Practical test: thermal direct and thermal transfer printing

Overprinting with thermal printers: our practical tests

Whether it’s the best-before date, weight or ingredient list, post-production overprinting is critical for many customers. Two main technologies are used: direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing. Direct thermal printing is particularly suitable for labels for temporary use. It requires a specific heat-sensitive material, commonly called direct thermal paper. The thermal printer head heats certain areas of the liner, which instantly darken to form the desired text or code. Thermal transfer printing deposits ink from a ribbon directly onto the material. This method works with a wide variety of materials, even those that are not heat-sensitive, and provides durable and resistant prints. The quality depends on both the ribbon (wax or resin) and the material used.

To guide you, we conducted a series of tests with Meto. Using their PrintHybrid printers, capable of handling both direct thermal and thermal transfer printing, we tested several standard calculator materials, focusing on thermal transfer printing. Each material was tested with a wax ribbon and a resin ribbon to observe the differences in outcome. These results provide useful information, although performance may vary depending on your printer and your conditions of use.

How to choose between wax ribbon and resin ribbon?

The choice of ribbon depends mainly on the material:

• For plastic labels: resin ribbon is recommended, as wax ribbon is not sufficiently resistant to friction.
• For paper labels: coated papers offer the best result. However, our tests with PrintHybrid printers show that wax ribbons can also produce sharp, durable prints on more absorbent papers.

Obtain perfect thermal overprints

In addition to choosing the right ribbon, the printing speed and temperature are decisive:

• Too much heat or too low a speed can damage the material, especially plastics, and risk burning the label.
• Adjusting temperature and speed also influences black density: lower temperatures with high speed can produce light grays instead of deep black.

Our results table summarizes the performance of the materials with each type of ribbon and provides practical observations from the tests.

etiqueta.es tests Meto PrintHybrid

Compatibility with other thermal printers

The tested materials are compatible with most thermal printers, including Zebra models. However, we recommend testing on your own equipment to ensure optimal results.
Roll labels are available with different core sizes and winding direction to suit your application. This flexibility minimizes disruption and ensures smooth integration into your processes.

Practical advice

These tests are based on specific Meto printers and serve as a guide, not a guarantee. Performance may vary depending on your equipment, configuration and usage conditions. For optimal results, test materials under your own conditions. Our customer service can provide samples and advice to optimize your installation.

Do you have suggestions for other materials or applications you would like to try? We will be happy to consider them in our future tests. Please contact us by phone at +34 932716400 or by email at info@etiqueta.es. We will be happy to advise you!