Abstract: A printing method includes obtaining an initial printer profile corresponding to a printing system having a plurality of ink colors, identifying a remaining ink parameter corresponding to each of the ink colors, and determining whether the remaining ink parameter of each of the ink colors are approximately equal to each other such that: performing a print job using the initial printer profile when the remaining ink parameter determination is that the remaining ink parameter of each of the ink colors are approximately equal to each other, and determining a modified printer profile by selectively changing color saturation for one or more of the ink colors to balance ink usage and performing the print job using the modified printer profile when the remaining ink parameter determination is that the remaining ink parameter of each of the ink colors are not approximately equal to each other.

Abstract: A method for determining the optimum procedure for a job change on a printing-material processing machine (10) with at least one control computer. The data of a first machine job is compared to the data of a subsequent machine job using a control computer, and the comparison is used to establish an order of the operations to be carried out during the job change. Also provided is a device for determining the optimum procedure for a job change on a printing-material processing machine (10) with at least one control computer. The control computer is intended to compare the data of a first machine job to the data of a subsequent machine job, and to use the comparison to establish an order of the operations to be carried out during the job change.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for assessing color characterization quality includes a characterization unit configured for determining at least one of a forward and inverse transform from a first set of device dependent input color values and measured output display values of the first set of device dependent input color values on the display and transforming a second set of device dependent input color values using the determined at least one of a forward and inverse transform to provide an intermediate set of device dependent input color values. The method, apparatus and system further includes a verification unit for performing at least one of a forward transform quality evaluation and an inverse transform quality evaluation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method, an apparatus, a system, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible media to carry out a method. The method in some versions forms a script that is usable by an inspection system for inspecting printed material produced according to a printing workflow. The method in some versions inspects printed material produced according to a printing workflow, the inspecting including executing a script.

Abstract: A relevance based print integrity method includes comparing current raster image data that define a document to be printed with golden raster image data that define a previous version of said document with a known (perfect) quality. A plurality of differences between said current raster image data and said golden raster image data are calculated, and each of the differences is processed to determine a relevance value of the difference and to assign the relevance value to the difference. The method includes generating and storing a list of the differences, wherein the list is ordered in terms of the relevance value assigned to each difference. The difference list is presented to a user textually or graphically and/or is used to control or interrupt printing operations.

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: Disclosed is a print preview apparatus including: an output control section which outputs an adjustment chart with a plurality of print color sample images formed based on a color data value of a color space depending on a print device adjusted to a color gamut reproducible by the print apparatus; a conversion section which converts each color data value of the color space depending on the print device to a color data value of a color space depending on a display device; a display section which displays a plurality of display color sample images corresponding to each of the plurality of print color sample images; and an adjustment section which presents the plurality of display color sample images displayed on the display section and which adjusts a color data value indicating a color of the presented display color sample image based on color adjustment information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. A characteristic value calculator calculates characteristic values of a preset area set around a pixel of interest. A trapping determining unit determines, for each color plane of an N-valued image, on the basis of the calculated characteristic values, whether the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing. A pixel value calculator sets, for each color plane, a position of a reference pixel in a reference area, and calculates a pixel value for changing the pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of a pixel value of each color plane at the position of the reference pixel. A pixel-of-interest value changing unit changes the pixel value of the pixel of interest into the calculated pixel value when the trapping determining unit determines that the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing.

Abstract: A method for compensating for effects of illumination when comparing soft proofs to hard copy proofs viewed under non-standard illumination comprises adjusting a standard illumination display profile until estimates of device independent colors produced by the display based on the adjusted profile match the colors corresponding to the non-standard illumination within a predefined tolerance.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method therefor. The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part, which forms printed and alternate printed images including different developing agents to a recording medium; and a controller which controls the image forming part to form a the printed and alternate printed images according to a comparison of number of pages of a print job and a reference number of pages, and a whether the images of the print job are of a single color.

Abstract: A color reference guide is provided for ensuring consistency among color-printed products. The guide can include a plurality of calibration pages and each calibration page can include a calibration bar and a color logo. The calibration bar can be the same on each calibration page and the color logo can be different on each calibration page. A method of providing consistency among color-printed products is also provided and involves comparing a printed logo to a corresponding color logo in the color reference guide. The color reference guide can be used in a variety of printing processes, for example, in a CMYK four-color printing process or in a G7 color printing process. The color reference guide and method are also useful in calibrating a color printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an auto color registration method thereof. The automatic color registration method of the image forming apparatus, the method includes transferring a plurality of first patterns synchronized with a phase of an image receptor, detecting the transferred first patterns, and performing an automatic color registration (ACR) by controlling a driving speed of the image receptor based on the detected first pattern. With this, the apparatus and method controls a driving speed of an image receptor by using a pattern synchronized with a phase of the image receptor and improves accuracy of the ACR.

