The Software Story
The ribbon printing industry has been in need of a sophisticated and reliable software program for some time now. One where your creativity can flow without interruption and designing can be completed quickly and easily.
I took on the challenge and I'm proud to say it now exists ... and Made In America too! Here's the story behind its development.
How much does a ribbon printer cost?
A thermal ribbon printer costs between $500-$1,800. There are dramatic differences in product offerings so make sure to do some research. This way your purchase will match your needs. While portable ribbon printing machines are relatively new to the market, you do have choices when selecting a machine and the company you'd like to work with.
Here are some things to consider:
Which ribbon printer should you buy?
If you are in the market for a machine that will customize printed ribbon, you are making a wise investment. In this world where Sharon is now Sharyn and Jane could be Jayne, Jaine, or who knows what, personalization is at its peak in popularity. Businesses large and small use ribbon printers for branding, attracting corporate customers, and most importantly, for offering something their competition doesn't.
Having said that, which one is for you? I'm now going to share with you a secret about these machines. Get ready, this is a stunner ...
Ribbon Printers: Thermal Transfer vs. Hot Stamping
If you are researching ribbon printers, you've probably already come across these two options - Thermal Heat Transfer and Hot Stamping. Both are currently used for printing on ribbon but are very different from one another. Here's a little history and a comparison so you can decide which one is right for you. Thermal Transfer - This is the newest method where you create a design on your computer through a specialized software program that then prints on the ribbon using a bar code printer. Hot Stamping - This method has been in existence for a while. You manually set type and then apply pressure for a "stamp" to be adhered to the ribbon. There are pros and cons to each system. Below is a chart outlining the differences so you can determine which will best fit your needs.
Ribbons to Use with a Ribbon Printer
"What kind of ribbons work with the ribbon printer?" ... "Do I have to use your ribbons?" ... "Can it print on Grosgrain?"
These are some of the most frequent questions we get. So here's the scoop ... Many people are under the assumption or have been told that the printer will only print on satin ribbon. That is not true! There are quite a few ribbons that you can use and we are identifying more all the time.
Using grosgrain with your thermal ribbon printer
Many ribbons print well using a thermal ribbon printer ... grosgrain isn't one of them.
But wait! There's a bigger question to ask when considering personalized ribbon in conjunction with grosgrain.
What is more important ... using grosgrain ribbon or offering a personalized product?
It's been standard practice to use grosgrain in items such as hair bows, lanyards, and gift wrapping. Granted, it's a luxurious textured ribbon and looks classy. You should use it in your designs. But what do you do about personalization using your thermal ribbon printer? Even though you actually can print on this ribbon, the result is not satisfactory.
To print or not to print - Logos
As names are to a person, logos are to a company. They are everything - their identity and their brand. Larger businesses will spend thousands in research, design, testing and re-testing to make sure they get it right. Therefore, we have the responsibility to treat our customers' logos with the respect they deserve. Demonstrating your understanding of this will get you off to a good start in your business relationship and show your professionalism.
Here are some rules as well as comments on how to handle them within our Ribbon Print environment:
FREE Tool for Ribbon Print Design Editing
The great thing about our Design & Print™ software is that you can do so much with it. The bad thing about our Design & Print™ software is that you can do so much with it and get carried away into creative nirvana!
I love that people are spending time designing very cool ribbons - like Linda down in Florida. Her creative talent and complexity produced a problem that in turn sparked an idea and solution we can all use. This tool is FREE and useful for more than just ribbon printing. Take a look.
25 Font Websites for Creative Ribbon Printing
Discover new creative fonts to print on ribbon[/caption] Call me crazy. I can spend hours looking at fun new fonts to download and have as options for designing ribbon.
Why stick with only the standard fonts that came with your computer? There are so many style options out there to try. PLUS your ribbon designs become even more unique and therefore more profitable. Check out these sites for design inspiration.
See it here first - multi color printing!
See how to do multi-color printing using a thermal ribbon printer. You wouldn't want to do this for logos, but it can be done for other types of designs. This video shows you everything you need to know about this option.
