Abstract: This invention provides an image processing device and a printing apparatus that obviate the need for manual processing on the part of the user or operator and which can automatically perform an optimum image correction without using added information such as photographing information. For this purpose, this invention including: a highly chromatic color area detection unit to detect highly chromatic color area in an original image according to the input color image data; a concentration calculation unit to calculate a concentration level of the highly chromatic color area; and a print data generation unit to generate output color image data according to the concentration level of the highly chromatic color area.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus, an inkjet printing system and an inkjet printing method are provided in order to correct a print density at a joint (overlapped portion) of nozzle arrays of a print head. The print density at the joint (overlapped portion) of the nozzle arrays is corrected based on a positional deviation between two adjacent nozzle arrays of the print head.

Abstract: Color reproducibility is improved by enabling one to control a smoothing condition for each of plural positions on color space. When a color correction table is formed by using smoothing, the smoothing conditions respectively corresponding to the plural positions on the color space are set, and then the smoothing is performed according to the smoothing conditions.

Abstract: The color of magenta using newly developed magenta ink has characteristics L*?41, a*?82, and b*?24, and has differences ?L*?4, ?a*?0, and ?b*?26 from the conventional magenta ink, i.e., the lightness value is low, and the color difference b* assumes a very small value. When the color of red is reproduced using such new magenta ink, its lightness and saturation values are low, and subdued red is reproduced, i.e., a visually favorable color cannot be obtained. Hence, when a color included in a first color gamut is input, and the input color is converted into the color of a second color gamut narrower than the first color gamut, color conversion is made using a three-dimensional lookup table having red defined by L*?45 to 50, a*?67 to 70, and b*?50 to 55.

Abstract: The gray axis is adjusted such that an optimal representation can be achieved for low saturation colors close to the gray axis. A test pattern including a plurality of images, which have different color tones is printed, and a user selects a most desirable image. The gray axis of an image recording system is adjusted depending on which image is selected. Each of the plurality of images of the test pattern is a photographic color image represented mainly by low saturation colors close to achromatic colors along the gray axis. In accordance with the selected image, the gradation adjustment is performed for each ink color of the image recording system thereby adjusting the gray axis and the tone of colors close to the gray axis.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening and performing printing by ejecting an ink from the ink-jet head, timings of bubble forming are mutually shifted at respective heaters of the plurality of heaters upon application of respective pulses to the plurality of heaters and based on information relating to an ink temperature of the ink-jet head. The ejection amount can be controlled by forming bubbles in the ink to eject the ink through the ink ejection opening.

Abstract: A high quality gray scale (monochrome) image in which influences of “recorded color deviation” and “color transition” are suppressed is formed even in the case of a slightly uneven discharge amount. When a gray scale (monochrome) mode is set, in the entire range of a luminance signal, density signals corresponding to achromatic dots and small chromatic dots respectively are generated based on the luminance signal so that the density signal corresponding to the achromatic dots has a greater value than that of the density signal corresponding to the small chromatic dots. Accordingly, even a slight “recorded color deviation” that occurs when the achromatic dots are recorded can be corrected by the small chromatic dots having a hue opposite to the direction of color deviation, and a high quality gray scale image in which influences of “recorded color deviation” and “color transition” are suppressed can be formed.

Abstract: When a color reproduction model of a device is generated, colorimetry of a 9×9×9 grid, for example, is performed utilizing equidistant signal values in the color space of the device. Generally, if the number of grid points is increased, the precision with which the color reproduction model is estimated rises but the time needed for measurement is prolonged because the number of colorimetric measurements is also increased. Accordingly, in a printer system comprising a pre-color-processing table for performing color matching and a post-color-processing table for performing color separation, color patches set non-equidistantly in RGB device color space are printed in accordance with changeover of printer CMYKcm signals in the post-color-processing table and the color reproduction model of the printer is generated using data obtained by measuring the colors of the color patches.

Abstract: In a multi-valued printer that uses discontinuous index patterns, if a tone correction table is generated using sampled density patches, a table which is different from a table to be obtained and has no inflection point is obtained, and the print density characteristics after tone correction suffer discontinuity. To solve this problem, an output gamma table used to output measurement patches is set to linearly correct the printer print characteristics. Patches are output and their densities are measured. A reverse table of a “signal value—density” table is generated, and is smoothed using a recursive curve. The smoothed reverse table is finely adjusted to generate an intermediate output gamma table. The generated table undergoes index component correction, thus generating a tone correction table.

Abstract: A high quality gray scale (monochrome) image in which influences of “recorded color deviation” and “color transition” are suppressed is formed even in the case of a slightly uneven discharge amount. When a gray scale (monochrome) mode is set, in the entire range of a luminance signal, density signals corresponding to achromatic dots and small chromatic dots respectively are generated based on the luminance signal so that the density signal corresponding to the achromatic dots has a greater value than that of the density signal corresponding to the small chromatic dots. Accordingly, even a slight “recorded color deviation” that occurs when the achromatic dots are recorded can be corrected by the small chromatic dots having a hue opposite to the direction of color deviation, and a high quality gray scale image in which influences of “recorded color deviation” and “color transition” are suppressed can be formed.

