Abstract: Provided is quantization processing that can reduce color development defect due to dot overlapping and can output an image with reduced granularity when the image is printed by using multiple kinds of colorants. To this end, dot arrangement information for a colorant for which dot arrangement is already determined among multiple kinds of colorants is acquired for a predetermined region of the image, and an evaluation value of each pixel included in the predetermined region is derived based on the arrangement information. In addition, for the predetermined region, a target value for a predetermined colorant for which dot arrangement is yet to be determined is derived based on the image. Then, whether or not to arrange a dot of the predetermined colorant in the predetermined region is determined based on the target value and the evaluation value.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing apparatus providing, in a case a first type of printing material is loaded to a print unit without loading a second type of printing material, a host device with a first printing service using a first identifier to identify the printing apparatus, and in a case where at least the second type of printing material is loaded to the print unit, to provide the host device with a second printing service using a different second identifier. The host device obtains printability information when an identifier provided from the printing apparatus is an unknown identifier, the printability information being information indicating a printable condition with the printing apparatus, sets the printable condition with the printing apparatus based on the obtained printability information, and transmits a printing job based on the set condition to the printing apparatus.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to improve the generation efficiency of a UFB-contained liquid in a generation apparatus having a circulation mechanism. One embodiment of the present invention is an ultra fine bubble generation apparatus including: a first tank that stores a liquid; a generation unit configured to generate an ultra fine bubble in the liquid output from the first tank; a second tank that stores the liquid output from the generation unit; and a liquid passage that inputs again the liquid stored in the second tank to the first tank, and the ultra fine bubble generation apparatus includes a blocking configuration that blocks an ultra fine bubble included in the stored liquid from being input again to the first tank.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrafine bubble generating method and an ultrafine bubble generating apparatus capable of efficiently generating a UFB-containing liquid with high purity. To this end, a flow passage inner volume is varied by using a flow passage inner volume varying element, the liquid is pressurized such that the liquid passes through a narrow portion at high speed and flows into a depressurizing area.

Abstract: A determination unit determines whether a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of pixel values of a plurality of pixels in a region of interest in N-gradation multi-valued data, where N?4, representing the pixel values of the plurality of pixels is less than a determination threshold value. A generation unit generates M-gradation quantization data represented by an M-gradation quantization value, where 3?M<N, based on the N-gradation multi-valued data and the determination. In a case where the determination unit determines that the difference is less than the determination threshold value, the generation unit generates the M-gradation quantization data so that each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to the region has a value that is one of two consecutive values of the M-gradation quantization values in the generated M-gradation quantization data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fine bubble generating apparatus capable of generating fine bubbles efficiently. The present invention includes a fluid flow passage that includes a narrow portion in at least a part thereof, a heating part capable of heating a liquid flowing through the fluid flow passage, and a controlling unit that controls the heating part. The controlling unit controls the heating part to generate film boiling in the liquid to generate ultrafine bubbles.

Abstract: Provided is quantization processing that can reduce color development defect due to dot overlapping and can output an image with reduced granularity when the image is printed by using multiple kinds of colorants. To this end, dot arrangement information for a colorant for which dot arrangement is already determined among multiple kinds of colorants is acquired for a predetermined region of the image, and an evaluation value of each pixel included in the predetermined region is derived based on the arrangement information. In addition, for the predetermined region, a target value for a predetermined colorant for which dot arrangement is yet to be determined is derived based on the image. Then, whether or not to arrange a dot of the predetermined colorant in the predetermined region is determined based on the target value and the evaluation value.

Abstract: The apparatus includes: a producing unit that generates ultrafine bubbles in a liquid supplied from a liquid introducing unit to produce an ultrafine bubble-containing liquid containing the ultrafine bubbles, and delivers the ultrafine bubble-containing liquid; a liquid delivering unit that delivers the ultrafine bubble-containing liquid to an outside; a buffer tank that receives the liquid delivered from the producing unit and delivers the liquid to the liquid delivering unit; and a controller that controls the delivery of the ultrafine bubble-containing liquid from the buffer tank to the liquid delivering unit such that, if the producing unit stops operating, an ultrafine bubble-containing liquid accumulated in the buffer tank is delivered to the liquid delivering unit to enable the liquid delivering unit to deliver the ultrafine bubble-containing liquid to the outside.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a generation unit and a multiplexing unit. The generation unit generates image data for recording by a forming apparatus that forms an image on a forming member using a print head that applies energy to the member. The multiplexing unit performs multiplexing processing to generate recording data in which predetermined information to be recognized by a reading apparatus as information different from an image to be recorded on the member is embedded in the image data.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus including: a print head configured to eject a metallic ink containing silver particles; a carriage configured to scan the print head; and a control unit configured to control the print operation so as to print an image on a print medium by causing the print head to eject the metallic ink onto the print medium and thereby form dots on the print medium while causing the carriage to scan the print head a plurality of times over a predetermined region on the print medium, wherein the control unit controls the print operation so as to print the image by causing the print head to eject the metallic ink at the same pixel position on the print medium in two or more printing scans and thereby generate a superimposed dot.

