Thermal Transfer Printer Vs Direct Thermal

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 printer vs direct thermal. 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. 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 and thermal transfer. Each method uses a thermal printhead that applies heat to the surface being marked.

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