Abstract: A method for printing a stereograph includes manufacturing a lenticular lens structure on a surface of a protecting region of a ribbon wherein the ribbon includes a plurality of dye regions and the protecting region, receiving a target image data, conveying a print medium, transferring the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon onto the print medium respectively according to the target image data when conveying the print medium, and transferring the protecting region of the ribbon onto the print medium after transferring the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon onto the print medium.

Abstract: An ink medium holding member includes a holding unit and an indicating unit. The holding unit is configured to hold an elongated ink medium for supplying a temperature-sensitive ink whose color changes depending on temperature. The indicating unit is configured to indicate a changed color that the temperature-sensitive ink which is supplied from the ink medium held by the holding unit changes to.

Abstract: A pattern of non-contiguous features that can be imaged in one pass of a multi-channel imaging head is divided into sets of the non-contiguous features. Each set of the non-contiguous features is imaged separately during a single scan of the multi-channel imaging head. The pattern can be completely imaged after all of the sets have been separately imaged. The non-contiguous features of one set may be interleaved with the non-contiguous features of another one of the sets.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes a conveying mechanism, a first image forming unit, and a second image forming unit. The conveying mechanism conveys a medium. The first image forming unit forms an image with a non-temperature-sensitive ink whose color is not changed depending on a temperature, on the medium. The second image forming unit forms an image with a temperature-sensitive ink whose color is changed depending on a temperature, on the medium having the image with the non-temperature-sensitive ink formed thereon.

Abstract: A method of registering a print between print stages in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: printing a first part of a digital image on a substrate with a first print engine, wherein the first part of the digital image includes a plurality of reference features; scanning image content on the substrate as it is readied for the second print engine; determining the actual positions of the reference features; using the actual positions of the reference features to determine desired adjustments for the second part of the digital image; applying electronic registration according to the desired adjustments to modify image content of the second print to be aligned with content already on the substrate; and printing a second part of the digital image on the substrate.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing the processing of print data at a printing device based upon available consumable resources. A printing device includes a print process configured to determine consumable resources that are currently available at the printing device. The print process is further configured to determine which print data is to be processed based upon the consumable resources currently available at the printing device and the consumable resources required to completely process each of the print data. Print data that can be completely processed using the currently available consumable resources are selected for processing. The print process may also be configured to cause a notification to be provided to a client device to indicate the consumable resources currently available at a printing device and/or that insufficient consumable resources were available to process particular print data and to recommend other consumable resources to process the particular print data.

Abstract: The color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.

Abstract: Media for receiving a printed image during sublimation or heat activated ink printing, and for transferring the image to a final substrate during subsequent heat transfer and activation, and a process of using the media. The media comprises a fibrous sheeting material, which can curve and conform to a three dimensional object to be imaged during the transfer printing process. A thin metal or metalized layer is to be applied onto the fabric/textile sheet shielding the fibrous structure, creating a reflective surface with excellent release properties. This reflective surface allows minimal dye penetration and excellent heat conductivity during heat transfer.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into segments, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the segments have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different segments by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.

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 technique for optimizing or enhancing color images. Embodiments are disclosed for creating an enhanced color image, including the enhancement of perceived color uniformity. In a “dot-on-dot” registration scheme for producing color images, the dots need to be precisely superimposed on each other to provide optimum or enhanced images. The dot-on-dot registration produced by a single head thermal printer is generally acceptable, but a single head machine is very slow because multiple passes (reciprocation) are required to lay down multiple colors of dots. In a much faster multi-head or tandem thermal imaging system a serious problem of dot misalignment may cause more patterns or other visual artifacts in the color images produced by dot patterns. A solution to this problem is disclosed herein which intentionally misregisters superimposed dots in a novel and particular manner to achieve image optimization.

Abstract: An ink composition is provided that includes a condensed polycyclic aromatic compound, a polymerization initiator, and a polymerizable compound, and the condensed polycyclic aromatic compound is a compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the formula below, a compound having at least three hydroxy groups, alkoxy groups, and/or aryloxy groups on a condensed polycyclic aromatic ring, and a compound having at least one atom having an atomic weight of 32 or greater bonded to a condensed polycyclic aromatic ring and/or one group bonded to the condensed polycyclic aromatic ring via an atom having an atomic weight of 32 or greater. There are also provided a printed material obtained by employing the ink composition, a process for producing a lithographic printing plate employing the ink composition, and a lithographic printing plate obtained by the production process.

