Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a fluidic die is described. The fluidic die includes an array of fluid actuators grouped into primitives. The fluidic die also includes a fluid actuator controller to selectively activate fluid actuators via activation data. The fluidic die also includes an array of actuator evaluators, wherein each actuator evaluator of the fluidic die is coupled to a subset of the array of fluid actuators. The actuator evaluators selectively evaluate an actuator characteristic of a selected fluid actuator based on: an output of an actuator sensor paired with the selected fluid actuator, the activation data, and an evaluation control signal.

Abstract: A method of printing using a print head comprising first and second print arrays, each comprising a plurality of nozzles. Each of the first print array nozzles emits a droplet of a first volume and each of the second print array nozzles emits a droplet of a second volume, wherein the first volume is less than the second volume. The method comprises: a. receiving image data comprising a received tone value for a pixel; b. selecting one of the print arrays corresponding to the pixel location; c. mapping the received tone value to a mapped tone value using a tone mapping for the selected print array; d. comparing the mapped tone value with a threshold value for the location of the pixel; and e. generating a control signal for the selected print array if the mapped tone value corresponds to the threshold value in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device includes a fluid ejection chamber having a drop ejecting element therein, a first fluid channel to communicate a first fluid with the fluid ejection chamber, a second fluid channel to communicate a second fluid different than the first fluid with the fluid ejection chamber, and a fluid pump communicated with one of the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. As such, the fluid ejection chamber is to selectively eject drops of the first fluid, the second fluid, and a combination of the first fluid and the second fluid therefrom.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment comprises a printer unit to print a sheet with a plurality of single colors and generate a correction sheet including a plurality of single color regions at different positions between a first reference region and a second reference region. The first and second reference regions are a reference color. An image reading unit is configured to read the correction sheet. A processor is configured to calculate a shift amount in a main scanning direction of the printer unit for each single color region based on RGB luminance values obtained from the correction sheet by the image reading unit and to correct a printer scan position along the main scanning direction for each single color in the plurality of single colors corresponding to the single color regions using calculated shift amounts.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head including a plurality of nozzles, a row of individual flow paths that includes a plurality of individual flow paths arranged in parallel along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis when viewed in a direction of the first axis, and a common liquid chamber that is commonly in communication with the plurality of individual flow paths. In the liquid ejecting head, the plurality of individual flow paths include a first individual flow path and a second individual flow path that are adjacent to each other in the row of individual flow paths, and the level of a first opening that is a connection port between the common liquid chamber and the first individual flow path and the level of a second opening that is a connection port between the common liquid chamber and the second individual flow path are different.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a sensor and circuitry. The sensor is configured to read a visible spectrum and an invisible spectrum of an image. The circuitry is configured to separate the image read into a visible image and an invisible image and perform different image correction processes on the visible image and the invisible image, respectively.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to printing an image as a multi-layered textured image on a substrate. The printing system prints one or more layers of a texture of the image as a base layer on the substrate and the image above the base layer. The base layer includes one or more layers of the texture. The printing system prints the texture using the ink from the print heads of the printing system. The process of printing a multi-layered textured image can include printing one or more layers of texture as a base layer on the substrate, printing one or more layers of white ink above the base layer, and printing one or more layers of the image above the white layers. The printing system can also insert one or more blank layers between different types of layers, e.g., texture layers, white layers and image layers.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing method, an image processing device, and an image recording apparatus capable of suppressing generation of beats, even in a case where streaky unevenness correction other than non-discharge correction of a recording element is performed, in any nozzle layout shapes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method relating generally to controlling operation of one or more managed devices, such as printers, are disclosed. In such method, a radio frequency identification tag of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags within a first range is detected by a radio frequency identification reader of a printer. Tag information for the radio frequency identification tag is sent to a server. The tag information for a user is mapped to a user list on the server. A check for a policy for the user is made. The printer is waked from a sleep mode for operation by the user responsive to a determination the user is likely to use the printer responsive to the policy.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a print controller including one or more processors to receive print data, rasterize the print data into bitmap data, analyze objects in each page of bitmap data to determine sizes of objects and generate mapping data for each page of bitmap data that maps locations of page bitmap data having same size objects, a print engine to print the bitmap data to a medium and a print verification system to capture one or more images of the medium as print verification data and to detect one or more defects in the print verification data.

