Abstract: An image forming apparatus that applies clear toner to an image to be formed based on image data being input and image information regarding the image data when forming the image, the image forming apparatus including a subject detection unit that detects a subject included in the image data based on the image information, the subject including plural pixels; and a setting unit that sets a first maximum value for amounts of the clear toner, each amount being an amount of the clear toner to be applied to a corresponding pixel included in the subject, based on a detection result of the subject.

Abstract: A color chart having a plurality of mirror-image color blocks arranged in a matrix, with each color block a mirror image of an adjacent color block, each color block having rows and columns of color patches, wherein the concentration of a first color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given row of a color block, the concentration of a second color of the multiple colors changes unidirectionally across color patches in any given column of a color block, and the concentration of a third color of the multiple colors remains unchanged across all the plurality of color patches within a color block and differs only between color blocks.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.

Abstract: The present invention provides a print module, an information processing device, a print system, a print unit, an ink supply unit, a print method and program, all capable of quickly and easily meeting demands for a print medium size change, particularly to increased sizes, while at the same time coping with demands for faster printing speed. To this end, this invention constructs the print heads (811) in the form of print modules (M) so that their ink systems and signal systems are independent among the print modules. Each print module is set with identity information for its identification.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing use of customer documents in maintaining image quality or image quality consistency of printing devices are provided. The system may include a marking engine constructed to print images on an image bearing surface of the print device; one or more color measuring devices for measured toner images formed on the image bearing surface corresponding to the one or more relevant pages, and an image analyzer configured to generate reference images and to compare measured image data with the reference images. The image analyzer may also be configured to analyze input image data for a document and to identify one or more relevant pages of the document that may provide information regarding the state of the printing system to generated reference image data. Comparisons between the color separations of the reference image data and measured image data images may be realized for determining defects.

Abstract: In a method for electrographic printing of color images on a final image carrier, charge images of images to be printed are generated on a charge image carrier and are developed into toner images with toner, the toner images being transferred onto an intermediate carrier from which they are transfer-printed onto the final image carrier. The charge images for individual colors of the color image are generated in succession on the charge image carrier and are developed into individual color toner images with color toner. The individual color toner images are transferred onto the intermediate carrier and are there collected atop of one another in a color collection cycle to form a complete color toner image. Before transfer printing of the complete color toner image on the final image carrier, the final image carrier is pivoted onto the intermediate carrier, and after the transfer printing, the final image carrier is pivoted away from the intermediate carrier.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: an obtaining unit that obtains image information including a grey-level value of a pixel; a modifying unit that modifies the grey-level value of the pixel included in the image information obtained by the obtaining unit; a color image forming unit that forms on a recording medium a color image in accordance with information showing the color image including the grey-level value of the pixel modified by the modifying unit; and a transparent image forming unit that forms on the recording medium a transparent image overlapping the color image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an auto color registration method thereof, the auto color registration (ACR) method including: transferring test patterns respectively corresponding to a plurality of colors; detecting the transferred test patterns; cleaning the transferred test patterns; transferring patterns respectively corresponding to the plurality of colors by reducing a width of a pattern corresponding to a color, from among the plurality of colors, according to the detected test patterns; and performing ACR on the basis of the transferred pattern. Accordingly, at least one pattern width is reduced in consideration of deviation in a detected pattern width between a plurality of colors, and ACR is performed on the basis of the reduced pattern width, thereby decreasing an error and increasing reliability in the ACR.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating the amount of color ink that will be used to print a print job element classify individual color drawing objects of the print job element in a pre-raster image process (pre-RIP) format into drawing object classes and apply predetermined rules associated with the drawing object classes to obtain color ink usage estimates for the individual color drawing objects. Combination of color ink usage estimates for the individual color drawing objects yields a prompt and meaningful estimate of color ink usage for the print job element. The estimate of color ink usage for the print job element can be put to advantageous use in a pay-for-print service.

Abstract: A technique that can stably realize highly accurate image adjustment processing regardless of deterioration in an image forming characteristic and the like is provided. An image forming apparatus that forms, on an image formation medium, a gradation pattern formed as an image of density changing according to a gradation step, and performs predetermined image adjustment processing on the basis of a print state of the gradation pattern formed on the image formation medium, the image forming apparatus comprising a fluctuation-information acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a degree of fluctuation in a predetermined characteristic affecting an image quality of an output image; and a control unit configured to form, on the image formation medium, a gradation pattern in which a density changing amount is changed according to the gradation step on the basis of the information acquired by the fluctuation-information acquiring unit.

