Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, an image erasing unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit performs an image forming process of forming an image on an image bearing body by a toner and transferring the toner image from the image bearing body onto a recording medium, and a refresh process of forming an image on the image bearing body by a toner and removing the toner image from the image bearing body. The control unit controls the image forming unit such that the image forming unit performs the refresh process together with the erasing process performed by the erasing unit.

Abstract: A printing control device includes a receiving unit and a replacing unit. The receiving unit receives a print job, which includes gloss control printing data indicating a type of surface effect by predetermined density information and table information capable of identifying a surface-effect selection table used in creation of the gloss control printing data, from a host device. The replacing unit replaces a part or whole of the surface-effect selection table implemented in the printing control device in advance on the basis of the table information included in the print job.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image to which a plurality of various surface gloss effects are given by overlaying clear toner to be fixed for a plurality of times on a recording material on which color toner has been transferred, the image processing apparatus comprises a determining unit that determines number of times of fixing clear toner onto the recording material for each image region, according to a surface gloss effect of an image region that is indicated by input image data; and a clear-image forming unit that generates a clear toner plane for each image region having been determined that the number of times of fixing clear toner is same by the determining unit, and forms a clear image

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion that fixes a toner image to a sheet by applying heat to the sheet, a conveyance path through which back and forth conveyance of the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion is performed by normally and reversely rotating a conveying roller, and a water addition portion that adds water to the sheet at a water addition position in the conveyance path on upstream in a conveying direction of the conveying roller. In addition, a controller controls the water addition portion such that the water is added to the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion to the water addition position, and the water is added to the sheet to which the reverse conveyance has been performed after an upstream end in the conveying direction of the sheet passes through the water addition position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a count section configured to count time during which no image forming is performed and a control section configured to allow heating of a heat generating section at temperature for decolorizing after the time counted by the count section reaches the a predetermined threshold time.

Abstract: A printer apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium by providing a heat amount according to a gradation includes a first image forming unit configured to form a first image by transferring ink to the recording medium, and a second image forming unit configured to form a second image by forming concavity and convexity on the recording medium. The second image forming unit forms concavity and convexity on a surface of the recording medium by setting one of a gradation of a drawing region of the second image and a gradation of a drawing peripheral region surrounding the drawing region higher than a predetermined threshold gradation, and setting the other of the gradation of the drawing region and the gradation of the drawing peripheral region lower than the predetermined threshold gradation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a first image forming section configured to form an image on a recording medium with a non-erasable material, and a second image forming section configured to form an image on the recording medium with an erasable material. The image forming apparatus further comprises a control section configured to separate image data according to attributes of the image data into first image data to be printed on the recording medium in the first image forming section and second image data to be printed on the recording medium in the second image forming section.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of handling substrate media in a marking device using toner. The apparatus including first and second rolls for handling the substrate media. The first roll applying pressure to the toner. After the application of pressure by the first roll, the toner remains partially unfused to the substrate media. The second roll subsequently engaging the pressed toner as the substrate media passes the second roll. The first roll and the second roll being disposed remotely from one another in a process handling direction of the substrate media. The method including the application of pressure to the unfused toner on the substrate media by a first roll. The method subsequently engages the pressed toner with a second roll for handling the substrate media.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit, a gloss level measuring section, and a fixation condition setting section. The gloss level measuring section measures a gloss level of an image portion and a gloss level of a non-image portion in a recording medium after fixation, and separately measures, as the gloss level of the image portion, a first gloss level indicative of a gloss level of a chromatic toner image and a second gloss level indicative of a gloss level of a black toner image. The fixation condition setting section sets the fixation condition for the fixing unit so that the first gloss level and the second gloss level approach respective different target gloss levels, on the basis of a measured value of the first gloss level and a measured value of the second gloss level and a measured value of the gloss level of the non-image portion.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a heating apparatus includes: a film; a supporting member for unwindably supporting the film; a winding-up member for winding up the film; a first container accommodating the supporting member and having a first opening; and a second container accommodating the winding-up member and having a second opening. The film is unwindable from the supporting member to the winding-up member through the first opening and the second opening. The first container and the second container are connected with each other so that the first container and the second container cover at least one side of the film, and the first container and the second container are disconnectable from each other to expose the film between the first opening and the second opening.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generating unit that generates clear-toner plane data based on gloss-control plane data, which contains a gloss control value for specifying a type of a surface effect being a visual or a tactile effect applied to the recording medium and for specifying a region to which the surface effect is applied in the recording medium, and clear plane data, which contains a density value for specifying a transparent image other than the surface effect; and an outputting unit that outputs the clear-toner plane data. When a region where the gloss control value is specified in the gloss-control plane data and a region where the density value is specified in the clear plane data overlap each other, the generating unit sets a value of the clear-toner plane data to the gloss control value or the density value, based on a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A liquid type cooling device, which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a heat releasing unit to release heat of a coolant that passes therethrough, and multiple air blowing fans disposed facing the heat releasing unit to blow air to the heat releasing unit. A cooling capacity of the liquid type cooling device varies according to a type of a recording medium on which an image is formed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a color toner image forming device, a fixing device, a cooling device, a colorless toner image forming device, and a control device. The color toner image forming device forms a toner image on a recording medium with a color toner. The fixing device heats the toner image on the recording medium to fix the toner image on the recording medium. The cooling device cools the fixed toner image. The colorless toner image forming device forms a toner image on the recording medium with a colorless toner having a storage elastic modulus of 100 or less and a loss tangent of 10 or greater at a heating temperature of the fixing device. The control device controls cooling power of the cooling device based on whether or not the colorless toner image forming device forms the toner image.

