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What is the difference between thermal transfer printing and thermal printing? Direct thermal and thermal transfer printing

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It should be noted that thermal printing is the principle of transfer through a special medium, which changes its color when the temperature rises. As for the base, it can be different - it is allowed to use cardboard and various types of textiles. Subject to the rules for operating the equipment and the use of high-quality materials for thermal printing, it will not be difficult to apply a pattern even on a cotton or synthetic blank. Products processed according to all the rules are characterized by a long service life without losing the original brightness and clarity of inscriptions and images. The quality of the pattern is not affected by direct exposure to ultraviolet rays, and even repeated washing.

Based on the goals set, the process may require:

  • roll labels with thermal effect and self-adhesive backing;
  • thermal cardboard (may be with or without perforation);
  • cash or receipt thermal tape;
  • fax paper.

Naturally, thermal printing equipment plays a big role, namely, which should be suitable in terms of speed and performance.

Considering in detail what thermal printing is, it becomes clear that the main feature is the occurrence of a chemical reaction inside one of the layers of the material. Possessing increased sensitivity to elevated temperatures, this part of the workpiece changes color under the influence of the thermal print head, forming a certain combination of lines and symbols.

Inside the thermal head there are a large number of heating points, which gradually transfer heat energy to a special carrier. At the same time, the distance between the elements determines the print resolution, and the program embedded in the printer alternates the heating areas to create the exact image that the user needs.

Thermal printing involves the following steps:

  • creating a vector image using a graphics editor;
  • loading a film into the plotter, which consists of a thermal layer, an adhesive composition and a transparent base;
  • fixing the base with a pattern in the right place and starting the heat press.

The obvious disadvantages of this technology include not too high print resolution and the need to use special media.

On the other hand, the method also has important advantages, for example:

  • minimum consumables;
  • low noise levels when the printer is activated;
  • ease of process;
  • portability and compactness of equipment;
  • increased speed of surface treatment (about 400 millimeters per second);
  • low cost of prints, which is very important for mass production of labels;
  • low operating costs;
  • reliability of the result due to a small number of moving elements.

    Angela

    We have recently switched to thermal transfer printing. In general, of course, compared to printing the usual heaven and earth. It looks more aesthetically pleasing and lasts longer. What I like the most is that it is waterproof. This is important for us, because the product comes into contact with water during defrosting.

    Morozov Vlad

    For me, all thermal transfer printers are basically the same. They generally do not differ in quality, only the printing speed can. It seems to me that you need to ask what consumables you will pick up, the main thing here is high-quality material and ribbon. So if you don’t find really high-quality consumables for such printers, then it’s better to consider another type of printer.

    • Denis I

      Vlad, don't tell me. There are differences in the quality of printers and very noticeable. Here is the build quality, and the reliability of the printing elements, and some kind of system glitches, the error rate. Yes, you can always save money and buy something simpler, but how long will it last you? Even with the highest quality consumables.

    Oleg

    In my work I use a thermal printer from Atol, model BP 41. I did not choose for long, I prefer Atolov products since my first cash desk. The brand guarantees the quality and indestructibility of devices, proven by practice! As for this printer, a normal working device. If you are looking for something for small print volumes, this is it. I make up to 2 thousand labels a day on it and I am quite pleased with the result.

    Mila

    I re-read the article three times, but still did not understand which type of printing is more suitable for labeling boxes in a warehouse? Now I plan to buy a printer, I don’t want to spend a lot. On the one hand, only black labels are needed, the main thing is that the device would give out a couple of thousand a day without overheating. Here, in theory, thermal printing will fit. But what about this type of printing with resistance to external influences and did not subtract. Specify please, this moment who faced.

    • Site

      Mila, warehouses often have difficult operating conditions, so it is best for you to use thermal transfer labels. With thermal transfer printing, the direct impact of the printer head on the media is excluded by placing an ink ribbon between them. They are not erased under moderate mechanical stress, do not fade under the sun's rays, the paint is not washed off under the influence of moisture. Most likely, you will need to print large quantities of barcodes, so choose printers with long yields, narrow prints and low resolutions, such as the Godex G500.

In the process of thermal printing, the image appears as a result of a chemical reaction that occurs in the heat-sensitive layer of paper, as a result of thermal action on it from the thermal head of the printer's printing device.

