Patent ID: 8848010

Claim:
A thermal printer comprising: a first thermal print head; thermal media, the thermal media having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and a first direct thermal thermally sensitive coating on the first side thereof; and a thermal transfer ribbon installed between the first thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media, wherein the first thermal print head is adapted to apply heat at one of a first temperature and a second temperature to the first side of the thermal media through the thermal transfer ribbon installed between the first thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media, and wherein the first temperature is different from the second temperature and is selected such that the first direct thermal thermally sensitive coating images at locations of the first side of the thermal media at which heat is applied at the first temperature by the first thermal print head without transferring a thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon installed between the first thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media, and the second temperature is selected such that the first direct thermal thermally sensitive coating images at, and a thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon installed between the first thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media transfers to, locations of the first side of the thermal media at which heat is applied at the second temperature by the first thermal print head.