Abstract: A printing system includes a storage unit that stores printing status information and host apparatus identification information. The printing status information includes a printing status representing whether a printing processing of the print job is interrupted, and the host apparatus identification information represents the host apparatus as a requestor of the print job. The printing system includes a update unit that updates the printing status information based on a monitoring result of the printing apparatus; a job managing unit that judges whether to execute the print job according to the printing status information when receiving a processing request of the print job from the host apparatus; and a printing status information managing unit that decides printing status information to be stored in the storage unit. The printing status information managing unit first deletes, from the storage unit, printing status information on a print job transmitted from a low-ranked host apparatus.

Abstract: Transparency imaging systems and methods. One embodiment of the transparency imaging system comprises an imaging surface and a cover mounted adjacent the imaging surface. A media adapter is provided as part of the cover, and a chamber is formed in the media adapter. At least one template is receivable within the chamber formed in the media adapter, the at least one template loading the transparency media in the media adapter adjacent the imaging surface for an imaging operation.

Abstract: A data processing device that processes image data to be supplied to a recording head is provided. The device includes a first storage section configured to store image data for at least a single line; and a processor that reads image data corresponding to each of discharge nozzles of each of discharge groups from the image data of a single line stored in the first storage section and causes the read image data to be stored in a continuous storage region of a second storage section for storing image data to be supplied to the recording head.

Abstract: Color reproduction data of a print obtained by forming an image on a print medium corresponding to an input type thereof, and spectral data of a laminate film corresponding to an input type thereof are acquired. A reference color is determined based on color information of a designated color to be reproduced on a protective-film-covered print. Based on the acquired color reproduction data and the acquired spectral data, the determined reference color is converted into another reference color depending on the print without the laminate film thereon. A color value depending on a color patch that is selected as a color closest to the designated color, under a condition where the laminate film is not laminated, from a designated color adjusting color chart printed based on color values depending on the converted other reference color or colors close to the other reference color, is acquired.

Abstract: Tools are provided for (i) obtaining image data in which information is embedded by printing multiple types of patterns in a matrix, (ii) calculating multiple vertical-line-segment sequences and multiple horizontal-line-segment sequences, obtained by connecting vertically arranged patterns and horizontally arranged patterns, respectively, in the image data with polygonal lines, (iii) searching for a vertical line segment and a horizontal line segment intersecting with each other for each combination of one of the vertical-line-segment sequences and one of the horizontal-line-segment sequences, (iv) calculating an intersection point between the thus-found vertical line segment and the horizontal line segment as a position of a pattern, and (v) extracting the information embedded in the printed material by identifying types of patterns at the calculated intersection points.

Abstract: When the printer selected by a user is judged to be one that has been searched out with using functional conditions, a PC as a print setting device reflects the functional conditions used as the search condition in the initial values of the print setting items for that printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a memory that memorizes a storage area storing document data; a receiving unit that receives an instruction for creating a second storage area corresponding to a first storage area created by another image forming apparatus; and a creating unit that creates the second storage area associated with information for identifying another image forming apparatus in the memory when the receiving unit receives the instruction to create the second storage area.

Abstract: A method for storing data is described, wherein the data to be stored is printed in the form of a dot pattern comprising a plurality of dots onto the surface of an imprintable medium using a printing device, wherein the dot pattern comprises at least one dot pattern block covering a defined area on the imprintable medium, and wherein the area, which is covered by the at least one dot pattern block on the medium to be imprinted, comprises a plurality of partial surfaces of equal size disposed next to and/or on top of each other, a dot pattern each representing a portion of the data to be stored being printed in said partial area.

Abstract: A mechanism for scanning and capturing digital images using residue detection. Upon detecting a document placed on a scanning surface of a scanning device, the illustrative embodiments detect a residue deposited on the document. The illustrative embodiments determine a portion of the document to be scanned based on a location of the residue on the document. The illustrative embodiments then scan the portion of the document.

Abstract: A printer driver conserves recording paper by removing blank space formed at the top and bottom of each page when printing. The printer driver acquires the coordinates of the top and bottom of the part of the print image, and calculates the page length required to print the middle area between the top and bottom blank space areas based on these coordinates. The print data for printing this middle area is then extracted and printed. When printing is completed, the recording paper is conveyed only the difference between the page length and the transportation distance of the recording paper to set the print head to a position separated only the page length from the printing start position of the area print data, that is, to a position touching the middle area. As a result, blank space between the middle areas of consecutively printed pages is eliminated.