Abstract: A sheet cooling device includes a fixing device for heat fixing an unfixed image formed on a sheet; and a cooling device for cooling the sheet heated by the fixing device, the cooling device including, a rotatable endless belt contactable with the sheet heated by the fixing device and traveling above the fixing device; and a cooling member for cooling the endless belt to condense water vapor produced by a fixing operation.

Abstract: An image glossing apparatus including a recording sheet feeder feeding a recording sheet bearing a toner image; a glossing device including a heater heating a glossing portion of the toner image to gloss the portion; a glossiness information obtaining device obtaining position information on the position of the glossing portion; and a position detector including a tip detector detecting tip of the fed recording sheet, and a distance measuring device measuring the moving distance of the recording sheet after the tip of the recording sheet is detected. The position detector detects the position of a portion of the recording sheet facing the heater based on the information on the tip of the recording sheet and the information on the moving distance of the recording sheet. When the portion of the recording sheet facing the heater is the glossing portion, the heater heats the portion to gloss the glossing portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing unit and a gloss equalizing unit. The fixing unit is disposed in a media conveyance path to fix a toner image on a recording medium conveyed therethrough. The fixing unit includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a media stripper. The fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is pressed against the fuser member to form a fixing nip therebetween. The media stripper is held in contact with the pressure member to allow the recording medium to separate from the pressure member. The gloss equalizing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path. The gloss equalizing unit includes a pair of first and second rotary glossing rollers, at least one of which is heated and at least one of which is pressed against the other to form a gloss equalizing nip therebetween.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a count section configured to count time during which no image forming is performed and a control section configured to allow heating of a heat generating section at temperature for decolorizing after the time counted by the count section reaches the a predetermined threshold time.

Abstract: A formation process of a glossy surface, without unevenness of gloss in a image on a print surface, nor toner offset or release failure over a long time period, is provided, where a surface of a belt member is composed of a resin containing structural units derived from a specific urethane (meth)acrylate (A), a specific polyfunctional monomer (B), and a fluorine-modified acrylate (C) and has the contact angle with respect to water of 85 to 110°, and the melting energy ?H of a wax in a clear toner is 2 to 20 J/g.

