Thermal Transfer Labels Thermal transfer printers use heat to bond a thin film of ribbon coating onto label stock Both the labels and the ribbon feed through the printer, and the printer applies heat to the ribbon to transfer the wax and resin onto the label (hence the term thermal transfer). The printers that are used for thermal transfer can also print direct thermal labels. The specific label material and ribbon must be carefully matched to ensure print performance and durability. Typical thermal transfer applications include: product identification; circuit board tracking; permanent identification; sample and file tracking; asset tagging; inventory identification; certification labels such as UL/CSA; laboratory specimens; cold storage and freezers; and outdoor applications.