Abstract: The disclosure proposes the automatic use of the job or image content information of a print job. This information is used to automatically adjust the general printing procedure for a print engine. The job's image content information is analyzed in the context of the constraints of the print engine to determine an improved printing procedure, which may include cycle-up operation, process control cycles, or maintenance cycles for that particular print job.

Abstract: Engine response curves (RCs) can be used for streak compensation for printed documents. A feedback control paradigm can be included to effect RC compensation. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) can be used to represent each RC in the collection of spatial RC data as a linear combination of basis vectors. RCs are approximated by selecting the first few basis vectors, the approximation aiding in noise rejection and reducing computation in the controller by reducing dimensionality of the RC data from gray levels to the number of SVD bases selected. An optimal subset of RCs is selectable from the set of approximated RCs by clustering the SVD weights, the clustered SVD weights producing TRCs that span all engine response RCs generated by a printer. Compensation RCs are constructible using reduced number of bases and clustered SVD weights.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method for processing data in the printing apparatus includes estimating a printing time by adding an intermediate data generation time and a rendering time, determining whether the estimated printing time of each page keeps up with a timing at which an image needs to be formed on a conveyed sheet for each page. If it is determined that the estimated printing time does not keep up with the timing at which the image needs to be formed, further determining whether an idle time is present by comparing the intermediate data generation time and the rendering time. If it is discriminated that the idle time is present, the changing an optimization level for determining whether to perform processing on a particular object in the document image data during rendering, or to perform the processing during intermediate data generation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an attribute-value-information holding unit that holds an attribute-value table showing correspondence between a type of gradation processing and a fixing-temperature control attribute value; an image-formation-attribute processing unit that determines a type of gradation processing and a corresponding fixing-temperature control attribute value on the basis of contents of a print instruction and the attribute-value table; a gradation processing unit that performs gradation processing in accordance with the type of gradation processing determined by the image-formation-attribute processing unit; and a fixing-temperature control unit that controls fixing temperature in formation of a print image according to the fixing-temperature control attribute value determined by the image-formation-attribute processing unit.

Abstract: A system for generating a set of bit masks arrays is provided (350-0 to 350-255) where the bit mask arrays (350-0 to 350-255) are such that clusters of entries of different types are spread across each array and entries of different types within the arrays are either part of a larger cluster of entries of that type or are immediately adjacent to a cluster of entries of that type. When a multi-level image (200) is converted to a half-tone image (300) utilizing the bit mask arrays (350-0 to 350-255) a half-tone image (300) which limits the occurrence of small isolated printed or unprinted areas is generated. The bit mask arrays (350-0 to 350-255) are therefore particularly suitable for use with laser printers (28,32) which have difficulty rendering half tone images which comprise small isolated printed and unprinted areas.

Abstract: A display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a grayscale converting circuit for converting input image data to output image data using a look-up table showing a correspondence between input image data of i bits and output image data of k bits larger than the i bits; and an LUT creating circuit for creating the look-up table based on ? data of 2k bits. The apparatus further includes a ? data storage circuit capable of storing the plural ? data in the LUT creating circuit.

Abstract: A recording apparatus using a recording head having a first recording element array and a second recording element array for one color component includes a first memory configured to store a plurality of first patterns which correspond to first, second, and third gradation values and in which dot data is allocated to the first recording element array or the second recording element array, a second pattern which corresponds to fourth gradation value and in which dot data is allocated to the first recording element array, and a third pattern corresponds to fifth gradation value and in which dot data is allocated to the second recording element array, a data acquisition unit configured to acquire multi-valued data at the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth gradation value, a generation unit configured to generate dot data based on the multi-valued data generated by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: To effectively assist a user so that the result of aggregate printing matches the intention of the user. A storage portion (16) stores information regarding the attributes of each page. A display (12) displays a preview screen in which icons corresponding to each page included in the manuscript are arranged in page number sequence. An instruction reception portion (17b) receives, from the user, a modification instruction for instructing that the sequence in which the pages are arranged be modified according to a modification to the sequence in which the icons are arranged, the modification being performed by the user in the preview screen. When the modification instruction is received, a modification aggregation determination portion (17d) determines, on the basis of the information regarding the attributes, whether the modification to the sequence of arrangement will result in pages having different attributes being intermixed with the same aggregate page.