Abstract: A method comprises selecting a first and second datum stored in an array of image data and corresponding to a first and second defective inkjet ejector, the second defective inkjet ejector being within a search pattern positioned about the first datum, modifying the search pattern positioned about the first datum in response to detection of the second datum being within the search pattern positioned about the first datum, identifying a third datum stored in the array of image data and being within the modified search pattern positioned about the first datum, the third datum corresponding to a first functional inkjet ejector, modifying the third datum with reference to the first datum, and operating the first functional inkjet ejector with reference to the modified third datum to compensate for the first defective inkjet ejector being unable to eject ink corresponding to the first datum.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document conveying unit, an image reading unit, a gradient calculating unit, a gradient comparing unit and a document discriminating unit. The image reading unit scans a document conveyed by the document conveying unit in a scanning direction orthogonal to a conveying direction and detects pixel values of color components of each pixel. The gradient calculating unit calculates a gradient of the pixel value of each color component in the conveying direction for each pixel based on the detected pixel values. The gradient comparing unit compares differences of gradients among color components for each pixel and extracts the pixel where the graduent difference is below a threshold value. The document discriminating unit discriminates whether each pixel is color or black-and-white based on pixel values using discrimination criteria different for the specific pixels extracted by the gradient comparing unit and other pixels.

Abstract: A waiting time Ts is decided on the basis of ink type information and ink feed amount information, referring to waiting time table A (Step 6). Along with this, a dried printing paper is carried to and stopped in a waiting area 9 (Step 7), a time period T is measured after stopping, and measurement processing in the next step is delayed until the time period T reaches the waiting time Ts. Then, when the time period T reaches the waiting time Ts, a measuring instrument 10 is used to measure a density of a patch printed on the printing paper (Steps 8 and 9).

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: An image processing apparatus of the present invention acquires a photographed image of an object on which indicators have been arranged, detects the indicators from the photographed image with use of a comparison reference image for pattern matching prepared in advance, and instructs to perform predetermined processing based on the detected indicators. The indicators each have a pattern where influence of geometrical image distortion generated corresponding to a photographing distance or a photographing angle with respect to the object is restrained by a central portion of the photographed image, and the comparison reference image is a partial image corresponding to a central portion of the indicator. The indicators are detected from the photographed image by comparing the comparison reference image with the acquired photographed image.

Abstract: Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer readable media are provided for calibration of at least one half-tone density in a printer. In one approach, a method is provided comprising the steps of acquiring a plurality of half-tone density values from a respective plurality of test patches generated on a belt in the printer over a period of time, each of the test patches embodying an intended half-tone density, generating a mathematically smoothed half-tone density value from the half-tone density values, and calibrating a half-tone density in the printer based upon the mathematically smoothed half-tone density value.

Abstract: Transfer functions are often used for image processing. Look-up tables can be used to implement transfer functions in a processor-efficient manner. In one embodiment, the invention is an apparatus that includes a look-up table (LUT) storing sample outputs from an output range of a transfer function, the sample outputs corresponding to sample inputs from an input range of the transfer function, the sample inputs being distributed so that more sample inputs are associated with a first region of the transfer function than a second region of the transfer function; and an address module to calculate an index into the LUT based on image data. In one embodiment, the apparatus uses the LUT to process the image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing color tone conversion on a predetermined original image data using a predetermined color tone conversion parameter, includes a converted image data generating unit that generates weight-applied converted original image data obtained by performing the color tone conversion by the color tone conversion parameter while applying weighted values, which is determined such that the lower the degree to be changed by the color tone conversion is, the smaller the value becomes, on the original image data for each of a predetermined range.

Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus capable of switching a scanning background includes a pair of glass plates, a pair of background boards pivoted to the glass plates and a driving mechanism. The glass plates are disposed in a frame and overlapped with each other. The two glass plates define two scanning areas face to face. A portion of the frame adjacent to an outer surface of the glass plate defines a first color area of the scanning background corresponding to the scanning area. One background board is positioned above one glass plate, and the other background board is positioned under the other glass plate and away from the one background board. Each background board defines a second color area of the scanning background corresponding to the scanning area. The driving mechanism mounted in the frame drives the background boards to turn over with respect to the corresponding glass plates.