Abstract: A circuit includes a pulse generator to generate an output pulse in response to a signal representing rotation of a fan. A timing relationship between output pulses represents speed of the fan. A filter circuit converts the output pulse to a direct current (DC) voltage signal proportional to the speed of the fan. A monitor circuit monitors the DC voltage signal with respect to a predetermined threshold and generates a control signal that disables a printer dryer if the DC signal does not satisfy the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a signal output unit configured to output a signal in response to a user operation; a reading unit configured to read a document and generate image data having a first resolution or a second resolution lower than the first resolution; a recording unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; and a controller configured to control the reading unit and the recording unit and execute: (a) primary preparation operation start processing of, when a signal is output, controlling the reading unit so as to start a first preparation operation or a second preparation operation; (b) determination processing of determining; (c) secondary preparation operation start processing and/or reading processing; (d) decision processing of deciding the continuous number of recording copies; and (e) recording processing of causing the recording unit to form the image on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method of generating an image on a transparent or semitransparent substrate, the method comprising analyzing a first image to be printed on a first side of the substrate to identify a region associated with a predominant color, printing, on the first side of the substrate a color patch with the identified predominant color, printing, on a second side of the substrate, a test color pattern overlapping with the color patch on the first side of the substrate, determining, in a transmission geometry, a color distribution in the color patch, and generating from the determined color distribution, for the region associated with the predominant color identified in the first image, a transmission mode color profile for printing on the second side of the substrate.

Abstract: An information processing system adds density information to a first specific region of a document sheet represented by image data, the density information being indicated by a reference density lower than a density index value derived based on densities of pixels included in the image data. The system adds predetermined restriction information to the image data, the restriction information being indicated by a density equal to or higher than the reference density. The system acquires, as a determined density, a density of the first specific region. The system determines, based on the image data, whether a second specific region that is a part or all of a region of the document sheet, includes the restriction information indicated by a density that is equal to or higher than the determined density. If so, the system restricts a specific process concerning the image data from being executed.

Abstract: A first swath of first dots is printed, such that each column of first dots is disposed along a first direction and is spaced apart from other columns of first dots along a scan direction. Allowable locations of first dots have an irregular extent along at least a first stitch boundary of the first swath. A second swath of second dots is printed similarly. A first stitch boundary of the second swath is proximate to the first stitch boundary of the first swath to form a first stitched region. Allowable locations of second dots have an irregular extent along at least the first stitch boundary of the second swath that is complementary to the irregular extent along the first stitch boundary of the first swath, where the allowable locations of first dots and the second dots in the first stitched region are substantially not interspersed along the first direction.

Abstract: A method for correcting tone-level non-uniformities in a digital printing system includes printing a test target having a set of uniform test patches. The printed test target is automatically analyzed to determine tone-level errors as a function of cross-track position for each of the test patches. A tone-level correction function is determined and represented using a set of one-dimensional feature vectors which specifies tone-level corrections as a function of cross-track position and pixel value. Corrected image data is determined by using the tone-level correction function to determine a tone-level correction value for each image pixel responsive to the input pixel value and cross-track position of the image pixel. The corrected image data is printed using the digital printing system to provide a printed image with reduced tone-level errors.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, devices, and systems are disclosed herein for upscaling an input image to a higher resolution while simultaneously converting the image data from a multi-drop state to a binary state. These systems and methods use a probabilistic combination of randomized and biased positioning of inkjet firings in order to yield perceptibly lower graininess in low-coverage areas of output prints without introducing new artefacts.

