PRINT CONTROL DEVICE

摘要

A control device that improves print quality and the utilization efficiency of an ink sheet placed on top of recording paper when using thermal transfer printing to print, for each usage unit of the ink sheet, a plurality of images onto the recording paper in the direction in which the ink sheet is fed. Said control device evaluates the damage sustained by the ink sheet due to the energy applied by the thermal transfer printing and determines the following for the next print job: whether or not the unused parts of the ink-sheet usage unit used immediately prior are suitable for reuse; or whether or not the plurality of images for the ink-sheet usage unit to be used next need to be reversed with respect to the direction in which the ink sheet is fed. The following is used in the aforementioned damage evaluation: at least two thresholds for the number of lightness levels in the image; the size of the damage caused by an overcoat-layer process; or the measured temperature of a thermal transfer printhead.