Method and apparatus for printing on gelatin coated media

A method for controlling the penetration of ink jetted from an ink jet printer onto a gelatin coated media, the method comprising:

• printing ink onto a coated media using an ink jet printing device, the coated media having a base layer of a non-gelatin material and a surface layer formed of gelatin, the gelatin surface layer exhibiting an increase in surface area dependent upon temperature of the gelatin surface layer of the coated media, with the increase in surface area of the gelatin surface layer absorbing an increased amount of printed ink;
• heating the gelatin surface layer of the coated media with a heating device to a glass transition temperature range from 30 to 50 degrees Celsius while printing ink onto the coated media;
• and
• effecting changes in the surface area of the gelatin surface layer to control penetration of printed ink into the gelatin surface layer.

An ink jet printer for printing on a gelatin coated media, the gelatin coated media having a glass transition temperature range where the gelatin coated media has a surface area and an ink absorbency that increases dependent upon temperature, the ink jet printer comprising:

• an ink ejection device for ejecting ink onto gelatin coated media, the coated media having a base layer of a non-gelatin material and a surface layer formed of gelatin, the gelatin surface layer having the glass transition temperature range wherein the gelatin surface layer exhibits an increase in surface area dependent upon temperature of the gelatin surface layer, with the increase in surface area of the gelatin surface layer absorbing an increased amount of the ejected ink;
• and
• a heating device associated with the ink jet printer and located in proximity to the gelatin coated media, the heating device emitting heat while the ink ejection device ejects ink onto the coated media, the heating device heating the gelatin surface layer to a glass transition temperature range from 30 to 50 degrees Celsius to control the surface area of the gelatin surface layer and thereby gelatin surface layer penetration of the ejected ink;
• and
• wherein the ink jet printer has printer zone internal heat producing elements and wherein the heating device comprises the printer zone internal heat producing elements.