Fig.8

The thermal head of the printer consists of many spot heating elements that transfer thermal energy to thermal paper. The heating elements are arranged in a line along the thermal head with a step that determines the print resolution. During the printing process, the printer electronics turns on and off each of the heating elements, which, acting on the thermal paper moving relative to the thermal head at a constant speed, create the final image - text, graphics, barcodes, etc.

An important role in the process is also played by the support shaft, which provides contact between the thermal paper and the heating elements of the head and their movement relative to each other.

Advantages of thermal printing compared to other existing technologies:

· high speed of the press (to 400 mm/sec.);

Minimum noise level, for example, in comparison with matrix devices;

· no additional consumables, such as ink, ribbon, toner, etc.;

High print resolution (up to 400 dpi);

high reliability due to the small number of moving parts;

low cost of operation.

Thermal printing and Thermal transfer printing. Consider thermal and thermal transfer types of printing separately.

thermal printing

Thermal printing today is one of those printing methods, during which the thermal head of the printer heats the thermal label, which contributes to the appearance of the image you need. Thermal labels are the main consumable material for this printing method (thermal printing). Thermal printers are printers that use thermal printing technology.

Thermal transfer printing

Fig.9

The next printing method is Thermal transfer printing, in which the thermal head of the printer heats the ribbon, namely the thermal transfer ink ribbon, and the layer (ink) is transferred to the label (thermal transfer) from the thermal transfer ribbon. Thermal transfer labels and thermal transfer ribbon are the main consumables for thermal transfer printing.

Thermal transfer printers are printers that use thermal transfer printing technology.

When using a thermal transfer ribbon, this thermal transfer printing technology, more precisely ribbon, is not prone to fading, and allows better resistance to abrasion, as well as other external influences.

Thermal transfer printing as a printing technology is more expensive and complex, so an additional consumable called "thermal transfer ribbon" appears.

Pros and Cons: Direct Thermal

Advantages:

Profitability - there is only one consumable material, the devices are inexpensive;

· speed - from 60 to 400 mm/s, does not depend on roll width;

· variable printing of digital data;

· low noise level;

high reliability - minimum number of moving parts and cost of ownership;

· low power consumption - the applicability of portable devices with autonomous power supply;

choice of image colors - black, blue, red, green, two-color printing (requires a special printer and material);

ease of maintenance.

Flaws:

limited lifetime of images;

Increased sensitivity to environmental influences;

· line printing only - the impossibility of a realistic transmission of halftones and full-color printing;

Requires special paper and printing devices;

In case of violation of pre-printing technologies, the thermal head fails prematurely

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From this article you will learn

  • What is thermal transfer printing
  • How is thermal transfer printing different from thermal printing?
  • How does the thermal transfer printing process work?
  • Where is thermal transfer printing used?

Thermal transfer printing is a method of applying an image to an intermediate medium (tape or ribbon (English)) with its further transfer to the prepared material. The fixing process is carried out by short-term exposure (from 5 to 30 seconds) of temperature from 120 °C to 190 °C. Thermal transfer printing is characterized by high durability of fixing the ink on the material. At the same time, it is beneficial to use this type of printing even with a small order.

How does thermal transfer printing work?

Thermal transfer printing is preferred by many today. This is due to the wide scope of its application. What does she represent? With this printing method, the ink is applied to the substrate using thermal transfer ribbons that are heated at designated locations.

Thermal transfer printing allows you to choose a material that has optimal protective properties and performance characteristics.

For the first time, the thermal transfer printing technique using ribbon began to be used in Japan for printing hieroglyphs. The pioneer of this printing method was the Japanese corporation SATO, which also introduced thermal transfer printing into production. Since the 1980s, this type of printing has been used for bar coding and automatic product identification.

Thermal transfer printing of barcodes quickly became popular, as it can be applied directly at the workplace without unnecessary difficulties and fully meets the requirements of automatic identification systems.

