Understanding the Difference Between Thermal Paper and Normal Paper

There are various kinds of print paper available for various uses. Two popular varieties are thermal paper and normal paper; these two varieties have distinct uses in printing processes and properties that make them unique.

This article will explore these differences further below, starting from their fundamental distinctions.

What’s Thermal Paper and How Does It Work?

Thermal paper is a type of paper coated with an invisible chemical solution that reacts with heat. These dyes and developers react at high temperatures and turn black when exposed to heat, giving thermal paper its name.

Thermal printers typically use heat applied by their print head, which heats and applies pressure to paper, causing its chemical makeup to react and create images and text – this process is known as direct thermal printing.

Thermal paper is widely utilized in point-of-sale (POS) systems such as cash registers and credit card terminals, fax machines, thermal label printers, and other forms of thermal printers.

What’s “Normal Paper” and How Does It Work?

Normal paper (commonly known as inkjet paper or bond paper) is a type of uncoated paper, usually composed of wood pulp or other plant fibres and used for various tasks, including writing, printing, and drawing. A4 paper is one such example that we encounter daily both at home and in work environments.

Thermal paper reacts with heat; therefore, normal paper requires inkjet or laser printing processes involving ink or toner.

The Difference Between Them

The Main distinction between thermal paper and regular paper lies in how they’re printed: thermal printers use heat and pressure to create images or text, while regular papers typically utilize inkjet or laser printers which apply ink or toner directly onto their surface.

Thermal paper differs significantly from regular paper in that it contains chemicals that react to heat, making it sensitive to light and heat sources such as sunlight or heat lamps, which makes it fade more quickly when exposed to these elements. Conversely, regular paper is less sensitive and will remain intact longer.

Durability-wise, thermal paper tends to be less durable than standard paper as it can easily be scratched, torn, or worn away – which leaves printed images or texts vulnerable. On the contrary, conventional paper has more durability to endure wear and tear.

Can You Use Thermal Paper in a Normal Printer?

Unfortunately not. Thermal paper relies on heat to create images while regular printers use ink or toner to print on paper.

Thermal paper in an ordinary printer poses both an environmental and safety threat; heat generated from its operation could ignite it, while its chemical coating may harm normal print heads not designed to deal with its reactive chemicals.

Utilizing the appropriate type of thermal paper is critical in maintaining the efficient operation of printers or POS systems, as it may damage equipment as well as produce prints of poor quality that are difficult to read and may not last as long.

Tips to Choose the Right Thermal Paper

Selecting an Appropriate Size

Thermal paper rolls do not come in uniform sizes. Instead, the thermal paper market offers roll sizes suitable for various application fields. It would be beneficial to consider several factors rather than randomly choosing your thermal printing roll.

Make sure the printer width matches up with that of the printing roll by first establishing it; keep longer thermal papers in mind for cost efficiency because they can print more receipts simultaneously when taking length into account as well.

Paper Quality

Not all thermal paper is equal, so be sure to select a high-quality paper that’s durable and resistant to fading, if possible, to help avoid spotted printing. When testing quality thermal paper with a lighter, tear a sample and heat its back. After heating, a quality piece should turn black with an olive green tint and an even colour block.

Thermal paper rolls that feature protective coating can help ensure that printed images and text remain legible over time, so if this feature is important to you, select one with one.

Pricing

While it can be tempting to opt for the lowest-cost option, you must strike a balance between price and quality to ensure that you purchase something that meets your needs and represents good value for your money.

Conclusion

Thermal paper differs from regular paper in various ways. There are benefits associated with using thermal paper over regular paper, but when shopping for thermal paper rolls be sure to consider their size, quality, and price before purchasing any.

Sunavin offers high-quality thermal paper rolls at competitive prices at any one of their global warehouses – we even provide worldwide shipping! Contact us now to discover more about what products and services we can provide you!