Abstract: In a prior art, since the wavelengths of R, G, and B LEDs serving as the light sources of a CIS scanner vary, read colors vary between individual scanners. Since the behavior of metamerism also changes due to the same reason, measures against the metamerism are hard to take. To solve this problem, a color patch is irradiated with light from an LED, and its spectral reflectivity is measured using a spectroreflectometer, thereby estimating the emission wavelength of the light source LED. A signal change characteristic representing the relationship to the output signals of three LEDs obtained from the spectral reflectivity of the patch is stored in a memory. In actual image reading, color correction is performed based on the signal change characteristic stored in the memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a temperature detection unit that detects a current interior temperature based on a detection signal from a temperature sensor. A temperature change detection unit calculates a difference between the current interior temperature and an interior temperature detected in a last color misregistration correction processing as a temperature change amount. When the temperature change amount is equal to or higher than a threshold, a determination unit determines that a color misregistration correction operation needs to be executed. A mode setting unit determines whether a monochrome printing processing is currently carried out.

Abstract: A method for calculating characterization data of a printing process, is more manageable and less complicated than previously-known methods, in which determining printing tables for CMYK printing systems with special colors or for multicolor systems easily becomes unwieldy and complicated because of necessary colored areas in test elements. A test element supplies actual spectral data. By using subsets of this actual data, tonal value curves or tonal value gain curves, parameters of a model of the printing process for determining spectra of overprinted printing inks and adapted input variables, are determined in a calculating device in accordance with the model, taking into account the tonal value gain, to determine corrected tonal values or their spectra. Then only a few colored areas are needed to calculate characterization data. A test element for determining characterization data of a printing process and an apparatus for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs pseudo gradation processing using dithering, and includes an image carrier; a plurality of light-emitting element arrays arranged in a main-scanning direction and including a plurality of light-emitting elements; an image forming unit performing lighting control of the arrays and forming a pattern image on the image carrier; a detecting unit detecting a density of the pattern image; a position detecting unit detecting a position in the main-scanning direction of the detecting unit with respect to the light-emitting element arrays; a determining unit that, based on the detected position, determines whether the detecting unit is positioned at a proper detection position with respect to the pattern image on which noise has no effect; and an operation control unit that, when the detecting unit is positioned at the proper detection position, performs an image density detection operation on the pattern image using the detecting unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus reads an original-document image and generates image data of the original-document image, and includes an image reading unit, a security pattern detection unit, and a main control unit. The image reading unit reads the original-document image and sequentially generates the image data of the original-document image as a plurality of pieces of band data. The security pattern detection unit performs security pattern detection processing on band data of a single band to detect a portion or an entirety of a security pattern included therein. The main control unit causes the security pattern detection unit to perform the security pattern detection processing on band data of a single band having the lowest background color density and not on band data of a single band having the greatest background color density, among the plurality of pieces of band data.

Abstract: Processing print jobs on a computer which comprises generating a first print ready job file by a first print module based on an input print job file and generating a second print ready job file by a second print module based on the input print job file. The first print ready job file is compared to the second print ready job file, and if there is at least one difference between the first print ready job file and the second print ready job file, the input print job file is forwarded to a PSP (printer service provider) that is configured with the first print module or the second print ready job file is forwarded to a PSP that is configured with the second print module.

Abstract: A plurality of control boards can be connected to each other via a high-speed bus. An image forming unit performs an image forming process, which is housed in a casing. A slot is arranged on any one of a plurality of side surfaces perpendicular to a bottom surface of the casing, which is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface and guides the control boards to inside of the casing. The control boards are connected in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A method for performing color registration on template media having template markings thereon comprises sensing the template media using a sensor to obtain first image data; printing a test pattern on the template media; sensing the template media along with the test pattern printed thereon using the sensor to obtain second image data; determining an output image data of the test pattern from the first image data, the second image data, and an estimated image data of the template media with the test pattern printed thereon; determining process direction and cross-process direction misregistrations from the output image data; and adjusting printheads based on the process direction and the cross-process direction misregistrations to provide adjusted color registration on subsequent template media. The estimated image data is representative of light scatter from the test pattern and light absorption by the test pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods systems and methods for calibrating field uniformity are disclosed. An exemplary method includes scanning the imaging area including a first media to obtain optical data for a specular reflectance map. The method also includes scanning the imaging area including a second media to obtain optical data for a diffuse reflective map. The method also includes storing the specular reflectance map and the diffuse reflective map for adjusting actual pixel values during an imaging operation.

