SUBLIMATION TYPE PRINTER

PURPOSE:To reproduce a stable high quality image without lowering density by mounting a preheating means heating a thermal head and inputting the signal from the temp. detection means to control the supply quantity of a current to the thermal head. CONSTITUTION:The heat to a thermal head 1 wherein a heating resistor is arranged on an aluminum substrate in a line form is controlled corresponding to the temp. of the head I detected by a temp. detection means 7. For example, when the temp. of the head 1 is 20 deg.C or lower, a preheating means 8 is operated by a preheating control circuit 13 until the temp. of the head 1 reaches 20 deg.C or higher. Printing becomes possible only when the temp. of the head 1 is 20-60 deg.C and an ink sheet A and image receiving paper B are fed in a close contact state and a current is supplied to the thermal head by selecting the proper current supply pulse from LUT(lookup table) 11 corresponding to received image data and the temp. of the head and the sublimable dye applied to the ink sheet A is heated to generate sublimation reaction to reproduce an image on the image receiving paper B. When the temp. of the head 1 reaches 60 deg.C or higher, a heat control circuit 10 stops the printing due to the thermal head 1 and forcible cooling is carried out by a cooling fan.