Wax ribbons, sometimes referred to as “resin enhanced wax” ribbons, are the most common (and least expensive), suitable for uncoated or matte coated labels. Durability: Wax ribbons are less durable than other types but are less expensive, too. They provide an image that will resist fading better than Direct Thermal labels, but the image is still going to be susceptible to scratching and smudging. Wax ribbons also offer limited chemical resistance compared to wax-resin or resin. How the process works: All wax ribbons have some resin in them. The combination of wax and resin inks are melted down and coated onto a PET film. A backcoating is applied to the reverse side; then the rolls are slit down to various widths and lengths for different printer models. In the printer, the printhead elements receive a digital signal to rapidly heat up and cool down. When hot, they transfer the ink from the ribbon onto the label (assuming you have the correct label/ribbon combination, the ink will stick to the label). Uses: Wax ribbons are used for short-term and light durability applications such as shipping labels, retail tagging, storage locations, signage, and many more. They are by far the most popular and make up more than 70% of thermal transfer ribbon (TTR) sales.