A system includes an unpatterned heater configured to pre-heat a thermochromic coating disposed on a substrate to a first temperature. The thermochromic coating has a threshold temperature at which the thermochromic material undergoes a color change. The system also includes a patterned heater comprising multiple heating elements configured to heat selected pixels of the thermochromic coating to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature according to a predetermined pattern. An air gap is maintained between the multiple heating elements and the thermochromic material while the patterned heater is heating the thermochromic material. The air in the air gap heated to a second temperature.

Systems and methods where multi-color graphics on a substrate are printed at a first resolution, and single color data is printed at a second, higher resolution using the same print head. The multi-color graphics can be a printed photograph of a person, a printed logo, or any printed feature that is printed using multiple colors. The single color data can be printed alphanumeric text such as a person's name, address, account number or any other data that is printed using a single color.

Systems and methods where multi-color graphics on a substrate are printed at a first resolution, and single color data is printed at a second, higher resolution using the same print head. The multi-color graphics can be a printed photograph of a person, a printed logo, or any printed feature that is printed using multiple colors. The single color data can be printed alphanumeric text such as a person's name, address, account number or any other data that is printed using a single color.

A system includes an unpatterned heater configured to pre-heat a thermochromic coating disposed on a substrate to a first temperature. The thermochromic coating has a threshold temperature at which the thermochromic material undergoes a color change. The system also includes a patterned heater comprising multiple heating elements configured to heat selected pixels of the thermochromic coating to a temperature at or above the threshold temperature according to a predetermined pattern. An air gap is maintained between the multiple heating elements and the thermochromic material while the patterned heater is heating the thermochromic material. The air in the air gap heated to a second temperature.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a housing, a holder configured to hold a medium, a heater configured to heat the medium held by the holder, and a liquid discharge head configured to discharge a liquid onto the medium held by the holder. The holder has a flat holding surface on which the medium is placed flat, the holder is movable in the housing in a direction parallel to the flat holding surface and in a vertical direction, and the heater is disposed inside the housing within a movable region of the holder in which the holder is movable in the direction parallel to the flat holding surface in a view from the vertical direction.

An image forming method, includes: applying water-based ink to a first region of an object to be subjected to image forming by an inkjet method; applying a resin powder to a second region of the object, the first region and the second region at least partially overlapping each other; and heating the first region and the second region to thermally fix the water-based ink and the resin powder to the object. The water-based ink includes a pigment and at least one of a water-soluble resin and a resin emulsion.

An image forming method, includes: applying water-based ink to a first region of an object to be subjected to image forming by an inkjet method; applying a resin powder to a second region of the object, the first region and the second region at least partially overlapping each other; and heating the first region and the second region to thermally fix the water-based ink and the resin powder to the object. The water-based ink includes a pigment and at least one of a water-soluble resin and a resin emulsion.

Examples disclosed herein relate to an imaging device. Examples include a method for increasing the temperature of the imaging device by determining an internal temperature of the imaging device; determining if a start-up routine is to be initiated; pausing the start-up routine if the internal temperature is below a threshold temperature; and energizing at least one of a fan or heating element of the imaging device when the internal temperature is below the threshold temperature.

Examples disclosed herein relate to an imaging device. Examples include a method for increasing the temperature of the imaging device by determining an internal temperature of the imaging device; determining if a start-up routine is to be initiated; pausing the start-up routine if the internal temperature is below a threshold temperature; and energizing at least one of a fan or heating element of the imaging device when the internal temperature is below the threshold temperature.

A thermal printer includes a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line, and a processor that executes a printing process of energizing the thermal head successively a predetermined number of times so at to print a printing data by causing a predetermined voltage to be applied to the thermal head the predetermined number of times in accordance with and in synchronization with strobe pulses in a strobe signal, a strobe width of each strobe pulse in the strobe signal defining a duration during which the thermal head is being applied with the predetermined voltage, wherein among the strobe pulses for the predetermined number of times of energizing the thermal head, a strobe width of at least one predetermined strobe pulse is set to be always shorter than a strobe width of another predetermined one of the strobe pulses.