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notched stock Media, typically tag stock, with holes or notches in the material that is used to signal the top of
form. The printer must be set to ‘gap’ to use this media type.
preprinted media Label stock that contains borders, text, or graphics, floodcoating, etc.
perforation Small cuts extending through the backing and/or label material to facilitate their separation. Also
referred to as “perf”.
print speed The speed at which the media moves under the printhead during the printing process.
reflective media Media imprinted with carbon-based black marks on the underside of the material, which is used
to signal the top of form when the ‘reflective’ sensor is enabled.
registration Repeatable top to bottom alignment of printed labels.
reverse speed The backward rate of media motion into the printer during tear-off, peel and present and cutting
operations for positioning the label at the start of print position.
ribbon An extruded polyester tape with several layers of material, one of which is ink-like, used to produce an
image on the label. Also referred to as “foil”.
ribbon wrinkle An undesirable overlapping of the ribbon during the printing process that leads to voids on the
printed label, typically caused by an improper ribbon width adjustment.
roll media A form of media that is wound upon a cardboard core.
start of print The position on the label where the printing actually begins.
tag stock A heavy paper or synthetic printing material, typically featuring a notch or black mark for TOF and no
adhesive backing.
thermal transfer The printing method that creates an image by transferring ink from a ribbon onto the media using
the heat from the thermal printhead.
TOF (top of form) The start of a new label as indicated by a label gap, notch, mark or programming.
void An undesirable blank space in a printed image.