Abstract: A printer and a method of processing an image (1) to be printed with a printer which has a printing unit arranged to produce a printout from image-representing print data of the image, and a processing unit for processing image-representing input data of the image so as to generate the image-representing print data. The processing unit is arranged for separating the image into a line detail sub-image (20) containing edge and line details, and an area detail sub-image (25) containing area details, performing a first printing mode processing pipeline on the line detail sub-image and performing a second, different printing mode processing pipeline on the area detail sub-image, and generating multi-layer print mask data, wherein at least one print mask data layer is usable to print the line detail sub-image in at least one line detail print pass, and the remaining, i.e.

Abstract: Apparatus, computer readable medium, or method to determine a layer volume change in a processed layer of powder, and distribute an additional amount of powder in a subsequent layer based on the determined layer volume change.

Abstract: As one example, a printer includes a density calculator to determine a content density of data on page to be printed and a controller. In that example, the controller may perform operations to determine a dry time for a swath of the page to be printed based on the content density and an environmental variable and adjust a parameter for the page to be printed to mitigate a drying time of the page to be printed based on the dry time determined for the swath.

Abstract: Image processing transforms input multi-level image data into output image data having a smaller number of levels (the input and output image data represents images formed of cells). The image processing distributes quantization error of a target cell of the image to neighbour cells in proportions determined by a set of weights. The distribution excludes neighbour cells whose data level is less than a threshold value from receiving distributed quantization error, or allows just a fraction of the quantization error to be distributed to such neighbour cells.

Abstract: Examples are described that generate control data (280) for production of a three-dimensional object. Build material profile data (260) is accessed for an indicated build material. The build material profile data for a given build material defines one or more parameter values that are dependent on the properties of the given build material and that are configured to generate a three-dimensional object with predefined build properties. Certain examples are arranged to generate control data for the production of a three-dimensional object by applying build material profile data to received object data (230).

Abstract: In one example, a non-transitory processor readable medium with instructions thereon that when executed cause an additive manufacturing machine to: form a first layer of build material; form a second layer of build material over the first layer; solidify build material in the second layer to form a slice; and form a barrier that is separable from the slice to prevent a coalescing agent in the second layer penetrating build material in the first layer.

Abstract: One example includes a printer (110) having a calculator (120) to determine plot density of a printer content page (130). A controller (140) is provided to set a print parameter based on the determined plot density for the printer content page (130) to mitigate dry time for a printed output page (150).

Abstract: A method to selectively compress an image in a printing process comprises the steps of providing a first representation of an image to be printed on a printer to a printing pipeline, processing the first representation in the printing pipeline to derive a second representation of the image, wherein the second representation comprises physical printing parameters adapted to the image and the printer, and compressing the second representation to obtain a compressed third representation of the image. The third representation of the image is again supplied to the printing pipeline, and is processed in the printing pipeline to derive a fourth representation of the image. The fourth representation of the image is provided to a printhead of the printer for printing.

Abstract: According to one example, there is provided a printing system. The printing system comprises a support having a plurality of spaced apertures and a colour sensor moveable to measure light from each aperture. The printing system further comprises a controller to control the colour sensor to measure characteristics of light emitted through each aperture, and to determine, for each aperture, light calibration data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a printer, the printer having an array of nozzles which extends across a print zone of the printer, the method comprising the steps of: evaluating a nozzle status of the array of nozzles; printing a first swath across the print media in the print zone, wherein the array of nozzles is located in a first position during printing of the first swath; determining a second position of the array of nozzles for printing a second swath so that, under consideration of the determined nozzle status, the combined output of the first and second swaths meets a predetermined criterion; moving the array of nozzles to the determined second position and printing the second swath across the print media in the print zone.