Abstract: A gloss applicator to apply a gloss to toner by heating and then forcibly cooling a toner image on a recording medium, includes: a plurality of rollers including a heat roller disposed upstream in a conveyance direction of the recording medium bearing the toner image thereon; an endless belt wound around the plurality of rollers and including a taut portion along the conveyance direction of the recording medium; a pressure roller disposed at a position opposite the heat roller sandwiching the endless belt together with the heat roller; a cooling member disposed at an interior surface of the taut portion of the endless belt; and a pair of separating members disposed at both ends of the cooling member and configured to contact and separate the endless belt to and from the cooling member so as to change an area of contact of the cooling member with the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transparent image forming unit configured to form a transparent toner image on a recording material, a fixing unit configured to fix the transparent toner image formed on the recording material, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a region where a mark visually recognizable due to a glossiness difference is to be formed, and a control unit configured to control the transparent image forming unit such that the transparent toner image formed in the region acquired by the acquisition unit is formed in a predetermined pattern in which a first portion having first glossiness after fixing and a second portion having second glossiness after fixing that is different from the first glossiness are at least alternately disposed.

Abstract: A setting device sets a print page to be clear-coated. When print data is obtained, the setting device displays a preview of a print page image represented by the print data (step S1040). The setting device further receives a designation for a print page image of which preview is displayed, and sets a print page corresponding to the print page image of which designation has been received as a print page to be clear-coated (step S1050).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming information processor to process image forming information and an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium by forming a toner image using colored-toner and a toner image using glossy toner based on the image forming information processed by the image forming information processor. The image forming unit forms a glossy image on the recording medium based on glossy toner image forming information, in which the glossy image is formable on the recording medium using the colored-toner toner image alone, or a glossy image is formed on the recording medium by forming a colored-toner toner image using colored-toner based on the colored-toner image forming information, and then forming the glossy toner image on the colored-toner toner image as a top layer of the glossy image based on the glossy toner image forming information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a mode setting section configured to set an operation mode in a manner that the image forming apparatus is operated in an erasing mode if an erasing operation is instructed, a supplying section configured to supply a medium on which the image formation is completed, and which is set in an designated or specified receiving section, a decoloring section configured to decolor the color of the formed image by carrying the medium to a heating section that includes at least heating and decoloring function, and a return section configured to return the operation mode to a predetermined mode except for the erasing mode from the erasing mode, when the last medium on which the image formation is completed and which is set in the receiving section is decolored.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium includes a fixing unit configured to fix on a recording medium, a toner image formed on the recording medium, through heating and pressurization and a gloss control unit configured to lower gloss of a surface of the toner image by charging the surface of the toner image fixed onto the recording medium and heating the toner image such that toner contained in the toner image reaches a softening point or higher thereof.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cooling conveyor to cool a recording material having an image fixed by heat while sandwiching and conveying the recording material. The cooling conveyor includes a conveyance belt, a cooling member, and a cooling unit. The conveyance belt sandwiches and conveys the recording material. The cooling member absorbs heat of the recording material via the conveyance belt. The cooling unit maintains the cooling member at low temperature. The cooling conveyor performs control of stopping the cooling unit in a standby state of the image forming apparatus, activating the cooling unit and performing a preliminary cooling operation to decrease temperature of the cooling member after a shift from the standby state to image forming operation, and then bringing the recording material into contact with the conveyance belt.

