Labels print only in black, unless they are preprinted with special thermo chromatic ink The primary benefit is an overall lower cost and easier media changeovers since ribbon is not required.ĭirect Thermal or Thermal Transfer Printing? Direct thermal printing is popular in the foods industry, since most items are stored away from heat and sunlight, and the label shelf life is less than 1 year. However, a true direct thermal label printer utilizes a print head that is made of thicker glass, for increased print head durability. Over time the labels will darken, particularly when the surface gets scratched, or is subjected to heat and sunlight.

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. Please note that the proper selection and match of label stock and ribbon is critical to the overall quality and performance of printed media.ĭirect thermal printers require the use of heat activated thermal papers and films, but require no transfer ribbon. The other benefit is that thermal transfer printers can print on paper, film, and even foil substrates. The printing is very crisp and durable so this method is excellent for high density bar-codes and labels that require longevity. Thermal transfer printers require the use of a carbon ribbon which gets transferred onto the substrate via heat, hence the name 'thermal transfer.' The ribbons can be different colors, so the user is not limited to black print. If you answered 'yes' to any of the above questions then you should consider going thermal transfer rather than direct thermal. Will you be printing on a variety of different substrates (i.e.

Will the labels be prone to abuse or surface friction?.Will the labels be subjected to heat or sunlight?.Will you be printing high density bar codes (i.e.Do the labels need to be scanned or have a shelf-life of over 1 year?.Will you ever need to print labels in colors other than black?.To help decide whether to select a direct thermal printer or thermal transfer printer (or whether you should use thermal transfer or direct thermal labels), consider the following questions:

While a lot of today's models are dual mode printers, meaning they can print both thermal transfer and direct thermal, direct thermal candidates may want to consider purchasing a true direct thermal, non-dual mode printer. People are often confused about the differences between direct thermal label printers and thermal transfer label printers, and which type better suits their needs.

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