Colorful Thermal Transfer Ribbons

With thermal transfer, the printer uses a ribbon as the mechanism for imaging the label. A thermal transfer ribbon is a thin film that is wound on a roll that has a special black coating on one side. This coating is usually made from a wax or resin formulation.

How long do thermal transfer ribbons last? The expiry date of thermal ribbons if left on the shelf ranges between one to two years. But if you unbox a thermal ribbon and leave it unused, it will start depreciating and may become unusable after 24 hours.

Do thermal printers run out of ink? Thermal printers can never run out of ink because they don't use ink in the first place. They use a special mechanism that creates imprints with the application of heat. Thermal transfer printers use heat to met print ribbons.
Heat Exposure
Generally, direct thermal papers would turn black if the temperature of the area exceeds 150° F (66° C). This is because the heat-sensitive chemicals of the paper would react and darken the entire sheet.
What's great about thermal transfer? ... Unlike direct thermal, thermal transfer prints do not fade when exposed to sunlight, making it an ideal printing method for businesses where items are moved around a lot like in warehouse and logistics industries.