When stocking up on ID supplies, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right ribbon for your particular card-printing application. Of course you need a ribbon that’s compatible with your card printer, but you also need to determine the proper ribbon type. For single-sided dye-sublimation printers, the most common color ribbon types are YMC, YMCK, and YMCKO. Let’s break down the differences.

YMC ribbons are capable of printing full color and composite black, which is created by mixing colors from the YMC panels. YMC ribbons are only intended for use with laminating printers. Because there is no ‘O’ panel on YMC ribbons the cards are not sealed and will fade or scratch without the extra layer of lamination. These ribbons work fine if you don’t require barcodes or sharp black text.
YMCK ribbons offer full color along with a resin black panel that gives you the ability to print crisp barcodes and text. In fact, when printing barcodes, resin black is required so that your barcodes can actually be read by scanners.
YMCKO ribbons are the same as YMCK ribbons, but provide an additional overlay panel that offers a thin layer of protection for your cards. The overlay panel helps to delay fading while offering protection against wear and tear.
Not sure which ribbon type is right for you? Check out our full selection at http://store.alphacard.com/printer-ribbons or give us a call at 800-717-8080.