Thermal Transfer Printing vs. Thermal Printing: Differences and Benefits of Each Type

Thermal transfer printing- a printing method in which the thermal head of the printer heats the thermal transfer ink ribbon and the ink layer from the thermal transfer ribbon is transferred to labels for thermal transfer printing (you can use a large number of materials made of paper or synthetics - this depends on the class of thermal transfer ribbon).

thermal printing is carried out in the following way: the thermal head of the printer heats the thermal label (consumable), resulting in an image. The printers used for this type of printing are called "thermal printers". Thermal printing is relevant in the following cases, if:

  • the goods on which the drawing will be applied require a short storage period (then the burnout of thermal labels is not critical);
  • products will not be exposed to high temperatures or high humidity;
  • products will not be repeatedly sorted and transported from place to place.

Thermal transfer printing using thermal transfer ribbon guarantees no fading over time, and also allows you to achieve greater resistance to abrasion and external negative influences, especially when using RESIN class thermal transfer ribbon.

Thermal transfer printing is considered more difficult and costly than other printing methods. This is due to the fact that this technology requires the presence of an additional consumable - a thermal transfer ribbon. But the use of this technology also has its advantages (depending on the class of thermal transfer ribbon):

  • the image retains color for quite a long time even with active external influences;
  • the resulting pattern has resistance to abrasion;
  • the image will be resistant to the influence of aggressive environments;
  • high speed printing;
  • high-resolution barcode printing, which makes them easier to read by a scanner;
  • printing on various materials (various types of paper – coated, uncoated, varnished; cardboard (even laminated); synthetic materials – PE, PP, PET…).

How laser transfer printing works

To print the selected image, a full-color laser printer and thermal transfer paper are used. The composition of the toner for a laser printer includes only 2% coloring pigments, the remaining 98% is plastic. Plastic during printing on thermal transfer paper melts and is transferred to paper. Then it solidifies at room temperature. The melting of the toner base under the influence of high temperature is the basis for the operation of laser thermal transfer. Thermal transfer paper for laser printing with a frozen image is applied to the intended place of the printed product and pressed with a heat press. The plastic layer of the thermal transfer paper, together with the plastic image, melts again and sticks to the fabric. That is, thermal transfer paper in this case acts like an artist's brush: it absorbs paints and transfers them to the printed material.

What is thermal transfer printing used for?

Ribbons for thermal transfer printing

In thermal transfer printing, the key role is played by the ink thermal transfer ribbon - ribbon:

  • a coloring layer is applied to a synthetic material (usually a polyester film);
  • when the print head of the printer moves, the solid dye heats up and melts;
  • during the melting process, parts of the image are transferred to the printed material.

The thermal transfer ribbon class determines the material options that can be printed on.

It, in turn, is determined by the material used for the ink layer - the most commonly used wax-based thermal transfer ribbon ( WAX), resin-based ( RESIN) or based on wax and resin ( WAX/RESIN).

Thermal transfer ribbon is a synthetic film on one side of which there is a dye that melts under the influence of elevated temperature. The reverse side is treated with a special coating that protects the printer's print head from the accumulation of static electricity.

Thermal transfer ribbon color options: blue, black, red, green, gold. If you use a ribbon of the same color, the image will be monotonous - this means that it will have a color identical to the ribbon dye. When the task is to print a multi-colored image, printing is carried out in stages: ink ribbons replace each other as many times as there are shades in the picture. The thermal transfer ribbon itself looks like a roll of polyester ribbon.

Depending on the type of thermal transfer printer used, the following two types of winding are used:

  • IN- ink layer inside (thermal transfer printers from Datamax);
  • OUT– ink layer outside (Argox, Citizen, Godex, Zebra printers).

The thermal transfer ribbon consists of the following elements:

  • Ribbon top cover. It is applied over the ink layer to make the adhesion between the ink and the printed material even better, to increase the resistance of the image to external influences.
  • Coloring layer is a hot-melt dye, the thermal transfer ribbon is heated by the printer's thermal head at different points, due to which the image is gradually transferred to the printed material; the type of thermal transfer ribbon depends on the material: WAX (based on wax), RESIN (based on resin), WAX / RESIN (based on a mixture of wax and resin).
  • Primer promotes the transfer of dye directly from the tape to the printed material. As the ribbon heats up, the primer prevents the ink from fixing to the transfer ribbon.
  • synthetic material(usually polyester film) is the basis of the thermal transfer ribbon, which ensures its integrity and strength.
  • bottom cover, which protects the printer's print head from untimely abrasion, is a special layer necessary to evenly heat the ribbon and remove static electricity.

