The Advantages of Thermal Re-Transfer Printing

One of the most popular options when printing designs on discs is thermal disc printing. It’s easy, efficient and cheap. Even so, you can only print simple, monochrome designs with this method. If you want something that has a better quality, you can turn to thermal re-transfer printing.

You haven’t heard of thermal re-transfer disc printing yet? Well, take a look inside your wallet, and there’s probably a couple of examples in there right now. Thermal re-transfer printing is the method used for debit and credit cards, since they require high resolution, high-quality color, durability, permanence and also expensive

You might think direct thermal and thermal re-transfer printing are the same, but there’s a very distinct difference between them. Re-transfer printing is actually a two-step process: print and re-transfer. In the initial printing stage, the printer takes the images and places it on a clear, re-transfer ribbon. This color is then applied from the supply ribbon of the printer, and has the colored ink coating made up of magenta, yellow and cyan. These are in sequential panels.

After this is the re-transfer method. In this part, the color and image are placed on the disc. With a slight pressure and hear, the image is transferred from the ribbon onto the CDs or DVDs, using the print head iron. These two methods take at least one minute.

There’s also a difference between the two thermal disc printing technologies. In thermal re-transfer, there should is a special top coating on the discs to be used. In this method, the ink is fused into the disc’s special surface through ironing with the print head. It stays there for a long time. Take note that thermal re-transfer is not like a laminate. It will not peel off and sticks permanently. You will have a smooth, clear, and highly durable design, with a photo-realistic image.

One of the main advantages of thermal re-transfer printing is its consistency. The ribbon used is a constant variable and the print head lasts for a longer time. The consistency of the print is optimized with each print.

Another advantage is the lower costs. The disc printing cost is generally lower, since every disc only uses three color panels and only a portion of the re-transfer ribbon. The price is less than 35 cents. Also, the ribbons used are long, with an extensive print runs, eliminating the need for you to use ink cartridges or reload the printer.

For your blank CD, blu-ray discs and DVDs, opt for thermal re-transfer printing. You won’t regret your choice.