Abstract: A method for compensating for position-dependent density fluctuations in an inkjet printing machine includes the steps of assigning, by using a look-up table, specific halftone patterns to specific gray values of a color separation to be screened of an image in the course of the calibration of a raster image processor of the inkjet printing machine, using the halftone patterns in the image screening process by using the computer and printing the halftone image on the inkjet printing machine. The look-up table contains the position of every printing nozzle of the print heads in the inkjet printing machine as an additional variable and the computer enters a complete set of gray values with associated adapted halftone patterns into the look-up table for every position of a printing nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a drug packaging device including a printing unit configured to perform printing by jetting ink and being capable of performing the printing on a packaging paper with high printing quality without including a support base or the like for the packaging paper. A drug packaging device (10) includes a drug supply unit (20), a packaging unit (30), a packaging paper conveying unit (40), and a printing unit (60). The printing unit (60) includes an ink ejection unit (62) capable of ejecting ink downward.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a head unit arranged in a main scanning direction includes head arrays each having nozzles discharging liquid are arranged in a sub scanning direction, a moving unit that alternately performs a main scanning operation while discharging the liquid and a sub scanning operation causing the head unit or the recording medium to move in the sub scanning direction without discharging the liquid, and a gradation setting unit that sets a first pattern setting a gradation to increase a center printing ratio at a center and decrease an end printing ratio at both ends for a whole area of the head array in the sub scanning direction and a second pattern in which a gradation is set so as to increase the printing ratio setting a gradation to increase the center printing ratio and decrease the end printing ratio for an arbitrary number of the heads.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating an amplitude modulated multi-cluster halftone dot for use in an amplitude modulated screen includes determining an arrangement of clusters within the dot; determining a cluster function for each cluster, the cluster function defining a pixel sequence indicating a sequence of turning on device pixels within an area of a particular cluster; determining a dot function for the dot, the dot function defining a cluster sequence indicating a sequence of the clusters; and generating a set of data representative of the dot for a particular tonal value, by determining the device pixels within the dot turned on for that particular tonal value according to the cluster functions and the dot function. A computer program, a printing device and a printed product are also provided.

Abstract: Density of each pixel is specified from a test pattern for measurement of density distribution, a density profile indicating distribution of the specified density for each pixel is acquired, and a pixel region including a “nozzle of interest” having a certain density difference or more from surrounding pixels and pixels on both sides thereof is extracted as a nozzle region of interest from the acquired density profile. Filters B to E, other than a filter A to be applied for density smoothing processing of pixels that do not belong to the nozzle region of interest, are applied for the density smoothing processing of the pixels in the nozzle region of interest, to generate a profile of a density correction value for eliminating a density difference between respective pixels based on the density profile after the smoothing processing.

Abstract: Provided are an image recording apparatus, a dither mask, and an image recording method capable of reducing occurrence of concentration unevenness without decrease in productivity. In an image recording apparatus that repeats a main scan operation of relatively moving a recording head having a nozzle row with respect to a recording medium in a main scan direction to perform recording and a sub scan operation of relatively moving the recording medium with respect to the recording head in a sub scan direction, a nozzle jetting rate of each nozzle is controlled by a dither mask.

Abstract: In conventional color shading (CS) processing for correcting color unevenness with high precision, even an image to preserve pure colors can be corrected to use inks of other colors. Color unevenness is more appropriately corrected to provide a favorable image by properly using pure color preservation information and pure color non-preservation information as color correction information for the CS processing.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image forming system according to the present invention includes a conveyance path along which a heat-expandable sheet is conveyed, a heating unit which heats the heat-expandable sheet by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light, a detection sensor which detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit by the conveyance of the heat-expandable sheet along the conveyance path, and a control unit which increases the conveying speed of the heat-expandable sheet whose rear end is detected when the detection sensor detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit.

Abstract: Embodiments for implementing a fault tolerant color palette in a device having potential hardware faults by a processor. A fault tolerant color palette, assistive of user color interpretation for a display, may be generated according to a set of colors in a predetermined color palette and one or more user preferences.

Abstract: An image processing method includes dividing a desired image into a normal region formed with partial images and a joint region formed by overlapping the partial images, first converting image data in an RGB color space corresponding to the normal region into normal region CMYK data in a CMYK color space using a normal region LUT, second converting the image data in the RGB color space corresponding to the joint region into joint region CMYK data in the CMYK color space using a joint region LUT derived based on attribute information of the printing medium and environmental information of an environment in which the printing apparatus is to perform printing, and generating printing data based on the normal region CMYK data and the joint region CMYK data.