Thermal transfer printer

This is a device for transferring images to various surfaces. First of all, the printer is needed to print all kinds of labels with a high level of wear resistance. Images can be applied to fabric, metal, plastic, thermal cardboard or thermal transfer tape. If thermal transfer printing is carried out in accordance with all the rules, then the finished image, even under the influence of negative environmental factors, will remain unchanged for three years.

A thermal transfer printer is used for applying barcodes or company logos to goods, for marking goods.

Consumables for such a printer are thermal and roll labels, thermal transfer ribbons, tags.

Printing an image from such printers is called "thermal transfer" and is carried out under the influence of the temperature of the plate and the pressure of the thermal press with a certain shutter speed.

Organization of the printing process

The thermal transfer printer applies the image in four stages. For this you need:

  1. Create a visual appearance of the label (shape and dimensions).
  2. Design a layout (you can resort to standard Windows programs or turn to specialized "label designers".
  3. Connect printer to PC via USB cable or infrared port (RS 232 interface or Wi-Fi).
  4. Start the printing process (in the "File" menu, "Print" tab).

Where is thermal transfer printing used?

The maximum time required for printing is three minutes. The image can be one- and multi-color, with various effects (glare, night glow).

As a basis for applying thermal transfer printing, the following are most often used:

  • T-shirts and T-shirts (synthetic and natural materials);
  • caps;
  • work clothes;
  • flags;
  • signboards;
  • pennants;
  • Leather Products;
  • mugs;
  • labels;
  • plastic and metal plates;
  • cups and dishes;
  • stripes;
  • sports uniform;
  • scarves, bandanas;
  • promotional underpants (there are some);
  • socks;
  • bags, backpacks;
  • puzzles - mosaic;
  • mouse pads;
  • clock - dials;
  • diplomas on metal, wood;
  • key rings;
  • nameplates.

Thermal transfer printing on T-shirts

The most commonly used thermal transfer printing on T-shirts. The technology of applying various prints on T-shirts consists of several stages. Do not forget that the picture is first applied to paper, which acts as an intermediate material, therefore, the print should be applied to paper in a mirror image, and on a T-shirt it will already be displayed correctly.

In order to get the finished image, you need to carry out several preparatory steps:

  • Using a computer program, make a layout of the future image. For us, this is a number, an inscription and, if necessary, additional images. All this is determined by the customer, based on their own wishes.
  • The image will be printed on special thermal transfer paper. In addition to the paper base, it contains a thin film on which the picture falls, and then transferred to the fabric along with it. A special cutting device (plotter) makes the shape of the film follow the contours of the picture.
  • The image on the film / paper is applied to a T-shirt / sweatshirt, etc. The fabric with a layer of paper is placed in a heat press, where, under the influence of high pressure and elevated temperature, the film is literally implanted in a certain place.
  • In the heat press, the thing is kept for some more time, after which the product cools down, and is now ready to be worn without restrictions.

Thermal transfer film printing is considered convenient because:

  • The result is an image with a high degree of clarity: the smallest or thinnest lines and elements of the image are printed and transferred without problems. This is especially true if you need to print inscriptions made in thin fonts.
  • Thermal transfer printing can be used to print on hard-to-reach areas of clothing. If it is quite easy to apply an image to a T-shirt or sweatshirt, then problems can arise with applying images to garments of a complex cut. But you won't have these problems with thermal transfer printing. Thermal transfer printing makes it possible to transfer the image even to the most inconvenient place.
  • With thermal transfer printing, you can print any number of things: make an exclusive T-shirt in a single copy or create a batch of sweatshirts for the staff of one company. The customer only needs to decide on the circulation.
  • The image applied using thermal transfer printing technology is pleasant to the touch. The pattern is embossed and pleasant to touch (while touching direct ink can be uncomfortable).
  • Thermal transfer printing has a high level of image durability (especially when compared with silkscreen or batik). Such clothes need to be looked after more carefully than clothes bought in a store, but there are no complicated clauses in the care rules.
  • Thermal transfer creates a full-color drawing, its quality is close to photographic. When it comes to T-shirts with your own design, this is often the deciding factor in choosing the printing method. With the help of thermal transfer, you can transfer images or photos of any level of complexity and color palette onto fabric.

