Thermal Transfer And Direct Thermal Printing

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Thermal printing is a commonly used printing method that is classified into two major types – direct thermal and thermal transfer. Both methods make use of a print head which introduces heat to the surface being marked. They are generally used to print labels on a variety of surfaces. A thermal transfer printer utilizes heated ribbons to create durable, long-lasting images on a range of materials, while direct thermal printers directly create the images on the chosen material without the aid of ribbons. Direct thermal printing is more sensitive to light, abrasion and heat, which can greatly reduce the life of the printed material.

Thermal And Direct Thermal Labels

Small offices and large corporations make use of this type of printing method to create attractive and professional product labels. In order to create efficient labels, it is important to choose the appropriate type of paper. Labels are sold in thermal transfer and direct thermal varieties.

Thermal labels are preferred by many since they have dense and smudge resistant face sheets that are excellent for printing and imaging. Thermal transfer label papers are sold by type and size therefore you need to know what type is suitable for the printer you have. They are ideal for printing shipping labels, barcodes, and pricing or identification labels. Their semi-gloss surface assures superior printability and readability of barcodes.

On the contrary, direct thermal labels are sold in standard and premium varieties. The standard direct thermal labels are manufactured with permanent acrylic adhesive. They should not be used for applications requiring extreme environment resistance. The premium direct thermal labels are top-coated medium sensitivity products, which can provide excellent image quality in any environmental conditions.

Direct Thermal versus Thermal Transfer

Direct thermal printing makes use of chemically-treated, heat-sensitive media that blackens when it passes though the thermal print head. Direct thermal label printers do not have ink, toner, and ribbon. Additionally, they are very durable, affordable and easy to use. Since they do not utilize inks or ribbons, they provide lesser operational costs as compared to inkjet, laser and thermal transfer printers. Most mobile printer models use the direct thermal technology.

Thermal transfer printing, on the other hand, is capable of accepting a multitude of printing media including paper, polyester, and polypropylene. They provide unmatched image quality and durability than other on-demand printing technologies.

Overall, thermal technologies offer effective printing solutions in most office settings. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons of both thermal printing technologies in order to determine the one that best suit your printing requirements!

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