Thermal transfer of active ink with dynamic environmental data

A method of manufacturing a thermal transfer ribbon, the method comprising:

• providing a carrier having a longitudinal axis;
• providing a coating material;
• coating the coating material to a first side of the carrier to form a back coating layer;
• providing a release material;
• coating the release material to a second side of the carrier opposite the first side to form a release layer;
• providing an ink material, wherein the ink material comprises an active ink having a chemistry that is configured, responsive to the occurrence of an environmental, physical or biological condition, to undergo a chemical or physical state change causing a change in the color state of the active ink;
• and
• coating the release layer with the ink material to form an ink layer in a pattern of separate ink regions arranged longitudinally along the carrier, wherein each ink region in the pattern of ink regions is separated by a respective longitudinal gap from the next ink region, wherein the gap is substantially absent of the active ink, and wherein the ink material is applied to the release layer on the carrier so that the at least half of the carrier has no ink material coated on it.