Thermal transfer printing on fabric also has limitations:

  • It is not recommended to wash printed clothes in a washing machine: despite the durability of the image, such an aggressive impact, sooner or later, can begin to destroy its structure.
  • Thermal transfer printing on colored fabrics is usually more durable than on colored items.

Thermal transfer can be called one of the most accurate, fast and permanent ways to print on any garment. For this, only a breadboard, film, plotter and heat press are needed.

Thermal transfer printing on cups

After T-shirts, this is the second most popular application for thermal transfer printing. To improve grip, it is better to take mugs with a special coating, with good adhesion. After printing, the surface of solid objects is usually coated with a polymer varnish.

Of course, despite some disadvantages, thermal transfer printing technology has shown itself well in various circumstances and will be an excellent option for those wishing to start a printing business.

Thermal stickers and thermal applications

  • accentuate corporate identity;
  • make the brand more recognizable;
  • contribute to the formation of unity in the firm;
  • create special differences from competitors;
  • bring pleasure to people of all ages, especially children.

Thermal transfer label printing

Note that any trading company in its activities cannot do without a printer for printing labels. In reality, the presence of a thermal transfer printer makes it possible to reduce the time for performing certain operations and create a truly unique type of product.

It is advisable to resort to thermal printing if you need to make a label, coupon, receipt or tickets for an event. This procedure will not take much time (and money). However, the print is sensitive to temperature and may darken with prolonged use.

Thermal transfer labels are usually applied to nylon, cardboard or self-adhesive paper. This happens quite quickly, even if the circulation is very large. Thermal transfer printing can also be used for printing on fabric labels, tags, and it will be able to withstand washing at high temperatures.

Thermal transfer printing technology is relevant for the identification of long-term storage products, as well as for the creation of outdoor labels located on products that are stored in harsh operating conditions.

In addition to thermal transfer printing, there are many ways to apply images and texts to various media and materials.

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The developers came to the conclusion that it would be much more efficient and convenient to immediately create ready-made labels. For this, such a method of thermal printing was invented. It is as follows: special thermal paper, which will later become a barcode label, is heated by the printer head and the desired “pixels” on the paper become dark under the influence of temperature. Thermal paper rolls sometimes come in different widths as well, and thermal printers vary in how wide they can accept thermal paper rolls. This kind printing is called»Direct thermal printing».

There is also a second way to print - "Thermotransfer».

The principle of thermal transfer printing is revealed in the name itself: Thermal - temperature effect, and transfer - transfer, movement.
For thermal transfer printing, a special tape with ink is used, which, under the influence of temperature, becomes easily applied to paper or any other substrate. The main advantage of this printing principle is that practically any material : paper, cardboard, plastic, polyester or even synthetic material.

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of thermal printers and thermal transfer printers?

Disadvantage of direct thermal printing:

It is worth starting with the fact that labels obtained by direct thermal printing are very short-lived and are used mainly for products with a short shelf life.
Such labels retain their properties for no more than six months, then they begin to fade and the text becomes almost invisible.

Advantage:

Direct thermal printing is very economical as the labels themselves are a consumable. Another plus of direct printing is that labels can be subjected to various mechanical stresses for six months and retain their properties.

Disadvantage of thermal transfer printing:


In thermal transfer printing, the properties of different types of ink ribbon are very different. There are three in total:

1. Wax


2. Wax+resin


3. Resin


Ribbon with wax as a coloring base is the most short-lived and unstable option. Wax applied to the label is very easy to remove.
The label does not suffer mechanical damage and quickly becomes unusable. The advantage of using wax is that wax is very cheap. When using wax, you should make sure that such labels will not be subjected to mechanical stress.

Next comes the combination wax with resin. Of course, the resin gives the wax its longevity, and this mixture is by far the best on this list, but also the most expensive. The resin itself has the same characteristics.

The only difference between a combination of wax + resin and just resin is that they are applied for different types of labels.


Resin is mainly used for synthetic labels. For example, for polypropylene. A wax + resin for semi-gloss labels. In terms of resistance to mechanical stress, both types of labels are almost identical to each other.

Therefore, wax is a low print durability and high cheapness.


Wax+resin and resin are high quality printing along with durability, but comparatively expensive.


Roughly speaking, thermal printers designed to print labels for a short period of use, and thermal transfer printers produce labels for a long period of use, but with different quality characteristics.

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