| Heat is the process that thermal printers use to | | | | often utilized to print out receipts from various |
| create an image. Thermal printers consists of two | | | | machines such as credit card machines and cash |
| types, thermal transfer (also known as thermal | | | | registers. Early technology such as older fax |
| wax) and direct thermal (also known as thermal | | | | machines also often utilized direct thermal printing |
| autochrome). Special paper that is chemically | | | | technology, however this type of method has |
| treated is used by direct thermal printers, and | | | | mostly been phased out. |
| when heat is applied to the paper it changes | | | | Thermal Printers -- Pros and Cons |
| colors. | | | | Thermal printers are well known for their high |
| The paper is pulled across a heating element | | | | printing speed, which make some very suitable |
| within the printer through the use of rollers, and | | | | for some business applications. They do not have |
| for the section that it is heated the paper | | | | a lot of moving parts, therefore they are |
| changes color to form images or text. | | | | extremely reliable. Additionally, they have images |
| Conversely, thermal transfer printers hold the ink | | | | that are durable, particularly thermal transfer |
| on a ribbon in place of on the paper itself which is | | | | printers. |
| then transferred to the paper when it is heated. | | | | In the past, images generated from direct |
| Both designs utilize similar types of heating | | | | thermal printers were prone to distortion or fading |
| elements. | | | | when exposed to water, heat, light or friction, |
| Various Uses of Thermal Printers | | | | however recent technological advancements have |
| Thermal transfer printers are more likely to be | | | | made them readable for periods of up to 50 |
| utilized to create labels, mainly clothing tags, as | | | | years or more. Another advantage of direct |
| well as barcodes because of it's durability and | | | | thermal printers is that they have no other supply |
| speed of the images it creates, particularly in | | | | needs except for paper. |
| preventing water damage. Various kinds of labels | | | | However, unlike inkjet printers and laser printers |
| use numerous types of inks depending on the | | | | thermal printers have lower printing quality than |
| kind of material it is being printed on. | | | | these other styles. Thermal transfer printers only |
| In the case of direct thermal printers, mostly | | | | need the same amount of ink ribbon for any |
| they are utilized for industrial use predominantly | | | | page, regardless of how much material is actually |
| because of their speed. The primary advantage | | | | printed on it. |
| for a direct thermal printer is that the only | | | | Additionally, because direct thermal printers only |
| consumable is the paper that is used. Even though | | | | have the ability to print just one or two colors, |
| this type of paper may be expensive, there is no | | | | they are not ideal for more detailed print jobs. |
| requirement to purchase or store ink, and it is the | | | | Also, direct thermal printers require special paper, |
| only item that requires replacing in order to keep | | | | which tends to be more expensive than normal |
| the printer running smoothly. | | | | paper. |
| Because of this, direct thermal printers are quite | | | | |