Direct Thermal Labels vs. Thermal Transfer Labels

With a direct thermal printer, ink is not required. The printer presses over the thermal layer of the label with heat from the printhead. As a result, the text will be printed by heat onto the top layer of direct thermal material labels. This printing technology is ideal in the short term instances because the printing will wear out faster. Shipping labels are a great example of such circumstances. 

A thermal transfer printer uses an ink ribbon during label printing. Depending on the material of the label, the corresponding ribbon is advised such as resin, wax, or wax-resin ribbons. These labels have no unique thermal layer thus ink required to properly print on the labels. As a result, the longevity of the text legibility is ideal for such situations.