Abstract: A method for compensating for defective printing nozzles in an inkjet printing machine by way of a computer. Defective printing nozzles are compensated for by an increased ink drop volume of neighboring printing nozzles and the real positions of the print dots of all printing nozzles are determined and, to compensate for a printing nozzle failure, the required ink drop volumes of the respective neighboring printing nozzles are calculated for every printing nozzle as a function of the real positions of the print dots of the respective neighboring printing nozzles. In addition to increased ink drop volumes of the respective neighboring printing nozzles, reduced ink drop volumes are calculated for the respective next but one printing nozzles and all ink drop volumes are calculated based on the print dots of the respective printing nozzles.

Abstract: Example methods of controlling printing of a halftone image are disclosed as well as apparatuses and computer-readable storage mediums relating thereto. In an example, the method includes receiving input data indicating a first colorant deposition order for a colorant combination and a second colorant deposition order for the colorant combination, wherein the second colorant deposition order is different from the first colorant deposition order. Control data is generated based on the input data. The control data includes first pixel data associating a first pixel in the halftone image with the first colorant deposition order, and second pixel data associating a second pixel in the halftone image with the second colorant deposition order. The control data is used to control a printer to print the halftone.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms an image on a sheet on the basis of print image data obtained by performing image processing on raster data subjected to raster image processing; an image reader that reads the image formed on the sheet on the basis of the print image data by the image former to acquire uncorrected read image data; and a hardware processor that compares the raster data with read image data generated from the uncorrected read image data acquired by the image reader to inspect a print state of the image formed on the sheet, wherein the hardware processor, when inspecting the print state of the image formed on the sheet, offsets an amount of adjustment adjusted by the image processing performed on the raster data.

Abstract: A drop-on-demand printing method comprising performing the following steps in a printing head: discharging a first primary drop of a first liquid from a first nozzle outlet to move along a first path (pA) with a first speed; discharging a second primary drop of a second liquid from a second nozzle outlet to move along a second path (pB) with a second speed, lower than the first speed, wherein the second path (pB) is inclined with respect to the first path (pB) along an axis inclined at an angle (?) from 3 to 60 degrees and crosses the first path (pA) at a connection point; controlling the flight of the first primary drop and the second primary drop to combine the first primary drop with the second primary drop into a combined drop at the connection point so that a chemical reaction is initiated between the first liquid of the first primary drop and the second liquid of the second primary drop; applying electric charge to the combined drop; wherein the path of flight (pC) of the combined drop is altered no mor

Abstract: The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for an efficient and economical print quality setup for thermal printers. A thermal printhead of a thermal printer constitutes multiple printhead banks. The printhead banks may be controlled by strobe signals. While configuring print quality, each of the strobe signals may operate separately with different power causing the printhead banks to operate in different configurations while printing an identical pattern. As each the banks are operating in different configuration, they each print the identical pattern with a different print quality. One print quality may be selected from the different quality patterns printed by each printhead bank on a single printed label or media. The selected quality pattern corresponds to a quality factor. The method may reduce the time to select a configuration and may reduce the amount of usage of media or labels.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing device according to the present invention includes at least one nozzle configured to discharge an ink droplet onto a recording medium conveyed in a conveyance direction, and a control unit to control flushing operation of the nozzle. Candidate regions are disposed at a plurality of places separated from each other in a conveyance direction of a cut sheet. The control unit controls the nozzle to perform the flushing operation in the candidate regions at a plurality of places in the conveyance direction of the cut sheet. With this configuration, the ink jet printing device can efficiently perform the flushing operation on a recording medium with reduced restriction on imposition.

