Compuprint 6314 - Manual (Page 8)

Compuprint 6314/6414 - User Manual
1.4 Thermal Printer Technology
Quiet and fast, with excellent print quality, your multifunction thermal printer uses an inline thermal
print head. The operation of a thermal printer is different from that of a line-matrix or laser printer.
The thermal printer uses a print head with heating elements and special paper or ribbon.
1.4.1 The Printing Process
The thermal print head allows two modes of operation:
- Direct Thermal
During direct thermal printing, the thermal print head selectively heats small, rectangular thermal
dots. When these contact the coated thermal paper, the dyes and developers in the coating react
to the heat and develop an image. This mode of printing is generally used for short-term labeling
applications.
- Thermal Transfer
During thermal transfer printing, the heated thermal dots contact a thermal ribbon. The heat
reacts with the ribbon and bonds the image to the paper. This method is used especially for
abrasive, long-storage applications and for specialized applications, such as in extreme
environmental conditions or where tamper-proofing is required.
1.5 Thermal Consumables
1.5.1 Media Selection
Since there are two print modes of operation, there are two kinds of thermal media:
- Direct thermal media.
- Thermal transfer media.
Direct thermal media is paper coated with special chemicals that act as an accelerator, acceptor dye
and binder. During direct thermal mode, the heat from the thermal print head contacts the paper and
causes a chemical reaction to take place.
There is a wide range thermal transfer media available, such as film or synthetic paper substitutes
that are excellent in their ability to transfer an image (print quality) and others in scratch resistance
(long storage). Most of these media options can be die-cut for easy label applications.
NOTE!
The term “media” used in this manual refers to all the different kinds of paper or tag stock that can be used in the
printer.
8