Abstract: A control section 11 of an image data generation apparatus 1 of a thermal transfer recording apparatus S performs resolution conversion processing, gradation conversion processing, CMYK separation processing, contour expansion processing, image sift processing, dot processing, and image reverse shift processing for entered image data 5 stored in an image memory 33 of a storage section 12. The control section 11 sends the produced image data to a printing section 2, prints it on an intermediate transfer medium, and transfers it onto a polycarbonate film or the like. Through contour expansion processing, contours of color images masked by a black background are expanded by numbers of pixels which differ among the colors, and masked by the black background.

Abstract: A control section 9 of a thermal printer 1 performs CMYK/RGB-gray conversion, gradation conversion, halftone conversion for an input image data 3, and performs shift processing and rotation processing in accordance with the resolution and the number of lines of the thermal printer 1. The control section 9 performs heat-accumulation correction processing for the image data subjected to the halftone processing, and the image data subjected to the shift processing and the rotation processing, and then prints a hairline image. When a circular hairline is printed, the control section 9 defines a pattern of circular hairlines, and produces a horizontal hairline pattern.

Abstract: An image data generation device is provided with: an image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data; a division unit for spatially dividing the acquired data by a plurality of matrices; a priority order setting element for setting the priority order for performing gradation conversion of picture elements that make up the image data that corresponds to each of the matrices, and sets the priority order so that the priority order becomes lower going from picture elements located in the center of the matrix toward picture elements located on the outside edges of the matrix; a gradation conversion member for performing gradation conversion of the picture elements according to the priority order; and an image data generation unit for generating image data for printing based on a dot pattern that is formed by the picture elements after the gradation conversion.

Abstract: A control section 9 of a thermal printer 1 performs CMYK/RGB-gray conversion, gradation conversion, halftone conversion for an input image data 3, and performs shift processing and rotation processing in accordance with the resolution and the number of lines of the thermal printer 1. The control section 9 performs heat-accumulation correction processing for the image data subjected to the halftone processing, and the image data subjected to the shift processing and the rotation processing, and then prints a hairline image. When a circular hairline is printed, the control section 9 defines a pattern of circular hairlines, and produces a horizontal hairline pattern.

Abstract: A control section 11 of an image data generation apparatus 1 of a thermal transfer recording apparatus S performs resolution conversion processing, gradation conversion processing, CMYK separation processing, contour expansion processing, image sift processing, dot processing, and image reverse shift processing for entered image data 5 stored in an image memory 33 of a storage section 12. The control section 11 sends the produced image data to a printing section 2, prints it on an intermediate transfer medium, and transfers it onto a polycarbonate film or the like. Through contour expansion processing, contours of color images masked by a black background are expanded by numbers of pixels which differ among the colors, and masked by the black background.

Abstract: An image data generation device is provided with: an image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data; a division unit for spatially dividing the acquired data by a plurality of matrices; a priority order setting element for setting the priority order for performing gradation conversion of picture elements that make up the image data that corresponds to each of the matrices, and sets the priority order so that the priority order becomes lower going from picture elements located in the center of the matrix toward picture elements located on the outside edges of the matrix; a gradation conversion member for performing gradation conversion of the picture elements according to the priority order; and an image data generation unit for generating image data for printing based on a dot pattern that is formed by the picture elements after the gradation conversion.

Abstract: A control section 9 of a thermal printer 1 performs resolution conversion, gradation conversion, and CMYK color separation for input image data 3. After that, for image data of each color, the control section 9 performs shift processing for double-tone printing, to thereby obtain two types of image data. The control section 9 performs dot conversion and reverse shift processing for these image data, and prints the two types of image data in a superposed state. In the shift processing, the control section 9 shifts the image data of each color by the number of pixels corresponding to the resolution of the thermal printer 1 and the number of lines per inch. At that time, the image data of each color may be shifted by the corresponding number of pixels which differs among the colors. Further, for some colors, single-tone printing is performed, rather than double-tone printing, to thereby reduce the number of times of overprinting.

Abstract: Image plus event information printing system, which comprises an image data inputting means for inputting a datum of original image, an event information database which memorizes the data of current and/or passing events information being sorted with one or more items, wherein one of the items consists of the occurrence time of the event, an event information retrieval means for extracting any event information within a predetermined range being in correlation to the time which is related to the original image, by retrieving from the sorted data in the event information database with using one or more of the items, an image editing means for preparing a datum of an image plus event information, from the datum of original image and the extracted event information, and a printing means for printing the image plus current events information in accordance with the datum prepared by the image editing means.

Abstract: Image plus event information printing system, which comprises an image data inputting means for inputting a datum of original image, an event information database which memorizes the data of current and/or passing events information being sorted with one or more items, wherein one of the items consists of the occurrence time of the event, an event information retrieval means for extracting any event information within a predetermined range being in correlation to the time which is related to the original image, by retrieving from the sorted data in the event information database with using one or more of the items, an image editing means for preparing a datum of an image plus event information, from the datum of original image and the extracted event information, and a printing means for printing the image plus current events information in accordance with the datum prepared by the image editing means.

Abstract: A gradation representing method capable of representing a wide range of high-quality gradation is provided. A gradation representing method of a predetermined unit region 1 by changing area ratio of ink to be recorded in the unit region 1, wherein the gradation of the unit region 1 is represented by recording a first ink recorded at an area ratio of almost 100% in the unit region and a second ink with changing area ratio are recorded overlappedly in the unit region 1.

Abstract: Image plus event information printing system, which comprises an image data inputting means for inputting a datum of original image, an event information database which memorizes the data of current and/or passing events information being sorted with one or more items, wherein one of the items consists of the occurrence time of the event, an event information retrieval means for extracting any event information within a predetermined range being in correlation to the time which is related to the original image, by retrieving from the sorted data in the event information database with using one or more of the items, an image editing means for preparing a datum of an image plus event information, from the datum of original image and the extracted event information, and a printing means for printing the image plus current events information in accordance with the datum prepared by the image editing means.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided with an input unit (6) for inputting image data, and an output unit (12) for printing an image on the basis of the image data. The output unit (12) prints a test image represented by input image data including reference color development characteristic information stored beforehand in a control unit (2). The control unit (2) calculates output-correcting values on the basis of the difference between color development characteristic information included in image data obtained by reading the printed image by the input unit (6) and reference color development characteristic information. The control unit (2) corrects the image data input by the input unit (6) by using the output-correcting values to provide corrected image data, and the output unit (12) prints an image represented by the corrected image data.

Abstract: Image plus event information printing system, which comprises an image data inputting means for inputting a datum of original image, an event information database which memorizes the data of current and/or passing events information being sorted with one or more items, wherein one of the items consists of the occurrence time of the event, an event information retrieval means for extracting any event information within a predetermined range being in correlation to the time which is related to the original image, by retrieving from the sorted data in the event information database with using one or more of the items, an image editing means for preparing a datum of an image plus event information, from the datum of original image and the extracted event information, and a printing means for printing the image plus current events information in accordance with the datum prepared by the image editing means.

Abstract: An image printing system is disclosed.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus is provided. Which apparatus comprises an image data inputting means for inputting image data; a command inputting device for inputting a printing command including designation of an image to be output; a printing means for printing the image to be output; a display device for displaying an image; and a processing device for producing a protection processed image for applying a privacy protection process to the image to be output, and which also has a controlling means for displaying either one of the protection processed image and the image to be output on the display device according to the designation by a user.