A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.

An illustrative dye sublimation apparatus (also referred to as a dye sublimation machine) may have at least four stations, each station implementing a discrete step of a sublimation cycle. Multiple beds are rotatably mounted such that the beds pass through the stations to perform the corresponding steps. Therefore, the sublimation apparatus may perform multiple sublimation cycles simultaneously with the beds containing printed sheets and substrates at different steps of the multiple sublimation cycles. As the beds are rotatably mounted, the sublimation apparatus may allow for a fixed loading and unloading station proximate to a fixed, dedicated personnel station.

An illustrative dye sublimation apparatus (also referred to as a dye sublimation machine) may have at least four stations, each station implementing a discrete step of a sublimation cycle. Multiple beds are rotatably mounted such that the beds pass through the stations to perform the corresponding steps. Therefore, the sublimation apparatus may perform multiple sublimation cycles simultaneously with the beds containing printed sheets and substrates at different steps of the multiple sublimation cycles. As the beds are rotatably mounted, the sublimation apparatus may allow for a fixed loading and unloading station proximate to a fixed, dedicated personnel station.

An inkjet ink set includes an undercoat liquid and one or more inkjet inks. The undercoat liquid contains first binder resin particles, a first aqueous medium, and a first surfactant. The one or more inkjet inks each contain a second pigment, second binder resin particles, a second aqueous medium, and a second surfactant. At a temperature of 20 C., a density 1 of the undercoat liquid and a density 2 of an inkjet ink of the one or more inkjet inks that has the highest density among those of the one or more inkjet inks satisfy a relationship represented by formula (1): 12>0.05 g/cm.sup.3 . . . (1).

An inkjet ink set includes an undercoat liquid and one or more inkjet inks. The undercoat liquid contains first binder resin particles, a first aqueous medium, and a first surfactant. The one or more inkjet inks each contain a second pigment, second binder resin particles, a second aqueous medium, and a second surfactant. At a temperature of 20 C., a density 1 of the undercoat liquid and a density 2 of an inkjet ink of the one or more inkjet inks that has the highest density among those of the one or more inkjet inks satisfy a relationship represented by formula (1): 12>0.05 g/cm.sup.3 . . . (1).

A drive signal may be determined to drive a printhead to a series of target temperatures during respective portions of a print pass by the printhead. Each of the target temperatures may be the greater of a temperature of the printhead caused by printing a quantity of printing fluid to be printed during the respective portion and a predetermined threshold temperature. A drive signal may be provided to warm the printhead to the series of target temperatures during the respective portions of the print pass.

A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.

A drive signal may be determined to drive a printhead to a series of target temperatures during respective portions of a print pass by the printhead. Each of the target temperatures may be the greater of a temperature of the printhead caused by printing a quantity of printing fluid to be printed during the respective portion and a predetermined threshold temperature. A drive signal may be provided to warm the printhead to the series of target temperatures during the respective portions of the print pass.

A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.

A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.