Abstract: A label printer having a plurality of input devices for inputting information to said label printer where a first input device can be a keyboard, and a second input device can be a connectable external controlling entity; a supply of image receiving medium such as a tape; a printer adapted to print an image on the tape; and a printer controller for controlling the label printer, so that when the label printer is connected the label printer can be operated in a stand alone mode in which information can only be input to said label printer via said first input device, or an external control mode in which information can only be input to said label printer via the connecting device, such that for a predetermined period of time after use in one of the said stand alone mode and the said external control mode, any information input via the input device not in use can not operate the label printer, but after the predetermined period of time information can be input to operate the label printer via either the first in

Abstract: For page data containing shadow-casting objects, trap graphics are generated according to the following procedure. First, an ID drawing process is performed for all objects within a page, and based on the process result, a related graphic list indicating relative positional relationships between the objects is generated. Thereafter, an ID drawing process is performed for all objects in the area of each shadow-casting object, excluding the shadow-casting object. The result of the ID drawing process in the shadow-casting object area is reflected in the related graphic list, and thereafter, trap graphics are generated based on settings information in the related graphic list.

Abstract: When there is a possibility where an undesirable printing result may be caused, a preview image useful for the check of the printing result is displayed, prior to an actual printing, to a user. Prior to the printing an image based on data after an image processing of an image data, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility in which an undesirable printing result may be caused based on the image data and, when it is determined that there is the possibility, a warning message is issued. When it is determined that there is a possibility in which an undesirable printing result may be caused, a printer driver simulates the image processing by the printing apparatus to prepare the data after the image processing. A display apparatus displays, prior to the printing of the image, a preview image based on the data after the image processing.

Abstract: In order to obtain consistent output by a remote color printer over a communication network, a calibration is remotely performed on the remote color printer. More specifically, job data, including setting information for a calibration, is received, and the setting for the calibration is switched in accordance with the setting information between performing calibration processing on the job data by using calibration data obtained based on the setting information and performing calibration processing on the job data and job data received after the job data by using calibration data obtained based on the setting information.

Abstract: With a printing controlling method, to reduce time for image output even where a text confirmation time is required for a preview, text created by an operator is converted into printing data in parallel with a preview and added with a storage command to be transmitted to an image forming apparatus, and the data are stored in a received data storage buffer to be on standby with waiting for a subsequent command. Where reedition is needed through the preview, an erase command is transmitted from an image processing apparatus to cancel the printing data stored in the received data storage buffer. Conversely where reedition is not necessary, a printing start command is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to execute analysis of the printing data stored in the received data storage buffer, thereby stepping forward to a procedure for printing execution.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing apparatus, a terminal apparatus for transmitting and receiving information, a notification part notifying a user of the printing apparatus of information on authority of the user to use the printing apparatus, and a network connecting the printing apparatus, the terminal apparatus, and the notification means so that information transmission and reception in the system is performed through an electrical signal via the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing color manipulation using virtual gamuts. In one aspect of the invention, a method to perform color manipulation on a digital processing system includes: performing color manipulation using a virtual gamut of a device if a real gamut of the device is poor in quality. When the real gamut of the device is wide, color manipulations are performed using the real gamut of the device. In one example according to this aspect, whether or not the real gamut of the device is poor in quality is determined by comparing an area of the real gamut with a threshold gamut area in a chromaticity diagram. A virtual profile of the device specifies the virtual gamut of the device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is communicable with a server and an image forming apparatus. A first set of printing commands is acquired from the server. A raster image processor (RIP) processes an image to form raster image data based on the acquired first set of printing commands. One of the first set of printing commands or the formed raster image data is transferred to the image forming apparatus. The RIP is controlled to form raster image data based on a second set of printing commands when the RIP is not carrying out image processing based on the first set of printing commands, and the second set of printing commands are transferred to the image forming apparatus for image processing based thereon when the RIP is carrying out image processing based on the first set of printing commands.

Abstract: A print job creation apparatus of the invention connecting with a local network uses an output destination setting window 66 to set an output destination for output of a print job under creation or a created print job with respect to each combination of a print service and a paper size in a tabular form. Each setting field in the output destination setting window 66 includes an output destination setting box 67 on the upper row to set a selected output destination, a paper type setting box 68 on the middle row to set a selected type of printing paper, and an output step setting box 69 on the lower row to set a selected print job creation step for output of a print job to the output destination. A pulldown menu is open in the output destination setting box 67 to give available options including other print job creation apparatuses and printers connecting with the same local network and other print job creation apparatuses and printers connecting with a different local network.

Abstract: A paper conveying apparatus, having a simple structure, in which variation in a load imposed on paper is reduced to suppress printing irregularities, and also a printer are provided. A pair of rollers of a second conveying apparatus, arranged at a predetermined interval away from a first conveying apparatus, are composed of a rotationally-driven driving roller and a driven roller which is trailingly rotated, with paper being gripped between the driving roller and the driven roller. The pairs of rollers of the second conveying apparatus are arranged in different positions along the paper conveying direction. The paper gripping pressure of the pair of driving rollers arranged on the upstream side along the paper conveying direction is set to be lower than that of the other pairs of driving rollers.

