Sato CT4-LX ribbon — size, core and grade
The Sato CT4-LX takes 110mm × 100m ribbon on a ½" core, outside wound (ink side out).
Codewell Image manufactures that ribbon in Badli, New Delhi — wax, wax-resin and resin grades, slit to your label width, with a free sample before you order.
About the CT4-LX
The CT4-LX is Sato's compact desktop thermal transfer printer, at 203 or 305dpi with a 104mm print width. Sato's datasheet lists one ribbon: up to 100m long, with a roll diameter of up to 39mm, on a ½-inch core, wound face out, which is ink side out. Width runs from 45mm to 111mm. Sato lists no 1-inch core and no inside wound option for the CT4-LX, so the 300m roll that the WS4 takes on a 1-inch core is a different size. At 100m a roll runs out sooner than a 300m one, so keep a spare roll beside the printer. Run our free sample on your own printer before you order a larger quantity. Wax suits paper labels; polyester and polypropylene labels need wax-resin or resin.
Sato CT4-LX specifications for ribbon
| Print method | Thermal transfer (uses ribbon) |
|---|---|
| Resolutions | 203 / 305 dpi |
| Print width | 104mm |
| Ribbon width range | 45–111mm |
| Maximum ribbon length | 100m (maximum roll diameter 39mm) |
| Core | ½" |
| Winding | Outside (ink out) |
Ribbon specification
110mm × 100m is the standard size for this model. Because we slit in-house you are not restricted to it: you can order a narrower width that is still a few millimetres wider than your label, so less ribbon overhangs and goes to waste.
Which grade for a CT4-LX
The printer does not decide the grade — the label material and the conditions it has to survive do.
Pharma labels and high-clarity compliance printing (Sato CL4NX)
Industrial synthetic labels (Sato CL408e, CL412e)
Maximum durability outdoor and chemical-resistant labels (Sato CL6NX)
Standard paper labels for logistics (Sato WS408TT)
Unsure? The ribbon selector narrows it in two questions, or see the full size chart listing the printer models we have checked.
Loading ribbon in a Sato printer
Winding direction varies by Sato model. The CL4NX Plus, CL6NX Plus and WS4 take inside- or outside-wound ribbon with no setting change; the CT4-LX and CG4 take outside-wound only; the older CL408e, CL412e and M84Pro take inside-wound only. Always give us your Sato model when ordering. CW-series ribbons are available in both inside wound and outside wound configurations.
Sato CT4-LX ribbon — common questions
What ribbon size does the Sato CT4-LX use?+
110mm × 100m on a ½" core, outside wound (ink side out). At 100m a roll covers roughly 1,000 labels at 100mm pitch. We slit 25mm – 160mm, so a non-standard width for your label is not a problem.
Is the CT4-LX inside or outside wound?+
Outside wound — the ink side faces out. Load an inside-wound roll instead and the ink faces away from the label, so the label comes out blank; that reads as a printer fault but is a winding problem.
Which ribbon grade should I use in a CT4-LX?+
Grade follows the label, not the printer. Desktop units like the CT4-LX are most often paired with paper stock, where wax (CW-11 or CW-12) is the right grade. Move to wax-resin only if the label is coated or synthetic.
Can I get a free sample for my CT4-LX?+
Yes. We manufacture in Badli, New Delhi and send samples so you can print on your own CT4-LX with your own label stock before ordering volume. Wash-care and resin grades in particular are worth testing rather than taking on spec.
Need a size the CT4-LX does not take as standard? We slit 25mm – 160mm.
Ask for a custom size