Apparatus and method for thermal ink transfer printing

摘要

A plurality of heat generating resistors (11a, 11b) arranged in line in a thermal head are driven such that two consecutive heat generating resistors (11a, 11b) are combined to cover a single picture element whose desired density is represented by each datum. A head drive circuit is provided so that only a first heat generating resistor (11a) is energized when the desired density is below a predetermined value, and that both the first and second heat generating resistors (11a, 11b) are energized when the desired density is equal to or above the predetermined value. The energizing duration of the second heat generating resistor (11b) is set to be within the energizing duration of the first heat generating resistor (11a) to reduce printing time, and the end of the energizing duration of the second heat generating resistor (11b) corresponds to the end of energizing duration of the first heat generating resistor (11a) so as to ensure linearity in tone value.