Print data editing device, print data editing method, and print data editing program

Abstract

To provide a print data editing device, a print data editing method and a print data editing program which edit print data that can improve the print quality and the print speed in comparison to a conventional technique.SOLUTION: A control unit of a print data editing device acquires image data (S1), and performs change processing of generating print data in which change sub dots being at least one or more sub dots are changed from ON to OFF in all sub lines in at least one line in a print portion in a case where a print unit obtained by dividing dots defined by a plurality of heater elements into M (M is an integer equal to or greater than 2) pieces in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub dot, the plurality of sub dots arrayed in the main-scanning direction are defined as sub lines, the sub bot in which print data is ON is defined as a print portion, and the sub dot in which image data is OFF or a portion other than a print region is defined as a non-print portion (S15).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a print data editing device, a print data editing method, and a print data editing program. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a printing device that prints on a print medium using a thermal line head equipped with multiple heating elements (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When a printing device is powered by a battery, AC adapter, or other power source, the current that can be simultaneously supplied to the thermal line head is limited by the specifications of the power source. For this reason, conventional printing devices correct the print data according to the number of dots to be printed, and print the print data by dividing it into dots in even and odd positions, thereby suppressing the peak value of the current supplied to the thermal line head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-168794 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional printing devices are unable to sufficiently raise the temperature of the heating element at the start of printing a ruled line, which can result in blurred lines, making it difficult to achieve both high print quality and high print speed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a print data editing device, a print data editing method, and a print data editing program for editing print data that can improve both print quality and print speed compared to conventional methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A print data editing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a print data editing device for editing print data used in a printing device that includes a print head having a plurality of heating elements lined up in a main scanning direction, and a transport unit that moves a printing object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and that heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the printing object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, and forms an image by thermally transferring an ink ribbon to the printing object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements lined up in the main scanning direction, and the print data editing device includes a control unit that edits the print data used in a printing device that heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the printing object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, and that forms an image by thermally transferring an ink ribbon to the printing object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements lined up in the main scanning direction, It is possible to execute an image data acquisition process that acquires image data corresponding to heating elements, and a modification process that generates the print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are modified sub-dots, are changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines in the print portion, when the printing unit obtained by dividing the dots defined by the plurality of heating elements into M pieces (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, the plurality of sub-dots lined up in the main scanning direction are defined as a sub-line, the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as the print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or parts outside the print area are defined as the non-print portion.

[0007] A print data editing method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a print data editing method executed by a control unit of a print data editing device that edits print data used in a printing device that includes a print head having a plurality of heating elements lined up in a main scanning direction, a printing object, and a transport unit that moves the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and that heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the printing object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, and forms an image by thermally transferring an ink ribbon to the printing object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements lined up in the main scanning direction. and a modification process for generating the print data in which at least one modified sub-dot, which is one of the sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when the print data defines the sub-dots that are ON as a printed portion and the sub-dots that are OFF in the image data or a portion outside the print area as a non-printed portion. The print data editing method according to the second aspect is executed by a control unit of the print data editing device, and thereby achieves the same effect as the print data editing device of the first aspect.

[0008] A print data editing program according to a third aspect of the present invention is a print data editing program executed by a control unit of a print data editing device that edits print data used in a printing device that includes a print head having a plurality of heating elements lined up in a main scanning direction, a transport unit that moves a printing object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and that heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the printing object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, and forms an image by thermally transferring an ink ribbon to the printing object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements lined up in the main scanning direction, and a modification process for generating the print data in which at least one modified sub-dot, which is one of the sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when the dots defined by the plurality of heating elements are divided into M units (M is an integer of 2 or greater) in the sub-scanning direction, each of the sub-dots being a printing unit, and the sub-dots in the print data being an ON portion, or a portion outside the print area, are defined as a non-printing portion. When the print data editing program is executed by the control unit of the print data editing device, the print data editing program according to the third aspect achieves the same effect as the print data editing device of the first aspect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a printing device 1. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing device 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart of a printing process executed by the printing device 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an input image G of a specific example. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a process for generating a high-resolution image. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a method for setting a target image. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart of a comparison condition acquisition process executed in the printing process. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an editing method. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart of a change process executed in the printing process. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a change process in a specific example in which an edit process is not executed. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a change process in a specific example in which an edit process is executed. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram comparing images before and after performing editing and changing processes on a ruled line extending in the main scanning direction, under the condition that the absolute value of the difference in a predetermined amount between any two partial images adjacent in the main scanning direction X is 150 μm. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a process for generating a composite image. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a process for generating a composite image. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a division process. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a division process. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition that an editing method satisfies. [Figure 19] 10 is a flowchart of a change process executed in a printing process according to a modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram comparing images before and after performing editing and change processing on a ruled line extending in the main scanning direction under comparative example conditions in which the absolute value of the difference in a predetermined amount between any two partial images adjacent in the main scanning direction X is 300 μm. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A printing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that can be adopted by the present invention. In other words, the configuration and control of the device shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to be limiting.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 is a thermal transfer printer capable of printing characters (objects such as letters, symbols, numbers, and figures) on a printing object F, and forms an image by thermally transferring an ink ribbon 48 (see FIG. 2) onto the printing object F. The printing object F is not limited to a specific medium, but may be, for example, a sheet or tape, and in this embodiment is a long medium stored in a tape cassette 30. The printing device 1 functions as a printing data editing device that edits printing data.

[0012] The printing device 1 includes a case 2, an input unit 3, a communication unit 4, a cutting unit 11, a display unit 12, a transport unit 5 shown in FIG. 2, and a print head 6. The case 2 is box-shaped and includes a main body 21, a cover 22, and an attachment unit 23. The case 2 houses the transport unit 5, the print head 6, and the cutting unit 11. The case 2 detachably houses a power supply 10 shown in FIG. 2. The power supply 10 supplies power to the printing device 1. The cover 22 is rotatably supported on the upper rear of the main body 21. A tape cassette 30 (described below) is detachably attached to the attachment unit 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the tape cassette 30 includes a first tape roll 41, a second tape roll 42, a ribbon roll 43, a ribbon take-up spool 44, and a pressure roller 45. The first tape roll 41 is a roll around which a film 46 is wound. The second tape roll 42 is a roll around which a double-sided adhesive tape 47 is wound. The ribbon roll 43 is a roll around which an ink ribbon 48 is wound. The ink ribbon 48 is wound between the ribbon roll 43 and a ribbon take-up spool 44. The ribbon take-up spool 44 takes up the ink ribbon 48 that has been used for printing. The pressure roller 45 is exposed to the outside from the tape cassette 30.

[0013] The input unit 3 and display unit 12 are provided on the top surface of the main body 21. The input unit 3 includes a plurality of push buttons. The communication unit 4 is a USB jack provided on the right side of the case 2. The display unit 12 is an LCD. A USB cable connector can be connected to the communication unit 4. The cutting unit 11 is provided near the discharge port for discharging the printing object F. The cutting unit 11 cuts the printing object F at a predetermined position.

[0014] The transport unit 5 includes a motor 51 and rotating bodies 52 to 54 shown in FIG. 2. Each of the rotating bodies 52 to 54 is rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction. The rotating body 52 engages with the pressure roller 45 when the tape cassette 30 is installed in the installation portion 23. The rotating bodies 53 and 54 are rollers. The motor 51 rotates the rotating bodies 52 to 54. The rotating body 52 rotates the pressure roller 45. The transport unit 5 transports the print object F in the transport direction TR by the rotation of the rotating bodies 52 to 54, thereby moving the print object F relative to the print head 6. The transport direction TR is a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and extends diagonally upward and diagonally forward in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the diagonally upward and rearward in the transport direction TR will be referred to as the upstream side, and the diagonally downward and front side will be referred to as the downstream side.

[0015] The print head 6 is provided behind the rotating body 53. The print head 6 is a line head and includes a plurality of elements 61 and a driver IC 62 shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of elements 61 is a heat-generating element that generates heat when energized. The plurality of elements 61 come into contact with the print target F that is pressed backward by the rotating body 53, and generate heat, thereby printing on the print target F. The driver IC 62 is configured to selectively energize the plurality of elements 61 to generate heat.

