Black or Black/Red Ribbon: Which One Do You Need?

Introduction

Many ribbons are sold in two versions: black, and black/red. They look alike, but they do different jobs. This guide explains the difference and how to choose the right one for your machine.

1. What a black/red ribbon is

A black/red ribbon is a two-colour ribbon: one half of the fabric is black, the other half is red. The printer shifts the ribbon up or down to print in black or in red. On a receipt printer or a calculator, the red half is often used for negative amounts or totals. On a typewriter, red is used for emphasis.

2. When black/red is the right choice

Choose black/red if your machine prints in two colours. That is the case for many receipt printers and calculators, and for typewriters with a two-colour setting. If your machine can shift the ribbon, a black/red ribbon gives you both colours in one ribbon.

Examples sold on Accuprint Québec:

3. When black is the right choice

Choose black if your printer prints in one colour only, or if you only need black text. A black/red ribbon in a single-colour machine usually prints black only — the printer never shifts to the red half, so you pay for a feature you cannot use.

4. How to check

Look at the colour in the product title, and check the "compatible with" section on the product page for your printer model. If you are not sure whether your machine prints in two colours, check your printer's manual: if it mentions red printing, or a colour shift, it supports black/red. If it says nothing about red, black is the safe choice.

So the rule is simple: if your machine supports two colours, buy black/red. If it does not, buy black.

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