Abstract: A method and apparatus as provided for determining, for an ink to be deposited on a substrate by a halftone inkjet printing process, a nominal coverage value (the ‘ink restriction value’), that corresponds to an amount of ink sufficient to fully cover the area of the substrate to be printed. This determination is effected by measuring the reflectance of the printed substrate for a range of nominal coverage values, and then using an automatic processing arrangement to determine, from the change of measured reflectance with nominal coverage value, the nominal coverage value at which continuous tone behavior commences.

Abstract: A print controlling apparatus includes a user interface to input a printing command of a document displaying a plurality of overlaid objects, a printing data generator to detect a transparency region where a transparency is set, in the overlaid objects, to generate a transparency image by calculating a pixel value of the transparency region, based on the pixel value of each object and the transparency, and to generate printing data comprising the transparency image, and a communication interface to send the printing data to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A computer calculates an edginess, which is an image variation from a differential value of data for adjacent picture elements, and determines object picture elements by selecting only images with a large variation. As optimum parameters for contrast correction and lightness compensation are calculated from image data for object picture elements, image processing indicators based on object picture elements are determined, and optimum imago processing can be performed automatically. After summing a luminance Distribution for each area of the image, which is a feature amount, while uniformly selecting picture elements, a reevaluation is performed by a weighting determined for each area, and a luminance distribution, strongly influenced by the luminance distribution of the photographed object is thus obtained with uniform sampling.

Abstract: The present application provides a mixed resolution, interleaving-based, cross-channel data flow and data format for a printer image path. The architecture provides pixel data for a colorant of a given writing channel at its nominal (full) resolution, while pixel data for other colorants is provided at lowered resolution. Pixel data for a primary channel at its full resolution is interleaved with data for other secondary channels at lower resolution. Known sub-sampling or compression techniques can be used to lower the resolution of the secondary channels. The data at the different resolutions is generated by the digital front end (DFE), which distributes the data for each writing channel at the time it is needed. Preferably, the low resolution data is sent first to the writer, followed by high resolution data, so that data buffering is minimized.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing isolated dots of an image to be printed by a printer. The method includes detecting whether pixels corresponding to an isolated dot in the image are in an on state. A first sum of pixels that are in an on state in a first pixel ring surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated dot when the pixels in the isolated dot are detected to be in the on state is determined. The first sum of pixels in the first pixel ring that are in the on state is compared with a first threshold sum. A first number of pixels in at least a second pixel ring either comprising of or surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated dot are turned on when the first sum of pixels in the on state is less than the first threshold sum.

Abstract: A manuscript reading apparatus capable of reading manuscript through a proper scan resolution without performing troublesome operation by user is supplied. In the image reading apparatus, a setting section 102 sets a scan resolution; an image reading section 103 reads manuscript through the set scan resolution; a storing section 104 stores the read image data; and an image processing section 106 determines a recommended resolution with respect to the scan resolution according to a continuous number of the same pixel in the image data.

Abstract: A computer program for, or method of, generating 1-bit image data from multiple-bit image data, by a process which comprises the steps of: receiving multiple-bit image data comprising multiple-bit pixel values; and deriving from the multiple-bit pixel values 1-bit image data comprising “on” and “off pixel values, each pixel value of the 1-bit image data corresponding to a pixel of an output medium, which pixel an output device would attempt to mark when printing the 1-bit image data if the pixel value were “on”, the 1-bit image data producing when printed an image constituted by dots, each dot corresponding to a plurality of pixel values of the 1-bit image data, which pixel values correspond to a block of M*N horizontally and/or vertically adjacent pixels of an output is medium, at least one of M and N being greater than one, wherein for at least some of the dots, where M or N is equal to one, a pixel value corresponding to a first or last pixel of a row of horizontally adjacent pixels, or to a first or last

