Inkjet PP vs. Standard PP – What's the real difference?

Today's topic: Inkjet PP vs. Standard PP – What's the real difference?

We often get asked:

“They look similar — so why the price difference? How do I choose?”

Let’s break it down

Inkjet PP

• Special inkjet coating for instant drying — no smudging

• Great color reproduction — ideal for logos, barcodes, color graphics

• Works with standard desktop inkjet printers (e.g., Epson, Canon, HP)

Best for:

• Color product labels

• Short-term retail labels

• Small-batch, multi-design printing

Standard PP (Thermal Transfer PP)

• No coating — won't work with regular inkjet printers

• Requires ribbon + thermal transfer printer (e.g., Zebra, TSC, SATO)

• Scratch-resistant, waterproof, oil & alcohol resistant — built to last

Best for:

• Shipping labels

• Warehouse barcode labels

• Industrial environments (electronics, chemicals, etc.)

Bottom line:

Need color printing, small runs, using a regular printer → choose Inkjet PP

Need durable, waterproof, industrial use → choose Standard PP + ribbon