Thermal Labels: Thermal Transfer vs. Direct Thermal
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Time to read 4 min
When it comes to thermal label printing, two different types of printing modes: direct thermal and thermal transfer. They sure sound similar…what the difference? People often confuse between direct thermal and thermal transfer printing and most people don’t have a clear understanding of which method would work best for their business. Whilst both methods are achieved from a thermal print head applying heat to the media that is being marked, they are both very different and consequently are better at achieving different types of prints. Therefore, before you decide on a thermal printer, you must first decide which printing method would suit you and your needs. Thermal transfer printers will print both thermal transfer and direct thermal labels. Direct thermal printers are usually lower cost than the equivalent thermal transfer model.
Table of Content
What is direct thermal?
The direct thermal printing method uses heat-sensitive media that blackens when a thermal print head is passed over it, creating your print. So direct thermal printers have no ink, toner or ribbon, because of this it is considered the “simpler” method of the two.
What is great about direct thermal?
Thanks to their simple design and the fact that they don’t use a ribbon or ink, direct thermal printers are usually pretty easy to use. You don’t need to spend any time changing the ribbons over when they run out – you only have to change the media. This makes them great for businesses like retail stores, cafes and bars that need a printer that gets prints out quickly and easily without any excessive human intervention.
Due to direct thermal printers using only one specific type of media and not needing a ribbon, they generally have a lower running cost than thermal transfer printers and do not require as much maintenance. This is ideal for businesses that want a lower cost of ownership over time, and do not have as much initial budget.
What is not so great about direct thermal?
Direct thermal prints, because they are created by heat on a heat-sensitive material, they can easily fade overtime when exposed to sunlight or heat. So, if you are looking for long-lasting prints that stay legible over a few years, then direct thermal is not going to be the right fit for your business.
You are also limited to what media you can print on with a direct thermal printer because you can only use the compatible heat sensitive media, which generally only comes in a paper format.
What is thermal transfer?
The thermal transfer printing method, unlike direct thermal uses a ribbon and can be used to print on a variety of media. In this method, the thermal printhead applies heat to the ribbon which melts ink onto the media to create your print.
What’s great about thermal transfer?
One of the biggest advantages of thermal transfer printing is that you can use a wider variety of media. This is great for businesses that need to print more specialized labels such as rating plates, license plates and patient wristbands.
Due to the ink being melted on to the media, thermal transfer prints are more durable and have a higher image quality. This makes them ideal for labels, tags and tickets that need to last for a long period of time and carry more detailed information such as laboratory samples, machinery labels and inventory identification tags.
Unlike direct thermal, thermal transfer prints do not fade when exposed to sunlight, making it an ideal printing method for businesses where items are moved around a lot like in warehouse and logistics industries.
Why would you choose thermal transfer printing? The primary reasons are print quality, durability of the printed image, and label longevity. Thermal transfer ribbons come in a variety of formulations, from simple everyday printing to harsh environments – able to withstand exposure to chemicals and solvents, for example. Generally speaking, thermal transfer labels will last longer and be able to withstand moisture, abrasion, and exposure to UV better than direct thermal labels.
What is not so great about thermal transfer?
Because of it’s ribbon mechanism, thermal transfer printers can be more complicated to operate than direct thermal printers. You may have to take some extra time to educate yourself and your staff on how to change over both the ink ribbon and media rolls when they run out. When time is of the essence, this is perhaps not the best printing method as printing can be interrupted for longer periods of time when changing over the consumables.
In addition to this, the running costs of a thermal transfer printing can be higher than a direct thermal printer as you need to purchase more consumables. Over time this can cost a considerable amount, which isn’t ideal for businesses that are looking for a more economic option.
So what’s the best printing method?
As we’ve discussed, it depends on the requirements of your business as to which printing method you should use. However, in summary if you need long-lasting prints that can be printed on a range of different media opt for thermal transfer. Conversely, if the product has a short life in the supply chain and is not exposed to harsh environmental conditions, then direct thermal may very well be a good choice. Examples of this type product could include fresh meat, dairy products and shipped parcels. Regulatory requirements for privacy of information are another area impacting the use of direct thermal media. In healthcare, patient privacy can be at risk if personal information is available on used thermal transfer ribbon. This has led to an increased use of direct thermal media for prescription labels and patient wristbands, for example.
So that’s an overview of thermal transfer versus direct thermal printing. If you have any questions, or would like to get more detail about thermal transfer versus direct thermal printing, just let us know and any of our account managers would be happy to help. You can reach us at cs@betckey.com.
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