Abstract: A color sensor monitors the output of a color producing process and produces a signal representative of a color produced by the color producing process. The signal can be used as feedback signal to control the process. Occasionally, the color sensor signal includes a component representing a transient error. A system model of the color producing process is used to predict reasonable sensor signals. A comparison of the sensor signal with the predicted sensor signals is used to determine if the sensor signal is reasonable. If the sensor signal is unreasonable, a substitute signal is used as the feedback signal to the control process. The substitute signal can be a predicted sensor signal or a signal based on historical system performance data.

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: An image forming apparatus with a plurality of reading units, which is capable of easily adding a recording sheet type usable for calibration. Calibration is executed using a specific recording sheet. Gradation patterns are formed on a recording sheet of a sheet type to be added, and are read by a reader unit. A first conversion table is configured based on information on the read image. A second conversion table is configured based on the first conversion table. When the reader unit is used to perform calibration using the added recording sheet, image forming conditions are set based on information on the image read by the reader unit and the first conversion table, and when the color sensor is used, the image forming conditions are set based on information on the image read by the color sensor and the second conversion table.

Abstract: The present invention suppresses data processing load and processing time when generating density data for the same color that corresponds to a plurality of printing scans (or plurality of printing element groups) of a printing head and printing medium. In order to accomplish this, input image data is converted to a plurality of density data by referencing a three-dimensional lookup table that performs one-to-one correlation of input image data with a plurality of density data that corresponds to a plurality of relative movements (or plurality of printing element groups). By doing so, it is possible to perform a process of generating density data (CMYK) that corresponds to a plurality of relative movements (or plurality of printing element groups) from input image data at once, and thus it is possible to suppress an increase in data processing load and processing time.

Abstract: A color adjustment apparatus includes an acquisition unit acquiring the color value for specified paper of a desired image forming apparatus and a color value for unspecified paper, a generation unit generating a relational expression associating the color value for the specified paper with the color value for the unspecified paper, a registration unit obtaining and registering an association between the property information of a reference color for the unspecified paper and the relational expression, a calculation unit calculating the predicted color value for the specified paper of another image forming apparatus based on a relational expression associated with the property information of the reference color of arbitrary paper and the color value for the same paper of the other image forming apparatus, and a setting unit setting the predicted color value as a color value to be reproduced by the desired image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A second chromaticity value feature is corrected and approximated to a first chromaticity value feature, a new limit value for an ink amount is determined based on the second chromaticity value feature after the approximation, optimization is performed by designating an ink amount which is equal to or less than the newly determined limit value when an ink amount reproducing a hue value represented by a lattice point is determined by the optimization of the ink amount with the use of an object function for evaluating image quality when the designated amount of ink is made to adhere to a first print medium, the ink amount determined by the optimization is converted with a conversion relationship based on the first chromaticity value feature and the second value chromaticity feature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image quality calibration method in the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a printing unit to print a calibration chart in one mode selected from a plurality of resolution modes, a scanning unit to scan the printed calibration chart, and a calibrating unit to calibrate an image using color values of the scanned calibration chart according to the plurality of resolution modes.

Abstract: A color value of output color reproduced based on an output signal value corresponding to an input color value of a grid point in an input color space, which is obtained by sampling a range of the output signal value, are estimated. An evaluation value that evaluates tonality between a color value estimated in correspondence with an input color value of a grid point of interest in the input color space and color values estimated in correspondence with input color values of grid points adjacent to the grid point of interest is calculated. When the input color value of the grid point of interest, whose evaluation value is less than a predetermined threshold value, is obtained, an output signal value corresponding to that input signal value is set in the grid point of interest.

