How does a thermal printer display information on a printed page?
A) The printer uses heat and pressure to “fuse” the image to the paper
B) A heated print head pulls a small bubble of ink from an ink cartridge
C) A small set of pins are heated and pressed onto the page
D) Special paper is heated until it changes color
E) A set of colored ink rolls are heated until the colors transfer to the paper
F) I would like a thermal printer thermal shirt
The answer: D) Special paper is heated until it changes color
Thermal printers don’t use any ink or toner because of the special paper used during the printing process. A heating element in the print head applies a small amount of heat, and the paper changes color wherever it’s heated.
 |
Want to know more? Watch “Understanding Thermal Printers.”If you’ve been handed a credit card receipt before, then you’re probably familiar with the output from a thermal printer. In this video, you’ll learn about the components used in thermal printing and the special paper used in this almost silent printing process. |