Abstract: A process of forming a plurality of substantially identical printed ribbons from a single length of rolled tape, includes unrolling the tape, repeatedly silk-screen printing a wet ink pattern onto a side of the tape, along the length of the tape, as the tape is unrolled, cutting the printed tape into a plurality of ribbons all having substantially the same length and all bearing substantially the same ink pattern, and drying the wet ink. The improvement includes wherein the tape that is used includes a polymer substrate that is metallized on both sides, with at least the side that is printed upon having a top layer of an ink-receptive coating. A printed ribbon includes a ribbon substrate and an ink pattern silk-screen printed onto one side of the ribbon substrate. The improvement includes wherein the ribbon substrate includes a polymer substrate includes that is metallized on both sides with an ink-receptive coating disposed at least on the side that is printed upon.