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Plotter printers
How Thermal Inkjet Printing Works: History and Benefits
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Thermal inkjet printing is one of the most popular and commonly used printing technologies today. It's used in practically all printers — from desktop printers to large-format plotters — and is known for being efficient in creating sublime prints at fast printing speeds.
But, for thermal inkjet printing to deliver the best print output, every component and technology behind a thermal inkjet printer must work faultlessly. Only then will the advantages of using this technology be perceived by its users, namely the professionals and businesses looking for modern-day printing solutions.
What Is Thermal Inkjet Printing?
A thermal inkjet printer is a type of non-impact printer — meaning the printer doesn't come in direct contact with the surface — that uses nozzles to spray tiny drops of ink. The thermal inkjet printing process uses heat to deposit the ink rather than vibrations or direct contact (like the stamping used by typewriters).
Why Thermal Inkjet Printing Is Preferred Over Other Inkjet Printing
Consumers and businesses used to prefer continuous inkjet printing over thermal inkjet printing. However, over time, the circumstances have changed. Today, most people prefer thermal inkjet printing over the alternatives.
Many businesses use thermal inkjet printing because it's the superior option for their unique and exacting needs. Many factors go into this choice. Those factors include:
Higher Quality Prints
There are certain situations where print quality isn't the highest priority. When printing primarily simple text, for example, extremely high-quality prints often aren't necessary. As long as the text is readable, that may suffice.
However, there are plenty of circumstances that require incredibly detailed graphics, ultra-crisp lines and other precise prints. When those considerations are important, thermal inkjet printing is the better choice.
The thermal inkjet printing process is a bit slower than the alternative. At first, this may seem like a drawback. However, in reality, the extra speed of continuous inkjet printing requires sacrificing quite a bit of quality to save that time.
Thermal inkjet printing technology achieves better images by going a little slower to increase precision. When it comes to printing, you can't rush quality.
Reduced Cost
Companies deliberately keep the starting cost for continuous inkjet printing low. They sell printers at discounted rates to encourage purchase since they can make the money back on future ink sales.
However, even with the reduced cost, it's still cheaper to buy a thermal inkjet printer. The ink costs are also lower. This is partially because thermal ink doesn't evaporate like continuous inkjet printer ink does. Unlike thermal inkjet printers, the latter also requires a solution to preserve ink quality at added expense.
Increased Versatility
Thermal inkjet printing technology has improved over time, as has the ink itself. Today, it is far more versatile. They now work on a long list of surfaces, including both porous and non-porous surfaces.
How Does Thermal Inkjet Printing Work?
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The thermal inkjet printing process works differently than other printer types. Many printers use contact with the surface or vibrations to move ink onto the desired area. Thermal inkjet printing instead works using heat.
Creating Prints Using Small Ink Droplets
The thermal inkjet printing process works by having many small nozzles heat the ink. As the ink gets hotter, it begins to form a bubble. The expanding bubble is forced out of the nozzles as it expands.
As the bubble pops, the nozzles deposit a small amount of ink onto the surface. The vacuum created by the pop has a suction effect. This pulls more ink into the nozzle. This process is why you'll often hear thermal inkjet printers be called "bubble jet" printers.
Arranging the Ink Droplets to Finalize an Image
Thermal inkjet printers typically have between 300 and 600 nozzles. The printer will deposit the right amount of each ink colour in precisely the right location. This creates the desired image. Four base colours — cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) — can combine in different proportions to create every possible colour.
It passes over the surface, depositing the right amount of each colour. Then it moves forward slightly, depositing ink on the next section. This is done a fraction of an inch at a time. However, it happens so quickly that it can seem like one continuous motion.
What Should Thermal Inkjet Printing Be Used For?
One of the biggest benefits of thermal inkjet printing is the wide variety of uses. This allows the same printer to be used in many different circumstances. Users can save money by eliminating the need for multiple printers to do multiple jobs.
While it is ideal for many different use cases, there are areas in which it excels most.
Most Appropriate Applications of Thermal Inkjet Printing:
1. AEC Plans, Renderings, and CAD Drawings
In architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), every detail matters, no matter how small. The finished image is used to build important structures. They must meet exact specifications. Any deviation from the design can cause major issues. The precision of thermal inkjet printing is ideal for helping eliminate this.
2. Photos, Flyers, and Documents
A printer that can deliver top quality is needed for photos, flyers and other documents requiring detailed and crisp images. When the image quality is the focus, as with photographs, the quality will be integral to success.
Thermal inkjet printers not only produce greater image quality, but they can also be used on the types of glossy surfaces that photos and flyers are typically printed on.
3. Packaging, Barcodes, and Signage
When it comes to packaging, especially for food, precision printing can be vital. The information on food packaging serves many crucial purposes.
Important information, like the lot number and barcode, provides ways for the products to be tracked and give companies a way to recall the right batches in case of an issue. Food and pharmaceutical packaging also have some very specific requirements that thermal printing can meet.
4. Textiles
Printing on textile fabrics with a thermal inkjet printer allows for a faster turnaround time than with screen printing. It also saves a lot of money. It's possible to see cost savings of 50% to 90%. Not only is this method faster and cheaper, but it's also better for the environment, which is a growing concern among consumers.
How Has Thermal Inkjet Printing Improved Over Time?
Thermal inkjet printing technology, like all technology, has advanced over time. Since its birth in the 1980s, great strides forward have been made, giving birth to more and more superior quality.
Contribution to Better Print Resolution
In 1984, the HP ThinkJet printer could only print 96 dots per inch (dpi), leaving some gaps and producing fuzzy edges. In the next year or two, HP increased that to 192 dpi. Soon after, they made the dots smaller for cleaner edges.
Over time, HP developed the HP Designjet, with large format capabilities that use cutting-edge thermal inkjet technology. The T650 offers up to 2400 x 1200 optimized dpi. The dots are now as small as a mere 50 microns in diameter, less than a single human hair.
These leaps forward have made the thermal inkjet printing process much more accurate, making the printing quality and resolution far superior to those of only a few decades ago.
Correcting Color Accuracy
Thermal inkjet printing technology began with three primary colours. HP later expanded this to six. That, in tandem with smaller drops, allows them to achieve photo-quality printing capabilities.
Reach Out to HP to Fulfill Your Printing Needs
Looking to achieve the same cost-efficiency, print quality and versatility in your own printing projects? HP's selection of thermal inkjet printers and supplies like ink and toner can help you get the results you want.
Contact one of our experts today to find the perfect printing solution for your needs.
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