Due to the curved nature of wristbands and the limited space that is typically available for text and the bar code, printers used to produce bar code wristbands need to be configured slightly differently than printers used for other forms of bar code and label printing.

So the three tips are:

1. Manage the Barcode Smybol Size

If the barcode needs 10-15 characters, It’s suggested to use a denser barcode symbolology like a Code 128 vs a UPC or Code 39. Make sure you adjust the ratio and dimensions of the barcode relative to the wrist band through the commnad setting on the printer, so the barcode size appears readable on the wristband. Also sometimes for pint quality it’s good to print 300 dpi (dots per inch) but mostly 203 is good enough.

2. Optimize Your scanning Performace and Image Durability 

If using a Zebra Printer, use the adjustable print contrast setting which provides a better image quality and scanning ability. It allows you to test if you need a darker print or lighter based on the wristband materials.

Zebra has recommended settings that will provide optimum scanning performance and image durability.

 ”A fully saturated direct thermal image produced at these settings will resist fading significantly better than a less-saturated image printed at a lower darkness setting. This creates a more durable image and one that achieves better scanning performance.”

3. Calibrate to Avoid Wasting

“Properly calibrating the printer for wristband media can greatly help efficiency by eliminating waste and saving supply loading time.Wristband and label printers have sensors that help the printer determine where the wristband or label begins so that printing is properly aligned. One type of sensor recognizes a mark on the media, another identifies the gap between the end of one label or wristband and the start of the next. If the sensor setting isn’t matched to the media, the printer may need to cycle through several blank wristbands before it can detect the edge and align for proper printing. When this occurs customers often call technical support to report a problem with the printer, although the problem is simply in calibration and is easily remedied.”

Source: http://images.vertmarkets.com/crlive/files/downloads/9ebb9de2-1e5c-4557-bcb5-d68469583110/WP14079_WristbandPrintingTips.pdf