Abstract: Additional information of visual information printed on a printing medium can be stored in a large volume and can be provided easily. A photograph is printed on a photograph printing paper roll embedded with an IC chip having unique ID. A Web server stores additional information of the photograph in relation to the unique ID, and the URL address of the Web server is written in a ROM of the IC chip. The URL address sent from a transmission unit of the IC chip is received by a terminal, and the terminal accesses the server based on the URL address to obtain the additional information.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enable an image processing apparatus to correspond to plural kinds of data, and to easily and surely perform printout and management of various kinds of and large quantity of data. In the image processing apparatus which includes image printing means, image reading means and storage means capable of storing plural kinds of data, a user specifies kinds of data in the storage means which are desired to be subjected to printout or management processing, and allows a mark type sheet adapted to the kinds of data to be printed. On the other hand, the printout or management processing of data printed on the mark type sheet is controlled on the basis of the presence of marks and the positions of the marks on the mark type sheet, which are read from the mark type sheet.

Abstract: A system (799) and method for continuous web sublimate dye transfer printing uses platens (800, 805) which also act as air bearings. The platens are heated by resistive heating elements ( 825 ) or other means. A sandwich of air-impermeable dye-image donor tissue (1100), the medium to be printed (1140), and air-impermeable backup tissue (1115) are fed through the heated air bearing where the dye transfer step occurs. The tissues and medium are supplied on supply rolls (1105, 1120, and 1145) which are restrained by braking mechanisms (not shown). Take-up rolls (1110, 1160, and 1135) are driven by motor-and-clutch mechanisms (not shown) so that the tissues and medium to be printed move through the heated region between the platens without sliding past one-another. The platens are forced together on either side of the tissue-medium sandwich with sufficient pressure to prevent the sublimate dye gas from migrating sideways through the medium being printed.

Abstract: There is provided an output apparatus capable of outputting an image of high quality even if unreproducible colors are converted into reproducible colors among colors included in an image. The output apparatus, which converts unreproducible colors into reproducible colors among colors included in an image to output the image, includes a color unreproducible region extracting unit operable to extract a color unreproducible region that is a region including a color capable of not being reproduced by the output apparatus among the colors included in the image, a first color converting unit operable to convert a color of the color unreproducible region into a color capable of being reproduced by the output apparatus, and a second color converting unit operable to convert colors of regions besides the color unreproducible region based on positional relationship in the image between the color unreproducible region and the regions besides the color unreproducible region.

Abstract: A print data creating device that creates print data for an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer is configured to print an image on a fabric in accordance with the print data. The print data creating device is provided with a color conversion table storage that stores color conversion tables corresponding to washing conditions representing conversions to be made when the fabric will be washed after the image is printed thereon, a washing condition designating system which is operated by a user to input a washing condition, a table selecting system that selects one of the color conversion tables stored in the color conversion table storage in accordance with the washing condition input through the washing condition designating system, and a print data creating system that creates the print data using the color conversion table selected by the table selecting system.

Abstract: A color rendering system and method is disclosed. The color rendering system comprising a color rendering strip generation system configured to generate a group of one or more sets of comparison patches. Each set of comparison patches associated with a particular color and including different color space representations of the color associated with the set.

Abstract: When the color gamut of a printer is further expanded, if the same gamut expansion processing as in the prior art is applied, the chroma level becomes too high beyond necessity, resulting in extremely vivid colors. Hence, less than a favorable image is obtained. To solve this problem, information of each of an input gamut and output gamut is input, an expanding method of the input gamut is set, and an expanded gamut is generated by expanding the input gamut by that expanding method. Based on the information of the expanded gamut and output gamut, conversion characteristics required to convert the color values of the expanded gamut to those of the output gamut are calculated.

Abstract: A dual-mode scanning apparatus is capable of scanning both transmissive and reflective objects. An opaque object or a light-transmissible object is placed on the scanning platform when either of the reflective or transmissive scanning modes is performed. The carriage module is arranged under the scanning platform, and has therein an active light source for emitting light. The light emitted by the active light source is reflected by the opaque object to enter the carriage module in the reflective scanning mode. On the other hand, a light-guiding member arranged over the scanning platform guides the light emitted by the active light source to the light-transmissible object. The light penetrates through the object to enter the carriage module in the transmissive scanning mode.

Abstract: A mechanism in which whether or not a printing process can be executed in a user's desired format can be recognized by the user before a print output is executed from an application is provided. The application inquires of a printer driver about a restriction value of a printing apparatus in the case of executing the printing process by print setting designated by the user and obtains such a value. Whether or not the printing process can be executed is discriminated on the basis of the obtained print restriction value information and the number of pages of a print document. If it is determined that the printing process cannot be executed, a message showing that it is impossible to execute the printing process is displayed onto a displaying apparatus. If the printing process cannot be executed, the user is allowed to select available print settings.

Abstract: A method of increasing the scanning resolution of a scanner through controlling its driving system. By suitably adjusting the timing relationship between motor pulses and exposure pulses, a low-resolution driving system can produce a high-resolution image with no additional production cost incurred.