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What is the difference between thermal transfer printing and thermal printing? Thermal Transfer Printing Technologies

What is the difference between thermal transfer printing and thermal printing? Thermal Transfer Printing Technologies

Thermal transfer printing. The thermal head of the printer heats the intermediate carrier - a thermal transfer ink ribbon (ribbon). The coloring layer from the ribbon is transferred directly to the label made of paper, cardboard or synthetics.

Direct thermal. The thermal paper label is heated by the printer's thermal head to form an image.
Thermal transfer printing. The thermal head of the printer heats the intermediate carrier - a thermal transfer ink ribbon (ribbon). The coloring layer from the ribbon is transferred directly to the label made of paper, cardboard or synthetics.

Choosing the perfect type of print for you and your business?

The choice of printing type is dictated by the requirements for the label.

The main qualities of the label:

material,
durability,
resistance to sunlight, temperature changes and other weather conditions,
abrasion resistance,
resistance to aggressive environments.

Having determined the requirements for the label, you will not make a mistake in choosing the type of printing.

thermal label

material only heat-sensitive paper (possibly with different coatings),
not durable (service life up to 6 months under ideal conditions),
not resistant to sunlight, heat,
not resistant to abrasion
not resistant to aggressive environments.

Conclusion: thermal printing is used where long-term operation of the label is not required, there are no significant temperature changes (for example, food products with a short shelf life, mail, registration badges, goods with a fast expiration date, etc.).

Thermal transfer label

material paper, cardboard, synthetic film, plastic, etc.,
durable,
weather resistant,
abrasion resistant,
can be resistant to aggressive environments

Conclusion: thermal transfer tape for marking various equipment or goods with a long shelf life or use. By selecting the label material and the corresponding ribbon, you can achieve the necessary print qualities, such as resistance to weather conditions or aggressive media (oil, gasoline, etc.), resistance to strong heat, etc.

Thermal printer or thermal transfer printer? What is more profitable?

Direct thermal printing is a more economical option, despite the fact that the cost of a thermal label is higher than the cost of a thermal transfer label. Thermal printing does not involve the use of additional consumables - ribbon (thermal transfer ink ribbon).

By purchasing a printer operating in thermal transfer mode, you get two types of printing in one device, since the printer allows you to print both with and without ribbon. The absence of a thermal transfer unit in the printer limits its capabilities to direct thermal printing only.

With direct thermal printing, the thermal head of the printer is subjected to more stress, as it is in direct contact with the label, which causes increased wear on this element. During thermal transfer printing, the thermal head works in a gentle mode, since printing occurs through an intermediate medium (ribbon).

Determining the required print resolution?

Printing at 203dpi is a solution for printing simple labels that are readable by the operator. As a rule, such resolution does not imply the printing of compact two-dimensional symbols.
Printing at a resolution of 305dpi is the standard resolution for logistics labels, where narrow compact barcodes, two-dimensional symbols are used, including simple graphics.
609dpi printing is the ultra-compact label printing solution most commonly used in the electronics industry. Labels usually contain compact linear or two-dimensional barcodes.

Selecting the type of thermal transfer ink ribbon (ribbon)?

There are three main types of ink ribbon: wax-based, wax-resin, and resin.
Wax are designed mainly for printing on paper labels (semi-gloss, matte).
Wax-resin for printing on paper and cardboard, in cases where it is necessary to achieve greater durability of the image.
Resin ribbons for printing on synthetic materials (labels made of polyethylene, polypropylene, textile ribbons, etc.).

Ribbon size selection?

When choosing the width of the ribbon roll, follow the manufacturer's recommendations: the width of the ink ribbon should be equal to or greater than the width of the label roll. This combination will ensure a long service life of the thermal head.

The ink ribbon winding length is limited by the printer you are using. As a rule, compact class printers use 70-140m long ribbon, industrial class printers use ribbon up to 600m long.

When choosing a ribbon, pay attention to such an important parameter as the winding side. It can be ink layer out (OUT) or ink layer in (IN). This setting is also determined by the printer manufacturer.

Industrial marking is necessary in order to simplify the classification of products, their inclusion in the production nomenclature and identification. Often, marking is also used to protect products from counterfeiting. Simply put, marking is the application of clearly distinguishable signs, numbers, symbols, logos and other symbols that cannot be erased to a product. Such application is carried out using specialized equipment. In addition to applying information that should be on products in accordance with the requirements of legislative acts, manufacturers often apply special logos to products, protecting them from fakes and ensuring recognition of their products.

Industrial marking methods

Industrial marking should be carried out without inaccuracies, and even more so, marriage. The main requirements that apply to it are clarity, indelibility and durability. Such marking will help to apply high-quality marking equipment. Without its use, it is simply impossible to apply such marking. To date, there are several types of marking and each manufacturer independently chooses which type to choose. This choice is determined by many factors, in particular, the type of product being manufactured, the type of material to be marked, etc. The most used methods of industry today are:

Self-adhesive labels;
Laser markers;
Impact dot marking;
Mechanical engraving, etc.

There are a lot of ways of marking, however, in order to ensure quality, you definitely need modern and high-quality equipment for marking, which our company offers.

Modern equipment for industrial marking

The range of equipment offered by our company consists of devices that can turn industrial product marking into a simple and inexpensive process, regardless of the industry. For example, metal marking equipment is only high-quality devices from well-known manufacturers. The equipment offered by us has a number of advantages, among which are the main ones:

High quality of marking applied to the goods;
Economical use of consumables, which can significantly reduce costs when applying information to manufactured products;

Easy implementation of equipment in any production process.

Or labels, then you need to understand the terminology and get answers to the main questions that arise when choosing the type of printing (respectively, the label printer) or consumables.

