Printing device creating print data differentiated in color development state depending on viewing direction of multi-layer medium

A printing device configured to print a multi-layer thermal printing medium, the multi-layer thermal printing medium comprising:

• a base layer having visible light transparency, the base layer having thickness in a thickness direction, the base layer having a first surface orthogonal to the thickness direction and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• and
• a heat sensitive multi-layer formed on the first surface as a whole, the heat sensitive multi-layer comprising:
• a first heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the first heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature;
• and
• a second heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the second heat sensitive layer being colored into a second color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the second heat sensitive layer being positioned farther in the thickness direction than the first heat sensitive layer from the base layer,
• the printing device comprising:
• a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements configured to form images on the heat sensitive multi-layer;
• and
• a controller configured to perform:
• detecting relevant information on the thickness of the base layer;
• creating, based on pixel-based image data, print data to be applied to each of the plurality of heat generating elements;
• and
• driving selected ones of the plurality of heat generating elements to form images on the heat sensitive multi-layer in response to the print data,
• wherein, in the creating, the created print data is such that color development states of the first color and the second color according to the detected relevant information on the thickness of the base layer are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected relevant information on the thickness of the base layer.

A printing device configured to print a multi-layer thermal printing medium, the multi-layer thermal printing medium comprising:

• a base layer having visible light transparency, the base layer having thickness in a thickness direction, the base layer having a first surface orthogonal to the thickness direction and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• and
• a heat sensitive multi-layer formed on the first surface as a whole, the heat sensitive multi-layer comprising:
• a first heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the first heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature;
• and
• a second heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the second heat sensitive layer being colored into a second color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the second heat sensitive layer being positioned farther in the thickness direction than the first heat sensitive layer from the base layer,
• the printing device comprising:
• a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements configured to form images on the heat sensitive multi-layer;
• and
• a controller configured to perform:
• detecting relevant information on refractive index of the base layer;
• creating, based on pixel-based image data, print data to be applied to each of the plurality of heat generating elements;
• and
• driving selected ones of the plurality of heat generating elements to form images on the heat sensitive multi-layer in response to the print data,
• wherein, in the creating, the created print data is such that color development states of the first color and the second color according to the detected relevant information on refractive index of the base layer are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected relevant information on refractive index of the base layer.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a set of computer-readable instructions creating print data installed on and executed by a computer provided in a printing device, the printing device comprising a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and the computer configured to drive the plurality of heat generating elements, the print data being used for printing image on a multi-layer thermal printing medium,

• the multi-layer thermal printing medium comprising:
• a base layer having visible light transparency, the base layer having thickness in a thickness direction, the base layer having a first surface orthogonal to the thickness direction and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• and
• a heat sensitive multi-layer formed on the first surface as a whole, the heat sensitive multi-layer comprising:
• a first heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the first heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature;
• and
• a second heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the second heat sensitive layer being colored into a second color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the second heat sensitive layer being positioned farther in the thickness direction than the first heat sensitive layer from the base layer,
• the set of computer-readable instructions comprising:
• detecting whether a viewing direction of the heat sensitive multi-layer is the thickness direction to view from the second surface toward the first surface or a direction opposite the thickness direction to view from the first surface toward the second surface;
• acquiring the viewing direction detected in the detecting;
• and
• creating, based on pixel-based image data, the print data to be applied to each of the plurality of heat generating elements, the created print data being such that color development states of the first color and the second color according to the detected viewing direction are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected viewing direction.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a set of computer-readable instructions creating a print data installed on and executed by a computer provided in a printing device, the printing device comprising a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and the computer configured to drive the plurality of heat generating elements, the print data being used for printing image on a multi-layer thermal printing medium,

• the multi-layer thermal printing medium comprising:
• a base layer having visible light transparency, the base layer having thickness in a thickness direction, the base layer having a first surface orthogonal to the thickness direction and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• and
• a heat sensitive multi-layer formed on the first surface as a whole, the heat sensitive multi-layer comprising:
• a first heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the first heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature;
• and
• a second heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the second heat sensitive layer being colored into a second color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the second heat sensitive layer being positioned farther in the thickness direction than the first heat sensitive layer from the base layer,
• the set of computer-readable instructions comprising:
• detecting relevant information on the thickness of the base layer;
• and
• creating, based on pixel-based image data, print data to be applied to each of the plurality of heat generating elements, the creaked print data being such that color development states of the first color and the second color according to the detected relevant information on the thickness of the base layer are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected relevant information on the thickness of the base layer.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a set of computer-readable instructions creating a print data installed on and executed by a computer provided in a printing device, the printing device comprising a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and the computer configured to drive the plurality of heat generating elements, the print data being used for printing image on a multi-layer thermal printing medium,

• the multi-layer thermal printing medium comprising:
• a base layer having visible light transparency, the base layer having thickness in a thickness direction, the base layer having a first surface orthogonal to the thickness direction and a second surface opposite the first surface;
• and
• a heat sensitive multi-layer formed on the first surface as a whole, the heat sensitive multi-layer comprising:
• a first heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the first heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a first temperature;
• and
• a second heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency, the second heat sensitive layer being colored into a second color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature, the second heat sensitive layer being positioned farther in the thickness direction than the first heat sensitive layer from the base layer,
• the set of computer-readable instructions comprising:
• detecting relevant information on refractive index of the base layer;
• and
• creating, based on pixel-based image data, print data to be applied to each of the plurality of heat generating elements, the created print data being such that color development states of the first color and the second color according to the detected relevant information on refractive index of the base layer are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected relevant information on refractive index of the base layer.