Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a color conversion part configured to conduct a color conversion of image data. The color conversion part extends an information amount of an output value in the color conversion based on a first minimum information amount possible to depict a gradation in a lattice point interval of an input value in a look up table used for the color conversion.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a line-type liquid discharging head including nozzles configured to jet liquid droplets. The nozzles are aligned in a sheet width direction. The line-type liquid discharging head includes plural nozzle rows each including an alignment of a plurality of the nozzles configured to discharge liquid droplets of the same color. A distance L1 between the nozzle rows is L1=T11×V1, where T1 is a liquid transfer amount impregnating time of a standard sheet and V1 is a sheet conveying speed.

Abstract: A disclosed inkjet recording apparatus for performing recording by jetting a recording liquid onto a recording medium includes an image processing unit configured to obtain an output halftone level by performing halftone processing on input image data, to select a dot arrangement order according to the obtained output halftone level, and thereby to generate dot data where dots are arranged in a grid-like pattern. The disclosed inkjet recording apparatus is configured to use a pigmented ink as the recording liquid when the recording medium is a commercial printing paper, and to record the dots in a staggered arrangement where positions of the dots in odd/even-numbered columns or odd/even-numbered rows in the dot data are shifted in a sub-scanning direction or in a main-scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming method provided with the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of first nozzles for depositing a black color ink and a plurality of second nozzles for depositing color inks other than a black color ink to form a processed black color, the first nozzles and the second nozzles being mounted on a recording head of an image forming apparatus scanning relative to a recording medium in a first direction, the first nozzles shifted relative to the second nozzles in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; (b) scanning the recording head in a first direction; (c) while scanning the recording head in the first direction, for printing a black image, depositing the black color ink by the first nozzles onto a first recording position of the recording medium and depositing the color inks by the second nozzles onto a second recording position of the recording medium.

Abstract: An imaging method is disclosed for realizing full color printing using an ink head configured to discharge black ink and a plurality of color inks. The imaging method involves printing a monochrome image portion by printing a plurality of first rasters using black ink and an arbitrary number of the color inks, and printing a second raster in between the first rasters using pseudo black ink that is realized by the remaining number of the color inks.

Abstract: An image processing method processes image data to be output to an image forming apparatus that is capable of making a two-way recording to form an image on a recording medium by recording in a forward path and a return path of a scan by an ink-jet recording head. The image processing method includes a halftone process that is based on an inclined line-group keytone and maintains keytone continuity, including a dither process in which the inclined line-group keytone appears at a stage where the recording in the forward path is made.

Abstract: An image processing method performs processing to generate image data based on input data and output the image data to an image forming device. The image forming device includes a printing head in which first nozzles for ejecting color ink drops are arranged in a symmetrical formation to forward and backward scanning directions and second nozzles for ejecting black or gray ink drops are arranged in an unsymmetrical formation with respect to the first nozzles. The image forming device is adapted to perform a uni-directional printing or a bidirectional printing with the printing head. In the image processing method, a black generation processing to the input data is performed, and when performing the black generation processing, a black-generation start level for the bidirectional printing is delayed to a shadow-side gradation level from a black-generation start level for the uni-directional printing.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus is capable of forming an image using a black recording liquid and at least one color recording liquid and generating image data on an image to be output. When an input image is black, the image data is generated for forming the image with the black recording liquid and using the color recording liquid for the image.

Abstract: A disclosed dither matrix is used in halftone processing for converting input image data having M input halftone levels into output image data having N (M>N>2) output halftone levels. In the halftone processing, a concentration type dither matrix is used as the dither matrix when an input halftone level is within a range of input halftone levels corresponding to an output halftone level that is lower than a predetermined threshold level T (N>T>1), and a dispersion type dither matrix is used as the dither matrix when the input halftone level is within a range of input halftone levels corresponding to an output halftone level that is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold level T.

Abstract: An image processing method generates image data for use by an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording medium by ink dots formed by ejected ink drops. The image processing method includes the steps of judging an image portion and a background portion of the image, and adding image dots to the background portion adjacent to the image portion to fatten the image portion by a fattening process, depending on at least one of a character size of the image portion, a character type of the image portion, a resolution of the image portion, and a color of the background portion.