[0016] The electrical configuration of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The printing device 1 includes a CPU 7, RAM 8, a memory 9, a communication unit 4, an input unit 3, a transport unit 5, a print head 6, a cutting unit 11, and a display unit 12. The transport unit 5 includes a motor 51 and rotating bodies 52 to 54. The print head 6 includes a driver IC 62 and multiple elements 61. The CPU 7 controls the printing device 1. The CPU 7 is electrically connected to the RAM 8, the memory 9, the communication unit 4, the input unit 3, the motor 51, the driver IC 62, the cutting unit 11, and the display unit 12. The RAM 8 stores temporary data such as various variables. The memory 9 stores programs executed by the CPU 7 to control the printing device 1, print data, and various setting information. The communication unit 4 is a controller for communicating with an external device W via a USB cable. The external device W is, for example, a known information processing device such as a PC, tablet PC, or smartphone.

[0017] The printing operation of the printing device 1 will now be described. In the printing device 1, the film 46 is unwound from the first tape roll 41 by the rotation of the rotors 52 to 54. The print head 6 transfers ink from the ink ribbon 48 to the unwound film 46, printing characters. More specifically, multiple elements 61 of the print head 6 are selectively energized according to print data. Thermal energy is applied to portions of the printing object F that come into contact with the energized elements 61. As a result, the printing device 1 forms pixel rows aligned in the main scanning direction X corresponding to the arrangement of the elements 61. The printing device 1 rotates the rotors 52 to 54 using the motor 51 to transport the printing object downstream in the transport direction TR, while intermittently energizing the elements 61 multiple times. As a result, multiple lines are formed on the printing object F, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement of pixels in one line of the image. The multiple lines create shades of light and dark on the printing object F depending on whether or not each pixel is formed, forming a printed image. Double-sided adhesive tape 47 is pulled out from second tape roll 42. Printed film 46 is pressed onto the pulled-out double-sided adhesive tape 47 by pressure rollers 24 and 45, forming printing object F. Printing object F is cut by cutting unit 11 into a label shape. The above operation is called the "printing operation."

[0018] In the following description, the direction in which the multiple elements 61 are arranged is referred to as the "main scanning direction X," and a printing unit corresponding to one pixel row arranged in the main scanning direction X is referred to as a "line." The arrangement direction of the multiple lines is referred to as the "sub-scanning direction Y." The sub-scanning direction Y is defined by the transport direction TR. A printing unit corresponding to each of the multiple elements 61 is referred to as a "pixel" or a "dot." A printing unit obtained by dividing a "dot" into multiple parts in the sub-scanning direction Y is referred to as a "sub-dot." A printing unit corresponding to a sub-dot row arranged in the main scanning direction X is referred to as a "sub-line."

[0019] 3 to 18, the printing process of the printing device 1 will be described using a specific example of printing the input image G shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the input image G is an image to be printed on the print target F. The left-right direction of the input image G corresponds to the main scanning direction X, and the up-down direction of the input image G corresponds to the sub-scanning direction Y. The left direction of the input image G corresponds to one side X1 of the main scanning direction, and the right direction of the input image G corresponds to the other side X2 of the main scanning direction. The top of the input image G corresponds to the downstream side Y1 of the sub-scanning direction, and the bottom of the input image G corresponds to the upstream side Y2 of the sub-scanning direction. The input image G includes a rectangular frame G1 and a character portion G2. The character portion G2 includes the alphabet characters ABCDEF written in two lines. Within the printing range defined by the print data, the portion composed of sub-dots for which the print data is ON is referred to as the "printed portion," and the portion composed of sub-dots for which the print data is OFF is referred to as the "non-printed portion." In this embodiment, the non-printed portion also includes areas outside the printing area.

[0020] The user selects the input image G to be printed, specifies at least one of a characteristic portion, a target portion, and a non-target portion as necessary, and then inputs a start command via the input unit 3. The characteristic portion is a portion of the input image G that is distinctive, such as a barcode, and to which it is not desirable to apply the editing and conversion processes described below. The target portion is a portion of the input image G to which the user has instructed that the editing and conversion processes should be applied; for example, portions P1 and P2 extending in the main scanning direction X of the frame line G1 are specified. The non-target portion is a portion of the input image G to which the user has instructed that the editing and conversion processes should not be applied; for example, portion P3 including the character portion G2 is specified as the non-target portion.

[0021] When the CPU 7 detects a start instruction, it loads a print data editing program for executing the printing process from the storage unit 9 into the RAM 8. The CPU 7 executes the printing process, which includes the following steps, in accordance with the instructions contained in the loaded print data editing program. Various data obtained during the printing process is stored in the storage unit 9 as appropriate. Hereinafter, each step is abbreviated as S. In Figures 5, 10 to 12, and 16 to 18, a portion of the multiple subdots corresponding to the print data are shown in a matrix. Subdots with print data ON are indicated by dot shading, and subdots with print data OFF are indicated by white. The left-right and up-down directions correspond to the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y, respectively. Column names, represented by numbers, indicate identification numbers assigned to each of the multiple elements 61, starting from one side X1 in the main scanning direction. Row names, represented by numbers, indicate the identification numbers of the lines printed by the elements 61. The printing device 1 forms an image on the printing target F in ascending order of line number.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 7 acquires image data representing the input image G (S1). The image data is data associated with the plurality of elements 61 arranged in the main scanning direction X. The CPU 7 acquires, for example, image data generated by the external device W and having a higher resolution than the resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y defined by the plurality of elements 61 from the external device W via the communication unit 4. The CPU 7 may acquire image data generated by the external device W and having a resolution equal to or lower than the resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y defined by the plurality of elements 61, or may acquire image data stored in the storage unit 9, or may acquire image data edited by operating the input unit 3.

[0023] The CPU 7 determines whether to perform high-resolution processing (S2). The high-resolution processing is a process for increasing the resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y by dividing each line in the sub-scanning direction Y for the image data representing the input image G acquired in S1. For example, the CPU 7 does not perform the high-resolution processing if the image data acquired in S1 is image data generated by the external device W and has a higher resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y than the resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y defined by the multiple elements 61. For example, the CPU 7 performs the high-resolution processing if the image data acquired in S1 is image data having a resolution equal to or lower than the resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y defined by the multiple elements 61.

[0024] If high-resolution processing is to be performed (S2: YES), the CPU 7 performs high-resolution processing on the image data by dividing each line in the sub-scanning direction Y to increase the resolution in the sub-scanning direction Y (S3). As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 7, for example, divides each line into three equal parts in the sub-scanning direction Y. The number of divisions into each line may be changed as appropriate. By equally dividing each line in the sub-scanning direction Y, the start timing of each sub-dot is set to an equal cycle. Three consecutive sub-dots in the sub-scanning direction Y correspond to one dot. The CPU 7 designates all sub-dots generated by dividing a dot in the printing portion as the printing portion. The CPU 7 designates all sub-dots generated by dividing one dot in the non-printing portion as the non-printing portion. If high-resolution processing is not to be performed (S2: NO), the CPU 7 does not perform any processing on the input image G acquired in S1 (S4).

[0025] After S3 or S4, the CPU 7 determines whether a characteristic part is set in the input image G acquired in S1 (S5). If a characteristic part is set in the input image G (S5: YES), the CPU 7 sets a non-characteristic part in the target image that is the subject of the editing process (S6). The non-characteristic part is the part of the high-resolution image of S3 or the input image G of S4 excluding the characteristic part. By the process of S6, if a specific pattern is included in the input image G, the target image is set so that editing process is not performed on the specific pattern.

[0026] If no characteristic part has been set (S5: NO), the CPU 7 determines whether a target part has been set in the input image G acquired in S1 (S7). If target parts P1 and P2 have been set in the input image G (S7: YES), the CPU 7 sets the target parts P1 and P2 in the target image (S8), as shown in Fig. 6. By the processing of S8, if the target parts P1 and P2 have been set in the input image G, the target image is set so that editing processing is performed on the target parts P1 and P2 and editing processing is not performed on non-target parts other than the target parts P1 and P2.

[0027] If a non-target portion P3 is set in the input image G (S7: YES), the CPU 7 sets a portion H of the high-resolution image S3 or the input image G of S4 excluding the non-target portion P3 as the target portion in the target image (S8), as shown in Fig. 6. By the processing of S8, if a non-target portion P3 is set in the input image G, the target image is set so that editing processing is not performed on the non-target portion P3, but on the target portion H excluding the non-target portion P3. If a target portion is not set in the input image G (S7: NO), the CPU 7 sets the high-resolution image S3 or the input image G of S4 as the target image (S9).

