What the label is made of
- White print area: takes the thermal transfer print.
- Clear tail: transparent film that wraps over the print.
- Adhesive: across the whole label, so the tail sticks to the print area beneath it.
- Liner: the backing on the roll, peeled off before you wrap.
Why the laminate matters
A thermal transfer print sits on the surface of the label. On a cable that gets pulled, bent and wiped for years, an unprotected print slowly wears. The clear tail puts a layer of film between the print and everything that touches it.
How to size it
The width of the label runs along the cable and sets how long a line of ID text can be. The white area wraps around the cable, so its height sets how many lines fit. The clear tail has to wrap at least once around the cable, so it must be at least as long as the cable’s circumference (π × diameter). On a 6 mm cord, that is about 19 mm of clear tail. The size table on our wrap marker page covers common diameters.
How to print it
- Use a thermal transfer printer and a ribbon suited to the label material.
- Keep the print on the white area. Anything printed on the clear tail ends up on the outside, unprotected.
- Print the ID so it runs along the cable, and keep a small margin to the edges.
How to apply it
- Make sure the cable jacket is clean and dry.
- Place the white area on the cable, with the ID running along it.
- Wrap the label around the cable, firm but without stretching it.
- Let the clear tail cover the print and press it down along its whole length.
When to use something else
| If… | Use |
|---|---|
| The ID must read in a dense bundle without turning the cable | Flag label |
| You build the cable and the connector is not on yet | Heat shrink sleeve |