Abstract: Restriction information on a total colorant amount for a medium is obtained. Patches at grid points in a color space corresponding to a plurality of colorants at which the total colorant amount falls within a restriction represented by the restriction information, and a patch at a point surrounded by the patches are generated. Color values are obtained by measuring the colors of the patches printed on the medium. It is determined based on a color prediction value between the grid points whether the measured color values are appropriate, and if so, a color value at a grid point at which the total colorant amount exceeds the restriction is estimated based on the measured color values. A color separation table is created based on the measured color values and the estimated value.

Abstract: In a method to determine a curve of revolution speed of a continuous belt-shaped image substrate, at least two color separations are generated on the image substrate and transferred from the image substrate onto a substrate material to generate a print image. A first offset in a transport direction of the substrate material between the at least two color separations of the print image is determined at a first point. At least one second offset in the transport direction is determined between the at least two color separations of the print image at least one second point. The first point and the second point have at least one interval relative to one another in the transport direction. The curve of the revolution speed of the image substrate is determined with aid of the first offset and the second offset.

Abstract: The color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image information input section into which image information is input, and image holding members by which toner images of two or more colors including black and clear colors are held, respectively. The image forming apparatus further includes a transfer-receiving material to which toner of all colors are transferred from their respective image holding members, an image-area pinpointing section wherein an area of clear toner image to be superposed on a linear image region to be formed with toner of the black color is pinpointed in the image information input into the image information input section, and an image processing section wherein is performed replacement processing that at least part of black image on the pinpointed image area is formed with a hybrid of two or more kinds of colored toner instead of black toner.

Abstract: An image of a color misregistration detection pattern is formed, and the amount of color misregistration is detected by reading of the pattern image. The amount of color misregistration detected by a detecting unit and the delay time from the time when image data is requested to the time when the image data is output are stored. The color misregistration is corrected based on the stored delay time and amount of color misregistration.

Abstract: In a copier having an image data converter that sets the C density, the M density and the Y density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black in the RGB system by a CMY mixture ratio and sets the K density to a density obtained by multiplying the density of black by a K mixture ratio when black in the RGB system is converted into the CMYK system, the image data converter sets the K mixture ratio to a K reference mixture ratio when TK<PHK, and sets the K mixture ratio to a K high mixture ratio that is higher than the K reference mixture ratio when TK?PHK. Here, TK is a K toner amount of consumption insufficiency which is a K toner amount to be consumed to prevent toner deterioration at the driving amount of the developing unit, and PHK is a K high predetermined value.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting and correcting color-to-color process direction misregistration errors, including a printer capable of printing in a plurality of colors, the printer having a sensor for generating a signal including information corresponding to a color registration pattern printed on a substrate by the printer. The system and method further include a processor for receiving the signal from the sensor and analyzing the signal for detecting color-to-color process direction misregistration via an algorithm. The color registration pattern includes a plurality of segments, each segment associated with a different color of the plurality of colors and each segment including at least one different dimension from at least one other segment of the plurality of segments.

Abstract: A calibration method for calibrating a color image forming apparatus includes detecting the color of a patch formed on a recording medium by the color image forming apparatus using a color sensor, converting a detected color signal in a first color specification system into a color signal in a second color specification system, and adjusting at least one of the image forming conditions for the color image forming apparatus, based on the color signal converted in the conversion step, where the conversion conditions in the color signal conversion are different depending on the attributes of the patch.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processor for outputting image data to an image forming device forming an image with use of a recording material having a plurality of color components. The processor comprises a component determining a region having higher brightness than predetermined brightness and a region having lower brightness than the predetermined brightness in the image data based on the image data and a component adjusting saturation so as to reduce density values of color components other than a color component having a maximum density value among the plurality of color components of the recording material to increase saturation in a region having brightness determined to be high and reduce density values of color components other than a color component having a minimum density value among the plurality of color components of the recording material to decrease saturation in a region having brightness determined to be low.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit for forming a color developer image using color developer; a second image forming unit for forming a transparent developer image using transparent developer; a transfer unit for transferring the transparent developer image and the color developer image to a medium; a fixing unit for fixing the transparent developer image and the color developer image; and a control unit for controlling the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit according to a gloss printing operation when the gloss printing operation is selected.

Abstract: A tandem-type image forming apparatus includes a toner mark pattern forming unit configured to form a toner mark pattern; a sensor configured to detect the toner mark pattern; a first determining unit configured to determine presence or absence of color misregistration based on the detected result; and a color misregistration correcting unit configured to correct the color misregistration based on the determined result. The toner mark pattern includes paired toner marks disposed at different coordinates in the sub-scanning direction. One of the paired toner marks has their ends at different coordinates in the main scanning direction with respect to those of the other one. The first determining unit determines the presence or absence of the color misregistration in the main scanning direction based on the result of the detection of the paired toner marks.

