Method and apparatus for thermally printing large images with small dye-donor patches

摘要

A thermal printer uses a relatively small dye-donor patches to produce images which are larger than the dye-donor patches. An image is formed by printing and merging of multiple sub-images. Each of the sub-images is smaller than one of the dye-donor patches. Merging of the sub-images is performed by generating data fields for sub-images and then distributing image data throughout overlapping segments of the sub-image data fields. A distribution of a portion of the image data is made in a first overlapping segment in a first pattern that is substantially non-linear. A second distribution of remaining image data is made in a second overlapping segment in a pattern that is complementary to the first pattern. When the overlapping segment are brought together, a merger zone between the sub-images becomes virtually undetectable to an unaided human eye.