The direct thermal printer will use heat to print direct to the surface label. Thermal transfer Thermal transfer printers use ribbons to print on to the smooth paper or plastic surfaces. Again the printer uses heat, but the images is formed by the transfer of wax or resin from the ribbon to the label.
Labels can be paper, plastic or other special materials.
Usually labels have a smooth surface, for better print quality. Ribbons for thermal transfer printers come in various types, see the ribbons pages for more information. The Intermec 7421 printer is the latest addition to the desktop printer family. Like the 7422 the 7421 features a small footprint and is designed for printing labels, tags, or continuous receipts. The biggest advance with the 7421 is IPL compatibility.