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Thermal transfer printers handle a wider variety of printing materials
and can be used to on print labels, polypropylene and polyester (among
others). Some uses of thermal transfer label printing include:
theme park wristbands, movie tickets, and luggage tags. Thermal labels
printers are known for their ability to print archival quality labels
able to withstand extreme heat and cold, sunlight and exposure to a wide
variety of chemicals. For this reason, thermal transfer labels are often
affixed to medical specimens requiring refrigeration. Police departments
have also turned to the reliability of thermal transfer printers to
print barcode labels for evidence that will need to be stored for
decades.
Now let’s take a look at direct thermal printing.
Direct thermal printers do not require ribbons, toner or ink. The
“ink” is actually in the direct thermal labels. These blank labels are
treated with a chemical that makes them sensitive to heat. When heated,
the paper changes color. Because direct thermal printers are simpler in
their design and do not require ink cartridges or toner, they are
cheaper to operate, and the printer of choice for most companies using
mobile printing systems.
But wait… what exactly is mobile printing? Mobile
printing is “printing on the go.” Mobile printers are lightweight
and wireless. Does this scenario sound familiar? You are at a
restaurant. Your credit card is swiped into a handheld machine by
carried to your table. After signing the screen, the machine
prints out a receipt. This is an example of mobile wireless direct
thermal printing.
Direct thermal labels, however, due to their
sensitivity to heat, tend to be less durable than thermal transfer
labels. Direct thermal labels can fade and react to high temperatures
and sunlight. For this reason, direct thermal labels are generally used
for “short lifespan” needs, like shipping labels, receipts and visitor
identification.
 When
deciding which technology to use, think about the maximum required
shelf-life for your labels as well as the storage conditions. Will your
labels encounter extreme temperatures, light exposure or other potential
hazards? Would your company benefit from the convenience of being able
to print ‘on-the-go’?
Direct thermal labels and thermal transfer labels are the
backbone of today’s tracking and labeling systems across multiple
industries. As more and more businesses embrace thermal printing to
manage products, orders and shipping, there’s no sign this technology
will cool off anytime soon.
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