Ordinary laser printer or specialized label printer?

label printer Designed to apply information that varies (varies) from label to label.
no need to cut the printed labels from the sheet. It saves time and paper.
A thermal/thermal transfer printer is able to print labels at high speeds and high resolutions that a conventional laser printer cannot.
Industrial grade thermal/thermal transfer printers have a ruggedized iron body making them suitable for use in industrial or warehouse environments.
support for printing most barcode symbols.
a large number of optional devices that improve the efficiency of the labeling process, such as a built-in cutter, printed label separator, print quality verifier, etc.

Print type. Direct thermal or thermal transfer printing. What are the differences?

Direct thermal. The thermal paper label is heated by the printer's thermal head to form an image.
Thermal transfer printing. The thermal head of the printer heats the intermediate carrier - a thermal transfer ink ribbon (ribbon). The coloring layer from the ribbon is transferred directly to the label made of paper, cardboard or synthetics.

Choosing the perfect type of print for you and your business?

The choice of printing type is dictated by the requirements for the label.

The main qualities of the label:

material,
durability,
resistance to sunlight, temperature changes and other weather conditions,
abrasion resistance,
resistance to aggressive environments.

Having determined the requirements for the label, you will not make a mistake in choosing the type of printing.

material only heat-sensitive paper (possibly with different coatings),
not durable (service life up to 6 months under ideal conditions),
not resistant to sunlight, heat,
not resistant to abrasion
not resistant to aggressive environments.

Conclusion: thermal printing is used where long-term operation of the label is not required, there are no significant temperature changes (for example, food products with a short shelf life, mail, registration badges, goods with a fast expiration date, etc.).

material paper, cardboard, synthetic film, plastic, etc.,
durable,
weather resistant,
abrasion resistant,
can be resistant to aggressive environments

Conclusion: thermal transfer printing for marking various equipment or goods with a long shelf life or use. By selecting the label material and the corresponding ribbon, you can achieve the necessary print qualities, such as resistance to weather conditions or aggressive media (oil, gasoline, etc.), resistance to strong heat, etc.

Thermal printer or thermal transfer printer? What is more profitable?

Direct thermal a more economical option, despite the fact that the cost of a thermal label is higher than the cost of a thermal transfer label. Thermal printing does not involve the use of additional consumables - ribbon (thermal transfer ink ribbon).

Buying a printer, working in thermal transfer mode, you get two types of printing in one device, since the printer allows you to print both with and without ribbon. The absence of a thermal transfer unit in the printer limits its capabilities to direct thermal printing only.

Determining the required print resolution?

Printing at 203dpi is a solution for printing simple labels that are readable by the operator. As a rule, such resolution does not imply the printing of compact two-dimensional symbols. Printing at 305dpi is the standard resolution for logistics labels using narrow compact barcodes, 2D symbologies, including simple graphics. 609dpi printing is the ultra-compact label printing solution most commonly used in the electronics industry. Labels usually contain compact linear or two-dimensional barcodes.

Selection of the type of thermal transfer ink ribbon (ribbon) ?

There are three main types of ink ribbon: wax-based, wax-resin, and resin.

Wax are designed mainly for printing on paper labels (semi-gloss, matte).

Wax-resin for printing on paper and cardboard, in cases where it is necessary to achieve greater durability of the image.

Resin ribbons for printing on synthetic materials (labels made of polyethylene, polypropylene, textile ribbons, etc.).

Ribbon size selection?

The ink ribbon winding length is limited by the printer you are using. As a rule, compact class printers use 70-140m long ribbon, industrial class printers use ribbon up to 600m long.

We will contact you and solve all your questions!

The use of polymeric materials for labels
Material type	Application area
Polyethylene	The material has high adhesive strength over a wide temperature range. It is used, in particular, for marking pallets that have been in open warehouses for a long time. High material resistance to solvents and chemicals. Operating temperature from -10 to +80 degrees. Celsius. The minimum temperature of the gluing surface is +5 degrees. Celsius. The material is recyclable.
Polyolefin	The material provides exceptionally stable label dimensions. High resistance of the material in aqueous, slightly acidic, alkaline, saline, albumin solutions. Print speed up to 152 mm per second. Working temperature of self-adhesive labels - from -40 to +100 degrees. Celsius. The minimum temperature of the gluing surface is +5 degrees. Celsius.
PVC	Used for marking on curved and uneven surfaces. The material provides high resistance to atmospheric precipitation. Print speed up to 101 mm per second. Operating temperature from -20 to +100 degrees. Celsius. The minimum temperature of the gluing surface is +5 degrees. Celsius.
Polypropylene	For labels, biaxially oriented polypropylene of exceptionally high transparency is used, as well as matte white or matte color. It is used for marking in the chemical, medical and food industries. High material resistance in oils, alcohols, blood and water. Operating temperature from -20 to +100 degrees. Celsius. The minimum temperature of the gluing surface is +5 degrees. Celsius.
Polyester	The material provides exceptionally high print quality and label adhesion to the surface over a wide temperature range. High material resistance in oils, alcohols, blood and water. Operating temperature from -40 to +150 degrees. Celsius. The minimum temperature of the sticking surface is 0 degrees. Celsius.
Polyamide	The material provides exceptionally high print quality under extreme conditions. High material resistance in chemically aggressive environments. Operating temperature from -40 to +190 degrees. Celsius. The minimum temperature of the gluing surface is +4 degrees. Celsius.

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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.

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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).

The 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 (wax-based), RESIN (resin-based), 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 dye 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:

Create a visual appearance of the label (shape and dimensions).
Design a layout (you can resort to standard Windows programs or turn to specialized "label designers".
Connect printer to PC via USB cable or infrared port (RS 232 interface or Wi-Fi).
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 wear;
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 (whereas direct ink can be uncomfortable to touch).
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.