People often ask "Can I use plain paper instead of thermal paper when I use a thermal printer? If we could, then we would save a lot of money because thermal paper is much more expensive than regular paper. " But the truth is no. You can't use normal paper instead of thermal paper because of the difference in how it works. If you insist on doing so, then your thermal printer will break.
What Is Regular Paper？
Normal paper is a common printing material that is made from wood fibers and processed and bleached to achieve the desired quality and color. normal paper is usually available in different thicknesses and weights to suit different printers and print jobs.
What Is Thermal Paper?
Thermal paper, also known as thermal fax paper, thermal recording paper, thermal copy paper, is a kind of processed paper whose manufacturing principle is to add a thermal color-changing layer on top of the original paper.
The color change layer mainly contains compounds including: colorless dyes, color developers, sensitizers, fillers, adhesives, stabilizers, lubricants and so on. Therefore, the process is difficult and technically demanding.
What Is The Difference Between Thermal Paper And Regular Paper?
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in application
Thermal paper is mainly used in: banking, medical, finance, securities, logistics, supermarkets, vending machines, public transportation and other kinds of ticket printing.
Normal paper is mainly used for normal printing and writing, such as study notes, letters and so on.
Thermal paper has been widely welcomed and applied due to its advantages of high-speed printing, low noise, high resolution, insensitivity to ambient temperature and humidity.
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in Preservation time
Thermal paper has a shorter shelf life than regular paper., generally 2-5 years. This is because the printing material of thermal paper is a layer of chemical coating, with the passage of time, the chemical coating gradually decompose, lose activity, making the text and images gradually disappear. While normal paper is relatively long, can be saved for decades or more.
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in printing speed
Thermal paper printing speed is relatively fast. Thermal printer by controlling the heating time and temperature of the print head to control the degree of discoloration, thus achieving high-speed printing. While normal paper needs to use ink or dye for printing, the speed is relatively slow.
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in structure.
The structure of normal paper is relatively simple, usually made of lignin fibers or grass fibers after a number of pulp, and then drying, calendering and other processes. Thermal paper contains more layers and complex structure. It is usually composed of base paper, photosensitive layer, protective layer and other multi-layer.
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in materials.
Normal paper raw materials mainly from natural plant fibers, such as cedar, poplar, bamboo, etc.. Thermal paper, on the other hand, uses a special material called "thermal coating". This material contains organic dyes, resins, additives and other components, after special technical processing can be heated when the color change!
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in cost.
Due to differences in structure and material, the cost of thermal paper is relatively high, usually several times higher thannormal paper. However, taking into account its professionalism and efficiency, thermal paper still has a high value in specific occasions.
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in Environmental protection.
As the raw materials of normal paper from natural plants, so it can be recycled after disposal, has a high environmental value. Thermal paper in the manufacturing process requires the use of chemical materials, there is a certain risk of environmental pollution after disposal. Therefore, for the user group that has the demand to use environmentally friendly materials, normal paper can better meet their needs.
What Is A Thermal Printer?
Thermal paper printer generates electromagnetic waves and produces high temperatures, which are then passed through a thermal head that interacts thermally with the thermal paper to print text and images.
What Is A Regular Printer?
Normal paper is printed by means of toner or ink pigments.
What Is The Difference Between A Thermal Printer And A Regular Printer?
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in Printing method.
Thermal printer: printers that use the thermal method for printing.
Regular printer: printers that use the needle or inkjet or laser method to print.
Thermal Paper VS Regular Paper:Differences in Printing Principle
Thermal printer: A semiconductor heating element is installed on the print head, and the print head heats up and touches the thermal paper to print the desired pattern.
Regular printer: first produce small ink droplets, and then use the inkjet head to guide the tiny ink droplets to the set position, the smaller the droplets, the clearer the printed picture
Can I Use Normal Paper on a Thermal Printer?
Thermal printers generally use thermal paper, this paper is more special, can withstand high temperature printing, while the printing effect is also better. If you use normal paper for printing, normal paper does not have the characteristics of thermal paper high temperature resistance, it will lead to a shorter life of the print head, or even burn the print head, seriously affecting the service life of the thermal printer. Therefore, it is not recommended to usenormal paper for printing
Consequences of using plain paper in thermal printers.
Unable to print：The thermal print head is unable to create a chemical reaction on plain paper and therefore cannot print anything.
Damage to the print head：The rough surface of plain paper may scratch the thermal print head and cause damage to the print head.
Paper jam：The thickness and hardness of plain paper is different from that of thermal paper, which may lead to paper jams and affect the normal use of the printer.
What kind of paper can you use in a thermal receipt printer?
Thermal paper:Thermal paper is white or yellow in color, with a thin material texture, suitable for printing labels, trademarks, barcodes and other single-ply paper.
Copy paper:Copy paper is also a kind of thermal paper, suitable for printing with traditional handwriting board paper and color sense, by the white base paper, the lower layer of thin activated carbon (protective layer), the upper layer of the paste sheet and the surface of the paper consists of four parts. The effect of the use of duplicating paper as the use of secondary duplicating pen, each print can be duplicated at the same time or even more than two pieces of paper, which is duplicating paper can replace the ordinary single layer of paper is one of the important reasons!
How to choose the right thermal printer paper?
1.Choose the right type of paper.
If you need to print labels, trademarks, bar codes and other content, you need to use thermal paper; if you need to print out with the traditional handwriting board paper and color sense, you can choose to rewrite the paper.
2. Choose higher quality paper:
thermal paper requirements for paper quality surface flat, no edge wave, burrs, obvious printing marks and ball marks and other defects; copy paper is required to comply with the body of clear handwriting, full color, not off-color and other requirements.Choose reliable quality thermal paper and avoid using poor quality paper, which may affect printing results and print head life.
3.Determine the printer model before buying thermal paper:
the use of thermal printers, different models of printers need to use different models of paper. Therefore, in the purchase of paper must pay attention to whether the paper is compatible with their printer models.Select the appropriate paper size according to the printer's specifications to ensure that the paper can pass through the printer smoothly.
Advantages and Limitations of Thermal Printing.
No Consumables Required:No ink or toner is required, reducing the cost of use.
Fast Printing Speed :Thermal printing is fast for situations where fast printing is required.
Quiet and Environmentally Friendly ;Thermal printers operate with low noise and use no ink, making them more environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
Due to the different working principles, you cannot use regular paper in a thermal printer in order to extend the printer's lifespan. Depending on your specific application, you should flexibly choose between a thermal printer and a regular printer. However, if you choose a thermal printer, be sure to use thermal paper, and if you choose a regular printer, use regular paper.
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