Abstract: In a multi-valued printer that uses discontinuous index patterns, if a tone correction table is generated using sampled density patches, a table which is different from a table to be obtained and has no inflection point is obtained, and the print density characteristics after tone correction suffer discontinuity. To solve this problem, an output gamma table used to output measurement patches is set to linearly correct the printer print characteristics. Patches are output and their densities are measured. A reverse table of a “signal value—density” table is generated, and is smoothed using a recursive curve. The smoothed reverse table is finely adjusted to generate an intermediate output gamma table. The generated table undergoes index component correction, thus generating a tone correction table.

Abstract: It aims to improve color reproducibility by enabling to control a smoothing condition for each of plural positions on color space. When a color correction table is formed by using smoothing, the smoothing conditions respectively corresponding to the plural positions on the color space are set, and then the smoothing is performed according to the smoothing conditions.

Abstract: Color reproducibility is improved by enabling one to control a smoothing condition for each of plural positions on color space. When a color correction table is formed by using smoothing, the smoothing conditions respectively corresponding to the plural positions on the color space are set, and then the smoothing is performed according to the smoothing conditions.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus can execute a two-side printing capable of avoiding a show through effect while maintaining a specific print grade. Specifically, for the two-side printing, a small amount of a light cyan ink is used only within the range near white. To compensate for this, a dark cyan ink starts to be used near the range. Thus, the amount of ink outputted by converting the same signal values is smaller than that for the one-side printing. As a result, the total amount of landed ink can be reduced to decrease the show through effect in which landed ink passes from one side of a printing medium to another side of the printing medium.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing device and a printing apparatus that obviate the need for manual processing on the part of the user or operator and which can automatically perform an optimum image correction without using added information such as photographing information. For this purpose, this invention including: a highly chromatic color area detection unit to detect highly chromatic color area in an original image according to the input color image data; a concentration calculation unit to calculate a concentration level of the highly chromatic color area; and a print data generation unit to generate output color image data according to the concentration level of the highly chromatic color area.

Abstract: The color of magenta using newly developed magenta ink has characteristics L*?41, a*?82, and b*?24, and has differences ?L*?4, ?a*?0, and ?b*?26 from the conventional magenta ink, i.e., the lightness value is low, and the color difference b* assumes a very small value. When the color of red is reproduced using such new magenta ink, its lightness and saturation values are low, and subdued red is reproduced, i.e., a visually favorable color cannot be obtained. Hence, when a color included in a first color gamut is input, and the input color is converted into the color of a second color gamut narrower than the first color gamut, color conversion is made using a three-dimensional lookup table having red defined by. L*?45 to 50, a*?67 to 70, and b*?50 to 55.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for forming a color transform lookup table which helps output a smooth image having no pseudo contour and excellent in granularity. On the basis of a previously formed table, a color space is expressed by a basic triangle of white-primary color-black, and output signal values corresponding to lattice points in this basic triangle are calculated by linear interpolation. Black ink and cyan ink are replaced by setting a straight line AB, as a boundary line, connecting two points immediately before black ink begins to be introduced on two sides of the basic triangle.

Abstract: An image process method comprises an input step of inputting color image data composed of a signal representing brightness and a signal representing tint, and a smoothing process step of performing a smoothing process to the signal representing tint, while holding the signal representing brightness. Thus, high-level color noise reduction can be performed without deteriorating apparent resolution of an output color image.

Abstract: In a multi-valued printer that uses discontinuous index patterns, if a tone correction table is generated using sampled density patches, a table which is different from a table to be obtained and has no inflection point is obtained, and the print density characteristics after tone correction suffer discontinuity. To solve this problem, an output gamma table used to output measurement patches is set to linearly correct the printer print characteristics. Patches are output and their densities are measured. A reverse table of a “signal value—density” table is generated, and is smoothed using a recursive curve. The smoothed reverse table is finely adjusted to generate an intermediate output gamma table. The generated table undergoes index component correction, thus generating a tone correction table.

Abstract: In a multi-valued printer that uses discontinuous index patterns, if a tone correction table is generated using sampled density patches, a table which is different from a table to be obtained and has no inflection point is obtained, and the print density characteristics after tone correction suffer discontinuity. To solve this problem, an output gamma table used to output measurement patches is set to linearly correct the printer print characteristics. Patches are output and their densities are measured. A reverse table of a “signal value—density” table is generated, and is smoothed using a recursive curve. The smoothed reverse table is finely adjusted to generate an intermediate output gamma table. The generated table undergoes index component correction, thus generating a tone correction table.