Introduction
Whether for personal or business use, printers are always in demand. Even online sellers have a thermal printer at their disposal in Singapore to print shipping labels as transaction proof of their customers’ orders.
After all, any printer can print anything as long as it has sufficient ink, the sheet feeder works, and there is enough paper in the input tray. The only problem is that not everyone has equal printing needs. That means people tend to print more than usual while others print less.
When planning to buy a printer for yourself, consider your usage. Ask yourself how often you will use the printer. If you think you will be printing more than 50 to 100 papers a day, the ideal one you should get is a thermal printer in Singapore.
What Is A Thermal Printer?
A thermal printer is like a regular printer. It prints anything you like to print, but instead of paper, it prints on heat-sensitive paper or also known as thermal paper.
This type of paper material is necessary since a thermal printer generates small heated pins to print each character. In other words, it forms black text or an image, copying the exact content of a document.
As mentioned above, a thermal printer in Singapore is used to produce shipping labels, transaction receipts, barcodes and other applications.
Nevertheless, most prints that a thermal printer printed fade over time due to sun exposure or contact with chemicals. All the text and images on a thermal paper will disappear like they were empty or blank in the first place.
Part I: How Does A Thermal Printer Work?
Before knowing how a thermal printer works, you need to understand the difference between direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing.
● Direct Thermal Printing
This thermal printing method does not use any ink, ribbon or toner. It only uses heat and applies to the material instead. Its application is where the term direct thermal printing derives its name since it directly applies heat to print.
With ink, ribbon or toner needed, a thermal printer is much easier to use, especially if you buy a Zebra printer in Singapore. Most of the time, these kinds of printers are much cheaper and require little to no maintenance than thermal transfer printers.
● Thermal Transfer Printing
Unlike the first type of thermal printing method, this one uses resin-based ink or ribbons made of wax that melts into heat-sensitive paper material and creates a high-quality print that can last for a long time.
Another thing you need to know about thermal printing is that it can use colour ribbons, which print colour text and images. Even if you already run out of ribbons to use, you can still use this, but it will operate as a direct thermal printer in Singapore.
The flexibility of thermal transfer printing makes it ideal for small businesses that do not want to buy and own several printers.
Part III: What Is The Difference Between Thermal Printer And Laser Printer?
Even though thermal printers are not as common as laser printers, they are great for printing barcode receipts since this printer in Singapore prints text and images that fades over time when exposed to heat or sunlight.
Barcode receipts often may contain personal information, which is why the fading effect of a thermal printer helps product and promote one’s privacy.
Nevertheless, many business owners feel hesitant about choosing a thermal printer since they are not familiar with what it does, unlike a laser printer.
What Is A Laser Printer?
A laser printer pulls the paper from the rollers as it prints the text and image into the paper material. Labels on a laser printer tend to bend or change the direction to unsteady displacement, which can cause the shipping label to detach from the silicone. When it happens, the shipping labels jam inside the printing machine.
Which One Is Better?
It depends on your business needs. If you need to print a business portfolio for a client, you need to use a laser printer. On the other hand, if you are planning to print shipping labels for customers’ orders, a thermal printer is the best option you should use.
Part IV: How To Choose The Right Thermal Printer For Your Needs?
Even though printers are always in demand, there are several options to choose from, even for thermal printers. Knowing what those are will help you choose the right thermal printer for your needs in Singapore.
Listed below are the factors you need to consider to find the right thermal printer that fits your needs.
1. Printing Method
The printing method refers to the way a thermal printer prints. In this case, there are two types: direct thermal and thermal transfer printing.
The definition, explanation and difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer printed are in part one of this article.
2. Printing Speed And Volume
When comparing the two types of thermal printing, direct thermal printing is fundamentally faster and requires less maintenance. It can also print more than thermal transfer.
Unlike direct thermal printing, the thermal transfer printer in Singapore has higher printing quality, but the printing process might take longer than direct thermal printing.
3. Required Label Size
Like laser printers, thermal printers also come in various sizes, depending on how big the shipping or barcode label you will print.
If you will be printing smaller size copies, a direct thermal printer is the one you should get. For any different dimension of label copies, thermal transfer printers can handle various printing sizes.
Conclusion
Even though there are many printers to choose from, many business owners, especially online sellers, opt for a thermal printer in Singapore due to how easy it is to use. Not to mention, it requires less maintenance compared to a regular printer.
Contact Comtrol Solutions at (+65) 6988 1514 or (+65) 9875 5607 or send an email inquiry at enquiries@comtrolsolutions.com or leave a message on their website if you are interested in buying rugged devices like zebra scanner in Singapore.