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.

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.

A printer includes a controller configured to perform a first printing process to control a thermal head to print a first image with a first density, store first print data for identifying the first image and first density data for identifying the first density into a first memory device attached to an attachment holder, when a second memory device storing second print data and second density data is attached to the attachment holder, acquire from the second memory device the second print data and the second density data stored into the second memory device by another printer, and perform a second printing process to control the thermal head to print a second image with a second density, the second image being identified based on the acquired second print data, the second density being identified based on the acquired second density data.

A heating control section for controlling a voltage applying section and a moving section for reciprocate a carriage on which the first electrode unit is mounted executes heating control for heating a medium while moving the first electrode unit in a scanning direction in at least one of an outgoing path in which the first electrode unit moves in one direction of the scanning direction and a return path in which the first electrode unit moves in the opposite direction. In the heating control, when the first electrode unit is positioned at a first point overlapping with one end section of the medium, the heating control section sets the electric field strength of the first electrode unit to a first electric field strength, when that is positioned at a second point overlapping with center portion of the medium, the second electric field strength is set to be stronger than the first electric field strength, and the movement speed of the first electrode unit at the first point is slower than the movement speed at the second point.

A heating control section for controlling a voltage applying section and a moving section for reciprocate a carriage on which the first electrode unit is mounted executes heating control for heating a medium while moving the first electrode unit in a scanning direction in at least one of an outgoing path in which the first electrode unit moves in one direction of the scanning direction and a return path in which the first electrode unit moves in the opposite direction. In the heating control, when the first electrode unit is positioned at a first point overlapping with one end section of the medium, the heating control section sets the electric field strength of the first electrode unit to a first electric field strength, when that is positioned at a second point overlapping with center portion of the medium, the second electric field strength is set to be stronger than the first electric field strength, and the movement speed of the first electrode unit at the first point is slower than the movement speed at the second point.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a printer configured to print on a print medium. The printer includes a thermal head and a control unit. The thermal head has a plurality of heating elements that are arranged in a line. The control unit is configured to control thermal energy to be applied to the plurality of heating elements, in accordance with information based on image data. The information includes whether to apply a pulse of energizing current in each of a plurality of periods being preset during a scanning line time for one line. The plurality of periods is set in an order from a long period to a short period during the scanning line time.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a printer configured to print on a print medium. The printer includes a thermal head and a control unit. The thermal head has a plurality of heating elements that are arranged in a line. The control unit is configured to control thermal energy to be applied to the plurality of heating elements, in accordance with information based on image data. The information includes whether to apply a pulse of energizing current in each of a plurality of periods being preset during a scanning line time for one line. The plurality of periods is set in an order from a long period to a short period during the scanning line time.

A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.