[0028] After S6, S8, or S9, the CPU 7 performs a comparison condition acquisition process (S10). The comparison condition acquisition process is a process for acquiring conditions used to determine whether to perform editing processing. In this embodiment, the CPU 7 acquires the printing speed when editing processing is performed and the printing speed when editing processing is not performed as conditions used to determine whether to perform editing processing. The editing process is a process performed to reduce the peak number of energized elements 61 (hereinafter referred to as the "number of on dots"), and distributes multiple sub-dots on the same line across multiple lines by moving them in the sub-scanning direction Y according to a predetermined rule.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, in the comparison condition acquisition process, the CPU 7 acquires the print speed when no editing process is performed (S31). If there is a line where the number of ON dots is greater than a threshold, the CPU 7 divides the line into multiple blocks of multiple elements 61. The printing device 1 prints one line of an image by energizing the multiple elements 61 for each divided block multiple times. Printing performed in this manner is called "divided printing." Depending on the number of lines and blocks to be divided and printed, the print speed will be slower than when no dividing printing is performed. The CPU 7 acquires the print speed when no editing process is performed, taking into account the number of lines and blocks to be divided and printed.

[0030] The CPU 7 acquires the editing method to be used in the current editing process from among multiple editing methods (S32). The editing method may be specified by the user or selected by the CPU 7 based on the type, size, etc. of the input image G. The printing device 1 of this embodiment can select one of six editing methods. Referring to FIG. 8, an example in which the six editing methods are applied to the input image G will be described. Each of the first to fourth editing methods divides the target image into multiple partial images by columns and edits the print data by sliding each of the multiple partial images in the sub-scanning direction Y by a predetermined amount corresponding to the partial image. More specifically, the CPU 7 divides the target image into J rectangles, where J is a natural number, elongated in the sub-scanning direction Y. Then, relative to the initial position indicated by the dotted line PM, each rectangle is moved in the sub-scanning direction Y as a partial image within a range that satisfies editing conditions, including the following three conditions: J may be set as appropriate and is 10 in this embodiment. When the target image includes a ruled line portion whose longitudinal direction is the sub-scanning direction Y, such as a portion of the frame line G1 of the input image G extending in the sub-scanning direction Y, the CPU 7 may adjust the length of the rectangle in the main scanning direction X so that the ruled line portion whose longitudinal direction is the sub-scanning direction Y is not positioned on the boundary of the rectangle. The lengths of the rectangles in the sub-scanning direction Y may be the same as or different from each other.

[0031] The first condition is that when the target image and the printed image are compared in units of columns, which are multiple dots arranged continuously in the sub-scanning direction Y, from the upstream end DE on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction to the downstream end UE on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction, the image included in the column of the printed image will have the highest degree of match when it is positioned at the same position as the image represented by the column of the target image or when it is shifted a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the maximum absolute value of the multiple predetermined amounts for the multiple columns is 1 dot or more. The second condition is that the absolute value of the difference in the predetermined amounts between any two columns adjacent in the main scanning direction X is 1 dot or less. The multiple predetermined amounts for the multiple columns are predetermined amounts for each column. The degree of match is the number of sub-dots whose ON / OFF values ​​match when comparing the ON / OFF values ​​of sub-dots included in columns located at the same position in the main scanning direction X between the target image and the printed image, divided by the number of sub-dots included in the column. The degree of match is a value between 0 and 1. In this embodiment, the predetermined amount when sliding toward the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction is expressed as a positive value, and the predetermined amount when sliding toward the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction is expressed as a negative value. The third condition is that the absolute value of one or more of the differences in the predetermined amount between any two columns is a value less than one dot, represented by sub-dots obtained by dividing a dot into multiple dots in the sub-scanning direction Y.

[0032] For example, when comparing the ON / OFF values ​​of subdots included in columns at the same position in the main scanning direction X between input image J1 and printed image J2 in FIG. 18, the degree of match reaches the maximum value of 1 when columns 1 to 7 are slid in the secondary scanning direction Y by -3 subdots, -2 subdots, -2 subdots, -1 subdot, -1 subdot, 0 subdot, and 0 subdot. In this specific example, since 3 subdots correspond to 1 dot, input image J1 and printed image J2 satisfy the first condition. The absolute value of the difference in a predetermined amount between any two adjacent columns in the main scanning direction X is 1 subdot or 0 subdot, and input image J1 and printed image J2 satisfy the second and third conditions. On the other hand, when comparing columns 1 through 7 of the input image J1 with the print image J4, which has been edited and then modified (described later) to change some of the print data from ON to OFF, starting from one side X1 in the main scanning direction, the predetermined amount is the same, but the degree of match corresponding to the elements 61 with identification numbers 2 through 6 is 14 / 15, which is less than 1. Since the predetermined amount for each column when comparing the input image J1 with the print image J4 is the same as the predetermined amount for each column when comparing the input image J1 with the print image J2, the input image J1 and the print image J4 satisfy the first, second, and third conditions. The length of 11 dots in the sub-scanning direction Y varies depending on the resolution of the print image. The length of one dot in the sub-scanning direction Y depends on the resolution of the elements 61, but falls within a range of approximately 20 μm to 170 μm. Therefore, the second condition may be that the absolute value of the difference in the predetermined amount between any two adjacent columns in the main scanning direction X is 150 μm or less. The CPU 7 of this embodiment further edits the target image so that the absolute value of the predetermined amount is minimized in the center in the main scanning direction X. Portions corresponding to the continuous print portions in the input image J1 are also continuous in the print images J2 and J4.

[0033] The first editing method is a method of editing the target image so that, when the predetermined amount when sliding toward the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction is a negative value and the predetermined amount when sliding toward the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction is a positive value, the predetermined amount in the main scanning direction X becomes larger in the direction 90 degrees clockwise from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction, i.e., the further toward the other side X2 in the main scanning direction. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, when applying the first editing method to the target image G, the CPU 7 changes the predetermined amounts E1 to E10 of the first to tenth rectangular partial images from one side X1 in the main scanning direction to -5 subdots, -4 subdots, -3 subdots, -2 subdots, - The edited image H1 is generated by setting the number of subdots to 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. In the first editing method, the difference in the predetermined amount between any two adjacent rows is 0 or 1 subdot, and is a value less than 1 dot, represented by subdots obtained by dividing a dot into multiple subdots in the sub-scanning direction Y. The maximum absolute value of the predetermined amount is 5 subdots, which is 1 dot or more.

[0034] Similarly, the second editing method is a method of editing the target image such that, when the predetermined amount when sliding toward the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y is a negative value and the predetermined amount when sliding toward the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is a positive value, the predetermined amount in the main scanning direction X becomes smaller as it moves 90 degrees clockwise from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y. More specifically, when applying the second editing method to the target image G, the CPU 7 sets the predetermined amounts E1 to E10 of the first to tenth rectangular partial images from one side X1 in the main scanning direction to 5 subdots, 4 subdots, 3 subdots, 2 subdots, 1 subdot, 0 subdot, -1 subdot, -2 subdot, -3 subdot, and -4 subdot, respectively, to generate an edited image H2.

[0035] The third editing method is a method of editing a target image so that there is only one extremum of a predetermined amount in the main scanning direction X. More specifically, when applying the third editing method to target image G, CPU 7 sets the predetermined amounts E1 to E10 of the first to tenth rectangular partial images from one side X1 in the main scanning direction to -4 subdots, -3 subdots, -2 subdots, -1 subdots, 0 subdots, -1 subdots, -2 subdots, -3 subdots, -4 subdots, and -5 subdots, respectively, to generate edited image H3. The extremum in the third editing method is 0 subdots, which corresponds to the fifth partial image from the left.

[0036] The fourth editing method is a method of editing a target image so that there are two or more extrema of a predetermined amount in the main scanning direction X. More specifically, when applying the fourth editing method to target image H, CPU 7 sets the predetermined amounts of the first to tenth rectangular partial images from one side X1 in the main scanning direction to -3 subdots, -2 subdots, -1 subdots, 0 subdots, 0 subdots, -1 subdots, -2 subdots, -3 subdots, -2 subdots, and -1 subdots, respectively, to generate edited image H4. The extrema in the fourth editing method are 0 subdots corresponding to the fourth and fifth partial images from the left, and -3 subdots corresponding to the eighth partial image from the left.

