THERMAL TRANSFER LABELS VS DIRECT THERMAL LABELS

Whats the difference between the  two types of thermal labels i.e thermal transfer labels and direct thermal labels

 Thermal Transfer Labels

For Thermal transfer labels a ribbon is required when printing. When printing , both the label and the ribbon go through the printer feed and the printer applies heat to the ribbon to transfer the wax and resin component onto the labels. The printer uses the ribbon similarly to the way a laserjet printer would use toner to print on paper, but with heated wax and resin replacing the toner..Ribbons are available in multiple colors and multiple sizes (length & width)  other than black. The outputs on the labels are scratch resistant and long lasting and can be unsed on different substrates including coated and uncoated paper. 

Direct Thermal Labels

Direct thermal labels do not require a ribbon to print. The labels go through the printer and the printhead applies heat directly to the label (hence the term direct thermal). As the the print head goes over the label, it heats the label and a fusing reaction with the label stock causes the heated portions to darken. A thermal receipt paper does exactly that when you get printer receipts from stores which use direct thermal technology. Direct thermal printers take up less space and do not require a ribbon. It is economical to buy direct labels since you do not have to purchase ribbon. The downside to direct thermal labels is that they are not scratch resistant (premium direct thermal is somewhat scratch resistant, but not completely heat resistant) and their life is not long enough when exposed to sunlight or in warm/hot environments. 

How to differentiate between the two ??

How to tell the difference between a thermal transfer label and a direct thermal label?  A simple logical test to tell if a label is direct thermal is to take the label and scratch it quickly with your fingernail or a pointed object and if a dark mark appears on the label, it is direct. If no marks are visible on the label, it is then a thermal transfer label. In certain cases it may take a quicker, harder stroke to create a delible mark.