Abstract: A printer and a method of processing an image (1) to be printed with a printer which has a printing unit arranged to produce a printout from image-representing print data of the image, and a processing unit for processing image-representing input data of the image so as to generate the image-representing print data. The processing unit is arranged for separating the image into a line detail sub-image (20) containing edge and line details, and an area detail sub-image (25) containing area details, performing a first printing mode processing pipeline on the line detail sub-image and performing a second, different printing mode processing pipeline on the area detail sub-image, and generating multi-layer print mask data, wherein at least one print mask data layer is usable to print the line detail sub-image in at least one line detail print pass, and the remaining, i.e.

Abstract: Print media products comprise a top layer of a printing material comprising a plurality of holes distributed on the surface area thereof, and a bottom layer of a printing material comprising a plurality of holes distributed on the surface area thereof, the top layer being overlayed on and removably attached to the bottom layer such that an ink-receiving side of the top layer is exposed and an ink-receiving side of the bottom layer is in contact with the top layer, and such that the holes of the top layer are at least in part overlapped with print material of the bottom layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a printer, the printer having an array of nozzles which extends across a print zone of the printer, the method comprising the steps of: evaluating a nozzle status of the array of nozzles; printing a first swath across the print media in the print zone, wherein the array of nozzles is located in a first position during printing of the first swath; determining a second position of the array of nozzles for printing a second swath so that, under consideration of the determined nozzle status, the combined output of the first and second swaths meets a predetermined criterion; moving the array of nozzles to the determined second position and printing the second swath across the print media in the print zone.

Abstract: Methods and cassettes for discarding ink are disclosed. An example cassette includes a housing having a form factor to be received in a printer; a container to receive the discarded ink; and a memory to receive usage data from the printer, the usage data being indicative of an amount of the discarded ink received by the container.

Abstract: A method to selectively compress an image in a printing process image pipeline comprises the steps of providing a first representation of an image to be printed on a printer to a printing pipeline, processing the first representation in the printing pipeline to derive a second representation of the image, wherein the second representation comprises physical printing parameters adapted to the image and the printer, and compressing the second representation to obtain a compressed printing pipeline third representation of the image. The third representation of the image is again supplied to the printing pipeline, and is processed in the printing pipeline to derive a fourth representation of the image. The fourth representation of the image is provided to a printhead of the printer for printing.

Abstract: An N-pass hybrid fill-and-line print mode is used to print an image on a print medium. In this mode, each sequence of N longitudinally overlapping printhead passes over said print media includes at least one transverse forward pass using a fill mask and at least one transverse reverse pass using a line mask.

Abstract: Print media products comprise a top layer of a printing material comprising a plurality of holes distributed on the surface area thereof, and a bottom layer of a printing material comprising a plurality of holes distributed on the surface area thereof, the top layer being overlayed on and removably attached to the bottom layer such that an ink-receiving side of the top layer is exposed and an ink-receiving side of the bottom layer is in contact with the top layer, and such that the holes of the top layer are at least in part overlapped with print material of the bottom layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a normal consumption state, a low consumption state, and a fluid applicator unit. The fluid applicator unit may selectively provide a first set of drops of fluid to perform a printing routine in a print mode. The fluid applicator unit may also selectively provide a second set of drops of fluid to perform a service routine in a maintenance mode. An amount of the first set of drops of fluid to perform the printing routine and an amount of the second set of drops of fluid to perform the service routine may be less in the low consumption state than in the normal consumption state.

Abstract: A page-wide-array printer has a print unit including an array of print-heads, wherein a printing direction is defined by a relative movement between the print unit and a print medium during a printing process. The page-wide-array printer receives a continuous tone image and divides the continuous tone image into a series of slices along a printing direction. Halftone image data is generated from each of the slices using error diffusion halftoning. The error diffusion halftoning comprises processing, with regard to error diffusion, each slice pixel-by-pixel following a processing pattern mainly oriented along a main processing direction which is parallel to the printing direction. The page-wide-array printer prints the halftone image data along the printing direction.

Abstract: Methods and cassettes for discarding ink are disclosed. An example cassette includes a housing having a form factor to be received in a printer; a container to receive the discarded ink; and a memory to receive usage data from the printer, the usage data being indicative of an amount of the discarded ink received by the container.