[0037] The fifth editing method rotates the target image clockwise by a predetermined angle around a reference point. The sixth editing method rotates the target image counterclockwise by a predetermined angle around a reference point. In this embodiment, the reference point is set by taking into consideration that the absolute value of the predetermined amount at the center in the main scanning direction X is smallest, for example, the center of the target image. The predetermined angle may be set appropriately depending on the size of the print target F, the target image, etc. The predetermined angle is, for example, a value between 0 and 10 degrees, preferably a value of 1 degree or less, and more preferably a value of 0.5 degrees or less. When the CPU 7 applies the fifth editing method to the target image G with a predetermined angle of 1 degree, it generates an edited image H5. When the CPU 7 applies the sixth editing method to the target image G with a predetermined angle of 1 degree, it generates an edited image H6. In edited image H5 to which the fifth editing method has been applied and edited image H6 to which the sixth editing method has been applied, when the target image is divided into J rectangular partial images that are long in the sub-scanning direction Y as in the first to fourth editing methods, and when the predetermined amounts E1 to E10 of each partial image are compared, the first, second, and third conditions are met. When the fifth or sixth editing method is applied, when the target image is rotated a predetermined angle around a reference, the degree of match with the print image is maximized, and the amount of movement of the portion furthest from the reference is greater than one dot is met.

[0038] The CPU 7 generates an edited image by editing the target image using the editing method acquired in S32 (S33). The CPU 7 acquires the print speed when printing the edited image generated in S33 (S34). The CPU 7 acquires the print speed when performing the edit process, taking into account the number of lines to be divided and printed and the number of blocks. The CPU 7 then ends the comparison condition process and returns the process to the print process of FIG. 3.

[0039] After S10, the CPU 7 determines whether to execute an editing process on the target image (S11). The criteria for determining whether to execute an editing process on the target image may be set as appropriate. A user-selected criterion from among multiple criteria may be used, or the criterion may be selected by the CPU 7 based on the type, size, etc. of the input image G. For example, the CPU 7 may determine to execute an editing process if the target image includes a predetermined number of ruled lines each extending a predetermined length or more in the main scanning direction X. The predetermined length and the predetermined number may be set as appropriate. In this case, portions P1 and P2 of the frame line G1 extending in the main scanning direction X may be considered to be ruled lines. For example, if the predetermined length is set to half the length of the target image in the main scanning direction X and the predetermined number is set to 3, the target image G contains only portions P1 and P2 of ruled lines longer than half the length of the target image in the main scanning direction X, and it is determined that the editing process should not be executed. In another example, the CPU 7 may execute the editing process (S12) when there is a line in the image data where the peak current required by the print head 6 is greater than the threshold value relative to the maximum current that the power supply 10 can output (S11: YES). In another example, the CPU 7 may execute the editing process (S12) when the print speed is faster when printing based on print data edited in the editing process than when printing based on print data not edited in the editing process. In other words, the CPU 7 may execute the editing process when the print speed obtained in S24 is faster than the print speed obtained in S31. If the peak number of on dots in the edited image is reduced compared to the target image, the print speed obtained in S34 may be faster than the print speed obtained in S31.

[0040] If editing processing is to be performed (S11: YES), the CPU 7 edits the target image using the editing method acquired in S32 (S12). As shown in FIG. 8, for example, if the first editing method is applied to the target image H, the CPU 7 edits the print data to generate data representing an edited image H1. If editing processing is performed on the target image set in S9, the CPU 7 performs editing processing on the entire input image G or the entire high-resolution image. If editing processing is performed on the target image set in S6 or S8, the CPU 7 performs editing processing on a portion of the input image G or a portion of the high-resolution image. If target portions P1 to P3 are set as the target image in S8, the CPU 7 performs editing processing on only a portion of the input image G or the high-resolution image in the sub-scanning direction Y. If editing processing is not to be performed (S11: NO), the CPU 7 generates print data from the image data without performing editing processing on the target image (S13).

[0041] After S12 or S13, the CPU 7 determines whether to perform modification processing (S14). Modification processing is processing that modifies the print data so as to reduce the number of ON dots in one line. The criteria for determining whether to perform modification processing may be set in advance by the user, or may be determined automatically by the CPU 7 based on the type, size, print speed, print quality, number of ON dots, etc. of the print data. If modification processing is not to be performed (S14: NO), the CPU 7 does not perform modification processing on the target image of S12 or S13 (S16). If modification processing is to be performed (S14: YES), the CPU 7 performs modification processing on the target image of S12 or S13 (S15). In the change process, the CPU 7 defines a printing unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by a plurality of elements 61 into M pieces (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction Y as a sub-dot, defines a plurality of sub-dots arranged in the main scanning direction X as a sub-line, defines sub-dots for which the print data is ON as a printed portion, and defines sub-dots for which the print data is OFF or portions outside the printing area as a non-printed portion, and changes the image data or print data of at least one or more changed sub-dots from ON to OFF in all sub-lines in at least one line within the printed portion.

[0042] The modification process will be described using the diagrams of FIGS. 10 to 12, which schematically show portions of a print image represented by print data. As shown in FIG. 9, in the modification process, the CPU 7 acquires outline conditions (S40). The printing device 1 of this embodiment allows the user to specify whether to modify the print data for the outline portion of a print portion formed by subdots whose print data is ON. Specifically, the CPU 7 defines the range of the outline portion for which modification process is not performed using variables U, D, L, and R. Variable U is a variable that sets the range of the outline portion set on the downstream side Y1 of a continuous print portion in the sub-scanning direction. Variable D is a variable that sets the range of the outline portion set on the upstream side Y2 of a continuous print portion in the sub-scanning direction. Variable L is a variable that sets the range of the outline portion set on one side X1 of a continuous print portion in the main scanning direction. Variable R is a variable that sets the range of the outline portion set on the other side X2 of a continuous print portion in the main scanning direction. The variables U, D, L, and R may each be an integer equal to or greater than 0, and may be the same or different. The variables U, D, L, and R may each be set by the user, or may be automatically set depending on the type of target image, etc. In this embodiment, the variables U, D, L, and R are 2, 1, 1, and 1, respectively.

[0043] The CPU 7 acquires one subdot from among the multiple subdots included in the print data as a subdot of interest (S41). The CPU 7 acquires the subdot of interest, for example, from left to right and from top to bottom of the target image. The CPU 7 determines whether the subdot of interest is a printed portion based on the print data of the subdot of interest acquired in S41 (S42). If the print data corresponding to the subdot of interest is OFF (S42: NO), the CPU 7 leaves the print data of the subdot of interest OFF (S47), and determines whether all subdots included in the print data have been acquired as subdots of interest in the process of S41 (S48). If there are subdots that have not been acquired in the process of S41 (S48: NO), the CPU 7 returns to S41 and acquires the next subdot of interest in the acquisition order (S41).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 10, the print data corresponding to the target subdot TS1, indicated by diagonal shading, is ON (S42: YES), so the CPU 7 determines whether the downstream reference portion is a non-print portion (S43). The downstream reference portion is one or more subdots downstream Y1 in the sub-scanning direction from the target subdot. In this embodiment, the downstream reference portion is the subdot U-th from the target subdot Y1 downstream in the sub-scanning direction. The downstream reference portion for the target subdot TS1 is the subdot UR1, indicated by diagonal lattice shading, and the print data for subdot UR1 is OFF (S43: YES). In this case, the CPU 7 determines that the target subdot TS1 is a contour subdot that constitutes the contour portion, leaves the print data for the target subdot TS1 ON (S46), and performs the process of S48. In this way, when the target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is in the print portion (S42: YES), the CPU 7 determines that the subdot U-th (U is any integer equal to or greater than 0) downstream in the sub-scanning direction from the target subdot TS1 is the reference subdot. If the reference subdot is in a non-printing portion (S43: YES), the CPU 7 sets the target subdot as a contour subdot, and leaves the image data or print data of the contour subdot ON (S46).