Abstract: An image control apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a traveling member which carries a toner image; a detection unit which detects an adjustment pattern formed on the traveling member; and a control unit which generates an edge detection signal obtained by binarizing a detection result from the detection unit, and generates converted data obtained by analog-digital converting the detection result from the detection unit.

Abstract: Generally, according to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a belt, a sensor whose detection area for a toner image is set on a belt surface, and an image control unit. The image control unit controls the image forming unit to form a toner image to be transferred to the sheet in a range different from the detection area in a direction of belt width, and to form alignment patterns at a position which is within a range where the toner image is formed in the direction of belt surface movement and which overlaps the detection area in the direction of belt width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process includes an image forming unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit performs monochrome printing and color printing. The storage unit stores print ratio data that relates to printing in the image forming unit is measured over time. The control unit separately performs correction of monochrome toner density and color toner density based on a predetermined first condition. If the first condition in the monochrome printing is met, the control unit performs correction of the monochrome toner density if a predetermined second condition concerning an amount of variation in the print ratio identified from the print ratio data is also met.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a light emitting section; plural photoconductive members on which electrostatic latent images are respectively formed by emitted lights of the light emitting section; a developing section configured to develop, with toners of colors different from one another, the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductive members; a transfer section onto which images developed by the developing section are transferred; and a light-emission control section configured to control the light emitting section to thereby selectively form, on the transfer section, first test images respectively formed for the toners of the respective colors and printed at a first interval in a sub-scanning direction and second test images respectively formed for the toners of the respective colors and printed at a second interval smaller than the first interval in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate first print data and second print data based on input print data, a printing unit configured to print the first print data generated by the generation unit on a sheet, an acquisition unit configured, in order to print the second print data on the sheet having the first print data printed thereon by the printing unit while reducing misregistration, to acquire a correction parameter used for correcting a position of printing the second print data, a transmission unit configured to transmit the second print data generated by the generation unit and the correction parameter acquired by the acquisition unit to a second printing apparatus, and a conveyance unit configured to convey the sheet having the first print data printed by the printing unit to a paper feed unit of the second printing apparatus.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image holding member, a plurality of image forming units, an image density detection unit, an image density comparison unit, a control unit, a developer residual amount acquisition unit, and an image stabilization kind determination unit. The plurality of image forming units include at least a developer of a first color and a developer of a second color and form a predetermined pattern image on the image holding member using the developers of the first and second colors. The developer residual amount acquisition unit acquires a residual amount of the developer of the second color.

Abstract: An image-processing device includes a selection unit that selects either a first operation mode or a second operation mode for representing a primary color by a combination of a first developer having a relatively light color of substantially the same hue as the primary color and a second developer having a relatively dark color of substantially the same hue as the primary color, wherein in the second operation mode, a larger amount of the first developer and a smaller amount of the second developer are used to represent a given intensity of the primary color than in the first operation mode; and a first conversion unit that converts a primary color signal representing the primary color into a first developer color signal representing an amount of the first developer and a second developer color signal representing an amount of the second developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an exposure device for exposing an image bearing member to light in accordance with monochromatic image data provided by color separation of inputted multi-color image data to form an electrostatic latent image; a control device for calculating an exposure amount of each pixel of the monochromatic image data to expose the image bearing member with the calculated exposure amount; wherein the control device includes a monochromatic correcting device for calculating a correction amount in accordance with a pixel value of a pixel around a target pixel of the monochromatic image data to correct an exposure amount of the target pixel on the basis of the calculated amount; wherein the control device includes a multi-color correcting device for providing a coefficient for correction of the exposure amount on the basis of the multi-color image data; wherein the monochromatic correcting device controls the exposure amount using the coefficient and the correction amount provided by

Abstract: A main controlling part is configured to choose and execute either a constant belt speed control which controls a driving motor (a driving source for an intermediate transfer belt) to move the intermediate transfer belt at a predetermined target belt speed or a constant motor speed control which rotates the driving motor at a predetermined target rotational speed according to a print command, and then, prior to a first-time print job, after executing a writing position correcting process while moving the intermediate transfer belt under the constant belt speed control, forms a color shift detecting image by switching from the constant belt speed control to the constant motor speed control, measures a difference between amounts of color shift, and executes a speed correcting process for correcting the target rotational speed of the driving motor in the constant motor speed control based on the measurement result.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus in which a positional displacement detection image and a light quantity adjustment image are formed within a one-rotation length of an image bearing member (intermediate transfer belt). A light-emission quantity when detecting density is determined on the basis of a detection result of a light quantity adjustment image formed within the one-rotation length using light-emission quantity that is provided when light is emitted to the positional displacement detection image. This allows, for example, image density control to be performed quickly while precision of the image density control is maintained.

