What is the Difference Between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels?

Direct Thermal vs Thermal Transfer Labels

As you start to evaluate thermal printing options for your home or business needs, you’ll start to encounter two methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Both methods involve a printhead that applies heat to the labels to make the design or words appear.

However, the difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer labels is that direct thermal printing uses chemically treated, heat-sensitive labels that get black when placed under the heat of the thermal printhead and thermal transfer printing involves a heated ribbon that results in durable, long-lasting designs on various print materials.

Each printer has its ideal use cases. Thermal label printers produce great barcodes given their highly accurate image printing. And thermal transfer printers produce precise designs within tight tolerances to make even small barcodes readable by scanners. Both printers offer one or two-dimensional barcode printing with graphics and text.

So which printer and label types are right for your use case? Here’s a more in-depth look at each and when to use them.

What Is Direct Thermal Printing?

Direct thermal prints without a ribbon, which makes these printers simpler to maintain because there is less to stock to keep them operational. You won’t have to worry about keeping ink, toner or ribbons on hand.

And while the labels that direct thermal printers produce often have a long shelf life, these labels do not hold up well in hot environments or when subjected to direct sunlight for extended periods. These labels also aren’t great for subjection to abrasion.

Direct thermal labels subjected to heat or sunlight might darken, which can make the text or barcode harder to read. Usage conditions are the main factor for deciding whether direct thermal printing is right for your use case.

Common use cases for these printers include:

Shipping labels
Patient identification
Visitor identification
Receipts
Ticketing

Advantages of Direct Thermal Printing

Using a direct thermal printer has many outstanding benefits. Here’s a look at why you should consider this print type.

Sharp, clear, high-quality labels that are easy to scan
Good for use cases involving a short shelf life for the labels
Easy operation
No need to store ink, ribbons or toner
Low long-term maintenance costs
Can complete batch or single-label printing with no waste
Environmentally friendly since materials are recyclable
Often provide a durable printer good for industrial or office uses

Disadvantages of Direct Thermal Printing

While direct thermal printers are outstanding for many applications, they do have their limitations as well. Here’s a look at what you need to know.

Direct thermal printed labels are sensitive to heat and fluorescent light or direct sunlight
Prints slower than other applications

What Is Thermal Transfer Printing?

Thermal transfer printing provides crisp and clear details. And you can print on glossy surfaces if need be. The use of a thin ribbon roll that the printhead melts creates the design or image. Labels then absorb the ink as it becomes part of the media.

When you use the right materials, thermal transfer printing holds up even in extreme heat and when subjected to moist environments. The image or design won’t rub off, making this one of the most durable print options.

These printers produce incredibly consistent print jobs to offer the reliability businesses need. Of course, you’ll need to stock ribbons and ensure they match your printer to ensure reliable, quality results. The right labels also make a big difference. But once you figure out how to keep the right supplies on hand, you’ll be able to print archival-worthy projects that hold up under extreme conditions.

Common use cases for these printers include:

Product identification
Circuit board tracking
Identification that needs to be permanent
UL or CSA certification labels
Laboratory specimens
Cold storage or freezer materials
Goods that will be stored outside in direct sunlight

Advantages of Thermal Transfer Printing

Thermal transfer printing offers many outstanding benefits. Here’s a look at those benefits as you evaluate whether this printer is right for your application.

Crisp, high-definition text, graphics, barcodes or other print materials that must be highly readable or scannable
Stable quality printed materials even when subjected to the elements
Good for printing a single label or batches with no waste
Maintenance costs are lower than inkjet, laser or dot matrix printers
Can be used for printing on most types of media stock
These printers are generally very durable, offering reliable business use

Disadvantages of Thermal Transfer Printing

While thermal transfer printing has many benefits, there are also some limitations to these printers. Here’s a look at some factors you should be aware of.

Supply costs are higher due to the need to replace the ribbon regularly
When using single-pass thermal transfer ribbons, these can be wasteful when minimal designs are printed
You can’t recycle a thermal transfer ribbon, making it less eco-friendly
Ensuring compatibility between ribbon and print media can be challenging, and if not a perfect match, the labels might not be as resistant to the elements

The Most Influential Factors in Deciding Between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer

Now that you know more about direct thermal vs. thermal transfer printing, you’re armed with valuable information to guide your decision-making between the two printer types.

Ultimately, there are two major deciding factors when evaluating the two printing types.

How long do you need the label to last? Is it short-term like a shipping label? Then go with direct thermal. Or is it something that needs to last indefinitely? If so, then you’ll want a thermal transfer printer.
What environment will the labels be subjected to? If they’ll be in a temperate, dry environment, you can use a direct thermal printer and labels without any concerns about the labels being ruined. But if the labels will be in hot conditions, subjected to fluorescent lights or sunlight or might face abrasions, you’ll want to use a thermal transfer printer.

Ultimately, you can evaluate the printer based on use cases. And if your use cases are mixed and you want only one printer taking up space in your business or home, it’s best to go with a thermal transfer printer. Just be sure to purchase an additional ribbon to keep on hand to avoid printing disruptions.

Where to Find Printers, Labels and Supplies

Purchasing a high-quality printer is essential to ensuring you get high-resolution labels. But you also want to know that your labels and supplies are compatible with your printer type and model.

The team at DuraFast Label Company can aid you in finding labels and supplies for your printer model no matter how old it is or what supplies you’re looking for. Contact the team at 1-866-299-0066 or live chat with them in the bottom right corner of their website during business hours.

Further reading:

What is the Difference Between Direct Thermal and Thermal Transfer Labels?