Abstract: A process for receiving data comprising multiple-bit pixel values and deriving therefrom 1-bit image data comprising “on” and “off” pixel values, each corresponding to a pixel on an output medium, which an output device would attempt to mark when printing the 1-bit image data if the pixel value were “on”, the 1-bit image data producing when printed an image constituted by a plurality of densities of dots, the dots being arranged such that, at least for densities of dots greater than a first threshold density, at least a majority of dots form a pair with at least one horizontally or vertically adjacent dot, and for densities of dots less than a second threshold density, the image is substantially free of blocks of 2*2 horizontally and vertically adjacent dots, the second threshold density being greater than the first threshold density. Additionally or alternatively dot arrangements are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of printing an image by a printer having an asymmetric printer resolution includes multi-level halftoning the image by assigning a level out of a number of levels to each pixel of the image. The method further includes determining the number of levels on the basis of the asymmetric printer resolution, selecting for each level a collection of at least one binary pattern, each binary pattern consisting of a plurality of sub-pixels the number of which is determined by the number of levels, selecting for each pixel of the halftoned image a binary pattern from the collection selected for the level assigned to the pixel, transforming each pixel of the halftoned image into the selected binary pattern, and printing the binary patterns of the transformed pixels using the asymmetric printer resolution. A printer is configured to perform the method.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a histogram creation unit that creates a histogram from an input image, a detection unit that detects a gradation level of interest from the histogram, a gradation correction parameter generation unit that generates a gradation correction parameter to improve a gradation characteristic in a gradation range around the gradation level of interest, and a correction unit that corrects the gradation of the image using the gradation correction parameter. The detection unit detects, as the gradation level of interest, a gradation level whose frequency is a peak value equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, and which has variation width of frequencies in a predetermined range including this gradation level to be smaller than a predetermined width in the histogram.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for gray balance calibration in an image printing system is provided. The method includes printing, using a print engine, a reference test pattern consisting essentially of black marking medium; sensing, using a sensor, the reference test pattern to obtain a reference image data, the reference image data being a function of the black marking medium; printing, using the print engine, a second test pattern comprising a combination of marking mediums of different colors, other than the color black, available on the image printing system to simulate the black marking medium; sensing, using the sensor, the second test pattern to obtain a second image data, the second image data being a function of the combination of marking mediums; and determining a difference between the reference image data and the second image data to obtain a correction offset for gray balance calibration in the image printing system.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus in which a printed material of a same page is printed in almost same color tone even in a case where calibration execution conditions are satisfied in executing printing processing and concentration correction information is updated. A decision portion decides, when a calibration execution portion executes calibration in executing print image data generation processing based on print setting information of N-up printing, poster printing and the like, whether print image data of N-up printing, poster printing and the like is generated using concentration correction information before update or concentration correction information after update based on print setting information analyzed by a data analyzing portion. Then, based on the decision results, the print image data generation portion generates print image data of N-up printing, poster printing and the like.

Abstract: A printing system includes a host computer with an application and an image forming apparatus. The host computer includes a color space setting unit and print data creating unit. The color space setting unit sets a color space that can create grayscale images. The print data creating unit performs color conversion on a print object created by the application to create print data, the color conversion being appropriate for the color space. The image forming apparatus includes a grayscale image creating unit and printing unit. The grayscale image creating unit performs color conversion on the print object, which is included in the print data, to create a grayscale image, the color conversion being appropriate for the color space of the print object. The printing unit performs printing according to the grayscale image.

Abstract: A color adjustment method includes a color adjustment step to obtain an adjusted CMYK value from an output CMYK value using a color adjustment table. The color adjustment table is to convert the output CMYK value into the adjusted CMYK value and created based on first and third tables. The third table is created based on: a CMYK value determined by C, M and Y values and a K value found from the C, M and Y values, the CMYK value having a proportion of the K value to the CMYK value larger than the proportion used when a second table is created; and a relationship between the CMYK value and the output color value for the CMYK value. This relationship is obtained based on a relationship between an input CMYK value and the output color value of the first table.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a color image using image carriers for a plurality of colors by electrophotography. The image forming apparatus stores, for each color, information on the shift amount between an ideal scanning line and an actual scanning line in the main scanning direction on the image carrier. For each color, a color misregistration correction amount calculation unit converts a readout address in a bitmap memory (403), based on the stored shift amount information, and reads out image data. A color misregistration correction unit (404) performs tone correction for the readout image data based on the address, outputting image data containing the value of the decimal part. A multi-level error diffusion unit (405) performs quantization by multi-level error diffusion processing for the tone-corrected image data containing the value of the decimal part.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining an amount of clear toner to be applied to a document image to improve smoothness in an output print rendered using a xerographic device capable of applying clear toner to the image in the image path. Using clear toner to improve smoothness enables a GCR strategy in which more black can be used. This, in turn, decreases the incremental cost for clear toner. The teachings hereof present attractive trade-offs for print shops specializing in color document reproduction and other customers of high-end xerographic devices capable of applying clear toner. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which converts first image data having grayscale value of a predetermined color space for each pixel into second image data having grayscale values of recording material colors of a printing section and having pixels of which the number is reduced to 1/n, includes grayscale value difference determination section that determines whether or not grayscale value difference between a predetermined target pixel and each of other pixels in a pixel block exceeds a threshold value for each of the pixel blocks for the first image data, and color conversion section that performs color conversion process by referring to color conversion table, and color conversion section performs a second process such that grayscale value of the recording material color obtained through color conversion process for an average value of grayscale values of the predetermined color space of the respective pixels is used as the second image data.

