Direct Thermal Printer Vs Thermal Transfer

Direct thermal printing uses heat sensitive media that blackens when it passes under the thermal printhead.

Direct thermal printer vs thermal transfer.

Go for thermal transfer printing if you need durable and high resolution images especially for traceability applications and labels that need to withstand abrasion chemicals and exposure to light and heat for simple and cost effective labels with a short shelf life direct thermal printing might make more sense. Direct thermal printers require the use of heat activated thermal papers and films but require no transfer ribbon. 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. Generally speaking a company should anticipate direct thermal print heads providing an expected lifetime of 25 50 of a thermal transfer print head.

Thermal transfer printers use a heated ribbon to create durable wristbands asset tags and certification labels. If you are looking for an efficient way to apply your printed. Do you require long lasting barcodes to identify products and tag assets or do you need to print items with shorter shelf lives such as shipping labels receipts or tickets. The battle of thermal transfer vs direct thermal printing is most often won by answering a simple question.