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Direct thermal labels are produced via the direct thermal printing process. In this procedure, a heated printhead is brought into contact with specially treated paper. An image is “burned” into the paper, creating relatively crisp black imagery.
Thermal labels made in this fashion retain a level of popularity for a few reasons. First, they are relatively inexpensive to produce. Although the treated paper or stock needed for thermal labels is more expensive than regular stock, the actual cost of operating the printer is low enough to counteract that expenditure. Direct thermal labels are cheap to produce.
The printing process itself is relatively quick. The heated printhead moves quickly and the paper reacts instantly to its motions. The result? Thermal labels do not take long to make.
There are, however, a few disadvantages to thermal labels. Firstly, the paper used in the printing process is susceptible to other heat and light sources. Sunlight or even a bright desk light can darken the label and render it unusable. This forces fans of thermal labels to use them for applications that last a relatively short period, as they are unsuited for extended use.
Secondly, although some thermal printers offer a higher resolution, the image quality associated with most direct thermal units is somewhat limited. It is good enough to print a legible barcode, but may not be able to handle a detailed logo effectively.
Direct thermal labels have advantages and disadvantages. In general, they are a fine labelling solution for particularized tasks but are not an optimal approach for many possible labelling projects. If you are considering using direct thermal printing, keep it advantages and the limitations of the strategy in mind.
View next article "Hint for Thermal Labels"
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