Direct Thermal Vs Thermal Transfer Printing

Direct thermal printing makes use of label fabric with a warmness sensitive coating. When heated by means of the print head of your printer, the thermal coating turns black to create the photo/textual content required. Thermal switch printing makes use of a thermal switch ribbon (i. E. An ink ribbon additionally known as a carbon ribbon). The print head heats the ribbon and ink is deposited onto the label fabric to create the picture/textual content required. Some small desktop printers along with the zebra gc420d are direct thermal best, but most thermal printers will perform in thermal transfer or direct thermal mode. The cost of consumables is comparable for the two methods of printing. Direct thermal labels are commonly a bit more high-priced, however when you upload the fee of thermal switch labels and ribbons collectively, the charges are similar. The advantages and drawbacks of the two strategies of printing are as follows:

direct thermal printing

benefits of direct thermal printing:

• easier for the operator to load the media (you handiest have to load the roll of labels).

• it is able to be simpler to acquire a good print first-class in the course of the initial setup (you do now not need to fit the ribbon kind to the label fabric).

• environmentally better as you do now not have to do away with used ink ribbons (usually you could simplest use thermal ribbons as soon as). Hazards of direct thermal printing:

• the print will fade in time, specially if exposed to direct sunlight.

• the label cloth will discolour in time, specially if exposed to direct sunlight.

• the label fabric is vulnerable to marking if rubbed or scuffed.

• can not be used in excessive temperature applications (typically designated to 50°c), as the labels will speedy turn black.

• there is a restricted range of direct thermal label materials, as compared to thermal switch (although it is possible to gain direct thermal card tag cloth and some artificial substances together with polypropylene).

• direct thermal labels will reason extra wear to the print head as compared to thermal switch printing. You could therefore anticipate the update the print head more regularly with direct thermal printing if you are printing high volumes of labels. The problem of print fading and the label fabric marking whilst scuffed are decreased whilst using pinnacle covered direct thermal labels. Pinnacle lined direct thermal labels are extra expensive, however also offer restrained resistance to moisture and water damage. If direct thermal labels are for use in a freezer (with a freezer adhesive), it’s miles really useful to apply pinnacle lined label cloth. Thermal transfer printing

benefits of thermal transfer printing:

• thermal switch printing produces a permanent print, which has exceptional resistance to fading, even if subjected to direct daylight.

• the sturdiness of thermal transfer print can be decided by way of the selection of ribbon type. The maximum popular (and lowest cost) grade is wax, which has confined smudge resistance. The next grade up is wax/resin, which has top smudge resistance, but confined scratch resistance. The top grade is resin, that is scratch and water-proof and proof against many chemicals (see the ribbon specification for facts on which chemical compounds a specific ribbon is immune to).

• there are a much wider choice of label materials to be had for thermal transfer printing compared to direct thermal. The choice of label substances varies from uncoated and lined papers and card thru to cloth and a huge range of synthetic materials, which includes polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyimide. The choice of adhesives is likewise greater with thermal transfer labels, mainly for very low temperature packages (-196°c) and really high temperatures (+ 575°c).

• there are a great range of coloured ribbons to be had for thermal transfer printing.

• thermal ribbons have a silicon coating on the print head facet to guard the print head against immoderate put on. Dangers of thermal transfer printing:

• thermal switch printing takes a bit extra time to load the media compared to direct thermal printing.

• you need to take care that the grade of ribbon fits the label material you are the usage of. If you are the usage of incredibly coarse, uncoated paper labels, a wax ribbon will supply a higher print fine (the smooth wax will flow into the hard cloth). But in case you use a wax ribbon on a lined synthetic material, it’ll rub off very effortlessly. Right here a resin ribbon will be the preferred desire.

• on some lower grade ribbons, the print head will want cleansing extra regularly as there may be build up of ink.

• you want to do away with the used ribbons, that’s less environmentally pleasant in comparison to thermal printing. Whilst beginning a new challenge with thermal switch printing, it is continually recommended to ask your dealer for a pattern ribbon to make certain you’ve got a very good match between the ribbon and label cloth.