Traditional thermal printing relies on heat-sensitive paper reacting to a print head, producing a monochrome image, typically black. While specialized thermal transfer methods exist, employing a ribbon coated with colored wax, resin, or ink to create color outputs, standard direct thermal printers lack this capability.
The capacity to produce color images with thermal transfer methods expands the applications of thermal printing beyond basic labeling and receipt generation. This broader utility encompasses areas such as high-quality photo printing, detailed medical imaging, and durable barcode generation. The prevalence of monochrome direct thermal printing stems from its simplicity, speed, and lower cost compared to color alternatives. However, the demand for color output within various industries continues to drive the development and refinement of color thermal technologies.
