^MT
Media TypePreview: not drawnWhether the printer uses a ribbon or burns the media directly — the difference between a printed label and a blank one.
Syntax
^MTaParameters
| Parameter | Description and accepted values | If omitted |
|---|---|---|
| a | T for thermal transfer with a ribbon, D for direct thermal without one.T thermal transfer, D direct thermal | Printer setting |
How it works
^MT chooses between thermal transfer, which melts ink from a ribbon onto the label, and direct thermal, which heats the label itself and needs no ribbon at all.
The two failure modes are worth knowing apart. Thermal transfer mode with no ribbon loaded stops the printer with a ribbon-out error. Direct thermal mode with a ribbon loaded prints nothing visible — the head heats media that is not heat-sensitive, the ribbon sits there unused, and the label comes out blank.
Media type also affects how long the label lasts: direct thermal media darkens with heat and sunlight, so it suits shipping labels that are read within days, while thermal transfer survives on an asset tag for years.
Example
^XA
^MTT
^FO50,50^A0N,40^FDThermal transfer^FS
^XZRendering…
How the preview on this site handles it
Not drawn. The preview has no printhead, ribbon or media, so media type has nothing to act on — the label previews the same either way. A blank label caused by this setting is invisible to any preview, which is worth remembering when a format looks right here and comes out empty.
Common mistakes
- Direct thermal mode with a ribbon loaded. The label comes out blank and nothing reports an error.
- Thermal transfer mode with no ribbon. The printer stops with a ribbon-out error mid-run.
- Using direct thermal for anything long-lived. It fades with heat and light — an asset tag needs transfer.