Abstract: Methods for generating a color image are provided which include a multi-layer construction in which at least one of the layers is a thermally activatable layer that includes a thermally activatable composition. The thermally activatable composition includes a non-linear light to heat converter composition and a color forming compound. Upon activation with a light source an image forms.

Abstract: A method for printing a stereograph includes manufacturing a lenticular lens structure on a surface of a protecting region of a ribbon wherein the ribbon includes a plurality of dye regions and the protecting region, receiving a target image data, conveying a print medium, transferring the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon onto the print medium respectively according to the target image data when conveying the print medium, and transferring the protecting region of the ribbon onto the print medium after transferring the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon onto the print medium.

Abstract: If an ultraviolet curing resin is colored by contamination by another substance, there have been issues regarding increased cost and the environmental burden of treating the waste solution due to an inability to recycle the resin as it is. The ultraviolet curing resin that is in a colored, uncured state is decolored in the present invention by irradiation of light having a wavelength in the vicinity of the maximum absorption wavelength of the coloring material, and then recycled. As a result, it is possible to reduce costs and contribute to the protection of the environment.

Abstract: A time recorder includes a print head, a ribbon cassette swingably supported and having an ink ribbon applied with a different colors in a width direction, and a cam for swinging the ribbon cassette to change a position of the ink ribbon against the print head in the width direction of the ink ribbon and to change a color to be printed on time card, further comprising a first stopper and a second stopper for limiting a rotational range of the cam.

Abstract: A multicolor direct thermal imaging method and an imaging member for use therein, wherein a multicolor image is formed in a thermal imaging member having at least two different image-forming compositions capable of forming two different colors. Heat is used to form an image in the first color at a first speed of travel of the thermal imaging member with respect to the source of heat, and heat is used to form an image in the second color at a second speed of travel of the thermal imaging member with respect to the source of heat, where the first speed of travel and the second speed of travel are different from each other.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method pertains to detecting a position of a sheet of media that has been loaded onto the print surface, determining from the detected position a current loading error with which the media sheet has been loaded onto the print surface, and calculating a loading offset that can be used to adjust the position at which a future media sheet will be loaded onto the print surface.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing method for forming a screen on photographic paper without providing a margin between the screen and a screen adjacent thereto. Photographic paper is unwound from a roll and then a screen having an image is formed on the paper, by transferring yellow, magenta, and cyan colorants onto the paper using a first heating means, without providing a margin between the screen and an adjacent screen. The paper is then cut at a rear edge of the screen so as to manufacture an individual photographic paper on which the screen has been formed, which is then conveyed to a second heating means. A screen protective layer is then formed on an overall surface of the screen formed on the individual photographic paper, by thermally transferring the screen protective film onto the overall surface of the screen formed on the individual photographic paper by the second heating means.

Abstract: Systems and methods of rendering images may include rendering images by coupling a first rendering device and a second rendering device, obtaining electronic image data comprising a first image data and a second image data, and providing at least the first image data to the first rendering device and providing at least the second image data to the second rendering device. The systems and methods may also include rendering a first image on a recording medium based on the first image data using the first rendering device, transferring the recording medium from the first rendering device to the second rendering device, and rendering a second image on the recording medium based on the second image data using the second rendering device.

Abstract: A thermal transfer member includes a plurality of color material layers on one surface of a base material, wherein at least one of the color material layers contains a dicyanomethine based coloring agent represented by Structural formula 1 and at least one of the other color material layers contains an indoaniline based coloring agent represented by Structural formula 2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating a multi-color imaging system are provided. Color values are measured for each of the different color patches, and compared to target process-sensitive colors color values, representing a weight-adjusted memory color. An error value is calculated. The error value represents a deviation of the measured color values from the target color values. The input values for each colorant then are independently adjusted to reduce the error value to a predetermined degree.

Abstract: A printer and method of combining inkjet printing with thermal printing which optimizes use of both. The printer includes a thermal print head, an inkjet print head, and control circuitry for activating the thermal print head to print in a first area of a print medium and for activating the inkjet print head to print in a second area of the print medium.

Abstract: A thermal printers and printing methods are provided. The thermal printer has a first thermal print head adapted to pressure a first donor web against the receiver medium and to selectively transfer donor material to the receiver medium in an image wise fashion to form a first image in an image receiving area of the receiver medium; and a second thermal print head adapted to pressure a second donor web against the receiver medium and to selectively transfer second donor material to the receiver medium in an image wise fashion to form a second image in the image receiving area. A receiver medium transport system moves receiver medium along a printing path and the first thermal print head and the second thermal print head are positioned along the path so that they can apply donor material to the receiver medium at least in part simultaneously when instructed by a controller.