Abstract: An image local contrast enhancement method includes: obtaining a first block where a pixel is located and a second block adjacent to the first block, and a gray scale source of a third block; obtaining a source gray scale of a fourth block opposite to the first block; respectively calculating a linear interpolation value according to the source gray scale and a distance between the pixel and the first block, the second block, the third block, and the fourth block; calculating a nonlinear interpolation value of the linear interpolation value by a nonlinear function; performing weighted calculation on the nonlinear interpolation value to obtain a target gray scale. The disclosure increases the diagonal blocks in the local gray scale adjustment, reflects the diagonal direction of the image, enhances the display effect of the local contrast in the smoothing process, enhances the edge image display effect, and improves the user experience.

Abstract: A control device that controls a printing execution unit to execute printing by alternately executing partial printings, which forms the dot using the print head, and print medium conveying, which conveys the print medium using the conveyor, the conveyor including: a first roller; a second roller; and a third roller, wherein a first holding state is a state where the print medium is held by the first roller, is held by the second roller, and is held by the third roller, a second holding state is a state where the print medium is held by the first roller, is held by the second roller, and is not held by the third roller, and a length of the second partial image printed in the first holding state is longer than a length of the second partial image printed in the second holding state.

Abstract: A structure manufacturing method manufactures a structure including an expansion layer M2 by expanding the expansion layer M2 that is included in a print medium M and expands by heating. An electromagnetic wave-heat conversion material is formed on a first surface of the print medium M in density corresponding to a shape of a structure C0 to be manufactured. Here, either the material is formed in lower density than density of the material in a first part of the expansion layer M2 to be expanded to a first height H1 and density of the material in a second part of the expansion layer M2 to be expanded to a second height H2 or the material is not formed, in a boundary region A0 which is the first surface in a boundary part between the first part and the second part. The print medium M is then irradiated with electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: A method comprising printing multicolored images on containers includes providing overall-image data, extracting partial-image data from the overall-image data, print-head-specific calibration-data for the print heads, using the partial-image data and the first print-head-specific calibration-data for calculating print-head image-data for each print head, and causing the print heads to print corresponding partial images on containers, each partial image corresponding to one of the colors in the multicolored images.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head includes a recording element configured to generate thermal energy and a discharge orifice disposed at a position facing the recording element. A bubble is generated in liquid by the thermal energy, liquid between the bubble and the discharge orifice is discharged from the discharge orifice by the pressure of the generated bubble, and the bubble communicates with the atmosphere on the outside of the discharge orifice.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, to improve processing performance, a printing apparatus that performs printing by using a printhead formed by a plurality of headchips includes one CPU, a table configured to store processing contents set by the CPU, and a plurality of processing units configured to process, in parallel, printing data to be used in each headchip by commonly using the table and in accordance with the processing contents set in the table. In addition, the apparatus includes a plurality of control units configured to wait for the completion of the processing of each processing unit, synchronize the plurality of processing units for next processing, and cause each of the processing units to execute the next processing in accordance with the processing contents set in the table.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium that can contribute to formation of electric circuits having different resistance values without causing increase in cost. The image processing apparatus generates print data for printing an electrically conductive print image on a print medium by ejecting a metal particle-containing ink from ejection device, the image processing apparatus has: a setting unit configured to set a printing condition based on a resistance value of the electrically conductive print image so as to change at least one of an amount of ink droplets of the metal particle-containing ink contacting each other and a time to be taken for ejected metal particle-containing ink droplets to contact each other; and a generation unit configured to generate the print data based on image data for the electrically conductive print image and the printing condition.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a controller configured to: acquire scan data indicating a scan image including first and second specific color areas each indicating a part thereof printed by using a first nozzle and a third specific color area indicating a part thereof printed by using a second nozzle; and generate a plurality of parameters, by using the scan data, each of the plurality of parameters indicating jetting characteristic of a coloring material from one of the first and second nozzles corresponding thereto. The controller evaluates the difference between a color of the first specific color area and a color of the second specific color area, and the controller generates a parameter included in the plurality of parameters and corresponding to the second nozzle, by using a result of the evaluation of the difference and a value of a third pixel within the third specific color area.

