Printing laser thermal transfer

Heat. As mentioned above most molecules lose energy from the excited state as heat. The most efficient molecules for converting electromagnetic radiation into heat are those that absorb in the near-IR region, i.e., infrared absorbers (IRAs). There has been much interest in IRAs because of their use in laser thermal transfer, optical data storage [the older write-once read-many (WORM) and the newer compact disc recordable (CD-R) and digital versatile disc recordable (DVD-R) systems], computer-to-plate printing, and as solar screens for car windscreens and windows. 

FIGURE 13 Schematic of laser dye thermal transfer printing. [From Kitamura, T. etal. (1999). Proceedings of IS T s 1999 PICs Conference, IS T, Springfield, VA by permission of the copyright holder, the Society for Imaging Science and Technology]. 

Thermal transfer printing, similar to the laser and ink-jet printing technologies, has existed since the 1930s and is used in relatively specialized applications. 

It is predicted that on short-run label production/overprinting there will be increases in use of non-impact printing, especially thermal, thermal transfer and laser technologies. Inkjet coding design with small characters is also expanding into pharmaceuticals. 

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