Thermal Transfer Printer Vs Direct Thermal

In simplest terms thermal transfer printing utilizes a thermal ribbon and direct thermal printing does not.

Thermal transfer printer vs direct thermal.

Each method uses a thermal printhead that applies heat to the surface being marked. 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. 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. There are two thermal printing methods.

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