Abstract: The colors used for forming an image are limited in advance to a predetermined number of color patterns called representative colors; on the host side the image data received is divided into blocks, for each of which a representative color is determined in a representative color code conversion unit; the representative colors and their associated representative color codes are transmitted to the printer side; and on the printer side the representative color codes are converted into dot patterns in a pattern conversion unit for each pass before being output. The above procedure allows a series of processing—resolution conversion, masking/UCR processing, output ? correction and binarization processing—to be realized with a simple configuration.

Abstract: A method triggers a printer (106) to receive a signal (300) from a print engine (202) indicating the initiation of the transmission of print data; transmits a shorter signal (302) to a printer ASIC (204), in response to receiving a first signal; receives a first line of data to be printed from the printer ASIC (204); receives a second signal from the print engine (202); transmits a second shorter signal to the printer ASIC (204), in response to receiving a signal; receives a second line of data to be printed from the printer ASIC (204); and transmits the first line of data to the print engine (202). This allows a slower printer ASIC (204) to be used with a faster print engine (202).