Abstract: A character generator for use in a printing system such as a thermal printing system, which is capable of printing characters with uniform contrast is provided. The character generator comprises a first section for containing therein a desired character pattern information and a second section for containing therein a driving power control information associated with the character pattern in the first section. Preferably, the driving power control information has individual control signals associated with the rows or columns of the character pattern. Thus, driving power may be applied selectively at least at two different levels when printing a character, preferably row by row or column by column.