Abstract: A second thermal transfer portion of upstream side transfers a foil image, to be not printed, from the foil sheet on a waste sheet, conveyed from an image forming apparatus, on which a desired negative toner image is transferred. The foil image, to be printed, remains on the transferred foil sheet. The waste sheet is ejected out of a foil transferring apparatus. A printing sheet of paper on which the desired positive toner image is transferred is conveyed from the image forming apparatus to a first thermal transfer portion of downstream side to meet time when the foil sheet on which the foil image, to be printed, remains reaches the first thermal transfer portion. The first thermal transfer portion transfers the foil image, to be printed, from the foil sheet on the conveyed printing sheet of paper on which the desired positive toner image is transferred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a glossiness imparting unit that imparts glossiness to the image formed on the recording medium, and a glossiness reducing unit that reduces the glossiness of at least a part of the image to which the glossiness has been imparted by the glossiness imparting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image erasing section including a first member which has an elastic layer and heats a recording medium having a thermally decolorizable toner image on the toner image side and a second member which erases the toner image by allowing the recording medium in cooperation with the first member; an image forming section which transfers a thermally decolorizable toner image onto the recording medium on which the toner image is erased to form an unfixed toner image; and an image fixing section including a third member which does not have an elastic layer and heats the recording medium on the unfixed toner image side and a fourth member which fixes the unfixed toner image by allowing the recording medium in cooperation with the third member.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using a developing agent containing a decolorable toner and forming a developing agent image, and a transferring and conveying mechanism and a fixing and decolorizing mechanism. In a decolorizing mode, the image carrier and a transfer member are separated in the transferring and conveying mechanism to secure a conveying path to prevent a transfer material from coming into contact with the image carrier. A decolorable image is decolorized at second temperature higher than first temperature in the fixing and decolorizing mechanism.

Abstract: A method of forming an image comprising the steps of: forming an image on an image support to obtain an original image, and forming a gloss adjusting layer comprising a clear toner-fixed image comprising a clear toner on the original image, wherein the gloss adjusting layer comprises an aggregate of gloss adjusting units, wherein the gloss adjusting units each comprise a section where the clear toner is attached and a section where the clear toner is unattached, wherein a borderline between the section where the clear toner is attached and the section where the clear toner is unattached comprises a straight line.

Abstract: Provided are an image forming method by which an image in which arbitrary glossiness is adjusted to any section is formed, and an image forming apparatus thereof. It is a feature that an image forming method possesses the steps of forming a gloss adjusting layer possessing a gloss adjusting toner-fixed image formed with a gloss adjusting toner, on an image support, and forming a toner-fixed image obtained from a toner, on the gloss adjusting layer, wherein the gloss adjusting layer possesses an aggregate of gloss adjusting units; the gloss adjusting units each possess a section where the gloss adjusting toner is attached and another section where the gloss adjusting toner is unattached; and a borderline between the section and the another section is a straight line.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a conveying portion configured to convey a sheet while holding the sheet between a first belt and a second belt; a stretching roller configured to drive the first belt inside the first belt; and a cooling portion having a flow-passage forming portion for forming a flow passage of a cooling medium and configured to cool the sheet through the first belt. Moreover, the cooling device includes a press roller provided inside the second belt and facing the flow-passage forming portion through the second belt and the first belt; and a contacting/separating portion configured to have the second belt contact with/separate from the cooling portion through the first belt by moving the press roller. The stretching roller has a lower end portion located below a cooling surface of the cooling portion.

Abstract: A recording-material cooling device is disposed downstream from a fixing device in a transport direction of a recording material. The fixing device includes a fixing member and a pressing member to fix an unfixed toner image on the recording material. The recording-material cooling device includes a first cooling unit disposed at a same side as the pressing member relative to the recording material, a second cooling unit disposed at a same side as the fixing member relative to the recording material, and a third cooling unit disposed at the same side as the pressing member relative to the recording material. The first cooling unit, the second cooling unit, and the third cooling unit are arranged in an order of the first cooling unit, the second cooling unit, and the third cooling unit from upstream to downstream in the transport direction of the recording material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes a sensor, a reversing section, an image forming section, and a controller. The sensor reads a sheet side on which an image is to be formed before formation of the image. The reversing section reverses sides of the sheet being conveyed. The image forming section forms the image and a predetermined mark on the same side of the sheet. The controller acquires image data read by the sensor. If the image data contains the mark, the controller causes the reversing section to reverse the sides of the sheet and also causes the image forming section to form the image on a side that becomes a side targeted for printing after the reversion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a glossing device with a cooling and separating belt which has a high wear resistance and is allowed to maintain the initial surface property over a long period of time. In the glossing device, the cooling and separating belt has a front surface formed of a cured resin containing a structural unit derived from urethane(meth)acrylate (A) having three or more (meth)acryloyloxy groups per molecule, a structural unit derived from a polyfunctional monomer (B) having three or more (meth)acryloyloxy groups per molecule and no urethane bond, and a structural unit derived from fluorine-modified acrylate (C). The cured resin contains 18 to 63% by mass of the structural unit derived from the urethane(meth)acrylate (A), 18 to 63% by mass of the structural unit derived from the polyfunctional monomer (B), and 10 to 40% by mass of the structural unit derived from the fluorine-modified acrylate (C).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring section configured to acquire image information about the image, an image forming section that uses liquid developer to form the image on the sheet in response to the image information, a fixing device configured to fix the image onto the sheet, and a controller that carries out control to change operation of the fixing device in response to the image information. The fixing device includes a rubbing mechanism configured to rub the image on the sheet. The rubbing mechanism changes rubbing operation in response to the image information under the control of the controller.

