Direct Thermal Labels

Direct Thermal Printing
Direct Thermal printers work by using the heat of the print head, to cause a reaction in the coating of the label paper.

Pros - There are no ribbons used in the printer so many customers find it a very easy and cost-effective solution to implement. Just load the labels and go. The primary benefit is an overall lower cost since a ribbon is not required.

Cons - The printing is not as crisp as that of thermal transfer application and there is a much shorter shelf life to the printed label. After a period of 6 months the barcode will start to fade and the label will start to blacken. The labels created with direct thermal printers can not be exposed to direct sunlight, high temperatures or heavy industrial lighting.

Uncoated - The material is an uncoated medium sensitivity product with excellent image quality. It is manufactured with a permanent acrylic adhesive.

Top-Coated - The material is a top-coated medium sensitivity product with an all-temp/freezer grade, acrylic permanent adhesive. This product provides excellent image quality. Since it is top-coated, it provides excellent results in most environmental conditions.

Summary - Direct thermal printing is an inexpensive way to print labels that are for temporary use such as shipping labels or in high turnover inventory solutions.