Direct Thermal Printer:
Prints image by burning dots onto coated paper when paper passes over a line of heating elements
Do not use ribbons
Uses chemically sensitized paper
150-600 elements per inch
Compact, low cost, easy to load
Tends to fade over time(6 months to a year), but the process can be accelerated by external conditions
The surface of most direct thermal labels tend to be abrasive, causing printheads to wear out more rapidly
Uses mostly for making labels