Datasheet

Theory of Operation

Card Printing Basics

980006-001 Rev. A Zebra P630i & P640i Card Printer Service Manual 95

Dye Sublimation Printing

In Dye Sublimation Printing, each Printhead heating element is applied voltage at one of a

number of pulse widths.

A wider pulse results in the element getting hotter, which converts more of the dye (at that

pixel location) to a gas and diffuses it into the surface of the card (a wider pulse gives more

intense color at that pixel).

This is repeated for each of the dye panels (i.e., Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan), to result in full-

color images.

Thermal Transfer Printing

In Thermal Transfer Printing, voltage is either applied or not applied to each Printhead printing

element. If voltage is applied, the ink at that location is transferred to the surface of the card.

Each pixel is either printed (i.e., the ink transferred to the card) or not; there are no

intermediate levels.

Thermal Transfer printing with a resin ribbon is used for printing bar codes, since contrast

between the light and dark areas is the highest and the edges are the sharpest.

Gaseous Dye is

Absorbed by Card

Print Head

Ribbon Carrier

Layer

Ribbon

Ink Layer

Card