[0045] If the target subdot TS2 indicated by diagonal shading is acquired (S41, S42: YES), the downstream reference portion for the target subdot TS2 is the subdot UR2 indicated by diagonal lattice shading, and the print data for the subdot UR2 is ON (S43: NO). In this case, the CPU 7 determines whether at least any of the surrounding reference portions is a non-printing portion (S44). The surrounding reference portion is one or more subdots located around the target subdot. The surrounding reference portion may include, for example, the Lth subdot on one side X1 of the target subdot in the main scanning direction, the Rth subdot on the other side X2 of the main scanning direction of the target subdot, and the Dth subdot on the upstream side Y2 of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction. If at least any of the surrounding reference portions is a non-printing portion (S44: YES), the CPU 7 performs the process of S46. In this way, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is a printed portion (S42: YES), if at least one of the subdots arranged as the Uth subdot on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the Dth subdot on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the Lth subdot on one side X1 in the main scanning direction X, and the Rth subdot on the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X is a non-printed portion (S43: YES, S44: YES), the CPU 7 designates the target subdot as a contour subdot and leaves the image data or print data of the contour subdot ON (S46).

[0046] The surrounding reference portions for the target subdot TS2 are the subdots CR1 to CR3, which are indicated by diagonal grid hatching, and the print data for the subdots CR1 to CR3 is all ON (S44: NO). In this case, the CPU 7 stores the target subdot TS2 as a candidate subdot for replacement (S45) and performs the process of S48. Through the processes of S41 to S48, a portion of the print portion R1 of the partial image B1 shown in FIG. 10 is set as a contour subdot, like the portion R3 indicated by the dark hatching in the partial image B2, and the remaining portion R4 is set as a candidate subdot for replacement. In this way, if a target subdot, which is one of the plurality of subdots, is a print portion (S42: YES), and if the Uth subdot arranged on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y relative to the target subdot, the Dth subdot arranged on the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y relative to the target subdot, the Lth subdot arranged on one side X1 in the main scanning direction X, and the Rth subdot arranged on the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X are all print portions (S43: NO, S44: NO), the CPU 7 designates the target subdot as a candidate subdot to be changed (S45). The CPU 7 changes the print data of at least one or more candidate subdots to be changed from ON to OFF in all sublines in at least one line among all candidate subdots in the image data by the processes of S49 to S53 below.

[0047] If all subdots are acquired as target subdots in the process of S41 (S48: YES), the CPU 7 acquires the change method for one or more change candidate subdots stored in S45 (S49). The change method may be specified by the user, or may be selected by the CPU 7 depending on the type, size, printing speed, print quality, etc. of the input image G. The printing device 1 of this embodiment can select one of four change methods.

[0048] 11, an example will be described in which the four types of modification methods are applied to partial image V. Partial image V is an image in which the number of dots in the main scanning direction X and the number of dots in the sub-scanning direction Y are five and seven, respectively. Of the sub-dots that make up partial image V, the sub-dots indicated by dark shading are set as outline sub-dots, and the sub-dots indicated by light shading are set as modification candidate sub-dots.

[0049] The first modification method modifies the print data for the modification candidate subdots from ON to OFF at a ratio of B / C (B and C are natural numbers) in the main scanning direction X and B / C in the sub-scanning direction Y. B / C may be set to a value greater than 0 and less than 1, preferably 0.5 or less. For example, B / C is 1 / 5. When the first modification method is applied and fractional numbers are generated for the modification candidate subdots in the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y, as in partial image V of FIG. 11 , the first modification method may be applied to a range where the first modification method is applicable, as in partial image V1, and other methods may be applied to other ranges. Taking into consideration cases where fractional numbers are generated for the modification candidate subdots in the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y when the first modification method is applied, the CPU 7 may set B / C as a target value and set the number of modification candidate subdots to be modified from ON to OFF so as to be closest to the target value.

[0050] The second change method is a method in which, when the print data of a subdot of interest is ON and the subdot adjacent to the subdot of interest on the upstream side Y2 or downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is a change subdot, the print data of the subdot of interest remains ON. In other words, the second change method is a method in which change subdots that change from ON to OFF are not consecutive in the sub-scanning direction Y, as in partial image V2 in Figure 11.

[0051] The third change method leaves the print data of the target subdot ON if the print data of the target subdot is ON and at least one of the subdots adjacent to the target subdot in the main scanning direction X is a change subdot. In other words, the third change method is a method in which change subdots that change from ON to OFF are not consecutive in the main scanning direction X, as in partial image V3 in Figure 11.

[0052] The fourth change method leaves the print data of the target subdot ON if the print data of the target subdot is ON and at least one of the eight subdots surrounding the target subdot is a change subdot. In other words, the fourth change method is a method in which change subdots that are changed from ON to OFF are not consecutive in eight directions, as in partial image V4 in Figure 11. The eight directions in Figure 11 are the upper, upper right, right, lower right, lower, lower left, left, and upper left sides of the target subdot. In the second to fourth change methods, the ratio of change subdots to change candidate subdots in the main scanning direction X and the sub-scanning direction Y may be set appropriately.

[0053] The CPU 7 acquires a change candidate subline, which is a subline formed by one or more change candidate subdots stored in S45, in a predetermined order (S50). In this embodiment, the CPU 7 acquires the change candidate sublines in order from the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction. For example, the CPU 7 acquires the change candidate subline CL furthest downstream in the sub-scanning direction Y1 in the portion R4. The CPU 7 sets the change candidate subdots of the change candidate subline acquired in S50 according to the change method acquired in S49 (S51). For example, the CPU 7 changes the subdot CS1 included in the change candidate subline CL to a change subdot. The CPU 7 changes the print data of the subdot changed to a change subdot in S51 from ON to OFF (S52). The CPU 7 determines whether all change candidate sublines have been acquired in the process of S50 (S53). If there is a subline that has not been acquired in the process of S50 (NO in S53), the CPU 7 returns to the process of S50. If all the proposed sublines have been acquired in S50 (S53: YES), the CPU 7 ends the modification process and returns to the printing process of FIG. 3. When the fourth modification method is applied to partial image B2 in FIG. 10, the print data for modification subdots CS1 to CS5 is changed from ON to OFF, as in partial image B3, for example. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the fourth modification method is applied to partial image C1 to which the first editing method was applied in S12 in S15, the print data is changed, as in partial image C2, for example. As shown in FIG. 13, when editing is performed using the second editing method under the conditions that the resolution is 165 dpi and the absolute value of the difference in the predetermined amount between any two adjacent partial images in the main scanning direction X is 150 μm, editing and modification processes can be performed on ruled lines extending in the main scanning direction X with thicknesses of 1 dot, 2 dots, 3 dots, 4 dots, 6 dots, 8 dots, and 16 dots. This reduces the number of ON dots while still tilting the ruled lines to a degree that is imperceptible to the naked eye. More specifically, the edited areas of the printed image under the conditions shown in FIG. 13 are less noticeable to the naked eye than the printed image edited using the second editing method under the comparative example conditions shown in FIG. 20, where the resolution is 165 dpi and the absolute value of the difference between the predetermined amounts of any two partial images adjacent in the main scanning direction X is 300 μm.When the resolution is 165 dpi, the length of one dot in the sub-scanning direction Y is approximately 154 μm. Figures 13 and 20 show the case where the values ​​of U and D are 3 (corresponding to one dot) and the change process is performed using the third change method, which satisfies the condition that B / C is 1 / 2.

[0054] After S15 or S16, the CPU 7 determines whether the target image is the input image G or a high-resolution image (S17). If the target image is the input image G or a high-resolution image (S17: YES), the CPU 7 does not perform the process of combining the partial images (S19). If the target image is the target image H and has been edited using the sixth editing method (S17: NO), the CPU 7 edits the print data to generate data for printing a composite image G8, which is a combination of the edited image H7 edited in S12, which is the target of the processes from S11 to S16, and the non-target portion P3, which was not the target of the processes from S11 to S16, as shown in FIG. 14 (S18). The non-target portion P3 of the composite image G8 has not been edited or changed, and therefore completely matches the non-target portion P3 of the input image G or the high-resolution image. The portion of the composite image G8 excluding the non-target portion P3 has been edited and changed, and therefore has portions that do not match the portion of the input image G or the high-resolution image excluding the characteristic portion P4.

