Ribbon tracking system

A ribbon tracking system for use in a printer, scanner or the like includes a carbon fiber-based plastic printer wire shroud having a first portion coupled to the printer ribbon frame downstream from the printhead, a second portion spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first portion and adapted to contact a moving ribbon at a curved front edge during printer operation, and a substantially small integral neck portion coupled centrally between the first and second portions. The neck portion functions as a living hinge permitting the second portion to deflect toward and/or away from the first portion, or in any combination of directions thereof, to automatically equalize stress differentials between various portions of the moving ribbon so as to prevent wrinkling and/or buckling, of the ribbon.