Abstract: A method of changing a color developer in a developer housing of xerographic marking system are disclosed, and may include supplying a chart divided into a plurality of color family sections or quadrants, selecting a new color to be installed in a developer housing corresponding to the color family section, purging old toner from the developer housing until a concentration of old toner is reduced to about 0.1% to 6.0% from its nominal concentration, installing a container of a new color developer in the developer housing, and running the marking system until the required concentration of the new color developer is attained.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes a transferring belt where a color image is formed; a conveyance belt transferring a recording medium where a monochrome image is transferred; a velocity difference detecting part detecting a velocity difference between the transferring belt and the conveyance belt; a determining part determining whether the velocity difference detected by the velocity difference detecting part is equal to or greater than a designated value; a velocity adjusting part adjusting the velocity difference so that the velocity difference becomes lower than the designated value in a case where the velocity difference is determined to be the designated value or more by the determining part; and a color correcting part correcting a shift of colors between the color image and the monochrome image by using the transferring belt and the conveyance belt whose velocities are adjusted by the velocity adjusting part.

Abstract: A method for color printing includes the steps of determining a voltage level of electrical power supplied to an electrophotographic printing device having multiple colors of toner, the voltage level defining a fusing capacity, and selecting a color table, stored in memory, defining a maximum toner application level for each color of toner, based upon the fusing capacity.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of output circuits that output a plurality of pieces of information to an external device. Each of the output circuits includes a synchronization control unit that synchronizes an operation clock of the output circuit with an operation clock of a separate output circuit; an information receiving unit that receives a piece of information that is different from a piece of information that is received by the separate output circuit; and an output control unit that outputs the received piece of information to the external device in accordance with the synchronized operation clock.

Abstract: A method for forming a color image that allows a color image forming device to detect print chromaticity by an actually used print medium and automatically perform an optimal color balance adjustment in consideration of the chromaticity of the print medium. At a first step of the method, it is determined whether a feeder is selected for a subsequent printing operation. If selected, the process proceeds to a second step. If not selected, it is determined that the printing operation is not performed for some time and the process is completed without color balance adjustment. At the second step, a print medium for printing a test pattern is fed from the feeder selected for a subsequent printing operation, which is determined at the first step. A color sensor detects the chromaticity of the test pattern transferred and fused on the print medium, and the color balance is then adjusted.

Abstract: A technique that can stably realize highly accurate image adjustment processing regardless of deterioration in an image forming characteristic and the like is provided. An image forming apparatus that forms, on an image formation medium, a gradation pattern formed as an image of density changing according to a gradation step, and performs predetermined image adjustment processing on the basis of a print state of the gradation pattern formed on the image formation medium, the image forming apparatus comprising a fluctuation-information acquiring unit configured to acquire information on a degree of fluctuation in a predetermined characteristic affecting an image quality of an output image; and a control unit configured to form, on the image formation medium, a gradation pattern in which a density changing amount is changed according to the gradation step on the basis of the information acquired by the fluctuation-information acquiring unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including multiple colored toner image forming units to form multiple colored toner images on a rotatable body, a transfer device to collectively transfer the multiple colored toner images onto a recording medium from the rotatable body, a fixing device to fix the multiple colored toner images onto the recording medium, and a light-colored toner image forming unit to form a light-colored toner image as a bottommost layer of a resultant full-color toner image formed on the rotatable body. The multiple colored toner images are sequentially superimposed on the light-colored toner image formed as the bottommost layer of the resultant full-color toner image formed on the rotatable body. A condition for forming the light-colored toner image by the light-colored toner image forming unit is set such that the light-colored toner image is not transferred onto the recording medium from the rotatable body by the transfer device.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of more reliably detecting patches formed on a recording medium while suppressing an increase in the consumption of printing media and toners. In an image forming apparatus which detects the density or color of each patch of a patch array fixed on a recording medium that is conveyed and corrects an image formation condition based on the detection result, the patches are formed as the patch array so that the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases in an order of detection by the patch detection unit, and the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases according to increasing of a detection position variation amount of a patch in the order of detection by the patch detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a printing section loaded with a first toner group, and a second toner group having a higher chroma value than the first toner group; and a control section which is configured to: convert color information of each part of an image based on image data specified by a print job into values in a prescribed color space; make a first judgment of a toner group proper to the image by comparing the values in the prescribed color space with color reproducible range of previously registered each toner group; make a second judgment of the toner group proper to a recording sheet and/or a printing condition which being specified by the print job, by referring to previously stored correlation information; and determine the toner group to be used for printing the image, based on results of the first and second judgments.

