What's the real difference:
 Direct Thermal Poster Paper rolls (DTP) &
Thermal Transfer Plus Poster Paper (TTP)

Standard Direct Thermal Poster Paper (DTP)

Direct thermal poster paper is a chemically coated paper that reacts to heat.  Your poster printer is a direct thermal printer meaning, its three print heads heat up and cool down.  No ink or toner is ever needed.  As the heated print heads of your poster printer come in contact with the paper, the chemicals or invisible ink reacts and images as a color;  black image, blue image, etc.   Because it reacts to heat, thermal paper cannot be heat laminated  but can be cold laminated.  Additional heat by a hot laminator will cause the invisible ink to further react imaging the paper all the same color.  We represent Xyron, which manufactures cold lamination systems.  These cold laminators are adhesive based and use no heat to seal documents.  

Direct Thermal Paper is much less expensive than the Transfer Plus Paper (TPP).  Virtually half the price. They also come in 100 foot lengths as opposed to 85 feet. Our Black on White 23" paper rolls start at just $59.95 per 100 foot roll or just 60 cents a linear foot.  A typical 23" x 31" poster will run only $1.55.   A ten foot banner would run just $6.00.  And because of our patent pending process, our Direct Thermal Paper rolls are now available in multitude of poster paper colors.  As a manufacturer of standard thermal paper, our paper costs for similar products from Varitronics dealers are 15% to 25% less.
(please see the chart below: compare pricing DTP poster paper VS TTP Poster Paper)

Thermal Transfer Plus Poster Paper (TTP)

Thermal transfer plus paper is a composite of paper,  thermal ink film and a light release adhesive.  When the thermal print heads come in contact with the film, the ink is melted to the paper below.  Simply peel the film from the paper and you are left with your image.  Because the ink has already been transferred, this paper can be heat or cold laminated.

Thermal transfer plus paper is very expensive.  At this time it is a proprietary product of Varitronics®.  Transfer Plus' true value is that it can be heat laminated.  However, pricing normally runs $124.95 for only 85',  depending on the dealer you are working with (beware, some internet dealers charge $10.00 or more over regular retail pricing).  That is twice the cost of our Black on White thermal paper.   Remember, this paper should be used when you are heat laminating.  Anytime a poster or banner is made with it, and it is not heat laminated you have just wasted your money.  (please see the chart below: compare pricing DTP poster paper VS TTP Poster Paper)

Besides the chart below, we have created an interesting flyer called "Break the Transfer Plus Habit" comparing some additional costs between the two paper types and what you can get for your money.  To download a copy of this flyer as a Adobe pdf document, please select this link.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 800-321-5716.

Site Map

Bright White Paper Co.
P.O. Box 2472, Palm City, FL 34991

800-321-5716     fax 772-223-4040 
local & international 772-223-5511

Varitronics ®, ProImage ® and PosterPrinter ™ are  trademarks of Brady Worldwide Inc. & Bright White Paper Co. has no ownership interest in the marks.