Advantages and disadvantages of laser printing

Laser printing is very similar to photocopying in that it uses a light source to produce an exact copy of the image it receives. A light source (a laser beam) produces an electrostatic image, which is then charged to a photoreceptor; The electrostatic charge from the photoreceptor attracts the toner to produce the printed image.

advantage

The laser process produces beautiful, dense, high-resolution images for text and graphics.

shortcomings

The most serious limitation of this technology when comparing heat versus laser for barcoding purposes is its substrate limitation. Laser printers are only suitable for certain types and sizes of labels - and certainly cannot work directly on any non-paper surface, such as plastic or metal. It's also not the fastest option, and laser images aren't nearly as durable as thermal prints. The toner cartridges and drum kits used in this process are very expensive and can be dangerous if not handled properly. While laser printers produce much cleaner images than inkjet printers, the lack of versatility, durability and environmental safety - coupled with high unit and maintenance costs - typical characteristics of laser printers undoubtedly make them a less efficient alternative to bar codes.