Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon set printing mode (step S9), printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes (steps S10, S12, S14). For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode (step S10), the preliminary ejection during printing, is performed in the medium ejection amount mode which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval of preliminary ejection during printing can be set longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to preliminary printing operation.

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: For calibration, a patch pattern is printed which enables patches to be measured while precisely reducing the adverse effects of a variation in patch pattern density resulting from a variation in movement speed or temperature of a printing head. Specifically, dummy patches that are not measured are printed on the periphery of measured patches. The dummy patches are printed by ejecting ink through all ejection openings in the printing head. Then, an increased dye concentration of ink is discharged from the printing head. Further, at the ends of a scanning range, at which the dummy patches are printed, the movement speed of the printing head varies significantly. Accordingly, the measured patches can be printed while the speed remains stable.

Abstract: When a printing apparatus performs printing using dark and light inks, a large variation in density caused by a rapid decrease in ink applying rate is prevented, thereby enabling proper density reproduction. More specifically, when for example, green hues of different densities are printed, light cyan ink is used between points corresponding to a variation of color from white to green. Furthermore, after the maximum saturation point, light cyan ink is used in addition to the dark cyan ink. This prevents the total applying rate from decreasing rapidly near the maximum eaturation point.

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: 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 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 pass from one side of a printing medium to another side of the printing medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus wherein a recording head which has been mounted can be identified more precisely by measuring characteristics of the recording head to obtain information for defining a drive condition of the head and storing the characteristics as ID information of the recording head.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon set printing mode (step S9), printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes (steps S10, S12, S14). For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode (step S10), the preliminary ejection during printing, is performed in the medium ejection amount mode which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval of preliminary ejection during printing can be set longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to preliminary printing operations.

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: A paper feed operation is performed by a width less than one pixel (½) in addition to an integer multiple number of pixels (n/2) with respect to a basic number of pixels inherent to an ink jet recording apparatus having a multi nozzle head having n nozzles. When a plurality of pixel recording operations are performed for a single pixel region, ink dots land within a distance less than one pixel unit (½). Thus, a variation in ink surface density on a recording sheet in an overlapping print operation is reduced, thereby efficiently increasing the image density, and preventing blurring by promoting absorption and evaporation of an ink to and from a paper sheet.

Abstract: This ink jet recording apparatus makes it possible to reduce the requisite number of times that preliminary ejection is performed for the purpose of ejection recovery through suction, which must be effected to such a degree as to make color mixing on the recording paper sufficiently inconspicuous. With a plurality of recording heads using inks of different lightnesses, ejection recovery is performed successively on the recording heads in accordance with the descending order of ink lightness. In addition, the number of preliminary ejections after ejection recovery to be performed on the next recording head is also controlled, thereby attaining a still greater effect. In a method aspect, the present invention includes an initial discharge step for discharging ink from a recording head, interrupting the discharge of ink for an appropriate period set in accordance with the ink lightness, and discharging ink again from the discharge ports of the recording head after the interruption.

Abstract: When a printing apparatus performs printing using dark and light inks, a large variation in density caused by a rapid decrease in ink applying rate is prevented, thereby enabling proper density reproduction. More specifically, when for example, green hues of different densities are printed, light cyan ink is used between points corresponding to a variation of color from white to green. Furthermore, after the maximum saturation point, light cyan ink is used in addition to the dark cyan ink. This prevents the total applying rate from decreasing rapidly near the maximum eaturation point.

Abstract: For calibration, a patch pattern is printed which enables patches to be measured while precisely reducing the adverse effects of a variation in patch pattern density resulting from a variation in movement speed or temperature of a printing head. Specifically, dummy patches that are not measured are printed on the periphery of measured patches. The dummy patches are printed by ejecting ink through all ejection openings in the printing head. Then, an increased dye concentration of ink is discharged from the printing head. Further, at the ends of a scanning range, at which the dummy patches are printed, the movement speed of the printing head varies significantly. Accordingly, the measured patches can be printed while the speed remains stable.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus, using an ink-jet head for ejecting ink supplied from an ink tank for storing ink and performing recording by ejecting ink from the ink-jet head based on recording data, the ink-jet recording apparatus performing recording by receiving the recording data transferred from a host through a signal line in a state that the ink-jet recording apparatus is connected to the host by the signal line. The apparatus obtains information as to a remaining amount of ink stored in an ink tank and a used amount of the ink-jet head, and stores the information so-obtained. A controller processes recording data transferred from the host and controls recording by the ink-jet head. According to one aspect, the controller transfers information stored in the memory to the host through the signal line according to a command input through the signal line.

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: A print control method and apparatus for performing printing by executing image processing on inputted image data and generating print data to be outputted to a printer, and a printer using the print control method and apparatus. First, the highest density value of the inputted image data is reduced by a predetermined amount, and the image data is subjected to binarization for generating print data to be inputted. Alternately, masking processing is performed on the image data by using a mask pattern which is generated in accordance with the type of ink, the color of ink or the type of print medium, so as to prevent dots that are consecutive in a printed image, thus preventing image deterioration.

Abstract: A paper feed operation is performed by a width less than one pixel (½) in addition to an integer multiple number of pixels (n/2) with respect to a basic number of pixels inherent to an ink jet recording apparatus having a multi nozzle head having n nozzles. When a plurality of tines of pixel recording operations are performed for a single pixel region, ink dots land at a distance less than one pixel (½) at the pixel density. Thus, a variation in ink surface density on a recording sheet in an overlapping print operation is reduced, thereby efficiently increasing the image density, and preventing blurring by promoting absorption and evaporation of an ink to and from a paper sheet.

Abstract: A liquid container for containing printing liquid for supplying to a recording head for an ink jet recording apparatus, the container includes a first chamber containing a negative pressure producing material and having a printing liquid supply port connectable to a recording head for allowing printing liquid to be supplied to the recording head and an air vent for allowing ambient air to enter the container, and a second chamber which provides a printing liquid reservoir for the first chamber and is substantially closed apart from a communication port communicating with the first chamber to allow the printing liquid to flow into the first chamber and to allow air to be introduced into the second chamber from the first chamber. The second chamber comprises a replaceable printing liquid chamber.

Abstract: An ink containing apparatus for containing ink includes a negative pressure producing material; a first container for containing the negative pressure producing material, the first container having an air vent and a supply port for supplying the ink out; a second container for containing ink; a communication part for communication between bottom portions of the first and second containers; and ribs for introducing ambient air adjacent the air vent for introducing air into the communication part.

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.