Printer and printing program

A method to be executed by a printer including a processor and a printing head that includes a plurality of heating elements arranged in a first direction, wherein printing data representing an image to be printed on a printing medium are divided into a plurality of line data, each of the plurality of line data representing a corresponding line segment of the image, extending in the first direction, by a series of dots constituted of printing dots to be printed on the printing medium and non-printing dots that are not printed on the printing medium, the method comprising:

• by way of the processor, for each of the line data, selectively activating the heating elements that correspond to the printing dots in the line data so as to make the selected heating elements generate heat and print the corresponding printing dots in the line data on the printing medium;
• and
• by way of the processor, for each of the line data, obtaining distribution information of the printing dots in the line data, and setting an energizing time during which the selected heating elements are energized continuously, or intermittently by pulses, to print the corresponding printing dots, in accordance with the distribution information of the printing dots in the line data,
• wherein the obtaining of the distribution information of the printing dots for each of the line data includes counting or estimating an occurrence frequency of two successive printing dots in the line data, and
• wherein said energizing time for each of the line data is set in accordance with the counted or estimated occurrence frequency of the two successive printing dots in the line data.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a printing program executable by a printer that includes a processor and a printing head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a first direction, wherein printing data representing an image to be printed on the printing medium are divided into a plurality of line data, each of the plurality of line data representing a corresponding line segment of the image, extending in the first direction, by a series of dots constituted of printing dots to be printed on the printing medium and non-printing dots that are not printed on the printing medium, the printing program causing the processor in the printer to perform the following:

• for each of the line data, selectively activating the heating elements that correspond to the printing dots in the line data so as to make the selected heating elements generate heat and print the corresponding printing dots in the line data on the printing medium;
• and
• for each of the line data, obtaining distribution information of the printing dots in the line data;
• and setting an energizing time during which the selected heating elements are energized continuously, or intermittently by pulses, to print the corresponding printing dots, in accordance with the distribution information of the printing dots in the line data,
• wherein the obtaining of the distribution information of the printing dots for each of the line data includes counting or estimating an occurrence frequency of two successive printing dots in the line data, and
• wherein said energizing time for each of the line data is set in accordance with the counted or estimated occurrence frequency of the two successive printing dots in the line data.