No printout

Explanation

The coated side of the ribbon is turned to the printhead instead of being turned to the media.

Help

Turn around the ribbon! Before reloading the ribbon clean printhead from the ink that has been transferred already. The ribbons in use should generally comply with the coating specification of the printer manufacturer. The path of the ribbon inside the printer and the unwind mechanism are both designed to work with one particular coating side: either inside or outside. During the printing process the ribbon needs to be tense. This can either be accomplished with simple friction clutches like a felt disc between two aluminium discs or with springs causing »active tension«.
Thermal transfer ribbons with the wrong coating side - inside instead of outside and vice versa - can be used without problems in some printers (e.g. Sato). Other printers allow for a limited use of those ribbons, and certain printers do not work with them at all. Especially in the latter case it is very important to pay attention to sourcing a ribbon with the correct winding.
In a case of emergency it is possible to rewind the ribbon either manually or by using the printer. Some printers may be »outwitted« by manually simulating the properly unwinding ribbon and at the same time slowing down the unwind-shaft.

Explanation

Printing temperature too low

Help

Raise temperature

Explanation

Label substrate does not accept the ink (surface energy, UV-varnish etc.)

Help

Try other ribbon qualities. Some UV-varnishes are almost inimprintable and there is no way to change this. When dealing with difficult surfaces it is always worth testing different ribbon qualities in order to find an acceptable print quality.