Abstract: A method for designing a screen includes receiving screen information related to a picture element divided into a number of subunits of the picture element, and determining an amount of an ink to apply to a media at a location of the picture element in response to the information. The subunits of the picture element have a higher resolution than the resolution of a printing apparatus at which the printing element will be reproduced.

Abstract: In image processing, it is possible to suitably reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the ink used in printing. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating data for 2-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to the two passes is also generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data for each of the passes. Furthermore, when generating the quantized data, the division ratios used when generating the common data using the aforementioned multi-valued data division are set according to the colors of ink used in printing. By doing so, it becomes possible to suitably reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the colors used in printing.

Abstract: An image processing method generates a halftone image by forming a halftone dot represented by a set of one or plural output dots corresponding to an intensity of an input image signal while making a part of the dots constituting the halftone dot to be an actual non-output dot so as to reduce an amount of a coloring material of a halftone-dot portion. The image processing method includes holding in a predetermined storage medium halftone-dot profile data for forming the halftone dot corresponding to the intensity of the image signal and gap-size profile data representing a size of a set of the non-output dot; and generating the halftone dot comprising a gap having a size based on the gap-size profile data, a size of the halftone dot being based on the halftone-dot profile data.

Abstract: An image processing method (300) for converting an original image (601) into a final, pixelated image (610) suitable for printing on a printer arranged to print two-tone images and capable of printing partial area exposed pixels, comprises antialiasing (301) the original image (601) into an intermediate pixelated image (605) comprising greyscale pixels having assigned greyscale values. The method comprises the further-step, of translating (302) the intermediate image (605) into the final, pixelated image (610) by translating the assigned greyscale values into partial exposure values indicative of the amount of desired pixel area for a corresponding pixel or pixels in the final image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which, when forming an image using a plurality of different sizes of dots, can produce a satisfactory image free from problematical levels of density unevenness, graininess and insufficient density with any of these dot sizes. To this end, when printing on pixel areas of a print medium by a plurality of relative movements between the printing unit and the print medium, the dot overlap rate of a dot size that tends to show density unevenness is set higher than that of a dot size that tends to show other image impairments more conspicuously than the density unevenness. This results in a satisfactory image that eliminates such image impairments as density unevenness, graininess and density insufficiency in the entire grayscale range.

Abstract: Image processing is performed for an image recording apparatus which records an image by arranging, on a recording medium, dots of a plurality of types of dot structures having different arrangements of color materials to be used. A dot arrangement signal which corresponds to an input color signal and represents the arrangement of dots of the plurality of types of dot structures is generated. Image data which arranges dots of the plurality of types of dot structures on a recording medium based on the dot arrangement signal is output.