[0055] If the target image is target portions P1 and P2 and has been edited using the fourth editing method, which edits the image into an M-shape with three extrema (S17: NO), the CPU 7 edits the print data to produce a composite image G9 (S18), which is a combination of target portions P1 and P2, which were subject to the processes from S11 to S16 and edited in S12, and non-target portion J, which was not subject to the processes from S11 to S16, as shown in FIG. 15. The CPU 7 sets a predetermined amount of a rectangle (partial image) of target portions P1 and P2 that includes both ends of frame line G1 in the main scanning direction X to 0, thereby causing portions of frame line G1 extending in the sub-scanning direction Y to be continuously connected in composite image G9. The edited and modified portions of composite image G9, excluding target portions P1 and P2, have not been edited or modified, and therefore completely match the input image G or the high-resolution image, excluding target portions P1 and P2. Because the edit and change processes have been performed on the portions of composite image G9 excluding target portions P1 and P2, there are portions that do not match the portions of input image G or the high-resolution image excluding target portions P1 and P2. In composite image G9, when the dots constituting input image G and the dots constituting the print image printed in accordance with the print data are compared in columns of dots aligned consecutively in the sub-scanning direction Y in target portion P1, which is a portion of the area between the upstream end DE on the upstream side Y2 and the downstream end UE on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the first, second, and third conditions are met. Similarly, the first, second, and third conditions are met for target portion P2.

[0056] After S18 or S19, the CPU 7 determines whether to perform divided printing (S20). Divided printing is a printing method in which multiple elements 61 are divided into N blocks (N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) so that the peak current of the print head 6 required to print one line based on the print data is kept below the maximum current that can be supplied from the power supply 10 to the print head 6, and each of the N blocks is driven sequentially at different timings to print one line of the print data extending in the main scanning direction X. The criteria for determining whether to perform divided printing may be determined as appropriate. For example, the CPU 7 may determine whether to perform divided printing based on the number of on dots per line. If divided printing is to be performed (S20: YES), the CPU 7 edits the print data so that at least some of the lines included in the print data are divided into N blocks in the sub-scanning direction Y (S21). The division method may be determined as appropriate. In this embodiment, the CPU 7 divides the printing cycle of one line into a plurality of sub-printing cycles that are the same length and that start at the same time as the printing cycle. The CPU 7 may set the division method depending on the editing method used in S12.

[0057] When the print data is edited in the editing process of S12 so that the difference in the predetermined amount between any two adjacent columns in the main scanning direction X increases from one side X1 to the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X toward the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction, as shown in image M1 of Fig. 16, the CPU 7 edits the print data in the divided printing process so that each of the multiple elements 61 in N blocks is driven at different timings in the order from one side X1 to the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X, as shown in image M2 of Fig. 16. The line with identification number 1 in image M1 is divided into two lines, one with identification number 1 and one with identification number 1', in image M2. Similarly, the line with identification number 2 in image M1 is divided into two lines, one with identification number 2 and one with identification number 2', in image M2. In the editing process of S12, when the print data is edited so that the difference in the predetermined amount between any two adjacent columns in the main scanning direction X increases from the other side X2 to one side X1 in the main scanning direction X toward the upstream side Y2 in the sub-scanning direction, as shown in image M3 of FIG. 17 , the CPU 7 then edits the print data in the divided printing process so that each of the multiple elements 61 in N blocks is driven at different timings in the order from the other side X2 to one side X1 in the main scanning direction X, as shown in image M4 of FIG. The line with identification number 1 in image M3 is divided into two lines, one with identification number 1 and one with identification number 1', in image M4. Similarly, the line with identification number 2 in image M3 is divided into two lines, one with identification number 2 and one with identification number 2', in image M4. The CPU 7 sets the start timing of each sub-dot to be evenly spaced.

[0058] CPU7 is S2 1Based on the print data edited in step S20, divided printing is performed (S23). The CPU 7 executes divided printing by driving a plurality of elements 61 for each of a plurality of sub-print cycles. If divided processing is not to be performed (S20: NO), the CPU 7 executes print processing based on the print data of S18 or S19 (S22). The CPU 7 sets the heat generation amount of the change candidate sub-dots to be greater than that of the outline sub-dots in accordance with the print data, and in S22 or S23, the CPU 7 executes print processing to form an image on the print target F by heating the plurality of elements 61 (S22, S23). Following S23 or S22, the CPU 7 ends the print processing.

[0059] The modification process of the modified example will be described with reference to FIG. 19. In FIG. 19, the same processes as those in the modification process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 are assigned the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 19, the modification process of the modified example differs from the modification process of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in that the process of S44 is not executed. In the modification process of the modified example, if a target subdot, which is one of the subdots, is a print part (S42: YES), the CPU 7 sets the subdot that is Uth (U is an integer equal to or greater than 0) downstream Y1 from the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction Y as a reference subdot, and if the reference subdot is a print part (S43: NO), sets the reference subdot as a candidate subdot to be modified (S45). The other processes are the same as those in FIG. 9, and therefore will not be described again.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the printing device 1 is an example of the printing device and print data editing device of the present invention. The multiple elements 61, print head 6, transport unit 5, CPU 7, and communication unit 4 are each an example of the multiple elements, print head, transport unit, control unit, and communication unit of the present invention. The process of S1 is an example of the image data acquisition process of the present invention. The process of S12 is an example of the editing process of the present invention. The process of S15 is an example of the change process of the present invention. The process of S23 is an example of the divided printing process of the present invention. The processes of S22 and S23 are examples of the printing process of the present invention.

[0061] The printing device 1 of the above embodiment includes a print head 6, a transport unit 5, and a CPU 7. The printing device 1 has a plurality of elements 61 arranged in a line in the main scanning direction X. The transport unit 5 moves the print target and the print head 6 relative to each other in a sub-scanning direction Y that intersects with the main scanning direction X. The printing device 1 drives the plurality of elements 61 while moving the print head 6 relative to the print target F in the sub-scanning direction Y according to print data that includes data instructing each of the plurality of elements 61 to be ON / OFF, thereby editing print data used by the printing device 1 to form an image on the print target F line by line corresponding to the plurality of elements 61 arranged in the main scanning direction X. The CPU 7 acquires image data corresponding to the plurality of elements 61 arranged in the main scanning direction X (S1). The CPU 7 defines a printing unit, obtained by dividing a dot defined by multiple heating elements 61 into M units (M is an integer greater than or equal to 2) in the sub-scanning direction Y, as a sub-dot, and defines multiple sub-dots arranged in the main scanning direction X as a sub-line. The CPU 7 defines sub-dots for which print data is ON as a printed portion, and sub-dots for which image data is OFF or portions outside the printing area as a non-printed portion. The CPU 7 then performs a modification process to generate print data in which at least one modified sub-dot, which is a sub-dot, is changed from ON to OFF in all sub-lines in at least one line of the printed portion (S15). By performing the modification process of S15, the printing device 1 can maintain print quality while reducing the possibility that the peak current supplied to the print head 6 will exceed the maximum current that can be supplied from the power supply 10. By reducing the number of heating elements 61 that are ON in a line, the printing device 1 can increase the possibility of increasing printing speed compared to conventional methods that do not perform the modification process. Because the printing device 1 is a device that forms an image by thermally transferring the ink ribbon 48 to the printing target, unlike when printing on a thermosensitive recording medium, the cohesive force of the ink ribbon 48 functions as a factor in printing. For this reason, the printing device 1 can edit print data that maintains the thermal transfer properties of the ink ribbon 48 by setting a short period of time during which heating is not performed, within a range that does not affect the thermal transfer. Therefore, the printing device 1 can edit print data that can improve both print quality and print speed compared to conventional methods.

[0062] In the change process of S15, if a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is in the printing portion, the printer 1 sets the subdot that is located Uth (U is any integer greater than or equal to 0) downstream Y1 from the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction Y as a reference subdot, and if the reference subdot is in the non-printing portion (S43: YES), sets the target subdot as a contour subdot and leaves the image data or print data of the contour subdot ON (S46). Thus, the printer 1 can edit print data that is less likely to cause blurring at the printing start point.

[0063] In the change process of S15, if a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is in the print portion, and at least one of the following is not in the print portion: the Uth subdot (U is any integer equal to or greater than 0) located downstream Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the target subdot; the Dth subdot (D is any integer equal to or greater than 0) located upstream Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y with respect to the target subdot; the Lth subdot (L is any integer equal to or greater than 0) located on one side X1 in the main scanning direction X with respect to the target subdot; and the Rth subdot (R is any integer equal to or greater than 0) located on the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X with respect to the target subdot (S43: YES, S44: YES), the CPU 7 designates the target subdot as a contour subdot and leaves the image data or print data of the contour subdot ON (S46). The printing device 1 can edit print data that is less likely to cause blurring at the contour of the image formed on the printing object F.

