Direct Thermal Labels VS Thermal Transfer Labels

Published by - QuickPOS on January 19, 2022

Direct thermal and thermal transfer printers are great options for printing things like data and barcodes. direct thermal and thermal transfer printing methods offer some unique advantages that make them perfect for different applications. it’s important to understand the difference between the two types of thermal label technologies to use the right one for your business. let us explain the advantages and disadvantages of both direct thermal and thermal transfer printing technologies, so that you can make an informed decision when you’re acquiring a new printer or simply ordering new labels for the printer you already own. 

Direct thermal Label printers are usually more compact and don’t require ink toner or ribbons. The direct thermal printers use heat applied to the printhead to trigger a chemical reaction within the direct thermal media which causes the media to darken. some costs can be saved by using direct thermal labels because you don’t need to purchase the ink toner or ribbon consumables, but there are some drawbacks and limitations to consider before deciding if direct thermal is right for you. one disadvantage to direct thermal labels is that it is not scratch resistant, and the labels will darken over time if exposed to lighting, heat and will make them hard to read. It is not suitable for anything requiring a long-term label. direct thermal is best suited for short-term needs such as shipping labels, receipts, labels, name tags, and visitor passes, or excessive light or additional heat can cause it to fade or become overexposed for that reason you’ll likely see more temporary information like receipts, shipping labels and name tags printed on direct thermal printers. direct thermal printing is the most affordable thermal printing option as there are no associated costs of ribbons. its lack of ribbons also means there’s nothing that can run low 

Thermal Transfer Label printers on the other hand are usually larger and use thermal ribbons to produce your image they work by applying heat to a printhead which melts the wax or resin-based ribbon onto the surface of your label you can see the ink is removed from the ribbon and bonding to your label creating your image. the printed label is fade-resistant and durable enough to withstand exposure to extreme temperatures, liquids, and a variety of chemicals. its long-lasting image makes thermal transfer printing great for permanent applications like product identification inventory labels and asset labelling. thermal transfer printers excel at printing sharp lines, logos, and graphics. they can also print color with the addition of a colored ribbon, unlike direct thermal printers which are limited to black. some benefits of the thermal transfer labels are that the images are precise durable and scratch-resistant, and it comes in a variety of colors so that you’re not just limited to black ink you might also consider ordering different colored labels which are available in both direct thermal and thermal transfer. if your label requires to last a year or longer it’s necessary to use thermal transfer labels. 

if you have a thermal printer and thermal labels and you want to check whether you have direct thermal labels, thermal transfer labels so you can do a quick test of media by scratching your fingernail across the label as if you’re striking a match if a dark mark appears when you scratch the roll of labels than its direct thermal if no mark appears then it is thermal transfer labels. 

Overall, we want to tell you that the most obvious benefit to direct thermal is simplicity without the need to worry about ribbons it is a little bit easier and cheaper to use. the simplicity makes it perfect for retail applications shipping labels or really most of all applications that don’t require the label to last a very long time. if you do want something that can last the investment into a thermal transfer printer will be worth it. it because direct thermal works by heating the media up directly and the temperature required to have that change in coloration is only around 60 to 70 degrees Celsius not very high at all. so if you have a label that is locked up in the poorly ventilated room on a hot and humid day, it’s not going to be readable after a day or so and direct thermal labels don’t usually last more than two months, regardless of thermal transfer, on the other hand, has the advantage of combining a wide variety of media and ribbon materials for different perks like scratch-resistant lasting many years, immune to corrosive chemicals, better printout qualities, etc.  

We have all types of printer labels, thermal label roll, colored thermal labels and printer, direct thermal label printer, thermal transfer label printer, and brands like Calibor thermal label, Zebra Direct Thermal Label rolls. Let us assist you in finding the right solutions for you. call us at 1300 178 614 and email us at sales@quickpos.com.au.