Choose the Thermal Label Type for Your Barcode Application

From retail to healthcare and beyond, barcodes have seen a rise in use to get accurate tracking, inventory, asset management and more. It carries digital information that can be scanned and viewed, hence requiring accurate details while printing.
Therefore, choosing the right label films for barcode printing is complicated. Selecting the wrong type will lead to unnecessary risks in services, which affects the quality you promised.

What is a barcode?
Barcode is a combination of bars and spaces, which are a machine-readable representation of characters. It is used in coupons, images, signatures, licences, patient ID tags, specimen tags, backs of prescriptions, shipping containers, etc.
The correct label film for printing ensures maximum quality and is decided by considering its type, printer compatibility, durability, and adhesion properties. Let’s go over two of the leading types for this application.

Thermal Transfer
Thermal transfer printing has a thermal ribbon as a buffer between the printhead and label film. As the label is passed, the printhead heats the ribbon containing the ink. This ink melts and essentially transfers itself (the image) onto the label.
This type of printing delivers graphic images with long-lasting image stability. They are comparatively durable and cost-efficient to laser printers. On the downside, the ribbon used is poor in terms of recyclability and changing them occasionally takes time and effort.

Direct Thermal
Direct thermal is also a heat-based printing process but doesn’t need a ribbon to print. The label film is passed through a heated print that heats specific areas of it. These areas react to heat and form crisp, accurate images.
The printers used for direct thermal printing don’t need extra components like ribbon and toner, making them more cost-efficient and easier to use as compared to thermal transfer printers. However, the results are often good only for short-term usage as it’s prone to scuff.

DTP Films by Cosmo Films
The innovative minds at Cosmo Films have made a direct thermal printable film that banks on the advantages while losing a few of its disadvantages. It is a BOPP-based film with a proprietary direct thermal coating and a wide temperature endurance. The top has a protective layer that shields it from mechanical abrasion, climatic factors, chemicals, etc., increasing its durability against physical rubbing, water, oil and other solvents. DTP films are suitable to print with UV & water-based flexo, providing crisp, dark quality images every time.

Here are a few benefits of using DTP films to print your barcodes.

• High-speed printing, ideal for large-scale applications.
• Accurate images with a reduced chance of smudging.
• Lower cost to print as it doesn’t need toner or ink cartridges.
• Reduced inventory and lighter, more portable printers.

All these features and benefits make way for a wide variety of applications, like:

• Barcode printing
• Airline baggage tags
• Retail price marking
• Ready-made food labels
• Fresh fruits & meat labels
• Logistics labels
• Deep freeze product labels
• Pharmaceutical labels, and more.

In conclusion, if you desire high-speed barcode printing without losing out on quality and durability, DTP label films are the perfect fit for your needs. Our top-coated films give you an edge over your competitors.
Contact us & get in touch with our experts to know more.