Abstract: In an image-forming method, a ribbon-shaped thermal transfer sheet with a dye layer and a protective material layer arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction is moved, and thermal energy is applied from a thermal head while arranging a recording medium to face the dye layer to thermally transfer the dye layer onto the recording medium to form an image. Thermal energy is applied while arranging the image to face the protective material layer to thereby form a protective layer on the image by thermal transfer. A ribbon-shaped surface-property-modifying sheet including a surface-property-modifying region for modifying the surface of the protective layer is moved, and the protective layer is aligned with the surface-property-modifying region of the surface-property-modifying sheet. Heat and pressure are applied from the thermal head and the surface-property-modifying sheet is detached after cooling to modify the surface condition of the protective layer.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed. The thermal printer includes a thermal head on which plural heat-generating elements are arrayed; and a platen mounted opposite to the thermal head. The thermal printer uses an ink ribbon and paper held between the thermal head and the platen, and the thermal printer performs printing by causing the heat-generating elements to generate heat such that inks of the ink ribbon are transferred to the paper. The ink ribbon has a base film on which color inks and a transparent laminate ink are successively and repetitively arranged, and a pressure force acting between the thermal head and the platen is made different between when the color inks are transferred and when the laminate ink is transferred.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet includes coloring material layers D1, D2, and D3. Transferred images respectively formed by the coloring material layers D1, D2, and D3 have a value C defined by mathematical formula 1 of less than 12, and colorimetric values P (a*, b*) defined by mathematical formulae 2 and 3 different from one another: C=([a*]2+[b*]2)0.5 ??(mathematical formula 1) where C represents chroma and a* and b* each represent a colorimetric value equivalent to L*=38, [a*]=(ay?ax)/(Ly?Lx)*(38?Lx)+ax ??(mathematical formula 2), and [b*]=(by?bx)/(Ly?Lx)*(38?Lx)+bx ??(mathematical formula 3) where Lx, ax, bx, Ly, ay, and by represent colorimetric values at adjacent step Sx and step Sy near L*=38 when a stairstep image is formed by transfer.

Abstract: A thermal head is disclosed. The thermal head includes a heat generating element row in which plural heat generating elements are arrayed in a main scanning direction and a glaze that stores heat generated from the respective heat generating elements. The thermal head records an image on a recording medium by causing the respective heat generating elements to generate heat while conveying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. A plurality of the heat generating element rows are arrayed in the sub-scanning direction. The glaze includes plural convex portions arranged in the sub-scanning direction in association with the number of arrays of the heat generating element rows. The heat generating elements are arranged on upper sides of the convex portions, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image print apparatus configured to print an image for use in scrapbooking, including, an image data acquisition block configured to acquire image data of an image subject to processing, a template hold block configured to hold a plurality of templates each indicative of a clipping shape of the image for scrapbooking with a border line of the clipping shape, a template select block configured to select at least one of the plurality of templates held in the template hold block, an image display block configured to display the template selected by the select block by arranging the selected template on the image based on the image data acquired by the image data acquisition block, an operator block configured to enter a user-specified change in a relative position between the image and the template displayed on the image display block and in a size of at least one of the image and the template displayed on the image display block, and a print block configured to print the image displayed o

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet includes coloring material layers D1, D2, and D3. Transferred images respectively formed by the coloring material layers D1, D2, and D3 have a value C defined by mathematical formula 1 of less than 12, and calorimetric values P (a*, b*) defined by mathematical formulae 2 and 3 different from one another: C=([a*]2+[b*]2)0.5 ??(mathematical formula 1) where C represents chroma and a* and b* each represent a calorimetric value equivalent to L*=38, [a*]=(ay?ax)/(Ly?Lx)*(38?Lx)+ax ??(mathematical formula 2), and [b*]=(by?bx)/(Ly?Lx)*(38?Lx)+bx ??(mathematical formula 3) where Lx, ax, bx, Ly, ay, and by represent calorimetric values at adjacent step Sx and step Sy near L*=38 when a stairstep image is formed by transfer.

Abstract: In an image-forming method, a ribbon-shaped thermal transfer sheet with a dye layer and a protective material layer arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction is moved, and thermal energy is applied from a thermal head while arranging a recording medium to face the dye layer to thermally transfer the dye layer onto the recording medium to form an image. Thermal energy is applied while arranging the image to face the protective material layer to thereby form a protective layer on the image by thermal transfer. A ribbon-shaped surface-property-modifying sheet including a surface-property-modifying region for modifying the surface of the protective layer is moved, and the protective layer is aligned with the surface-property-modifying region of the surface-property-modifying sheet. Heat and pressure are applied from the thermal head and the surface-property-modifying sheet is detached after cooling to modify the surface condition of the protective layer.

