Thermal Fax Supplies
General Questions
- What is the difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer?
- Why should I purchase a compatible fax film?
- Do compatible fax films print as well as new OEM films?
- Are fax ribbons recyclable?
- Will compatible thermal fax ribbons print the same amount of pages as OEM ribbons?
- Will Fullmark fax film damage my fax machine?
- What are the types of print technology used by fax machines?
Troubleshooting
- What are some of the common problems with thermal transfer fax, and how do I solve them?
- What should I do if I receive an incoming fax and it is blank?
- When I make a copy, why are there some black spots on the paper?
- Print quality is poor when I receive a fax, print a report or make a copy. What can I do?
- What is the Fullmark Quality Guarantee?
General Questions
- What is the difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer?
Direct thermal fax machines use thermal paper rolls. Faxes and copies are printed onto the paper using heat. Thermal transfer technology uses plain paper and a film ribbon to print faxes and copies onto the paper. - Why should I purchase a compatible fax film?
Compatible films are of lower prices with quality comparable to originals. - Do compatible fax films print as well as new OEM films?
All Fullmark thermal transfer ribbons are developed to meet OEM specifications to give you absolute assurance that they are of the highest quality. - Are fax ribbons recyclable?
Fax ribbons are NOT recyclable. Please dispose them after they are worn out. - Will compatible thermal fax ribbons print the same amount of pages as OEM ribbons?
All Fullmark thermal transfer ribbons are the same length as the original and will print the same number of pages. - Will Fullmark fax film damage my fax machine?
No. Fullmark guarantees that its fax film will perform as well as the OEM supplies under similar conditions. - What are the types of print technology used by fax machines?
There are five print methods used by fax machines today.
- Direct Thermal
This is the original print technology that was used by fax machines when they first appeared. Thermal printing is a dry process that uses the heat from a thermal print head to darken chemically treated paper (thermal paper).
- Advantages - Inexpensive print technology, widely available.
- Disadvantages - Curled output, fading, poor print output quality, frequent maintenance (changing paper rolls), slow print speed, difficult to write on.
- Thermal Transfer (Plain Paper Printing)
Thermal transfer prints on plain paper. It is similar to thermal printing, except that it is an indirect process. An ink film or ribbon is placed between the print head and the paper. The digital signals received during the data transmission cause the print head to heat, which heats the film. This allows the ink on the opposite side of the film to transfer onto the paper. Thermal transfer fax machines are widely used today because of these advantages:
- inexpensive entry cost
- extensive brands and models for choice
- consumption of plain paper rather than thermal paper
- good printout quality
- affordable fax supplies
- Advantages - Uses plain cut sheet paper, inexpensive print technology, recyclable paper.
- Disadvantages - Average print output quality, slow print speed (compared with laser type).
- Ink Jet (Plain Paper Printing)
Inkjet printing also uses cut sheet plain paper. The print head injects tiny droplets of ink directly onto the paper. Inkjet print technology has gained popularity over the past few years due to its declining cost and color printing capability. However, to achieve the optimum print output, specialised inkjet paper should be used. If used on a regular cut sheet photocopier grade paper, the output quality will be sacrificed.
- Advantages - Uses plain cut sheet paper, inexpensive print technology, recyclable paper.
- Disadvantages - Slow print speed, high cost per copy, average print quality.
- Laser Printing
Laser printing uses a laser beam electrostatic printing method. The laser recording process uses laser light to "write" the image of a faxed document onto a photosensitive drum. The sensitised areas around the drum then attract toner to print the dark portions of the transmitted document. Laser units produce letter quality print on cut sheet, plain bond paper.
- Advantages - Low cost per copy, letter quality print output, uses plain cut sheet paper, low maintenance intervals, recyclable paper.
- Disadvantages - Expensive print technology.
- LED Printing
LED printing uses an electrostatic printing method similar to that used by laser printing. The primary difference is that LED printers use an LED (light emitting diode) array to create the image on the drum. LED printing uses cut sheet, plain bond paper, and offers all the benefits of laser printing. When using standard or fine resolution, the image quality of LED is equivalent to the quality offered by laser printing.
- Advantages - Low cost per copy, letter quality print output, uses plain cut sheet paper, low maintenance intervals, recyclable paper, smaller processing units (which means smaller fax unit).
- Disadvantages - Moderate cost print technology.
- Direct Thermal
Troubleshooting
- What are some of the common problems with thermal transfer fax, and how do I solve them?
Problem What to check? Image too light Print head energy setting Voids Dust Vertical lines Clean print head Other lines Ribbon installed incorrectly Not stopping at end of ribbon Ribbon sensor Ribbon breakage Improper installation of print head - What should I do if I receive an incoming fax and it is blank?
Your fax film may have been installed incorrectly. Refer to your instruction manual on how to install your fax film in the fax unit. - When I make a copy, why are there some black spots on the paper?
Open the operational cover on your unit. Observe the reading glass and the scanner. They are located across the unit towards the front of the machine behind the two rollers on the base. It is possible that the glass is cracked or there may be some packing material on the unit which causes the dark spots or lines. To clean the scanning glass, use a lint-free cloth and clean lightly across the glass. - Print quality is poor when I receive a fax, print a report or make a copy. What can I do?
Your plain paper fax machine uses a fax film to print with. Like any other printer, paper is very important. For the best possible quality, try using good quality copier paper in your fax machine, which produces a better finish. Although regular copier paper will work, it sometimes tends to offer lighter print quality. - What is the Fullmark Quality Guarantee?
Fullmark guarantees all products for one year after the date of purchase.