How Thermal Printers Work?

Thermal printing (or direct thermal printing) is a process that generates heat by heating thermal paper with a thermal print head to create a printed image. When the coating of the thermal paper turns black in the heated areas, a direct thermal image is produced.

There are two types of thermal printers. To understand how thermal printers work, let's distinguish between these two types:

Direct Thermal Printer

1. Usage: Special labels/paper for printing. No ribbon or ink is needed.

2. Mechanism: Uses heat to print on special labels. The heat causes the special paper to turn black.

3. Scope of application: Printing receipts, tickets, and shipping labels.

Advantages

1. No ink, toner, or other components required.

2. Fast and easy to use.

Disadvantages

1. Prints can easily get dirty or fade.

2. Prints should not be exposed to sunlight or water.

Thermal transfer printer

1. Uses: Solid ink in ribbons made from wax or resin.

2. Mechanism: The print head transfers solid ink onto thick materials, which are typically made of vinyl, nylon, and polyester.

3. Suitable for Printing labels and signs exposed to harsh conditions, such as pedestrian alerts, warning signs, laboratory labels, and outdoor markings.

Advantages

1. Long-term or permanent print output.

2. Printed materials are durable and can withstand harsh conditions.

3. Color ribbons can be used to enhance designs.

Disadvantages

1. Ribbons are required for printing.

2. Printing materials can be expensive.

Can a thermal printer be used to make stickers?

The answer is yes. As long as you choose the appropriate thermal sticker paper, you can use a thermal printer to create various stickers for decoration, labeling, or personalization in different situations. However, it is important to note that thermal printers usually can only print in black or specific colors, cannot directly achieve color printing. If you need color stickers, you may need to consider other types of printers or printing technologies.

When using a direct thermal printer to print stickers, you need to pay attention to the quality and suitability of the sticker paper. As mentioned earlier, thermal printers require special sticker paper that can withstand the heat from the print head. This type of sticker paper usually has a lower weight (such as 48-70 gsm) and a special thermal coating to ensure that the print is clear and not easily faded.

On the other hand, if you need industrial-grade stickers (such as signage), it is best to use a thermal transfer printer.

Rongta thermal printer can meet all your printing needs. Whether you are a busy retailer or logistics provider, or a company with a large number of printing projects, we have the printer that best suits your needs. We sell affordable printers that have fast printing speeds and high printing quality..