| We have all seen the thermal printer that is used at | | | | Another place where thermal transfer labels are |
| the point of sale when we buy something and use our | | | | coming into play on a major scale is in the use of bar |
| credit card to pay for it. They are seen in restaurants | | | | codes. In many cases bar codes are placed on items |
| and in service stations. The information to be printed is | | | | for inventory control and location when in storage. The |
| put on the paper by a heat process that transfer the | | | | warehouse areas can be subject to temperature |
| wax or wax and resin to the paper. These same | | | | changes and humidity. Regular labels could fade to the |
| printers can also be used to make thermal transfer | | | | point of being unreadable and the bar codes would be |
| labels and while you may not have seen them printed | | | | worthless. These labels have an advantage over |
| you have been seeing the labels more and more in | | | | direct thermal labels in that the information becomes |
| your personal or professional life. And if you have not | | | | almost permanent and the items can be rapidly |
| seen them, you have benefited from their use. | | | | identified when located. |
| Thermal transfer labels have the advantage over | | | | Thermal labels can be printed with a variety of printers. |
| other thermal transfer processes in that they are long | | | | One well-known brand is Zebra, which manufactures |
| lasting and will not be effected by either heat or | | | | the Zebra ZM400 Printer, as well as other industrial, |
| sunlight. This makes them effective for shipping labels | | | | commercial and high-performance printers. The ZM400 |
| that will be exposed to the elements. If shipping labels | | | | accepts a variety of label sizes. |
| were to become faded or smudged the whole | | | | When a long lasting label that will withstand the abuse |
| purpose of the label would be lost. Therefore they are | | | | of rubbing, heat or humidity is needed, go with the |
| made to last until the package is delivered to the | | | | thermal transfer labels. The other labels such as Direct |
| recipient. The direct thermal labels can be produced | | | | Thermal Coated or Uncoated Labels, Standard |
| rapidly so that they are ready for application on a | | | | Thermal Transfer Labels, or Direct Thermal Labels |
| moments notice. They can also be produced at less of | | | | may be similar but will not take the rough handling that |
| a cost because there are not as many moving parts in | | | | will often be needed in a label application. |
| the thermal printer. | | | | |