Thermal-Transfer Printing: a Better Way to Print Library Labels
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Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Library Faculty & Staff Publications Libraries 3-2004 Thermal-Transfer Printing: A Better Way to Print Library Labels Cheryl D. Walters Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/lib_pubs Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation Walters, Cheryl D., "Thermal-Transfer Printing: A Better Way to Print Library Labels" (2004). Library Faculty & Staff Publications. Paper 9. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/lib_pubs/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Libraries at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Library Faculty & Staff Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. v23n1_final.qxd 5/12/2004 11:27 AM Page 30 Thermal-Transfer nology developed and tested by com- using a stylus pen and library hand, a panies and businesses—thermal- standardized form of handwriting Printing: A Better transfer printing. taught to aspiring librarians in Way to Print As described in this article, Utah library courses. While this method State University Libraries (USUL) created durable text on the spine, its Library Labels uses thermal-transfer printing to legibility depended on the vagaries print better labels via a system com- of handwriting skills while its accu- bining thermal-transfer printing racy depended on the diligence of the Cheryl D. Walters technology with an electronic pro- writer. Superceding the stylus, type- gram that formats and prints data written labels improved legibility by Thermal-transfer printing, a technology directly from the library online cata- adding the consistency of a typewrit- borrowed from the manufacturing sector, log. Because a program instructs the ten font, but unfortunately suffered offers libraries a flexible method for print- printer how to print the label, the the same potential for errors as their ing durable, accurate, legible, and attrac- possibilities for variations in font, predecessor along with introducing tive labels that reliably adhere to most book format, and functionality are virtu- new flaws: a tendency for the text to surfaces. When guided by an electronic pro- ally limitless. The program automati- fade and the label to peel over time. gram customized to meet a library’s partic- cally sets font type and size Another promising method yielded a ular needs, a thermal-transfer printing according to data length, moves data very durable label. The Selin label system offers virtually limitless variations around on the label, translates codes used heat to cook the label onto the in font, format, and functionality. It can into text, prints batches of a single book but proved inconvenient, print labels directly from the online catalog, label with or without incrementing expensive, labor-intensive, and not thereby guaranteeing that call numbers on enumeration, and prints label sets, very attractive or flexible.1 Dot-matrix labels match what patrons see in the cata- among other things. printed labels, while easy to create, log. This article explains thermal-transfer USU’s printing system was cre- suffered from various shortcomings printing and how it compares with other ated in 2000–2001 in collaboration associated with inked-ribbon tech- printing technologies, briefly explores between USUL and a label vendor, nology (misalignment, dried out rib- applications in both the manufacturing and Computype. Shortly afterward, the bons) as well as text that smeared or library environments, and describes in label vendor worked with the online faded and label stock that was only detail how Utah State University Libraries catalog producer Dynix to make this as good as the adhesive used. While and a few other libraries use it to improve printing technology available to font adjustments were possible, they the accuracy, appearance, and durability of other libraries. Several other were not easy to effect, usually their spine labels. libraries’ printing systems also are requiring multistep routines.2 More briefly described in the following recently laser printing—with its crisp It is no secret that libraries often paragraphs. Because of the flexibility letters, flexible fonts, and word-pro- make use of technology first devel- of these thermal-transfer printing cessing capabilities—showed great oped and tested in the business and systems, each library’s setup and initial promise but then disappointed manufacturing sectors. A well- experience is different. with text that smeared and label known example of this borrowing is stock that eventually peeled and only bar-coding technology; a more recent came in inconvenient sheets of fifty- but lesser-known example is the Background six labels.3 All of the above printing automated storage and retrieval sys- methods shared a certain potential tem (robotic retrieval of densely Like many libraries, USUL has for errors in call numbers and other stored materials) being incorporated searched a long time for a way to effi- text because labels did not print in some of the newest library build- ciently print attractive, legible labels directly from the online catalog’s ings. Now libraries have another that endure rather than fade, smear, item records where users see the call opportunity to capitalize on a tech- or simply fall off the book throughout numbers. Call numbers displayed in its years of use. Providing such labels the online catalog were thus not seems simple, and yet all of the dif- guaranteed to match the call num- ferent ways of creating library labels bers printed on spine labels, a seri- that were tried in the past proved ous, persistent problem that resulted Cheryl D. Walters ([email protected]. usu.edu) is Head of Cataloging at Utah unsatisfactory in one way or another. in books that were misshelved or State University, Logan. Graphics for this In the early part of the twentieth missing. article were created by Nathan Walker, century, USUL, like many others, During more than one hundred Systems Administrator, Utah State manually wrote call numbers and years of operation, the libraries at University Libraries. other vital elements on book spines USU tried all of the aformentioned 30 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARIES | MARCH 2004 v23n1_final.qxd 5/12/2004 11:27 AM Page 31 traditional label-printing methods ■ the ability to translate the ity of the new thermal-transfer print- with unsatisfactory results. Indeed, if library’s various location and ers with their varying font sizes elim- one walks through Merrill Library’s collection codes into under- inated the need to stock many long stacks of books, label inadequa- standable label headings; different label sizes and reduced cies are clearly evident: labels faded ■ affordability; and label wastage by 90 percent. so badly they can hardly be read, ■ label stock that adhered well to labels peeling off the spines, and most book surfaces. fonts that are difficult to read. For a Thermal Transfer number of years, typewritten, dot- To meet these numerous criteria, versus Direct Thermal matrix, or laser labels were covered a printing technology that manufac- with a clear layer of glue to help turers used extensively but which There are actually two kinds of ther- labels adhere to the book. But this libraries had only recently discov- mal printing: thermal transfer and was messy and time-consuming; ered was selected: thermal-transfer direct thermal. Both use a thermal while the label lasted longer, it often printing. The proposed system printhead containing two hundred to originated with print that was too would use a second small component six hundred heating elements (dots) light or contained typos, depending called a LabelMorphor to integrate per linear inch (dpi), but while direct on the label creator and type of the thermal-transfer label printer thermal applies the heated print head printer. More recently, label protec- with the library’s online catalog. directly to chemically treated paper, tors replaced glue but also added thermal-transfer printers apply the another cost to the process. printhead to a ribbon that transfers What Is Thermal- the image or text to the label material Transfer Printing? (called a substrate).7 Thermal-transfer Desired Specifications printing has several advantages over Thermal-transfer printing found direct-thermal printing. Printheads In 2000, as Head of Cataloging at wide acceptance in Japan about last much longer in the thermal-trans- USUL, the author began working twenty years ago because of its flexi- fer process because the ribbon serves with the bar-coding and labeling bility in printing complex kanji char- as a buffer between the label and the company Computype to design a acters.5 About eight years ago, United printhead. While thermal-direct print- label-printing system driven by an States companies discovered its use- ers have the advantage of not requir- electronic program based on the fulness in printing compliance labels ing ribbons, they are limited to special library’s needs and specifications.4 and bar codes, especially for situa- chemically treated paper, whereas The following desired attributes were tions where printed labels were thermal transfer permits a wide vari- specified: exposed to harsh manufacturing or ety of label materials such as paper environmental conditions. Avon and various synthetics, including ■ the ability to print from any Corporation, the well-known cos- vinyls (polyolefin, polyethylene, poly- workstation; metic company,