keep an unprinted label as the reference so you can compare the label face with the printed samples.

Check whether the stock is thermal transfer or direct thermal before asking for ribbon. Direct thermal labels print without a ribbon; thermal transfer labels need one. The thermal transfer vs direct thermal guide explains that distinction.

Send us a sample of the label. We suggest a grade and send a free sample roll to test on your printer. Contact us on WhatsApp with the printer model, label material and what the finished label must survive. Codewell makes 11 CW-series grades, so naming the material helps narrow the choice before testing.