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'Thermal Labels - Thermal Barcode Labels'

Select Either:

Direct Thermal Labels = BLUE Image Border ................-...........Thermal Transfer Labels = BLACK Image Border

Direct Thermal Labels = 'NO' ribbon required............ -..........Thermal Transfer Labels = 'MUST' use a ribbon

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Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer.....> .....The Differences Explained >>>>>

Direct thermal label printing utilizes heat-sensitive media that blackens as it passes under the printhead. Because they print without a ribbon, direct thermal printers are noted for their simplicity. 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.

Advantages

• Direct thermal printing produces sharp print quality with good scannability.

• Direct thermal is ideal for applications requiring only a short shelf life—meaning the label image does not need to last very long. Shipping labels and receipts are ideal applications, for instance, while product labels are not.

• Direct thermal printers are simple to operate compared to most other print technologies because there is no ink, toner, or ribbon to monitor or replenish.

• With no supplies to replace other than the material to be printed, long-term maintenance costs remain low.

• Direct thermal enables batch or single label printing with virtually no waste.

• With recyclable materials available, direct thermal printers offer environmental economy.

• Direct thermal printers are typically built more durably than dot matrix or laser printers, allowing reliable operation in industrial as well as office applications.

Limitations

• Direct thermal label printing is extremely sensitive to environmental conditions such as heat and light (fluorescent and/or direct sunlight).

• Direct thermal paper remains chemically active after printing. Because of this, thermal labels, tags, or ticket stock are often top coated to resist UV light exposure, chemicals, and abrasion.

Thermal transfer printed labels are easily identified by the crisp, often glossy, printed surface. The clarity is achieved by using a thin ribbon roll that when heated by the printhead melts onto the label to form the im­age. When matched with suitable media, thermal transfer technology is not only impervious to heat and moisture, but the image cannot be rubbed off, making the printed labels the most durable available. An additional benefit of this technology is the continu­ity of the printed image. Because the color and density of the printed image is determined by the ribbon and the resolution of the printer, thermal transfer printing produces consistent, reliable printing on every label.

Advantages

• Thermal transfer delivers crisp, high-definition text, graphic, and bar code print quality for maximum readability and scannability.

• Thermal transfer printing produces long-life image stability.

• Thermal transfer enables batch or single label printing with virtually no waste.

• Long-term maintenance costs are low compared to dot matrix, ink jet, and laser printing.

• Thermal transfer technology can print on a nearly unlimited variety of media stock (except multi-form).

• Thermal transfer printers are typically built more durably than dot matrix or laser printers, allowing reli­able operation in industrial as well as office applications.

Limitations

• Since thermal transfer printers require ribbon, supply costs are higher than direct thermal; however, ther­mal transfer printheads last longer than direct thermal printheads.

• Single-pass thermal transfer ribbon can be wasteful if little is printed on it.

• Thermal transfer ribbon is a poor candidate for recycling.

• To obtain optimum print quality in thermal transfer printing, the ribbon and media substrate MUST be compatible. Otherwise, the heat from the printhead could melt the ribbon onto the label causing internal printer problems.

Zebra supported thermal labels printer models:  Zebra - (Eltron) TLP 2844, TLP-2844,TLP 3842, G-Series all models, GX420T, GX430T, 110xi, 140xi, 170xi, 220xi, S300, S400, S500, S600, Z4M, Z6M, Z400, ZM40, ZM600, 105S, 105SL, 110PAX4, 170PAX4, 170PAX, 170PAX2, 110PAX3,  R110PAX3, All Zebra printer models