Thermal Transfer Printer Vs Direct Thermal

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.

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. Each method uses a thermal printhead that applies heat to the surface being marked. Direct thermal printing uses chemically treated heat sensitive media that blackens when it passes under the thermal printhead while thermal transfer printing uses a heated ribbon to produce durable long lasting images on a wide. Direct thermal printers require the use of heat activated thermal papers and films but require no transfer ribbon.

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. Print head life in direct thermal printing applications is significantly reduced when compared to thermal transfer printing applications. In simplest terms thermal transfer printing utilizes a thermal ribbon and direct thermal printing does not. Direct thermal and thermal transfer.