Patent ID: 6064414
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B41J,H04N

Abstract:
A thermal transfer recording method of recording a color image, comprising:providing a thermal head comprising a plurality of heat generating elements being selectively energized;providing a controller to selectively energize and to control an amount of energy applied to the heat generating elements;providing ink films containing yellow heat-sublimation ink, magenta heat-sublimation ink, cyan heat-sublimation ink and transparent heat-melt ink;providing a sheet of paper;determining a first amount of energy to be applied for different densities of yellow, magenta and cyan heat-sublimation inks, including determining ranges of the first amount of energy where a matting phenomenon will occur;determining a second amount of energy to be applied for different densities of transparent heat-melt ink, including ranges of the second amount of energy where the matting phenomenon will occur;mapping the first and second energies to be applied;applying the first amount of energy to the heat generating elements to transfer the yellow heat-sublimation ink, magenta heat-sublimation ink, and cyan heat-sublimation ink to the sheet of paper;applying the second amount of energy to the heat generating elements to transfer the transparent heat-melt ink to the sheet of paper; andcontrolling the first amount of energy and the second amount of energy from the mapping so that the second amount of energy falls within a range wherein the matting phenomenon does not occur.