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: An apparatus and a method for multichannel sequence transmission and control comprises a DMA generator, a bus interface, a data generator, a control unit, and a strobe signal generator. The DMA generator is coupled to the bus interface and the data generator to operate with the control unit and the strobe signal generator. A step of initial setting is an external microcontroller generates a TPH shift clock and a TPH latch signal needed by a print head. A step of transmitting data is the DMA generator transmits a printing data to the data generator for being buffered and moved to a latch register in the print head and then the strobe signal generator provides the signal period of the respective strobe signal and the time spacing between the respective strobe signal to allow a multiplexer outputting the actual strobe signals, which are combined from the virtual strobe signals, to the print head. A step of heating the print head is the print head prints the assigned data until the strobe signals ending.

Abstract: A complex image forming apparatus is provided having an improved structure in which a thermal printing engine forming a color image by heat and a laser printing engine performing single-color printing are integrated. The complex image forming apparatus comprises a supplying unit supplying a printing medium; a transfer path via which the printing medium supplied by the supplying unit is transferred; a thermal printing engine being disposed on the transfer path and performing color printing by heating a thermal imaging printing medium having one or more image forming layers; and a laser printing engine being disposed on the transfer path on which the thermal printing engine is installed and performing printing on the supplied printing medium by electrophotolithography.

Abstract: A thermally sensitive medium includes at least one layer of temperature-activated dye, and antenna molecules disposed in the layer of temperature-activated dye for converting radiant energy into thermal energy. A system for forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium includes a radiant energy source for selectively heating portions of the thermally sensitive medium to activate temperature-activated dyes of the medium. A method of forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium having multiple layers of temperature-activated dyes is performed by selectively heating portions of each of the layers of temperature-activated dyes with a light source to form the image.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling the order of printing by receiving a plurality of images to be printed and calculating a density of each of the images, and determining the order of printing of the images using the calculated density. Since images are printed in the image printing order obtained using the density of the images, the time for cooling the thermal print head which prints by applying heat to media is reduced, such that the total print time for printing the images can be reduced and a uniform print quality can be maintained.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method pertains to detecting a position of a sheet of media that has been loaded onto the print surface, determining from the detected position a current loading error with which the media sheet has been loaded onto the print surface, and calculating a loading offset that can be used to adjust the position at which a future media sheet will be loaded onto the print surface.

Abstract: A printer comprises a feed roller to which driving force is transmitted from a motor via a reducer. While the feed roller moves a recording paper, an image is recorded by a line print head one line by one line. The feed roller is provided with a rotary encoder. A controller counts encoder pulses (measured EP) of the rotary encoder to measure an actual feed amount of the recording paper. Whenever five lines are recorded, the measured EP is compared with predetermined reference encoder pulses to detect a feed error of the recording paper. In case that slipping or the like occurs on the reducer, delay in feeding the recording paper is caused. A printing cycle of the next five lines is adjusted so as to eliminate the feed error. In this way, a printing length of one frame is adjusted to a target printing length.

Abstract: A printing device that includes a platen for supporting an imaging member during a printing operation and at least one print head subassembly for direct thermal printing on the imaging member. The print head subassembly can be configured to be movable independently of the platen for printing on a first surface of the imaging member in a first transport path and on a second surface of the imaging member in a second transport path. Alternatively, the printing device can include two print head subassemblies, each positioned to print on a different side of the imaging member. The position of the print line of the print head in each printing position is offset from a dead center alignment with respect to a platen.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus having full-color and monochrome print processes and a method therefor, whether a page to be printed is color or monochrome is checked. The presence of an immediately preceding page which is successively printed before a page to be printed that is determined to be monochrome, and the attribute of the immediately preceding page are determined. The presence of a succeeding page which is successively printed after the page to be printed, and the attribute of the succeeding page are determined. The number of pages corresponding to the determination results is set. The print process of the page to be printed is decided on the basis of the presence of succeeding pages corresponding to the number of pages and their attributes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing module that prints an image on a medium. A transfer unit transfers the medium. A rotating unit rotates the transfer unit such that first and second surfaces of the medium selectively face the printing module when the medium is pinched in the transfer unit.

