Thermal Printers: A Comprehensive Introduction

Thermal printers are commonly referred to as inkless printers because they do not require ink, making them simple and convenient to use. They are widely popular and are the most common type of portable printer we encounter in daily life. Today, we will provide a comprehensive introduction to thermal printers.

Why No Ink is Needed

Unlike traditional inkjet printers, thermal printers do not require ink. So how do they print? The secret lies in the special thermal paper used by these printers. Thermal paper is specially designed to be highly sensitive to heat. When heated, it turns black rapidly. You can test this yourself using a lighter; just heat a section of the paper, and it will turn black where heated. Thermal printers control the areas that are heated to print corresponding content on the thermal paper.

For complex printing tasks, you can pre-print some content on thermal paper and then add the remaining content when needed. This reduces the amount of printing and speeds up the process. Commonly used shipping label printers operate on this principle.

When to Use Thermal Printers

Thermal printers do not require maintenance for printheads or ink, making them more reliable and stable. They are also compact, portable, and print directly on specific types of paper, making them ideal for use in applications requiring adhesive receipts or labels. Here are some common scenarios:

Shipping Labels

This is the most common application for thermal printers. Shipping labels are made of special thermal paper. Shipping companies pre-print some information on the paper, and when sending a package, the remaining details like the address are printed directly.

Menus and Receipts

When dining at a restaurant, the order receipt provided by the server is often printed using a thermal printer. Other receipts, such as queue tickets, are also produced this way. These receipts do not require high precision and demand portability, so handheld thermal printers are often used. These printers are often deeply integrated with systems like ERP software, allowing automatic printing after system operations.

Photo Printing

In recent years, thermal printers have also been used for simple photo printing. After taking a photo, you can print it using a thermal printer. For children, these printers make for an excellent toy. However, note that the printed content is generally not very clear and is unsuitable for long-term preservation.

How to Choose a Thermal Printer

There are many brands available on the market, such as Jingchen and Zebra. When choosing a thermal printer, pay attention to the following factors:

1. 1. Configuration Options: Ensure the printer allows you to set content as needed.
2. 2. Bluetooth Support: Check if it supports Bluetooth connectivity for ease of use.
3. 3. System Language: Ensure the printer supports the language you use.

Pointprinter, a company specializing in printer products, also offers various thermal printers.

Portable Thermal Printers

If you primarily need to print shipping labels or receipts, a portable thermal printer is a great choice. It’s easy to carry and can print a variety of content. You can even change the thermal paper to print different sizes. Our printers come with pre-designed templates, allowing you to quickly print beautiful content.

A4 Thermal Printers

These large-format thermal printers can handle content as large as A4 paper. Traditional thermal printers are often limited to smaller receipts, but technological advancements now allow for larger-sized printing, such as test papers and invoices.

Limitations

Thermal printers work by heating areas of thermal paper, so their prints are typically monochrome. If you need multi-color printing, thermal printers are not suitable.

Additionally, thermal prints are not durable. Over time (usually more than a year), the printed content may fade or blur. Therefore, they are unsuitable for long-term archival purposes.

Thermal printing also has lower resolution compared to inkjet or laser printing, making it less ideal for high-precision printing.

Conclusion

If your printing needs are monochrome, do not require high resolution, and involve labels or adhesive notes, a thermal printer is an excellent choice.

For other needs, consider alternatives like handheld inkjet printers or laser printers. If you are specifically looking for inkless printers, you might also consider thermal transfer printers, which are discussed in another article.