Abstract: The color of a pixel in a scanned image is represented by two color components and is adjustable by interpolating between color component values obtained from elements in a bidimensional color remap look-up table. The table is sparsely populated and may be readily implemented in most scanner circuits without adding memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color adjustment method for each of image forming apparatuses, including: a gradation pattern creation step of forming a gradation pattern image including patches different in gradation for each of colors in n pieces of coloring materials; a density detection step of detecting densities of the respective patches, and obtaining density information; a gamma curve creation step of associating the density information of the respective patches in a second image forming apparatus with that in the first, and creating a gamma curve correcting a gradation of received image data so as to obtain densities of the respective patches in the first image forming apparatus; and a color adjustment step of extracting respective color components, deciding output values based on the gamma curve corresponding to the second image forming apparatus, creating output image data, and forming an image on a sheet in the second image forming apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus comprising: forming means for forming a patch based on patch data on a medium; temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of a white paper portion of a medium to obtain a white paper temperature; colorimetry means for obtaining a colorimetric value by measuring the color of the patch formed on the medium; estimation means for estimating a colorimetry temperature, which is the temperature of the patch at the time when the colorimetry means measures its color, based on the patch data and the white paper temperature; and correction means for correcting the colorimetric value based on the estimated colorimetry temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a calibration unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The calibration unit is configured to perform a calibration operation including forming a measurement image by the image forming unit to adjust an image forming condition. The determination unit is configured to determine available electric energy allowed to be used by the image forming apparatus. The control unit is configured to determine an interval at which to perform the calibration operation based on the available electric energy determined by the determination unit and control the calibration unit to perform the calibration operation each time the determined interval is reached.

Abstract: Methods of image enhancement are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of image enhancement is for use with an image capture device, such as a security document reader, for the attenuation, separation or reduction of reflections from objects, such as security documents.

Abstract: For a selected class of functions, which describe most typical banding variations, the average response can be found by sampling at only 2Nth locations, where N is the number of different frequencies of significant banding. This approach makes use of the fact that in most applications the banding frequencies of a given printer system, are known in advance, even if the amplitudes of the banding are not known. Each sample point requires a very small test area or pattern, significantly reducing the overall size of the required test areas.

Abstract: A copying apparatus with a color copy function includes: a reading unit configured to read images on a document; an input unit configured to input commands from a user; an image forming unit configured to form a mark for image adjustment, perform an image adjustment on the image read by the reading unit based on the formed mark for image adjustment and print the adjusted image; and a judging unit configured to trigger the image forming unit to form the mark for image adjustment if the command for executing color copying is input into the input unit.

Abstract: Methods perform at least two different segments of a scan job by sequentially scanning the different segments using an optical scanner. Each of the different segments is scanned with the optical scanner manually set to different settings. The methods automatically combine the different settings to produce a recurring scan workflow. The recurring scan workflow includes such different settings of the different segments and information of the number of pages scanned in each of the different segments. Further, such methods perform at least one later scan job having later segments corresponding to the different segments of the original scan job after creating the recurring scan workflow. During the later scan job the computerized device automatically changes settings of the optical scanner between the later segments, without requiring the user to manually change the different settings between the later segments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for launching a calibrator process by which the user is guided through the process of calibrating the conditions used by a particular print job is provided. Techniques are provided which calculate which print conditions will be used by the particular print job, which guarantees that the user is calibrating the correct conditions to get the best color quality for the particular job. The method and apparatus further provides techniques that allow the user to specify the conditions under which a calibration is considered expired in terms of time since the last calibration and the number of prints since the last calibration The method and apparatus further provides techniques for when the user encounters a new media type or print condition, the system can measure such and inform the user whether to create a new profile and/or new calibration set to get the optimal color quality.

Abstract: Methods of image enhancement are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of image enhancement is for use with an image capture device, such as a security document reader, for the attenuation, separation or reduction of reflections from objects, such as security documents.

Abstract: Even when print data whose print density is high is printed, lowering of print efficiency according to long print operation time is restrained. In a print apparatus for printing received data received from an upper apparatus by repeatedly moving a print head, an expanding section that expands the received data into print image data; a confirming section that confirms a print density of the print image data and confirms existence/inexistence of high-density print data whose print density is higher than a predetermined value; a determining section that calculates a print operation time in the case to print by moving the print head in a forward direction and a print operation time in the case to print by moving the print head in a backward direction and determines a print direction according to these print operation time; and a print controlling section that prints in the determined direction are furnished.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method which addresses the problem of inheriting color management intent from a fleet color management LUT into a 4-to-4 cascaded LUT. The LUT is updated starting with a set of patches that either form a uniform or non-uniform grid of the LUT or can be projected to a uniform or non-uniform grid in the CMYK space using, e.g., PCA. A set of L*a*b* target as well a variable that serve the purpose of preserving the GCR and other elements of the fleet profile is obtained by passing the set of CMYK values to the fleet printer model. By iterating on the printer (or the printer model of the engine at the moment of the engine change) and converging to the targets, the engine device cmyk set is obtained. The LUT is formed between the uniform or non-uniform gridded CMYK and the device cmyk.