Thermal Transfer Printer Vs Direct Thermal

Print head life in direct thermal printing applications is significantly reduced when compared to thermal transfer printing applications.

Thermal transfer printer vs direct thermal.

The printer uses the ribbon similarly to the way an inkjet printer would use ink to print on paper but with heated wax and resin replacing the ink. Thermal transfer involves the thermal printhead elements dots heating the backside of a thermal transfer ribbon to melt and transfer the compounds on the front side of the ribbon to the label material thus creating the printed image. In simplest terms thermal transfer printing utilizes a thermal ribbon and direct thermal printing does not. Direct thermal printers require the use of heat activated thermal papers and films but require no transfer ribbon.

Both the labels and the ribbon feed through the printer and the printer applies heat to the ribbon to transfer the wax and resin onto the label hence the term thermal transfer printer. The print color is limited to black unless special preprinted direct thermal paper is utilized and the printing is not as crisp as that of thermal transfer ribbon printing. Direct thermal and thermal transfer. There are two thermal printing methods.