Abstract: To improve a method for making an overprint prediction to that extent, that the method allows more reliable overprint predictions with a reduced effort, the invention proposes a method for making the overprint prediction for a color combination, in which method a printing substrate and at least two printing colors and one gradation of hue values per printing color including the full tone as well as color combinations are predefined as data of the hue value of the n printing colors, wherein first of all individual color predictions comprising three transmittance components and the associated transmittance spectra for the respective hue value are determined for each of the n printing colors, wherein for an intended color combination up to (3 to the power of n) combinations of the transmittance components and the associated combined transmittance spectra are determined, and an overall reflectance spectrum of an overprint is predicted on the basis of the determined transmittance components with their transmittanc

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit forming a gradation image includes density detection, gradation correction, and mechanism control units. The density detection unit detects gradation image density. The gradation correction control unit controls a change of gradation characteristic. The mechanism control unit controls the image forming unit and a change of image density, and includes density difference calculation and comparison judging units. The density difference calculation unit calculates density difference between target image density and the image density. The comparison judging unit compares the density difference with reference value and judges the image density to change and the gradation correction unit to operate where the density difference exceeds the reference value, or judges the gradation correction unit to operate where the density difference is below the reference value.

Abstract: Error diffusion halftoning includes using a quantizer having an input and an output; and using a system having a bandpass characteristic to modify the quantizer input without feeding the quantizer output directly into the quantizer input. The error diffusion halftoning can produce clustered pixel halftone patterns that can be reliably reproduced by laser printers and other electro-photographic devices.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide image data into pieces of print scan image data for the plurality of print scans, a quantization unit configured to quantize the pieces of print scan image data, and a generation unit configured to generate pieces of print data for the plurality of print scans on the basis of the quantized pieces of print scan image data. In a case where a density represented by the pieces of print scan image data is a low density, the quantization unit quantizes the pieces of print scan image data so that they are mutually exclusive in the plurality of print scans.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a color converter for converting cyan, magenta and yellow components of a first image signal to equivalent neutral density, calculating a first gray component from cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subtracting the first gray component from each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density, subjecting each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted to an inverse conversion of the equivalent neutral density conversion, and outputting a second image signal comprising cyan, magenta and yellow components which are obtained by carrying out the inverse conversion to the cyan, magenta and yellow components of equivalent neutral density from which the first gray component is subtracted, the first black component and the first gray component; an image forming section for forming an image on a paper based on the second image signal

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure provides a halftoning method for annular rasters comprising: using annular rasters with uniformly spaced raster lines and uniformly spaced pixels within the raster lines; angularly tiling wedge shaped halftone cells around at least a partial circumferential print medium wherein an integer number of wedge tiles fills a disc space; wherein the annular rasters are considered in arcs and wherein pixel thresholds in the wedge shaped halftone cells are considered in arcs so as to conform to the annular rasters upon tiling the wedge shaped halftone cells; and, setting the number of pixel thresholds in each arc raster of the cell to an integer value near a desired writing resolution to enable seamless tiling wherein the number of thresholds increase as a function of a wedge cell radius.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus include a priority information assigning unit configured to assign priority information indicating priority between a first area and a second area of a recording medium in an overlapping area of the areas to at least one of gloss-control plane data and clear plane data. The gloss-control plane data is used for specifying the first area to which a surface effect is to be applied and specifying a density value corresponding to a type of the surface effect. The clear plane data is used for specifying the second area in which a transparent image is to be formed and specifying a density value of the transparent image. The apparatus also includes a clear toner plane generating unit configured to generate clear toner plane clear toner plane data based on the gloss-control plane data and the clear plane data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gradation correction device in which the control strip has white or light-colored end patches and has at least one reference point at each of both ends of the control strip, which is defined by two straight lines including a fine line drawn on at least a part of a peripheral edge of each end patch except a border between the end patch and an adjacent patch which is adjacent to the end patch, and in which the gradation correction device detects the reference point at each of the both end portions of the control strip in the read image data, and obtains the density data of each patch by specifying a position of each patch in the control strip in the read image data in accordance with the detected reference point.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processing section to process gradation characteristic of the image data based on a tone curve, an image forming section to form an image based on the image data processed by the image processing section; and a control section to control processing in the image processing section. The control section has a function to adjust characteristic of output density relative to input density of image data as the gradation characteristic as a tone curve via a setting screen, saves operational situations at the time of adjustment of the tone curve on the setting screen as a history, and, when the history is designated, reproduces a state at the time of the past adjustment for the tone curve on the setting screen by using the saved operational situations.

