Thermal Printing Factors

How Long does Thermal Printing Last

Factors To Consider – How Long Does Thermal Printing Last

Most small and medium businesses use thermal paper as their primary source of digital transactions. You’ll need thermal receipts rolls for your POS systems if you’re a retail business owner and run a store offering cashless payments. Similarly, there are a lot of sectors like hospitals, retail stores, and parking departments where thermal paper printing is required to print the receipts. Does thermal printing last for a long, or does it fade after a short period?

Another query states people wonder whether the paper they’re using is thermal; to know that, click the link here.

Let’s understand the whole scenario around how much thermal paper printing lasts and how you can prevent them from fading early.

What is thermal printing?

Thermal printing paper

Thermal printing or thermal transfer printing is a type of digital printing in which the material is applied to a melting ribbon coating. This makes the material glued to the paper on which the printing material is applied. You can also make wholesale purchases when it comes to thermal paper rolls as well.

In certain cases, if the thermal printer is not printing, check out this link for ideal solutions.

What is the age of thermal printing?

But do you know how long thermal printing lasts?

You can find two different types of thermal printing: direct thermal printing and thermal transfer printing. 

The lifespan of direct thermal printing is around 7-25 years, whereas thermal transfer printing lasts 2—35 years. It’s up to you which kind of thermal printing you opt for your business receipt printing. In case, for any reason whatsoever, if your thermal printer isn’t printing, you can check out this link which can help you with the valuable solutions you are looking for.

Also read: Know the difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer labels via this link.

To consider the age of thermal printing, you also need to focus on a few aspects, including:

Thermal Printing Lifespan Based On Media Type

Thermal Transfer paper – thermal transfer paper ensures a longer lifespan for thermal printing for SMBs.

Direct Thermal Paper – Direct thermal printing has a comparatively lesser shelf life, ensuring high-quality printing and clarity of information.

Synthetic Media – These days, synthetic media is trending, making thermal printing more durable, qualitative, and heat and moisture-resistant.

Aside that, here’s a definitive guide on thermal papers.

Thermal Printing Lifespan Based On Storage Conditions

Storage conditions are also a most important factor, making thermal printing more eligible to adopt by businesses. Let’s check out what you must consider while storing thermal printed products.

  •         Ensure you store unused thermal paper sheet rolls away from direct heat and sunlight.
  •         Prefer dark areas to store your thermal papers.
  •         The storage area should be dry and cool.
  •         The relative humid temperature of the storage area should be approx. 45-65%.
  •         The atmospheric temperature can be reached or lower than 25ºC (77°F).
  •         Try to avoid compressing the thermal paper roll. It is also suggested not to put heavy objects on too many rolls together as it may hamper thermal printing quality.

It was all about the thermal printing lifespan, but do you know how to keep thermal prints longer even if they are in use?

Also read: Here’s a link to the essential difference between carbonless and thermal receipt paper.

How do you protect your thermal prints from fading?

thermal paper
Black roll wax ribbon for thermal transfer on core and white self-adhesive label roller for a special barcode printer. Consumables and auxiliary materials for barcode printing. Selective focus.

A few things must be kept in mind while you’re looking to safeguard your thermal prints from fading. Check them below and adapt them to keep your thermal papers lasting dlong.

Keep a copy of your thermal prints to get a new one when your existing thermal print deteriorates. If your paper gets destroyed by climate or human-made conditions, you can get the copy out and make a new one to proceed with your work.

Another way to opt for it is to scan the document and store a digital copy in the backup system. The benefit is that you can print that stored copy whenever needed.

Apart from that, if you are truly concerned about the safety of your thermal prints, you should keep them away from direct sunlight and heat. This will help you protect your thermal prints from fading too soon. If you want to learn more and everything about thermal papers, make sure you click on the link mentioned here. 

Thermal Printing Lifespan Key Considerations

Let’s check out the best considerations you can choose to keep your thermal prints long-lasting.

Exposure to Heat

Your thermal paper should be high-quality and can withstand heat and extreme temperatures. You need to pick the thermal paper which is not heat-sensitive and does not get black when the temperature exceeds 150° F (66° C).

Keep Away from Moisture

You should use moisture-resistance media paper for better printing results and long-lasting life. You can have them from reliable thermal paper manufacturers and suppliers as they offer synthetic media, typically unaffected by climate conditions and moisture.

Thickness of Media

The thickness of the media also matters to make thermal printing long-lasting. If you choose sturdy and thicker media or thermal paper, the printing results would probably be the best, clear, and long-lasting.

Archiving Issues

The most important factor is to know how much your printing material and receipt papers are useful for your business. If these are useful for a short period, using expensive, high-quality media paper is not preferred. For that, direct thermal paper and printing are recommended.

Also read: https://graphictickets.com/can-i-use-normal-paper-on-a-thermal-printer/

Conclusion:

In conclusion, thermal printing is quite a good option if you want long-term results for your business operations. Therefore, thermal printing is highly recommended, even using standard-quality material.

If you have certain concerns about identifying thermal papers, here’s a link to help you with it.

Imagine what you would get if thermal transfer printing were accomplished using high-grade thermal paper, ensuring clear and long-lasting printing on business materials. If you encounter a situation where your thermal printer isn’t printing, visit this link for appropriate solutions.

Now, you must know how long thermal printing lasts and what steps you can take to protect the printing.

Written By
Mindy Timm

Mindy Timm is the Sales Manager for Graphic Tickets & Systems, where she gives guidance and helps the customer with getting the product that will perform the best for their needs. Dedicated to the end-user, she is enthusiastic about talking to people all over the U.S. and taking care of their thermal paper needs as quickly and efficiently as possible so they can worry about the other projects on their desk. For more information about Mindy or thermal paper, please feel free to visit our website at www.graphictickets.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is thermal print permanent?

If we talk about thermal printing lifespan, it has a comparatively longer life span than direct thermal printing. Thermal printing can be done with thermal paper in different grades and qualities. Opting for the premium quality thermal paper will give you long-lasting printing results and vice versa.

How do you preserve thermal photos?

If thermal images are stored properly under suitable temperatures, it is assumed that they will last for at least seven to 10 years. Also, it is required to store the images with compatible materials and normal filing conditions.

Is thermal printing waterproof?

Thermal printing is highly durable as it is done with high-quality thermal paper coated with some special type of chemical, making it qualitative and waterproof. It is also scratch-free and lets the final product, whether receipt or event tickets, free from heat and water damage.

Is thermal printing only black and white?

Thermal printing is possible with thermal printers. But, there’s the fact that a few thermal printers only accept one ribbon at a time; hence, it doesn’t provide specific colors that you want on your paper. So, if you put the black color ribbon, the thermal printing results will be black, and if you want something other than white or black, it is required to put that specific color ribbon to the thermal printer. Using thermal printers with ZINK technology can help you provide colorful thermal printing along with high-grade image quality.

Can you prevent thermal prints from fading?

Yes, there are a lot of tricks and techniques that prevent the thermal paper from fading. However, the most prior aspect is not to store all the thermal printed products inside plastic sleeves. The next thing you can do to prevent your thermal prints and receipts from fading is to store them away from light and direct heat.

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