Abstract: A color shift detection pattern forming part forms a color shift detection pattern. A sensor detects color shift in the color shift detection pattern. A color shift amount computing part calculates an amount of color shift. A color shift correcting part corrects the calculated amount of color shift. A correction amount computing part computes an amount of correction to correct the computed amount of color shift. A correcting part corrects the computed amount of color shift based on the computed amount of correction based on a setting value for controlling a color shift state. A determining part determines whether an abnormality is detected in the computed amount of color shift or in the computed amount of correction of color shift based on a result of computation of the amount of color shift or a result of computation of the amount of correction. A fixed value setting part sets a specific fixed value to the setting value of the correcting part.

Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus and a method for print control which can carry out printing using appropriate toners without selecting an apparatus to be used from apparatuses loaded with different toner groups depending on a print object. In an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming section including photoreceptor drums, writing units to form electrostatic latent images on the photoreceptor drums, and development devices to carry out development by feeding toners to the latent image, there are loaded, as the toners, a first toner group (for example, normal toners) containing three colors of CMY; a second toner group (for example, Vivid toners) containing three colors of CMY with a wider color reproduction area than the first toner group; and a K (black) toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided and includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on an image carrier with a transparent material and a coloring material; a controller that controls an order of an image forming with the transparent material and an image forming with the coloring material to be different between in an image portion and in a non-image portion in an image forming region on the image carrier; and a transferring unit that transfers the image formed on the image carrier onto a recording medium

Abstract: A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system, in forming a transparent image so as to cover color images fixed on a sheet, applies a transparent toner on an area on which an image can be formed and which is other than an area that a user desires to increase the glossiness thereof.

Abstract: A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system, in forming a transparent toner on a sheet having color toners formed and fixed thereon, applies a transparent toner on an area on which an image can be formed and which is other than an area that a user desires to reduce the glossiness thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an image forming apparatus and a color registration method thereof. The color registration method includes checking a change in a status of an image forming apparatus, selecting color registration patterns having a different length according to the status change, and performing color registration by printing the color registration patterns having the different length onto a transfer belt.

Abstract: In a multi-color image forming apparatus including a plurality of color image forming units adapted to form a plurality of different color images, a transfer belt to which positioning color image patterns are transferred by the color image forming units, and an optical sensor adapted to detect the positioning color image patterns, a positioning color image pattern trailing edge detecting circuit is provided to detect trailing edges of the positioning color image patterns by determining that an output signal of the optical sensor has reached a threshold value. The threshold value is a predetermined ratio of a peak value of the output signal of the optical sensor. A control circuit is provided to compensate for registration of the color image forming units in accordance with the detected trailing edges of the positioning color image patterns.

Abstract: This invention has an object to process color balance adjustment at high speed in an image forming apparatus without depending on different feeding speeds for different printing materials. To accomplish this, an image forming apparatus of the invention detects color balances while a printing material on which toner patches are formed is fed on a second feeding path. Since images are formed on different types of printing materials at different feeding speeds, the image forming apparatus of the invention processes color balance adjustment at high speed without depending on the feeding speed at the time of image formation by switching the feeding speed on the feeding path.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which is capable of preventing images read from a double-sided original from suffering an in-surface color irregularity on each of images read from the respective opposite sides of a double-sided original and a color difference between the front and reverse. A CCD line sensor reads a front-side original image. An image processing ASIC calculates shading correction data for performing shading correction on original image data read from the original image by the CCD line sensor, based on read luminance values obtained by the CCD line sensor by reading a plurality of halftone gradation patches thereon on a correction chart. The shading correction data calculated by the image processing ASIC is corrected based on read luminance values associated, respectively, with at least two of the gradation patches.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit adapted to form images of a plurality of colors in a manner in which a predetermined pattern of a predetermined color is registered thereon and superimpose those images to form a color image, a controller configured to control the image forming unit so as to form a patch image of each color for density detection, and a detector configured to detect the density of each of the patch images. The controller controls the image forming unit so as to superimpose the predetermined pattern of the predetermined color upon the patch image of a predetermined color and not to superimpose the predetermined pattern of the predetermined color upon the patch images of the other colors.