Label media first divides into direct thermal paper, printed without a ribbon, and thermal transfer media that takes a ribbon, and within those, into paper (art paper) and synthetics (synthetic paper and PET). Once the material is decided, check whether the label shape (gap, black mark, continuous) and the roll outer diameter and core fit the printer.
Labels compared by material and print method
| Media | Print method | Zebra ribbon category | Goodlabel and Wooju ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct thermal paper | Direct thermal | No ribbon | No ribbon |
| Synthetic direct thermal (waterproof direct thermal) | Direct thermal | No ribbon | No ribbon |
| Art paper (coated paper) | Thermal transfer | Wax/resin (coated paper) | Wax W-220 |
| Synthetic paper (waterproof synthetic) | Thermal transfer | Wax/resin (matte synthetics) | Wax W-220 |
| Polyester such as PET and silver matte | Thermal transfer | Resin (all synthetics) | W-324 (resin) |
By Zebra's categories, paper takes wax, coated paper and matte synthetics take wax/resin, and all synthetics take resin. Our art paper and synthetic labels are matched to print with wax W-220, and labels exposed to chemicals or frequent rubbing move up to W-128 (wax/resin) or W-324 (resin).
3 Goodlabel label types and counts per roll
Goodlabel labels come in 3 types: direct thermal labels, synthetic direct thermal labels, and synthetic labels that need a ribbon. Even at the same width and length, the count per roll differs by material.
| Size (W x L) | Direct thermal labels | Synthetic direct thermal labels | Synthetic labels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 x 30 mm | 1,500 | 1,500 | 1,800 |
| 100 x 80 mm | 600 | 600 | 750 |
| 100 x 100 mm | 450 | 450 | 600 |
Direct thermal labels range from 30 x 10 mm (3,800 per roll) to 100 x 150 mm for courier waybills (300 per roll), and wax ribbons for synthetic labels are all 300 m in widths of 40-110 mm. Our labels are wound to the maximum capacity that fits in desktop printers, and with more labels per roll, rolls are changed less often.
5 media shapes the TE210 accepts and its sensors
Printers find the start of each label by the gap between labels, a black mark on the back, or a notch or hole. The TSC TE210 accepts all of continuous media, gap labels, black mark, notch, and fanfold media.
Based on the Zebra ZT411, gap labels have a 2-4 mm gap, with 3 mm recommended. Continuous media has no mark to indicate the length of one label, so it is used mainly as receipt paper.
If labels print skipping one after changing labels, check sensor sensitivity, dust on the sensor, and the label size setting in turn, then recalibrate the sensor. Calibration methods are covered in troubleshooting label print quality.
Roll outer diameter, core, and thickness by printer
| Printer | Roll outer diameter | Core diameter | Media thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zebra ZD421 | 127 mm | 12.7 and 25.4 mm (up to 76.2 mm with adapters) | 0.06-0.19 mm |
| TSC TE210 | 127 mm (external holder 214 mm) | 25.4-38 mm | 0.06-0.19 mm |
| Bixolon SLP-DX420 | 130 mm | 25.4-38.1 mm | 0.06-0.20 mm |
| Zebra ZT411 | 203 mm | 76 mm | 0.058-0.25 mm |
| TSC MH241 | 203.2 mm | 38.1 and 76.2 mm | 0.06-0.28 mm |
The 3 desktop models in the table hold rolls of 127-130 mm outer diameter inside the unit, and the industrial ZT411 and MH241 take 203 mm outer diameter rolls on 76 mm cores. To use industrial rolls on 76 mm cores in a desktop printer, attach a separate external holder, as on the TE210.