Abstract: A method of printing a fluorescent image on a surface of a receiver medium comprises forming on the surface by a thermal dye transfer printing process a first image of a first fluorescent dye; and forming on the first image by a thermal dye transfer printing process a superimposed second image of a second fluorescent dye, the first and second dyes having different emission maxima. The method thus enables production of a non-monochrome fluorescent image (that can be substantially invisible in daylight but that is revealed on irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light) that can be of substantially better quality than those produced by mass transfer printing processes. The method preferably involves the use of three different fluorescent dyes, for improved color image quality. The invention also provides thermal transfer media suitable for use in the method and the resulting printed material bearing a fluorescent image.

Abstract: A method to convert a color provided in a first color space into a color in a second color space defined by more than four colorants and a reproduction process. The method includes converting the color into a third color space, determining which of a set of gamut volumes defined in the third color space is appropriate for the color, with each point in the gamut volume achievable by an area coverage greater than zero and less than 100% of two of the colorants and an area coverage greater than zero and less than 100% of one or more darkening colorants with the remaining colorants either absent or at 100%. The method further includes carrying out any gamut mapping on the converted color so that the converted color is in the appropriate gamut volume and converting the gamut mapped color from the third color space into a set of the colorants of the second color space, such that the surface of any gamut volume with no darkening colorant is part of an umbrella surface for the N inks.

Abstract: A printer has a sheet housing unit for storing a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet having a heat-sensitive adhesive layer on one side and a printable surface on the other side. A set of pull-out rollers pulls the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet out of the sheet housing unit and transports the sheet in a given direction, and a cutter device cuts the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that has been transported by the pull-out rollers. A printing device has a thermal print head for printing letters or images on the printable surface of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, and a print platen roller for transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the given direction. A thermal activation device has a thermal-activation thermal head for heating the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, and a thermal activation platen roller for transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet in the given direction. A first drive unit drives the pull-out rollers and a second drive unit drives the print platen roller.

Abstract: A 2-color thermal point of sale (POS) printer includes a converter for converting full color printing commands into a commands for printing in two colors, a primary color and an alternate color. A three color image is possible when using the background color of the paper as a color.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a plurality of printed and activated time dependent labels. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a web having a plurality of inked substrates thereon. Each substrate has a migrating ink pattern printed on a surface of the substrate. A transfer printer is provided that has a first ribbon means for applying a timing layer through which the migrating ink bleeds after a predetermined period of time. A second ribbon means is provided for printing variable data. The web of inked substrates is continuously fed through the printer, each inked substrate passing sequentially under the first ribbon means and then the second ribbon means. The first ribbon means is activated to apply the timing layer to a portion of the printed surface of each inked substrate thereunder to produce a coated substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of avoiding core set curl in thermal prints comprising providing thermal print material wound image receiving side toward the core, passing said print material from said core around a turning roll in a direction opposite to the core wind, passing said print material under tension in an arcuate path with image side out beneath at least three thermal print heads to form an image.

Abstract: When densities of C, M and Y colors for automatic density adjustment are measured, test patterns of R, G and B colors are printed on TA paper, and a fixing lamp throws lights that have bright line spectrums of R, G and B colors onto the test patterns and amounts of reflected lights of the test patterns of R, G and B colors are measured with a light-receiving sensor that is an HP sensor for determining a reference position of the TA paper. Then, the densities of C, M and Y colors are calculated according to the amounts of the reflected lights. The color production of the C, M and Y layers of the TA paper is adjusted so that the calculated densities of C, M and Y colors are target densities.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material includes a support. A release layer is overlaid on the support. A coloring transfer layer is overlaid on the release layer, has thermoplasticity, and is colorable by being exposed and then pressurized. In a printer for use with the thermal transfer material, an image is formed by exposing the coloring transfer layer. The coloring transfer layer is placed on image receiving material after the image is formed. The thermal transfer material is heated and pressurized while the coloring transfer layer is placed on, so as to color the image and transfer the coloring transfer layer to the image receiving material.

Abstract: A method of reducing uneven use of a series of heating elements a color image print smaller than the size of the receiver medium and leave a non-image non-color margin area along at least one side of the color image print; and using other ones of the heating elements to effect yellow, magenta and cyan dye transfers superimposed on a non-image non-color margin area left along at least one side of the color image print to make the margin area a shade of substantially gray or black, whereby, since those heating elements which are not to be selectively used to effect the dye transfers to create the color image print are instead used to effect the dye transfers to make a non-image non-color margin area left along at least one side of the color image print a shade of substantially gray or black, uneven use of the heating elements on the print head is reduced.

