Direct thermal is ideal for applications requiring only a short shelf life - meaning the label image does not need to last very long.Direct thermal printing produces sharp print quality with good scannability.The readability of direct thermal labels, wristbands, and receipt papers varies greatly, depending on the usage conditions, but the technology provides ample lifespan for many common barcode printing applications including shipping labels, patient and visitor identification, receipts, and ticket printing. For these reasons, direct thermal printing is not used for lifetime identification applications. If the label is overexposed to heat, light, or other catalysts, the material will darken and make the text or barcode unreadable. Direct thermal printers have no ink, toner, or ribbon. Direct thermal printed labels typically have a considerable shelf life but are not well suited for environments that expose them to heat, long periods of direct sunlight, or abrasion. Direct Thermal Printingīecause they print without a ribbon, direct thermal printers are noted for their simplicity. Each technology can produce one- and two-dimensional barcode symbologies, graphics and text at the same print resolutions and speeds.
Thermal printers are engineered to print within tight tolerances and to produce the exact bar widths that successful barcode printing and scanning require.
Overall thermal label printers are ideal for barcode printing because they produce accurate, high-quality images with excellent edge definition. Direct thermal printing uses chemically treated, heat-sensitive media that blackens when it passes under the thermal printhead, while thermal transfer printing uses a heated ribbon to produce durable, long-lasting images on a wide variety of materials. Each method uses a thermal printhead that applies heat to the surface being marked. There are two thermal printing methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer.