Laser

Laser printing, much like photocopying, uses a light source to generate an exact duplicate of the image it receives. The light source - a laser beam - creates an electrostatic image that is then charged onto a photoreceptor. The electrostatic charges from the photoreceptor attract the toner to produce the printed image.

Advantages

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

Disadvantages

For barcoding purposes, the most serious constraint of laser printing technology is its substrate limitation. Laser printers can only print on certain types and sizes of labels - and certainly not directly on any non-paper surface, such as plastic or metal. Laser printing is also not the fastest option, and laser images are far less durable than thermal printed images. Toner cartridges and drum kits used in the laser printing process are extremely expensive, and hazardous if not disposed of properly. While the images produced by laser printers are much cleaner than those of inkjet printers, laser printers lack versatility, durability, and environmental safety. These gaps combined with high unit and maintenance fees certainly makes laser printing a less efficient alternative for barcoding.