What describes the process in which thermal printers create images by selectively heating areas of a thermal ribbon or paper?

The process of thermal printing involves using heat to create images on paper or thermal ribbon. Thermal printers operate by applying heat to specific areas of thermal paper that is coated with a heat-sensitive layer. When the print head heats up, it activates the coating, causing it to darken in the designated spots and thus create an image or text. This method is efficient and typically results in high-quality prints without the need for traditional ink cartridges.

The other methods mentioned involve different printing technologies. For instance, bi-directional printing refers to a printing technique where the printer head moves in both directions, offering increased speed and efficiency but does not specifically relate to how thermal printers operate. The spooling process pertains to the management of print jobs in a queue, ensuring that multiple documents can be queued for printing while the printer is busy with a prior job. Inkjet printing, on the other hand, creates images by spraying tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper, which is a fundamentally different method from thermal printing. Thus, the thermal printing process aptly describes the operation of thermal printers.