A recording medium has a substrate and a first color developing layer, a heat insulating layer and a second color developing layer laminated on the substrate in this order. The first color developing layer develops a first color at a temperature not less than a first threshold value. The second color developing layer develops a second color that is different from the first color at a temperature not less than a second threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value. The heat insulating layer has a first heat insulating layer of a first heat conductivity and a second heat insulating layer of a second heat conductivity that is higher than the first heat conductivity, which are laminated in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the first color developing layer, the heat insulating layer, and the second color developing layer are laminated on the substrate.

The present invention relates generally to a printing system, and more specifically to an ordering of color-forming layers in a direct thermal printing medium. The present invention provides a direct thermal print medium with an ordering of the color layers that improves the perceived image sharpness and color uniformity of prints.

The present invention relates generally to a printing system, and more specifically to an ordering of color-forming layers in a direct thermal printing medium. The present invention provides a direct thermal print medium with an ordering of the color layers that improves the perceived image sharpness and color uniformity of prints.

Formation of a multi-colored image in thermochromic material involves controlling operation of first, second, and third heat sources. The first heat source heats pixels of the thermochromic material to activate the pixels. The second and third heat sources are selectively controlled to heat different sets of pixels using neither, one, or both of the second and third heat sources.

Formation of a multi-colored image in thermochromic material involves controlling operation of first, second, and third heat sources. The first heat source heats pixels of the thermochromic material to activate the pixels. The second and third heat sources are selectively controlled to heat different sets of pixels using neither, one, or both of the second and third heat sources.

A drawing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a storage, an operation section, and a drawing section. The storage stores a characteristic function that derives output setting values of light sources on the basis of drawing coordinates, an absorbance correlation value, and gradation values in a leuco color space. The operation section derives the output setting values by inputting, to the characteristic function, the drawing coordinates, gradation values of leuco image data described in the leuco color space, and an absorbance correlation value obtained by measuring the recording medium. The drawing section includes the light sources, and controls output of the light sources on the basis of the output setting values derived by the operation section to thereby perform drawing on the recording medium.

A drawing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a storage, an operation section, and a drawing section. The storage stores a characteristic function that derives output setting values of light sources on the basis of drawing coordinates, an absorbance correlation value, and gradation values in a leuco color space. The operation section derives the output setting values by inputting, to the characteristic function, the drawing coordinates, gradation values of leuco image data described in the leuco color space, and an absorbance correlation value obtained by measuring the recording medium. The drawing section includes the light sources, and controls output of the light sources on the basis of the output setting values derived by the operation section to thereby perform drawing on the recording medium.

A drawing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes, when performing drawing on a thermal recording medium that includes a light-transmitting member above a recording layer, obtaining information regarding the light-transmitting member, predicting an optical axis deviation of a laser beam in the recording layer from the information regarding the light-transmitting member, and calculating a correction amount from a result of the prediction of the optical axis deviation.

A method operates a thermal printer to print on thermal paper. A thermo-reactive layer of the paper forms a first color at a first temperature and a second color at a second, higher temperature. The printer has a printhead with heat sources arranged next to one another transversely to a paper path. The heat sources are selectively controllable. The method includes: a transport roller line by line moving the paper past the printhead; and in each line of the paper, heating selected heat sources. At points at which the second color is formed on the paper, a plurality of adjacent heat sources is heated to a printing temperature. At points at which the first color is to be formed on the paper, a portion of a plurality of the adjacent heat sources is heated to the printing temperature, and the other portion of the adjacent heat sources is not heated.

A method operates a thermal printer to print on thermal paper. A thermo-reactive layer of the paper forms a first color at a first temperature and a second color at a second, higher temperature. The printer has a printhead with heat sources arranged next to one another transversely to a paper path. The heat sources are selectively controllable. The method includes: a transport roller line by line moving the paper past the printhead; and in each line of the paper, heating selected heat sources. At points at which the second color is formed on the paper, a plurality of adjacent heat sources is heated to a printing temperature. At points at which the first color is to be formed on the paper, a portion of a plurality of the adjacent heat sources is heated to the printing temperature, and the other portion of the adjacent heat sources is not heated.