Moving Beyond Black

Noting thermal transfer's strides in color ribbon quality, Major confirms that "the technology is suitable for process work, but prints more slowly than traditional processes." However, he notes, using a paneled ribbon or multi-headed thermal transfer printer may be less expensive for printing short label runs than setting up a flexo press. "Two hundred custom labels at one dollar each, a high label cost, are likely to be less expensive in total than the minimum set-up charges for traditional plates and run time."