Abstract: Provided is an image determination device including a sheet detecting unit that detects a sheet on which a code image is printed, a first acquiring unit that acquires information on the code image and an absorption wavelength of the code image, a second acquiring unit that acquires a reading unit necessary for decoding a code portion of the code image, a third acquiring unit that acquires a document image of an electronic document, a dividing unit that divides the document image into plural blocks corresponding to the reading unit, a detecting unit that detects a block in which an image portion of the document image that uses a color having an absorption band at the absorption wavelength of the code image overlaps with the code portion of the code image as an undecodable block, and an output unit that outputs a warning indicating the generation of an undecodable area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit and a cleaning unit. The fixing unit includes multiple local heaters configured to separately heat multiple portions of a recording medium carrying toner to fix the toner on the recording medium. The cleaning unit removes unfixed toner adhering to the recording medium after the fixing of the toner performed by the fixing unit.

Abstract: With the present invention, an image forming apparatus is prevented in which a recording material on which a toner image is heated and fixed and which is discharged is cooled, and the toner image heated and fixed onto the recording material is prevented from being melted. Further, a conveying portion is prevented from being cooled, so that unevenness of cooling of the toner image is prevented, and the image forming apparatus does not cause any contact mark of the conveying portion. An air-blowing duct is provided to guide external air to the recording material conveyed by a discharge roller and a discharge driven roller provided at a downstream side of a fixing device, and a blowing port of the air-blowing duct is open at a position avoiding the discharge roller and the discharge driven roller.

Abstract: An image transfer device includes a transfer unit and a transport unit. The transfer unit that heats a layered body including a recording member, which is flexible and has an image recorded on a recording surface thereof, and a base member, onto which the image on the recording member is to be transferred, to transfer the image recorded on the recording surface onto the base member. The transfer unit transporting the layered body by rotating while being in contact with a back surface of the recording member on a side opposite to the side of the recording surface. The transport unit disposed upstream of the transfer unit in a transport direction of the layered body. The transport unit rotating while being in contact with the back surface of the recording member to transport the layered body to the transfer unit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first roller, a second roller, an endless rotary belt, a third roller, a heater, a belt cooler, and an upstream guide member. The second roller is disposed parallel to the first roller. The endless rotary belt is looped for rotation around the first and second rollers. The third roller is disposed opposite the first roller via the belt. The heater is positioned adjacent to the belt to heat the belt. The first and third rollers press against each other via the belt to form a nip therebetween. The belt cooler is disposed inside the loop of the belt downstream from the first roller and upstream from the second roller for cooling the belt. The belt cooler has a convex contact surface. The upstream guide member is disposed inside the loop of the belt upstream from the contact surface to guide the belt.

Abstract: An image forming method including forming an image of a toner including a wax on a recording medium; fixing the toner image using by an oil-less fixing device; and then forming an overcoat layer on the fixed toner image. When a portion of the fixed toner image having the heaviest toner weight is subjected to an ATR FT-IR analysis, a peak area ratio Ab/Aa falls in a range of 3.0 to 7.0 or a peak area ratio Ab?/Aa? falls in a range of 0.004 to 0.014, wherein Aa represents the area of a peak present in a range of 2896 cm?1 to 2943 cm?1, Ab represents the area of a peak present in a range of 2946 cm?1 to 2979 cm?1, Aa? represents the area of a peak present in a range of 791 cm?1 to 860 cm?1, and Ab? represents the area of a peak present in a range of 2834 cm?1 to 2862 cm?1.