Abstract: In a system in which a plurality of image forming devices are connected on one or more image processing devices through a network, efficiency of image formation is improved by assigning priority, or by ordering, the image forming devices according to power consumption and wait time. An image forming device is selected according to one of the power consumption and the wait time.

Abstract: A printer equipped with a display panel and configured to perform printing on a label surface of a disc based on an image displayed on the display panel, including: a displaying portion configured to display, on the display panel, (a) a subject image that is based on stored image data and (b) a disc frame representing a printable region of the label surface of the disc, such that the disc frame is superimposed on the subject image; a modifying portion configured to modify the subject image on the basis of an input operation by a user, such that the subject image is moved, enlarged, or reduced relative to the disc frame; and a printing portion configured to print, on the label surface of the disc, a part of the subject image existing within the disc frame.

Abstract: A most used color that is a most popularly used color is obtained in an image. Pixel groups formed of continued pixels having an identical color other than the most used color in the image is extracted as first pixel groups. Pixel groups having a color of which a color difference with respect to the most used color is smaller than a predetermined threshold and having a size thereof that is smaller than a predetermined size is extracted as third pixel groups among the first pixel groups thus extracted. The first pixel groups other than the third pixel groups are taken as second pixel groups. An image is generated by replacing colors of portions, which correspond to the second pixel groups in an image having an area identical with that of an image to be processed and filled with the most used color, with the corresponding second pixel groups, respectively.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system for optimal print profile selection are provided. The method includes receiving a color document and print profiles into memory, identifying out-of-gamut regions within the color document, presenting the identified out-of-gamut regions to a user, receiving color accuracy requirements from the user for at least one out-of-gamut region, computing a color quality value for each of the at least one print profile based at least partially on the received color accuracy requirements, creating a ranked list comprising the at least one print profiles ranked at least partially according to the computed color quality value, and outputting the ranked list to a user terminal, a computer monitor, or computer memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a control section which detects an offset of a recording sheet being conveyed, the offset being in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording sheet; performs an offset regulation control which adjusts a main scanning direction image area signal in accordance with the offset; and forms a patch at a non-transfer area on an image carrier, wherein the control section performs a first control based on the offset of the recording sheet for the offset regulation control while a sub scanning direction image area signal is active for image forming on the recording sheet, and performs a second control for the offset regulation control while the image area signal in the sub scanning direction is inactive.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A color contact image sensor (CIS) module employing a single channel line sensor can be used to produce substantially the same performance as a color CIS module employing a three-channel line sensor and having color filters to, for example, reduce manufacturing costs. Moreover, a blurring phenomenon that can occur in a scanned image can be reduced and the quality of the scanned image can be improved.

Abstract: A profile creation apparatus determines whether a medium used for printing contains a fluorescent brightener, based on measured values of the medium, corrects measured values of color patches formed on the medium, based on a result of the determination, and creates a color profile based on the corrected measured values of the color patches and measured values of a viewing environment in which color patches have been formed.

Abstract: A profile for converting color data dependent on a source device into color data dependent on a destination device, and generation information used in generation of the profile are acquired. Adjustment conditions of the profile designated on a device independent color space are inputted. Color data stored in the profile and dependent on the destination device is converted into first color data on the device independent color space using the generation information. Adjustment is applied to the first color data in accordance with the adjustment conditions. The first color data, to which the adjustment is applied, is converted into second color data dependent on the destination device using the generation information. Color data stored in the profile and dependent on the destination device is modified based on the second color data.

Abstract: A 2-pixel averaging unit (101) halves an input image in the subscanning direction, and a multi-level error diffusion unit (102) performs multi-level error diffusion processing. A 2-pixel reconstruction unit (103) replaces each pixel with two pixels adjacent in the subscanning direction. A density value exchange unit (104) exchanges pixel values adjacent in the subscanning direction in each of 2×2 pixel blocks arranged in a checkered pattern in the image after replacement. High-density blocks each serving as a set of high-density dots and low-density blocks each serving as a set of low-density dots can be generated as 2×2 pixel blocks. The exposure region can be concentrated in PWM conversion.

Abstract: A print control device includes a data acquiring section, a print control section, a preview-image output control section, and a print-ratio acquiring section. The data acquiring section acquires image data. The print control section controls a printing device to print an image based on the image data on a sheet. The preview-image output control section outputs preview images at a plurality of print ratios. The preview images are indicators of print results to be obtained when the printing device prints, on the sheet, the image based on the image data at the respective print ratios. The print-ratio acquiring section acquires print-ratio specifying information through an input device that can be operated by a user, after the preview-image output control section outputs the preview images. The print control section controls the printing device to print, on the sheet, the image based on the image data at a print ratio specified by the print-ratio specifying information.