[0064] In the printing device 1 of the modified example, when the reference subdot of the target subdot is in the printing portion in the change process of S15 (S42: YES), the target subdot is designated as a change candidate subdot (S45), and the image data or print data of at least one or more change candidate subdots in all sublines in at least one line among all the change candidate subdots in the image data is changed from ON to OFF (S51, S52). The printing device 1 can reduce the number of subdots that are ON in a portion of the printing portion where blurring is less likely to occur than at the start of printing.

[0065] In the change process at S15, if a target subdot, which is one of the subdots, is in the print portion (S42: YES), and if the Uth (U is any integer equal to or greater than 0) subdot located downstream Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y relative to the target subdot, the Dth (D is any integer equal to or greater than 0) subdot located upstream Y2 in the sub-scanning direction Y relative to the target subdot, the Lth (L is any integer equal to or greater than 0) subdot located on one side X1 in the main scanning direction X, and the Rth (R is any integer equal to or greater than 0) subdot located on the other side X2 in the main scanning direction X are all in the print portion (S43: NO, S44: NO), the CPU 7 designates the target subdot as a candidate subdot to be changed (S45), and changes the print data of at least one or more candidate subdots from ON to OFF in all sublines in at least one line among all candidate subdots in the image data (S51, S52). The printing device 1 can reduce the number of ON subdots in parts of the print portion where blurring is less likely to occur than in outline parts.

[0066] In the change process, the CPU 7 changes the print data for the change candidate subdots from ON to OFF at a ratio of B / C (B and C are natural numbers) in the main scanning direction X and at a ratio of B / C in the sub scanning direction Y (S51, S52). The printing device 1 can change the subdots from ON to OFF uniformly at a ratio of B / C in both the main scanning direction X and the sub scanning direction Y. The printing device 1 can edit print data in which the changed subdots are less noticeable than when the ratio of change candidate subdots changed from ON to OFF is uneven.

[0067] In the change process, if the print data for the target subdot is ON and the subdot adjacent to the target subdot on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y is a change subdot, the CPU 7 leaves the print data for the target subdot ON (S51, S52). The printing device 1 can reliably prevent successive subdots in the sub-scanning direction Y from being changed from ON to OFF as change subdots. Compared to when successive subdots in the sub-scanning direction Y are change subdots, the printing device 1 can more easily use the cohesive force of the ink ribbon 48 to thermally transfer the ink ribbon 48 of the change subdots to the printing target.

[0068] In the change process, if the print data for the target subdot is ON and at least one of the target subdots and the subdot adjacent in the main scanning direction X is a change subdot, the CPU 7 leaves the print data for the target subdot ON (S51, S52). The printing device 1 can reliably prevent subdots that are consecutive in the main scanning direction X from being changed from ON to OFF as change subdots. Compared to when subdots that are consecutive in the main scanning direction X are change subdots, the printing device 1 can more easily use the cohesive force of the ink ribbon 48 to thermally transfer the ink ribbon 48 of the change subdots to the printing target.

[0069] In the change process, if the print data of the target subdot is ON and at least one of the target subdot and the surrounding eight subdots is a change subdot, the CPU 7 leaves the print data of the target subdot ON (S51, S52). The printing device 1 can reliably prevent the surrounding eight subdots from being changed from ON to OFF as change subdots. The printing device 1 can reliably prevent the surrounding eight subdots from being changed from ON to OFF as change subdots. and In comparison with the case where the ink ribbon 48 is not heated, the ink ribbon 48 of the change sub-dots can be thermally transferred to the printing target more easily by utilizing the cohesive force of the ink ribbon 48.

[0070] The CPU 7 then edits the print data corresponding to the image data (S12). Based on the image data, the CPU 7 compares the dots constituting the input image represented by the image data with the dots constituting the print image printed by the print data in columns, each column consisting of dots continuously arranged in the sub-scanning direction Y along at least a portion of the distance from the upstream end DE on the upstream side Y2 to the downstream end UE on the downstream side Y1 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The CPU 7 then edits the print data so that the image contained in the column of the print image has the highest degree of match when it is positioned at the same position as the image represented by the column of the input image or shifted a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction, and the maximum absolute value of the predetermined amount for the columns is one dot or greater. By performing the editing process, the printing device 1 can edit print data that suppresses the peak current of the print head 6 required to print one line. By performing a change process in addition to the editing process, the printing device 1 can maintain print quality while further reducing the likelihood that the peak current supplied to the print head 6 will exceed the maximum current that can be supplied from the power supply 10.

[0071] The print data editing device, print data editing method, and print data editing program of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate. The present invention can be implemented in various forms, and may be realized, for example, in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a print data editing program. The configuration of the printing device 1 may be modified as appropriate. The transport unit 5 may move the print head 6 to change the relative position between the print head 6 and the printing target. The communication unit 4 may be configured to be able to communicate with an external device W wirelessly or via a wired connection.

[0072] figure 3The program containing the instructions for executing the above processes may be stored in the storage device of the printing device 1 before the CPU 7 executes the corresponding program. Therefore, the program acquisition method, acquisition path, and device storing the program may each be changed as appropriate. The program executed by each printing device 1 may be received from another device via a cable or wireless communication and stored in a storage device such as a memory unit. The other device may include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

[0073] The steps of the printing process are not limited to being executed by the CPU 7, and may be executed in part or in whole by other electronic devices (e.g., ASIC). The steps of the printing process may be distributed among multiple electronic devices (e.g., multiple CPUs). The order of the steps of the printing process may be changed, and steps may be omitted or added as necessary. The following modifications may be made to the printing process as appropriate.

[0074] The processes of S10 to S13 may be modified or omitted as appropriate. The types and number of editing methods executable by the CPU 7 may be modified as appropriate. For example, the CPU 7 may be capable of executing only one of the first to sixth editing methods. The CPU 7 may perform editing on the high-resolution image of S3 or the input image of S4 without accepting designation of at least one of the characteristic portion, target portion, and non-target portion. When multiple target portions P1 and P2 are set, the CPU 7 may apply the same editing method to each target portion, or may apply different editing methods to each target portion. The CPU 7 may perform editing without determining whether to perform editing in S11. When a characteristic portion or non-target portion is designated, the CPU 7 may perform editing by setting a predetermined amount in the main scanning direction X within a range including the designated portion to 0. The CPU 7 may perform editing without satisfying the second condition. The second and third editing conditions may be omitted as appropriate.

[0075] The CPU 7 may execute the modification process without determining whether to execute the modification process in S14. The types and number of modification methods executable by the CPU 7 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the CPU 7 may be capable of executing only one of the first through fourth modification methods. The CPU 7 may also execute the modification process using a method other than the first through fourth modification methods. As shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 7 may edit the print data of print image J2 based on the image data of input image J1, and then execute the modification process to generate print image J4. Alternatively, the CPU 7 may execute the modification process to generate print image J3 based on the image data of input image J1, and then execute the editing process to generate print image J4. In the modification process, the CPU 7 may change the image data or print data of at least one or more modification subdots from ON to OFF in all sublines of at least one line in the print area. The CPU 7 does not need to set the heat generation value of the modification candidate subdots higher than that of the outline subdots in S22 or S23. The CPU 7 may omit the processes of S40 to S48 and execute the modification process by treating all subdots that make up the print area as modification candidate subdots. The CPU 7 may change the set number of change candidate sub-dots according to the number of change candidate sub-dots included in the change candidate sub-line acquired in S50.

[0076] The processes of S21 and S23 may be omitted as appropriate. The CPU 7 may execute the processes of S21 and S23 without determining whether to divide the line in S20. When performing divided printing, the CPU 7 may determine the drive order of the elements 61 of multiple blocks regardless of the editing method in S12. The processes of S2 to S4 may be modified as appropriate. The above modified examples may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause inconsistencies. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1: Printing device, 4: Communication unit, 5: Conveying unit, 6: Print head, 7: CPU, 8: RAM, 9: Storage unit

Claims

1. A print data editing device for editing print data used in a printing device, comprising: The printing device a print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction; a conveying unit that moves the print object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction; a printing device that heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head in the sub-scanning direction relative to the printing target in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, and forms an image on the printing target line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements aligned in the main scanning direction; The print data editing device includes a control unit, The control unit an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a change process for generating print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are change sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when a print unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by the plurality of heating elements into M units (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, a plurality of the sub-dots aligned in the main scanning direction is defined as a sub-line, and the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as a print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or a portion outside the print area are defined as a non-print portion; is executable, The control unit, in the change process, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is in the printing part, sets the subdot located Uth (U is an integer greater than or equal to one) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction as a reference subdot, and when the reference subdot is in the non-printing part, sets the target subdot as a contour subdot and leaves the printing data of the contour subdot ON.