Abstract: Provided is a UFB generating apparatus that is capable of efficiently generating a UFB-containing liquid with high purity by controlling generation of UFBs in the liquid. A UFB generating apparatus includes a driving unit that drives a heating element included in a heating unit to generate film boiling in the liquid in contact with the heating element, and a control unit that controls driving conditions of the heating element by the driving unit.

Abstract: Provided is an UFB generating apparatus and an UFB generating method capable of efficiently generating an UFB-containing liquid with high purity. To this end, the ultrafine bubble generating apparatus includes a pre-processing unit that performs predetermined pre-processing on a liquid W and a generating unit that generates ultrafine bubbles in the liquid on which the pre-processing is performed. The generating unit generates the ultrafine bubbles by causing a heating element, which is provided in the liquid on which the pre-processing is performed, to generate heat to generate film boiling on an interface between the liquid and the heating element.

Abstract: Provided is an inkjet printing apparatus including: a print head configured to eject a metallic ink containing silver particles; a carriage configured to scan the print head; and a control unit configured to print a metallic image by causing the print head to eject the metallic ink while scanning the print head; a reduction unit configured to control ink ejection from the print head so as to reduce coloring of a metallic dot formed by ejecting the metallic ink; and a setting unit capable of setting a plurality of printing modes including a first printing mode in which the reduction unit controls the ink ejection from the print head to reduce the coloring to a first degree, and a second printing mode in which the reduction unit controls the ink ejection from the print head to reduce the coloring to a second degree lower than the first degree.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a generating unit configured to print data to be used in a process of printing a metallic image using a metallic ink containing silver particles in an inkjet printing apparatus capable of ejecting the metallic ink and at least one type of chromatic color ink; and an obtaining unit configured to obtain metallic image data corresponding to a predetermined region on a print medium and indicating a tone in the metallic image. The generation unit generates print data of the metallic ink to be printed in the predetermined region based on the metallic image data and generates print data of the chromatic color ink to be printed in the predetermined region based on the metallic image data obtained by the obtaining unit and pre-stored data indicating the correspondences between tone values of the metallic image data and amounts of the chromatic color ink.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing an ultrafine bubble-containing liquid containing ultrafine bubbles generated by causing film boiling in a liquid with a heat generation member, including: detaching a solid present at a liquid contact surface of the heat generation member in a form of a microscopic substance by using the film boiling; and generating ultrafine bubbles with the detached microscopic substance as a core.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a print head having a heat generation element, a generation unit that generates print data for driving the heat generation element to form an image on a print medium and a drive unit that drives the heat generation element on a basis of the print data generated by the generation unit. The print medium includes a laminate of a plurality of image forming layers that generate develop mutually different colors by receiving heat. The generation unit generates the print data depending on a type of the print medium among a plurality of print medium types that differ from each other in order of lamination of the plurality of image forming layers.

Abstract: Provided is a UFB generating apparatus that can achieve compactness, power saving, and low cost. To this end, a liquid containing unit for supplying a liquid to a UFB generating head is fluidly linked to the UFB generating head at a position higher than the UFB generating head in a direction of gravitational force.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrafine bubble generating method and an ultrafine bubble generating apparatus capable of efficiently generating a UFB-containing liquid with high purity. To this end, a flow passage inner volume is varied by using a flow passage inner volume varying element, the liquid is pressurized such that the liquid passes through a narrow portion at high speed and flows into a depressurizing area.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to improve the generation efficiency of a UFB-contained liquid in a generation apparatus having a circulation mechanism. One embodiment of the present invention is an ultra fine bubble generation apparatus including: a first tank that stores a liquid; a generation unit configured to generate an ultra fine bubble in the liquid output from the first tank; a second tank that stores the liquid output from the generation unit; and a liquid passage that inputs again the liquid stored in the second tank to the first tank, and the ultra fine bubble generation apparatus includes a blocking configuration that blocks an ultra fine bubble included in the stored liquid from being input again to the first tank.

Abstract: Provided is a UFB-containing liquid production apparatus that can efficiently produce a UFB-containing liquid with a UFB generation unit. The UFB-containing liquid production apparatus includes: a gas dissolution unit that produces a gas-dissolved liquid by dissolving a gas into a liquid supplied from a liquid supply unit; a UFB generation unit that generates UFBs in the flowing-in gas-dissolved liquid; and a circulation path that supplies the gas-dissolved liquid to the UFB generation unit and supplies a UFB-containing liquid produced by the UFB generation unit to the liquid supply unit. In the circulation path, there is provided a micro-bubble reduction unit that reduces an amount of micro-bubbles contained in the gas-dissolved liquid to flow into the UFB generation unit.