Abstract: The shaping method for shaping a 3D object includes shaping execution data generating step of generating shaping execution data indicating the 3D object in a format corresponding to a shaping device; and shaping executing step of shaping the 3D object with the shaping device based on the shaping execution data, the 3D object being shaped using at least a shaping material of plural colors, wherein the shaping execution data generating step is a step of generating the shaping executing data based on 3D object data indicating the 3D object in which at least one part is colored, the shaping execution data being generated by at least carrying out color conversion using a shaping material profile or a profile corresponding to the shaping material of plural colors, and the color conversion being carried out using the plurality of shaping material profiles different from each other.

Abstract: An example method of determining dot gain in a liquid electrophotographic printer is described. The method involves effecting a print operation based on a predetermined digital dot area and measuring an operating current of a binary ink development unit during the print operation. A dot gain between the digital dot area and a physical dot area of a developed image is determined based on a function of the measured operating current.

Abstract: A method of printing a print pattern onto a substrate with a print head comprises a plurality of nozzles, where the print head has a rectangular active print head area which includes all of the nozzles. The active print head area is delimited by four sides defining a primary and a secondary direction. The method comprises i) decomposing the print pattern into a plurality of print pattern segments that have dimensions along the primary and secondary direction which are smaller than the dimensions of the active print head area along the primary and secondary direction; ii) assigning each print pattern segment to exactly one nozzle; iii) causing each nozzle to print the print pattern segment assigned to said nozzle. The print head is moved during printing of each print pattern segment within an area that is smaller than said active print head area.

Abstract: A halftone processing of an image processing apparatus includes: performing a drop-less halftone processing on image data of each color corresponding to one or more ink colors including at least one selected from all ink colors of an inkjet printer in descending order of lightness of the all ink colors, the drop-less halftone processing having a minimum drop number per pixel greater than a minimum drop number per pixel in a normal halftone processing of generating drop data having a number of levels corresponding to a maximum drop number per pixel; and performing the normal halftone processing on image data of each color corresponding to the other ink colors other than the one or more ink colors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data to be used in a printing apparatus configured to perform forward and backward scan printing by using a print head in which nozzle arrays corresponding to multiple colors are aligned. The image processing apparatus includes: a setting unit configured to set a first control parameter in a case where image data to be processed does not include a line portion and to set a second control parameter in a case where the image data to be processed includes a line portion, the second parameter being different from the first control parameter; and a processing unit configured to perform, for the image data to be processed, processing to suppress a difference between a color printed in a forward scan and a color printed in a backward scan based on the control parameter set by the setting unit.

Abstract: Printing an image, using a printing system having a malfunctioning or inoperative nozzle corresponding to a column of affected positions in a half-toned digital image, includes modifying the half-toned digital image, using a pre-print digital processor of the printing system to compute a modified version of the half-toned digital image, such that droplet sizes are increased only in the two neighboring columns and according to a value of a compensation function, and printing the modified half-toned digital image on the target surface. Values of the threshold-based compensation function are based on a luminance-debt function defined by an iterative row-by-consecutive-row computation procedure, where for each iteration step the luminance-debt function is re-calculated according to data representing the ink values of affected positions and data representing the instant value of the compensation function.

Abstract: A color conversion apparatus includes an accepting unit and a converter. The accepting unit accepts plural colorimetric values obtained by measuring a target color image in plural directions. The converter converts the plural colorimetric values accepted by the accepting unit to color values including a value indicating a coloring-material amount of a luster coloring material and a value indicating a coloring-material amount of a coloring material other than the luster coloring material.

Abstract: An inkjet printer injects first ink of a plurality of colors and second ink. An extraction condition setter sets an extraction condition to extract a portion of, or an entirety of, ink dots of the first ink of each of the plurality of colors. An extractor extracts an underlying layer dot group from ink dots of the first ink of each of the plurality of colors based on the extraction condition. Such a plurality of underlying layer dot groups and ink dots of the second ink form a first printing layer. An image dot group including at least the ink dots, of the first ink, other than the underlying dot groups forms at least one additional printing layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method for recording a white overlaying layer and a non-white pattern layer to a recording medium, printed matters obtained by the recording method, and systems for realizing the recording method thereof.