Businesses looking to purchase a label printer can get confused by the differences between direct thermal labels and thermal transfer labels, so we’ve created this Infographic to explain the differences between them and help you make a correct decision.

Thermal paper is a type of specialty paper that can change color when exposed to heat, without the use of traditional ink. It is usually used in thermal printers specifically for devices such as cash registers, credit card terminals, and adding machines. Thermal paper is manufactured by the application of special heat-sensitive chemical materials to a paper base. The chemicals used can vary with the manufacturer.

1. What’s the Difference Between Thermal Paper and Regular Paper?

Thermal Paper

Thermal paper is different from regular paper because it’s coated with a mixture of dye and chemicals. When heated above the melting point, the dye reacts to the chemicals, causing a shift to a colored form (typically black but occasionally blue or red). The print head in the machine is able to heat the correct areas of the paper, making it legible.

Thermal paper contains three layers, although you wouldn’t notice by looking at it.

• The substrate layer is basically just the paper.
• The base layer acts as a binding element made from starches, gelatin, and alkali salts. This layer allows the heat to move through the paper.
• The active layer contains the chemicals that make the paper react to heat.
• An additional protective layer helps prevent the paper from fading. Not all thermal papers contain this layer.

How to Identify Thermal Paper?

There is a noticeable difference in the feel of the paper. Thermal paper has a somewhat slick surface and can be difficult to write on with a pen, whereas regular paper feels like ordinary copier paper. Usually, a scratch with a fingernail can produce a black mark on the surface of thermal paper.

2. Can You Use Thermal Paper in a Normal Printer?

Using thermal paper in a regular printer is not advisable. Thermal paper is designed to work in thermal printers, which use heat instead of ink. It is also thinner and more slippery. Thus, a regular printer would probably not produce good results. The same applies to using regular paper in a thermal printer.

3. How to Measure Thermal Paper Roll Size?

Knowing the correct paper roll size is the first step in selecting and using it in your printer. If you know the model of the receipt printer, you can Google the receipt printer model, you can usually get exactly what products (paper rolls, printer ribbons, cleaning supplies, etc.) are compatible.

If that isn’t available, the paper roll size can be obtained using these four measurements:

• Width – Use a ruler, measure across the face of the roll from side to side
• Diameter – from edge to edge of the thermal roll going directly through the center spindle hole in the roll
• Length – the length or amount of paper wound on the roll
• Core size – the diameter of the tube on which the thermal paper is rolled.

4. How to Buy Good Quality Thermal Paper Rolls?

• Choose the right paper roll size

Thermal paper rolls come in many different sizes, to fit different printers and to meet different needs. Choosing the right paper size prevents wasting time with running out of paper, returning your paper roll order, etc.

• Order the correct quantity

Be sure you order enough paper rolls to meet your needs. This way you have the best chance of getting discounts on bulk purchases, which are much more economical than frequent small orders.

• Consider your budget and compare prices

Make sure that the paper rolls you buy are competitively priced. You can do this by considering your budget and comparing prices from different manufacturers for paper rolls of equal quality. Look for the best price, of course, but don’t make the mistake of trying to save a little money by buying low-quality products that will disappoint your customers. This will cost you more money in the long run.

5. Is Thermal Paper Toxic? How Do You Prevent Health Risks?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic synthetic compound that is found in many plastic containers such as plastic bottles, cans, and stretch wraps. As a color developer, it is also often part of the coating of thermal paper and barcode labels.

BPA has been of concern due to its hormone-like properties as an endocrine disruptor. It is suspected of having negative health effects and being connected to risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and developmental disorders. Fortunately, BPA-free thermal paper is available. Buying BPA-free paper will eliminate this risk to you and your customers and protect you from possible liability.

Importing from China has proven a successful tactic of global sourcing for many businesses. Products made in China, such as shoes, clothing, electronics, paper, home furnishings, and many more are popular worldwide.

However, it is not an easy task, especially for the newbies. The importing process can be highly complex, confusing, and costly. Expected gains can often be erased by long transit times, rising or fluctuating delivery costs, regulatory fees, and unexpected delays.

Here’s a step-by-step guide from our point of view. Let’s check out how to import from China and what you can do to make the process more smooth and efficient.

According to recent statistics, the average westerner spends around 99,117 hours at work during his lifetime which is the equivalent of 11 and a half years of solid slog. You have to face it, your office is your second home, and it’s probably a good idea to make it fun, inspiring and cozy. With these gadgets and must-haves, you’ll have everyone in the office wondering how so much win could possibly come from one person!

To help you do that, we’ve picked 12 awesome things and gadgets to bring back fun and inspiration to your workplace again! (Update: we understand the COVID-19 forced companies all over the world to send their employees home to work virtually, we still think you can use these awesome things at home.)

It can be confusing and frustrating on what kind of printer you want to purchase especially if this is going to be your first printer. In the office or in your business, a printer is a very useful tool for you to print reports, receipts, and even emails! It is important to choose the right printer that you could depend on your needs.

There are so many brands and types of printer to choose from. In this infographic, Panda Paper Roll is giving you useful tips that you could consider on choosing your first printer to suit your printing needs.

One of the most outstanding inventions that indeed changed the world is the credit card. Although small in size, this rectangular, thin plastic card provides matchless benefits like convenience and safety for people who like to avoid carrying cold cash in their wallet. It allows you to shop at almost any store all over the world without the hassle of carrying a huge amount of money, thus making the purchase process much faster and preventing the risk of losing cash.

In this infographic, Panda Paper Roll presents to you the top seven credit card tips and tricks that will help you save money and reduce credit card debt in 2017.

Since the advent of laser printers in the 1970’s, many people, enterprise and organizations have switched to this type of printing technology because of its capability to print a high volume of pages at a much faster rate compared to inkjet printers without compromising the quality of the print.

However, though much of the work relies on the machine itself, a quality toner cartridge can immensely impact the quality of the print output. It may look like an easy task, but with hundreds of vendors here and there, all promising to provide you with only the best toner cartridge, it can be very easy to get off the track – especially if don’t know the things to look for in a toner cartridge.

Throughout the years, financial institutions like banks have been extremely vital in making our society more prosperous, viable and stable. Across the globe, there are over tens of thousands of banks that serves billions of customers of all ages, cultures, and economic systems. From loans and cash transfers to savings deposit and payment procession, banks do a variety of services that indeed, makes our life more convenient.

Choosing the right point of sale system is one of the most critical investments that you would make for your restaurant business. And as much as you want to streamline your day-to-day operations as soon as possible, it is also important to keep in mind that coming up with the right POS system is an extensive process itself.