There are two types of thermal printers. Thermal Xfer ribbons provide a darker, more durable print. Direct print eliminates the need for ribbons but is affected by UV light, so the image fades. Also, the print head life can be  reduced significantly since the head comes into direct contact with the paper. Depending on the quality of the substrate, this can be expensive, as most of the development cost of a printer is in the print head. If you use a ribbon and would like a quotation, click on the graphic below and provide the pertinent information. We will respond promptly.