Characteristics of Thermal Transfer Labels!

Many new businesses need to use labels for their products or packages. But they do not know what type of label do they actually need. There are two main types of labels that can be printed. The first ones are thermal transfer labels, and the second ones are direct thermal labels. So, what are the differences between them? What advantages they have? And which one do you need to use? Well, let’s start with the thermal transfer ones. They have several characteristics that you need to know to be able to make the difference between them and the other type of labels.

• Resistant. The first and most important characteristic that you need to know is the fact that these labels are more resistant. Once printed, they will not fade away in time. As long as the label itself is not destroyed, the print will retain the same condition forever. So, this makes them the perfect alternative for the tasks where the label must be usable for years.
• Need ink. The second characteristic that you should know is the fact that this type of label is printed using ink. This means that you will need to regularly supply the printer with ink. Also, there is the risk that when the ink is almost finished, the printed labels to be slightly discolored. Or they may seem to be faded. So, you need to always keep an eye on the printer and make sure that these situations happen as little as possible.
• Bigger printers. The last characteristic that you need to know is the size of the printers used for this type of label. Compared with the direct thermal method, the printer used for this method is much bigger. So, you will need to prepare a larger space for it. But you do not need to worry too much, even if the size is bigger. But overall, it is still small enough to easily find space for it.

Characteristics of Direct Thermal Labels!

But what about the https://www.printerlabelstore.co.uk/direct-thermal-labels/ direct thermal labels ? What characteristics does it have? Well, they are almost the opposite of the thermal transfer ones. But you should know some details about its characteristics anyway. Why? Because it may help you make a better decision. So, the three characteristics that you should keep in mind are:

• Temporary. The materials used for this label are specially made to be printed through only the use of thermal energy. But this also makes them vulnerable to light. So, in a relatively short period, the print will start to fade away because of the light. You can either keep them in an area where the light levels are low. Or you can use them only for purposes that only need temporary labels.
• Only use heat. Unlike thermal transfer alternatives, this type of label does not need ink. The printers only use heat to print the labels. This makes them more economical. And there is also no risk of remaining without heat. So, the printing will always go smoothly. But the disadvantage is that the print can only be in the black color. Unlike the alternatives, in which you can change the ink color.
• Small printers. And lastly, the size of the printer is much smaller than the thermal transfer ones. The size of this type is less than half the size of its alternative. So, it will be very easy to find space for it. You can even carry it around while it prints the labels for you. This is very advantageous in situations where space is a problem. Why? Because you can move it around based on the free space available.

Should You Use the Thermal Transfer Labels or the Direct Thermal Ones?

In the end, which label should you use? Well, it depends on your particular situation. More exactly the type of tasks that you need the labels for. As mentioned above, the https://www.printerlabelstore.co.uk/thermal-transfer-labels/ thermal transfer labels are better used for tasks where they need to stay intact for years. While the direct thermal ones should be used for tasks that are only needed temporarily.

For example, a thermal transfer label can be used for product identification and inventory labels. As you can imagine, both of these tasks require labels that are resistant to time and heat. You will most likely need them for long periods. Sometimes, even for years. So, the permanent nature of this type of label is the perfect solution if you need to take care of this type of task. By now, you should understand if you need this type of label or not. Keep in mind that the cost of these labels is higher. So, if there is no need for them, then it would be better to use the other alternative.

On the other hand, a direct thermal label should only be used for items like receipts and shipping labels. In both cases, it does not matter if the information fades away after a few weeks or months. So, you can use the more economical method for this type of task. At the end, which types of labels do you really need? You may even need both of them. But where can you find a reliable shop from which to buy them?

The best method that you can use is to use the internet to search for a reliable shop. You must ensure that the shops have labels of the exact size that you need. Different shops will have a different method that will help you check if the labels that you need are in stock. Keep in mind that different printers may not only require different label sizes, but they may also need different materials. And the ink used for thermal transfer may also need different types of material. So, even if you find the size, you should make sure that they are the perfect fit for your printer. All you have to do for that is to check the full specifications and compare them with the info of your device.