Very good answers, but you need to know one more thing: Thermal paper is very inappropriate for storing images for a long time, especially where the stored paper cannot be kept cool. Over time the undeveloped areas darken. Sometimes totally unused paper rolls have been sent to a hot place such as Pakistan, and after sitting in a hot warehouse there have been found to be so damaged by heat, turning the paper black, as to be ususeable. Facsimile (FAX) machines sometimes involve this kind of paper for printing out received messages and documents. Useful, but you need to copy anything vital onto regular paper for retaining it a long time. Not good for places like Florida, Texas.
A thermal printer (or direct thermal printer) produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Two-color direct thermal printers are capable of printing both black and an additional color (often red), by applying heat at two different temperatures. Thermal transfer printing is a related method that uses a heat-sensitive ribbon instead of heat-sensitive paper.
A thermal printer (or direct thermal printer) produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Two-color direct thermal printers are capable of printing both black and an additional color (often red), by applying heat at two different temperatures.
Thermal printer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For the type of printer which uses sparks and aluminised paper (and is sometimes referred to as a “thermal printer”), see spark printer. A thermal printer (or direct thermal printer) produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper when the paper passes over the thermal print head. The coating turns black in the areas where it is heated, producing an image. Two-color direct thermal printers are capable of printing both black and an additional color (often red), by applying heat at two different temperatures. Thermal transfer printing is a related method that uses a heat-sensitive ribbon instead of heat-sensitive paper.