Abstract: A color thermal printer is provided with a humidity sensor and a paper type discerning sensor. The humidity measured in the humidity sensor is converted to a humidity dependency correction coefficient by an LUT memory. The paper type discerned by the paper type discerning sensor is converted to a paper type dependency correction coefficient by an LUT memory. Image data of one line is converted to a coefficient of dynamic friction of each heating element. A printing load calculator calculates the printing load of one line based on the coefficient of dynamic friction of one line, the humidity correction coefficient, the paper type correction coefficient, and pressing force of a thermal head. The rotation speed of a feeding motor for feeding a color thermal recording paper is controlled in response to the printing load of each line.

Abstract: A multi-color development thermal printer develops simultaneously magenta, cyan, and black using a line-type thermal head on a recording medium, which develops magenta at a low temperature, cyan at an intermediate temperature, and black at a high temperature. One line's worth of first two-color development bit data for developing magenta and black, and one line's worth of second two-color development bit data for developing cyan and black, are generated based on one line's worth of three-color development bit data. During a period required for a recording operation of one line by the line-type thermal head, the line-type thermal head performs a first recording operation in accordance with one line's worth of the first two-color development bit data, and then a second recording operation in accordance with one line's worth of the second two-color development bit data.

Abstract: The thermosensitive color recording paper is rolled around a roll core. On a side of the roll core, a code of fixing sensitivity of the thermosensitive color recording paper to a fixing light is depicted. The code is read by a code reading device, and a code data of the code is input in a controller. The controller obtains from a data table memorized in a memory a light quantity of the fixing light that corresponds to the code data. On the basis of the light quantity, the target luminance of fixing lamps and a target feeding velocity of the thermosensitive color recording paper are determined so as to be adequate for a sort of the thermosensitive color recording paper. In the luminance and the feeding velocity, the optical fixation of said each mono-color image is performed.

Abstract: A method of reducing uneven use of a series of heating elements on a print head in a thermal printer comprises: selectively using certain ones of the heating elements to effect yellow, magenta and cyan dye transfers superimposed on a dye receiver medium to create a color image print smaller than the size of the receiver medium and leave a non-image non-color margin area along at least one side of the color image print; and using other ones of the heating elements to effect yellow, magenta and cyan dye transfers superimposed on a non-image non-color margin area left along at least one side of the color image print to make the margin area a shade of substantially gray or black, whereby, since those heating elements which are not to be selectively used to effect the dye transfers to create the color image print are instead used to effect the dye transfers to make a non-image non-color margin area left along at least one side of the color image print a shade of substantially gray or black, uneven use of the heati

Abstract: A multicolor image forming material comprising: an image receiving sheet comprising a substrate and an image receiving layer; and at least four heat transfer sheets each comprising a substrate and an image forming layer, each of the heat transfer sheets being adapted to be superposed on the image receiving sheet with the image forming layer facing the image receiving layer and irradiated with laser light to transfer the irradiated area of the image forming layer to the image receiving layer to form an image on the image receiving sheet, wherein the at least four heat transfer sheets comprise a heat transfer sheet (X) of which the image forming layer has a hue selected from the group defined herein and an absolute difference &Dgr;D between an optical density of the image forming layer of each of the at least four heat transfer sheets and a corresponding target optical density is equal to or smaller than 0.2.

Abstract: A color thermal printer has a feed roller set, a thermal head, and a tension roller set that are serially arranged along a transporting path. The feed roller set and the tension roller set are rotated by respectively a stepping motor and a DC motor. The stepping motor rotates forwards. Simultaneously, the DC motor rotates the tension roller set forwards, to apply a first transporting force to the continuous recording sheet at a level higher than a predetermined transporting force of the feed roller set. Also, the stepping motor rotates backwards. Simultaneously, the DC motor rotates the tension roller set backwards, to apply a second transporting force to the continuous recording sheet at a level lower than the predetermined transporting force.

Abstract: An image recording device for thermally recording monochrome and color images onto reversible heat-sensitive recording mediums such as a thermal liquid crystal compound that has a cholesteric phase. A heating device, which may include a plurality of heating elements including laser diodes, is scanned across the recording medium and the temperature of the heating element corresponding to a given picture element determines the recorded color for that picture element.