The applications for thermal transfer printing are extensive. A thermal transfer printer is used to print permanent thermal transfer labels with serial numbers on parts contained in durable goods, for example, industrial machines, electrical systems (CE markings), or automobiles. Industry requirements for very high resolution printed images (especially since the introduction of barcodes) has led to an increased use of thermal transfer printing systems. Another plus is their flexibility. Since the printer can be controlled directly via the PC, the layouts and label data can be changed quite rapidly.
Almost no other printing process delivers such a high quality print result for such a wide range of materials. Since all printouts remain permanently legible on the used thermal transfer film, this creates a concrete security riself-adhesive for critical applications in banks, industry, and government. With thermal transfer labels, however, you are always on the safe side.
Thermosublimation is similar to the thermal transfer process.
The difference is that the dyes applied to the carrier film are evaporated by adding heat. Here the dye passes directly from a solid to a gaseous state (sublimation). The gaseous dye penetrates the material being printed (paper) or coats it (plastic cards).
Depending on the amount of energy supplied to each printing point, the amount of ink to be transferred (up to 64 gradations per colour) is also controlled, resulting in high ink resolution and brilliant colours. However, disadvantages are a slow printing speed at high costs, since only one colour can be applied at a time.
But the printing results are of the highest quality and very similar to a colour photo print. In the early days of digital photography, the main users were photo studios. Today, due to their outstanding print quality and compact and inexpensive design, they are mainly used for private purposes and are increasingly giving way to cheaper inkjet technology. Some devices can connect directly via Bluetooth or an infrared interface to digital cameras and used as a mobile printing solution on the go.