Direct Thermal Printer Vs Thermal Transfer

Thermal transfer printers use a heated ribbon to create durable wristbands asset tags and certification labels.

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

Direct thermal printers require the use of heat activated thermal papers and films but require no transfer ribbon. 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. 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. If you are looking for an efficient way to apply your printed.