Abstract: A cooling section has a flow passage-forming section for forming a flow passage through which a cooling medium flows and cools a sheet via a first belt. A pressing roller is provided inside a second belt, faces the flow passage-forming section via the second belt and the first belt, and presses the second belt onto the cooling section.

Abstract: A cooling section cools a sheet via a belt. The cooling section has a flow passage-forming section for forming a flow passage through which a cooling medium flows and a medium supply section for supplying the cooling medium to the flow passage so that the cooling medium flows through the flow passage from a downstream side to an upstream side in a feeding direction of the sheet.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a print control apparatus for generating image data. The information processing apparatus includes a generating unit configured to generate gloss control plate data for specifying a type of a surface effect imparted to a recording medium and a region in the recording medium to which the surface effect is imparted; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the gloss control plate data to the print control apparatus.

Abstract: A sheet of paper is set on a paper-supplying portion of a back surface gloss processing apparatus while its top surface is faced upward. A gloss level sensor measures a gloss level of a back surface of the sheet of paper. Data of this measurement is compared with a previously set threshold value. When this measurement result does not exceed the threshold value, it is determined that the gloss processing has not been performed on the back surface thereof. It is then determined whether or not the presently set operation mode is a top surface gloss processing mode. When determining that the present operation mode is not the top surface gloss processing mode, the operation mode is automatically changed from a presently set back surface gloss processing mode to the top surface gloss processing mode.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing unit which heats an image formed on a recording medium using a discolorable coloring material which discolors by heating, at a fixing temperature lower than a heating temperature at which the discolorable coloring material discolors, to fix the image on the recording medium. The image forming apparatus has an operation control unit which controls execution of an image stabilization processing during a waiting time till a heating temperature of the fixing unit becomes the fixing temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a detachable information sheet includes an image forming device, an applying and curing unit, and a heating and pressing unit. The image forming device includes an image bearing body, an electrostatic latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing body, a development unit to develop the latent image with a toner to form a visible toner image, a transfer unit to transfer the toner image from the image bearing body onto a recording medium, and a fixing unit to fix the toner image on the recording medium. The applying and curing unit applies an energy-ray curable composition precursor onto the recording medium having the toner image fixed thereon, and cures the precursor to form an energy-ray curable composition to coat the recording medium. The heating and pressing unit heats and presses the recording medium coated with the energy-ray curable composition.

Abstract: An image forming method includes: performing a first gloss processing and a second gloss processing. The first gloss processing includes: heating and pressing a processed body which supports a first toner layer containing at least a clear toner [X] onto a first surface of a recording material, while allowing the first toner layer to be closely adhered to a gloss processing belt; and cooling the same. The second gloss processing includes heating and pressing a processed body which supports a second toner layer containing at least a clear toner [Y] onto a second surface of the recording material, while allowing the second toner layer to be closely adhered to the gloss processing belt; and cooling the same. Here, a storage elastic modulus G? X (150) at 150° C. of the clear toner [X] is lower than a storage elastic modulus G? Y (150) at 150° C. of the clear toner [Y].

Abstract: In one aspect a method for operating a printer is provided in which a toner image is formed on a receiver using a toner having a polymeric binder and a wax. A contact surface is used to apply heat and pressure to heat the toner at least to a glass transition temperature for the toner and to heat the wax to at least an incorporated melting temperature. The toner image is allowed to cool below a glass transition temperature of the toner to form a fused toner image having a viewing surface and the wax is allowed to cool below the melting temperature for the wax so that after cooling the viewing surface has first portions with wax globules and second portions without wax globules. The viewing surface is wiped to move at least some of the wax from the wax globules in the first portions onto the second portions.