2. A print data editing device for editing print data used in a printing device, comprising: The printing device a print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction; a conveying unit that moves the print object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction; a printing device that heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head in the sub-scanning direction relative to the printing target in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, and forms an image on the printing target line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements aligned in the main scanning direction; The print data editing device includes a control unit, The control unit an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a change process for generating print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are change sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when a print unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by the plurality of heating elements into M units (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, a plurality of the sub-dots aligned in the main scanning direction is defined as a sub-line, and the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as a print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or a portion outside the print area are defined as a non-print portion; is executable, In the change process, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is the printed portion, if at least one of the subdots located Uth (U is any integer greater than or equal to one) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot located Dth (D is any integer greater than or equal to one) upstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot located Lth (L is any integer greater than or equal to one) on one side of the main scanning direction, and the subdot Rth (R is any integer greater than or equal to one) on the other side of the main scanning direction is the non-printed portion, the control unit sets the target subdot to a contour subdot and leaves the print data of the contour subdot ON.

3. The printing data editing device described in claim 1, characterized in that, in the change process, when the reference subdot of the target subdot is the printing part, the control unit sets the target subdot as a change candidate subdot, and changes the print data of at least one or more of the change candidate subdots from ON to OFF in all sublines in at least one of the lines among all the change candidate subdots in the image data.

4. 3. The print data editing device according to claim 2, wherein, in the modification process, when the target subdot is the printing portion, if the subdot U-th (U is any integer equal to or greater than 1) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot D-th (D is any integer equal to or greater than 0) upstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot L-th (L is any integer equal to or greater than 1) on one side of the main scanning direction, and the subdot R-th (R is any integer equal to or greater than 1) on the other side of the main scanning direction are each the printing portion, the control unit sets the target subdot as a modification candidate subdot, and changes the print data of at least one or more of the modification candidate subdots from ON to OFF in all of the sublines in at least one of the lines among all of the modification candidate subdots in the image data.

5. The print data editing device described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, in the change process, the control unit changes the print data of the change candidate subdots from ON to OFF at a ratio of B / C (B and C are natural numbers, and B<C) in the main scanning direction and at a ratio of B / C in the sub-scanning direction.

6. 6. A print data editing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in the change process, if the print data of the target subdot is ON and the subdot adjacent to the target subdot on the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction is the changed subdot, the control unit leaves the print data of the target subdot at ON.

7. 7. A printing data editing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the change process, if the print data of the target subdot is ON and at least one of the subdots adjacent to the target subdot in the main scanning direction is the changed subdot, the control unit leaves the print data of the target subdot at ON.

8. A print data editing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, in the change process, if the print data of the target subdot is ON and at least one of the target subdot and the eight surrounding subdots is the changed subdot, the control unit leaves the print data of the target subdot at ON.

9. The control unit 9. The print data editing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an editing process for editing the print data corresponding to the image data, wherein, based on the image data, when a plurality of dots constituting an input image represented by the image data and a plurality of dots constituting a print image printed by the print data are compared in units of columns of a plurality of dots lined up consecutively in the sub-scanning direction in at least a portion between an upstream end on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction and a downstream end on the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction, the image included in the column of the print image has a maximum degree of match when it is at the same position as the image represented by the column of the input image or when it is shifted a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction, and the maximum value of the absolute values ​​of the plurality of predetermined amounts for the plurality of columns is one dot or more.

10. A printing data editing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the printing device is a printing device that forms an image by thermally transferring an ink ribbon onto the printing object for each line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction.

11. The printing data editing device described in Claim 10 is characterized in that the printing data is data in which the start timing of the ON / OFF cycle of each of the plurality of heating elements corresponding to one dot is set to an equal period for each sub-dot of the plurality of rows by equally dividing the ON / OFF cycle of each of the plurality of heating elements corresponding to one dot, and the data includes a non-power-on time that is shorter than the power-on time in one period corresponding to ON.

12. A print data editing method executed by a control unit of a print data editing device that edits print data used in a printing device, comprising: The printing device comprises: a print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in a main scanning direction; a conveying unit that moves a print object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the print object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, thereby forming an image on the print object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements aligned in the main scanning direction, The print data editing method includes: an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a change process for generating print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are change sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when a print unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by the plurality of heating elements into M units (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, a plurality of the sub-dots aligned in the main scanning direction is defined as a sub-line, and the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as a print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or a portion outside the print area are defined as a non-print portion; Equipped with A printing data editing method characterized in that the change process is a process in which, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is in the printing part, the subdot located Uth (U is any integer greater than or equal to one) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction is set as a reference subdot, and when the reference subdot is in the non-printing part, the target subdot is set as a contour subdot, and the printing data of the contour subdot remains ON.

13. A print data editing method executed by a control unit of a print data editing device that edits print data used in a printing device, comprising: The printing device a print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction; a conveying unit that moves a print object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the print object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, thereby forming an image on the print object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements aligned in the main scanning direction, The print data editing method includes: an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a change process for generating print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are change sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when a print unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by the plurality of heating elements into M units (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, a plurality of the sub-dots aligned in the main scanning direction is defined as a sub-line, and the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as a print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or a portion outside the print area are defined as a non-print portion; Equipped with A printing data editing method characterized in that the change processing is a process in which, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is the printing part, and when at least one of the subdots located Uth (U is any integer greater than or equal to one) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot located Dth (D is any integer greater than or equal to one) upstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot located Lth (L is any integer greater than or equal to one) on one side of the main scanning direction, and the subdot located Rth (R is any integer greater than or equal to one) on the other side of the main scanning direction are the non-printing part, the target subdot is designated as a contour subdot and the printing data of the contour subdot remains ON.

14. A print data editing program executed by a control unit of a print data editing device that edits print data used in a printing device, comprising: The printing device a print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction; a conveying unit that moves a print object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the print object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, thereby forming an image on the print object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements aligned in the main scanning direction, The print data editing program an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a change process for generating print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are change sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when a print unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by the plurality of heating elements into M units (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, a plurality of the sub-dots aligned in the main scanning direction is defined as a sub-line, and the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as a print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or a portion outside the print area are defined as a non-print portion; and an instruction to cause the control unit to execute the A print data editing program characterized in that the change process is a process in which, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is in the printing part, the subdot located Uth (U is any integer greater than or equal to one) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction is set as a reference subdot, and when the reference subdot is in the non-printing part, the target subdot is set as a contour subdot, and the print data of the contour subdot remains ON.

15. A print data editing program executed by a control unit of a print data editing device that edits print data used in a printing device, comprising: The printing device a print head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line in the main scanning direction; a conveying unit that moves a print object and the print head relatively in a sub-scanning direction that intersects with the main scanning direction, and heats the plurality of heating elements while moving the print head relatively to the print object in the sub-scanning direction in accordance with print data that includes data instructing ON / OFF of each of the plurality of heating elements, thereby forming an image on the print object line by line corresponding to the plurality of heating elements aligned in the main scanning direction, The print data editing program an image data acquisition process for acquiring image data corresponding to the plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction; a change process for generating print data in which at least one or more of the sub-dots, which are change sub-dots, is changed from ON to OFF in all the sub-lines in at least one of the lines within the print portion, when a print unit obtained by dividing a dot defined by the plurality of heating elements into M units (M is an integer of 2 or more) in the sub-scanning direction is defined as a sub-dot, a plurality of the sub-dots aligned in the main scanning direction is defined as a sub-line, and the sub-dots for which the print data is ON are defined as a print portion, and the sub-dots for which the image data is OFF or a portion outside the print area are defined as a non-print portion; and an instruction to cause the control unit to execute the A print data editing program characterized in that the change processing is a process in which, when a target subdot, which is one of the multiple subdots, is the printed part, and when at least one of the subdots located Uth (U is any integer greater than or equal to one) downstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot located Dth (D is any integer greater than or equal to one) upstream of the target subdot in the sub-scanning direction, the subdot located Lth (L is any integer greater than or equal to one) on one side of the main scanning direction, and the subdot Rth (R is any integer greater than or equal to one) on the other side of the main scanning direction is the non-printed part, the target subdot is designated as a contour subdot and the print data of the contour subdot remains ON.

Images