Abstract: In image processing according to the prior art, the important part of photographic image data (referred to herein as the object) could not be determined and therefore required human participation. A computer 21 which is the core of image processing calculates an edginess which is an image variation from a differential value of data for adjacent picture elements in a step SA110, and determines object picture elements by selecting only images with a large variation in steps SA120, SA130. As optimum parameters for contrast correction and lightness compensation are calculated from image data for object picture elements in steps SA310-SA330, image processing indicators based on object picture elements are determined, and optimum image processing can be performed automatically.

Abstract: This invention reduces an increasing capacity of image data by using PQR (spectral auxiliary coefficients) in addition to CIELAB (fundamental stimulus values), compared to conventional CIELAB. To accomplish this, image data holding fundamental stimulus values and spectral auxiliary coefficients is input. Output colors corresponding the input fundamental stimulus values and spectral auxiliary coefficients are calculated. An image size corresponding to the spectral auxiliary coefficient is smaller than that corresponding to the fundamental stimulus.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a memory to store image data including objects each having information on a type and densities of colors of the object, a developer-remaining-amount sensor to sense and output remaining-amount information indicating a color of a developer having a small remaining amount among colors of respective developers for image formation, a controller to transform first pixel values of the densities of the colors of each object included in the image data stored in the memory into second pixel values indicating use amounts of the colors of the developers, for each object based on the type of the object and the remaining-amount information, an image formation unit to form images on a recording medium for the objects included in the image data by using the developers in accordance with the use amounts of the developers corresponding to the second pixel values transformed by the controller.

Abstract: A host apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a diagnosis method for the image forming apparatus, the diagnosis method including: storing a printing image generated from print data according to a printing command; and generating a diagnosis image for the printing image based on the stored printing image and a defect image corresponding to a predetermined defect of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image based on a processing batch, a measurement unit, which interrupts the processing batch to form a density pattern by controlling the image forming unit, and which obtains density adjustment data by measuring the density pattern, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the density of the image based on the density adjustment data. When the measurement unit performs a density measurement before formation of a first color page of a processing batch, which includes monochrome and color pages, the adjustment unit adjusts the density of each color page using new density adjustment data obtained through the density measurement performed before the formation of the first color page, and the adjustment unit adjusts the density of each monochrome page using old density adjustment data obtained before the density measurement performed before the formation of the first color page.

Abstract: In printing processes, even when a process calibration under predefined printing conditions is used, it is possible for deviations in the gray balance to occur. Attempts have been made to correct the deviations, for example by changing the layer thickness of the printing inks in the printing process, but that can lead to color deviations in other regions. A gray balance correction method with which wastage that regularly occurs can be reduced and an occurrence of undesired color fluctuations can be avoided, is achieved by using differences between black and chromatic gray areas in gray balance areas to replace the measured values from a first process calibration with corrected measured values and carrying out a new process calibration.

Abstract: An input of image data is received, and information of width and/or thickness of a recording medium, which receives an image representing the image data to be recorded thereon, is received. Then, a preset pressing pressure value, which is used when the image is recorded on the recording medium, is obtained based on the information of width and/or thickness, and information of image density in the reference area, which is a part of the image data, is obtained. Then, converted image density information is obtained by converting the information of image density in the reference area based on the pressing pressure value and the information of image density, and image data is generated according to the thus obtained converted image density information.

Abstract: In generating image data for use in image formation by multi-pass recording, the position of a pixel of interest to be color separated relative to a recording region corresponding to the conveyance distance of a recording medium in one pass of the multi-pass recording is determined, a color separation table corresponding to the result of the determination is selected, and image data of the pixel of interest is color separated using the selected color separation table.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving color data for an object to be printed and performing post color processing for each pixel in the object if the object is a graphics/text object, while no processing is performed if the object is an image object. Post color processing is performed by determining if a pixel is black or gray and converting the pixel to K only black color if the pixel is black or gray.

Abstract: Graininess is suppressed while at the same time minimizing grayscale variations caused by inter-plane deviations. For this purpose, when a pixel is printed by M relative scans of a print head over a print medium or by a relative scans of M print heads over the print medium, M pieces of multivalued image data is created according to a division number or distribution ratio determined by a grayscale value of that pixel. The M pieces of multivalued image data are individually quantized and then the printing is performed according to the quantized pixel data. This process prevents dot generation delays and graininess from deteriorating in highlighted areas, thus realizing printed images highly robust against density variations.