The printer uses the Direct Thermal method to print human readable text, graphics and barcodes. It incorporates a sophisticated print engine for optimal printing under all operational conditions. Direct thermal printing uses heat to cause a chemical reaction on specially treated media. This reaction creates a dark mark wherever a heated element on the printhead comes in contact with the media. Because the printing elements are arranged very densely at 203 dpi (dots per inch) horizontal and 200 dpi vertical, highly legible characters and graphic elements may be created a row at a time as the media is advanced past the printhead. This technology has the advantage of simplicity, as there is no requirement for consumable supplies such as ink or toner. However, since the media is sensitive to heat, it will gradually lose legibility over long periods of time, especially if exposed to environments with relatively high temperatures or in direct sunlight.
