Can thermal label paper be printed with carbon tape

Thermal label paper usually does not require the use of carbon tape for printing. Thermal printing is achieved by heating treated label paper to induce a color reaction with colorless dyes, thereby achieving ink free printing. This printing method is suitable for low demand industries and has relatively low costs because it does not require additional ribbon consumables. However, the storage time of thermal printing is relatively short, and it may fade after about six months, which is an obvious disadvantage.

In contrast, carbon ribbon printing (also known as thermal transfer printing) involves heating the print head while applying pressure to peel off the ink layer on the carbon ribbon from the base and transfer it onto the label. This method can meet all requirements for color and printing quality, and the printed content can be stored for a long time, resistant to water, oil, high temperature, and chemical solvents. But the cost of ribbon printing is relatively high because additional ribbon consumables are required.

Therefore, for supermarkets and other places that require frequent label replacement and do not have particularly high requirements for printing quality and durability, thermal label paper is an economical choice. But if the content that needs to be printed needs to be stored for a long time or used in harsh environments, carbon tape printing is more suitable.

In general, the choice between thermal label paper or carbon tape printing depends on specific application scenarios and requirements.