Abstract: An image processing method configured to produce image data output from an image forming apparatus configured to form an image by using a recording head composed of a liquid ejecting head having plural arranged nozzles configured to eject a liquid drop and an energy generating device configured to generate ejection energy corresponding to each nozzle while conducting a halftone processing configured to covert input image data to an N value which is less than a tone (M value) thereof (N value: M>N?2) is provided, wherein a halftone processing configured to substantially reduce a driving frequency of a driving wave pattern applied to the energy generating device is conducted when a liquid drop with a drop size causing ejection irregularity or a liquid drop from a nozzle causing ejection irregularity is ejected.

Abstract: A navigation system of communication type enabling the user to recognize necessary information instantly without watching the display screen and a portable terminal are provided. A navigation server 20 creates data on a guidance path including a guidance point on the guidance path and guidance information on the guidance point according to a sought guidance path and sends the data to a portable terminal 30. The portable terminal 30 has a drive operating mode.

Abstract: A disclosed image forming apparatus includes a line-type liquid discharging head including nozzles configured to jet liquid droplets. The nozzles are aligned in a sheet width direction. The line-type liquid discharging head includes plural nozzle rows each including an alignment of a plurality of the nozzles configured to discharge liquid droplets of the same color. A distance L1 between the nozzle rows is L1=T11×V1, where T1 is a liquid transfer amount impregnating time of a standard sheet and V1 is a sheet conveying speed.

Abstract: An image forming method is provided for use with an ink-jet printing device which forms a dot on a recording medium by ejecting a drop of recording liquid. In the image forming method, an image in which a ground tint is embedded in one of a foreground part and a background part of an original image is formed, the ground tint indicating that copying of the original image is inhibited. A recording liquid adhesion area of the dot per unit area in the foreground part is made different from a recording liquid adhesion area of the dot per unit area in the background part.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes plural heads that are arranged in a main scanning direction, the heads including plural nozzle arrays that are arranged in the main scanning direction and configured to discharge droplets of recording liquids in at least three different colors including a yellow recording liquid. At least two of the nozzle arrays that are configured to discharge the yellow recording liquid are separately arranged in at least two of the heads. At least two of the nozzle arrays that are configured to discharge a first recording liquid of the recording liquids in a first color other than yellow are arranged together in one of the heads. At least two of the nozzle arrays that are configured to discharge a second recording liquid of the recording liquids in a second color other than yellow are arranged together in one of the heads.

Abstract: An image processing method is disclosed. A printer driver is a program for performing the method. The printer driver forms print image data that are printed by an inkjet recording apparatus capable of forming multi-level dots by ejecting droplets of recording liquid. The printer driver transforms image data of a manuscript into manuscript image data corresponding to the multi-level dots capable of being output from the inkjet recording apparatus by applying an image process such as a CMM process, a BG/UCR/? correction process, and a gradation process to the image data of the manuscript; further, forms the print image data corresponding to the multi-level dots capable of being output from the inkjet recording apparatus by combining the manuscript image data with data corresponding to the multi-level dots of an image pattern indicating that the manuscript is prohibited from being duplicated by a manuscript and tint block pattern combining section.

Abstract: An image processing method of processing image data includes a color space conversion step of converting an input color signal of image data into an output color signal having cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) values; a black generation/under color removal step of converting the CMY values into cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) values by adding a black (K) value and decreasing the CMY values so that portions of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) recording liquids used to form the image data are replaced with a black (K) recording liquid; and a total amount control step of controlling amounts of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) recording liquids calculated from the CMYK values so that a total amount of the CMYK recording liquids per unit area on a recording medium does not exceed a predetermined total amount limit.

Abstract: An image processing method for processing image data to be output by an image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus is configured to form a tone pattern on a recording medium by forming an arrangement of dots on the recording medium. The arrangement of dots is formed on the recording medium by jetting a recording liquid from a recording head while moving the recording head in a main scanning direction a plurality of times and intermittently conveying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction that perpendicularly intersects the main scanning direction. The method includes the step of generating a mask pattern for moving the recording head in the main scanning direction and forming the dots in an inconsecutive order on the recording medium.