There are provided a thermal transfer printer and a method for producing a printed matter capable of suppressing deterioration in printing quality. A first energizing pulse is generated at the beginning of one line period. The first energizing pulse causes each heating element to perform offset heating. Second energizing pulses whose number corresponds to a tone level are generated in one line period. The second energizing pulses cause each heating element to perform heating. When the timings at which the first energizing pulse and the second energizing pulses are generated can be evenly distributed within one line period, the timings are evenly distributed within one line period. When the timings cannot be evenly distributed within one line period, the timings are distributed within one line period such that an unevenly distributed portion included in the timings is arranged in an initial period of one line period.

A printing system includes a controller and a thermal printing head including multiple driving elements and an integrated transmission control interface. The thermal printing head is coupled to the controller. The driving elements are configured to print. The integrated transmission control interface coupled to the controller and driving elements is configured to receive from the controller at least one of a compensation data, a printing data, a clock signal, a data signal, a latch signal or a start-heating signal, and send to driving elements the at least one of the compensation data, the printing data, the clock signal, the data signal, the latch signal or the start-heating signal.

A printing system includes a controller and a thermal printing head including multiple driving elements and an integrated transmission control interface. The thermal printing head is coupled to the controller. The driving elements are configured to print. The integrated transmission control interface coupled to the controller and driving elements is configured to receive from the controller at least one of a compensation data, a printing data, a clock signal, a data signal, a latch signal or a start-heating signal, and send to driving elements the at least one of the compensation data, the printing data, the clock signal, the data signal, the latch signal or the start-heating signal.

A density correction value determining method of correcting a printing density in a printing apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles onto a medium, includes printing a test pattern by ejecting ink from the plurality of nozzles, acquiring captured image data by imaging printed test pattern, calculating a first density correction value for bringing the printing density closer to a predetermined reference value set when one raster is formed by ejecting ink from each single nozzle of the plurality of nozzles based on a density of acquired captured image data, and calculating a second density correction value for bringing the printing density closer to a predetermined reference value set when one raster is formed by combining different nozzles of the plurality of nozzles based on the calculated first density correction value.

Provided is a thermal printer achieving high repeatability of one dot even in an image having a large change in a density and capable of printing a printing material having high sharpness. A thermal printer includes: an image data extension processing unit generating extended image data having pixels in which the number of pixels in a feed direction of a paper sheet is extended; a printing data correction processing unit correcting a density of at least one extended pixel based on a change in a density of the extended pixels in the extended image data in the feed direction or a change in a density of pixels in the image data before extended in the feed direction; and a printing unit printing the image on the paper sheet based on the extended image data in which the density of the at least one extended pixel is corrected.

An asymmetric thermal print head includes a print head body and a plurality of print elements supported on the print head body. The print elements are aligned along a first axis. Each print element includes a heater portion having a burn width measured along the first axis corresponding to a first print resolution, and a burn length measured along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, corresponding to a second print resolution. The second print resolution is higher than the first print resolution. One or more control circuits are configured to individually activate the print elements.

An asymmetric thermal print head includes a print head body and a plurality of print elements supported on the print head body. The print elements are aligned along a first axis. Each print element includes a heater portion having a burn width measured along the first axis corresponding to a first print resolution, and a burn length measured along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, corresponding to a second print resolution. The second print resolution is higher than the first print resolution. One or more control circuits are configured to individually activate the print elements.

The thermal printer includes a heating element, and a voltage supply circuit that supplies a drive voltage and a test voltage to the heating element. The voltage supply circuit includes a drive voltage supply circuit that is coupled to the heating element and that turns ON the supply of the drive voltage to the heating element, a test voltage supply circuit that is coupled to the heating element and that turns ON the supply of the test voltage to the heating element, a drive voltage stop circuit setting the supply of the drive voltage of the drive voltage supply circuit OFF, and a test voltage stop circuit setting the supply of the test voltage of the test voltage supply circuit OFF.

A method for printing includes analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area; adjusting settings for heater elements (e.g., energy and/or firing durations) of strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines. The strobe signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example with a field-programmable gate array. Analyzing print quality requirements can include separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest, such as rows and/or columns. For each area of interest individual print quality settings (e.g., darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity) may be selected.

A method for printing includes analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area; adjusting settings for heater elements (e.g., energy and/or firing durations) of strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines. The strobe signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example with a field-programmable gate array. Analyzing print quality requirements can include separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest, such as rows and/or columns. For each area of interest individual print quality settings (e.g., darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity) may be selected.