Abstract: A thermal head is disclosed. The thermal head includes a heat generating element row in which plural heat generating elements are arrayed in a main scanning direction and a glaze that stores heat generated from the respective heat generating elements. The thermal head records an image on a recording medium by causing the respective heat generating elements to generate heat while conveying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. A plurality of the heat generating element rows are arrayed in the sub-scanning direction. The glaze includes plural convex portions arranged in the sub-scanning direction in association with the number of arrays of the heat generating element rows. The heat generating elements are arranged on upper sides of the convex portions, respectively.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed. The thermal printer includes a thermal head on which plural heat-generating elements are arrayed; and a platen mounted opposite to the thermal head. The thermal printer uses an ink ribbon and paper held between the thermal head and the platen, and the thermal printer performs printing by causing the heat-generating elements to generate heat such that inks of the ink ribbon are transferred to the paper. The ink ribbon has a base film on which color inks and a transparent laminate ink are successively and repetitively arranged, and a pressure force acting between the thermal head and the platen is made different between when the color inks are transferred and when the laminate ink is transferred.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image print apparatus configured to print an image for use in scrapbooking, including, an image data acquisition block configured to acquire image data of an image subject to processing, a template hold block configured to hold a plurality of templates each indicative of a clipping shape of the image for scrapbooking with a border line of the clipping shape, a template select block configured to select at least one of the plurality of templates held in the template hold block, an image display block configured to display the template selected by the select block by arranging the selected template on the image based on the image data acquired by the image data acquisition block, an operator block configured to enter a user-specified change in a relative position between the image and the template displayed on the image display block and in a size of at least one of the image and the template displayed on the image display block, and a print block configured to print the image displayed o

Abstract: A printing apparatus forms image information and information associated therewith on a print medium. The printing apparatus receives image information from an image file stored in a recording medium, etc., and obtains information associated with the image information. The associated information includes attached information that is read out from the image file based on a file format using tags via an interface unit or added information that is input or selected in accordance with the image information. The image information is printed on the print medium, and the associated information is formed on a film sheet (laminate film), which is disposed over the image-printed surface, as a watermark. The associated information is not visible when the print medium is seen from the front, and can be seen when it is seen at an angle due to the difference in surface glossiness.

Abstract: A printing apparatus forms image information and information associated therewith on a print medium. The printing apparatus receives image information from an image file stored in a recording medium, etc., and obtains information associated with the image information. The associated information includes attached information that is read out from the image file based on a file format using tags via an interface unit or added information that is input or selected in accordance with the image information. The image information is printed on the print medium, and the associated information is formed on a film sheet (laminate film), which is disposed over the image-printed surface, as a watermark. The associated information is not visible when the print medium is seen from the front, and can be seen when it is seen at an angle due to the difference in surface glossiness.

Abstract: A printer device, and method, is disclosed which is used in conjunction with an ink ribbon assembly. The ink ribbon assembly includes an ink ribbon and a support. A storage device is integrated with the support. Data relating to the ink ribbon characteristics is stored in the storage device. The printer reads the data in the storage device and modifies the supplied print information ascending to the data stored in the ink ribbon assembly. Ink ribbon characteristic data can include production variance, ribbon type, and remaining ribbon data.

Abstract: A recording apparatus according to the present invention has a structure such that recording position of each dot is inverted in one pixel area in such a manner that a direction in which dots of lines in the main scanning direction to be formed on a printing sheet is made to be different from the main scanning direction. Even if the printing sheet feeding apparatus encounters displacement and the position of the printing sheet with respect to a thermal head is displaced, the foregoing structure causes dots to be formed in a zigzag configuration for the lines in the main scanning direction of the printing sheet on which a dot pattern has been formed in accordance with image data so that generation of moire fringes in the main scanning direction is prevented.

Abstract: A video printer includes a chassis, a platen rotatably mounted on the chassis, a printing head carried by the chassis so as to be moved between a pressure-contact position in which the printing head is pressure-contacted with the platen and a standby position in which the printing head is spaced apart from the platen, a roll for pressure-contacting a transfer sheet against the platen, and a cutter provided at a position spaced apart from the printing head and proximate to the sheet exit opening. The transfer sheet is provided in a sheet guide system through a space between the platen and the printing head as far as a sheet exit opening. The printing head is moved to the pressure-contact position during printing operation to the standby position during non-printing operation. When printing an image on the transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is rewound by a distance less than a distance between the printing head and the cutter for effective utilization of the transfer sheet.

Abstract: A video printer includes a chassis, a platen rotatably mounted on the chassis, a printing head carried by the chassis so as to be moved between a pressure-contact position in which the printing head is pressure-contacted with the platen and a standby position in which the printing head is spaced apart from the platen, a roll for pressure-contacting a transfer sheet against the platen, and a cutter provided at a position spaced apart from the printing head and proximate to the sheet exit opening. The transfer sheet is provided in a sheet guide system through a space between the platen and the printing head as far as a sheet exit opening. The printing head is moved to the pressure-contact position during printing time and to the standby position during non-printing time. When printing an image on the transfer sheet, the transfer sheet is rewound by a distance less than a distance between the printing head and the cutter for effective utilization of the transfer sheet.

Abstract: A signal generating circuit for generating gray scale signals for a thermal printer with a thermal head comprising a plurality of heating elements arrayed in a line, in such a manner that, even when white-level image data of a minimum or zero density is outputted, printing data adequate for slightly coloring a thermosensitive paper are obtained to prevent the occurrence of deterioration in the vicinity of the white label. The signal generating circuit includes a memory for storing image data to be printed, a PWM pulse driver for generating PWM driving pulses of the image data stored in the memory means, a zero-level pulse driver for generating a zero-level driving pulse, and a circuit for supplying the PWM driving pulses and the zero-level driving pulse to a thermal head drive circuit.