Abstract: Provided is a printing method for multi-pass printing with column thinning in which the multi-pass number is not restricted to being a multiple of the column thinning number. A mask pattern of a size corresponding to the number of printing elements in use is prepared, and divided into blocks 1 to P. Taking R(x) to be the mask pattern for the region corresponding to block x (where x=1 to P), these P block mask patterns satisfy the following condition. Namely, for all integers s obtainable between the values from 1 to M, the arrangements of printing pixels exist in a complementary relationship with each other in the combination of mask patterns R(s), R(s+M), R(s+2M), and so on to R(s+N×M). However, for all s, N is taken to be the largest integer satisfying s+N×M?P.

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints by discharging inks from respective nozzle arrays, the printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrays including at least a first nozzle array, a second nozzle array, and a third nozzle array, and the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array being arrayed to be shifted in a nozzle arrayed direction. The printing apparatus controls the first and second nozzle arrays to discharge inks to form a plurality of first patterns. The printing apparatus controls the third nozzle array to discharge inks to form second patterns while changing a shift amount in a direction which intersects with the nozzle arrayed direction with respect to the plurality of first patterns. The printing apparatus calculates an adjustment value required to adjust relative printing positions between the first nozzle array and the third nozzle array in the intersecting direction using the first patterns and the second patterns.

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints by discharging inks from respective nozzle arrays, the printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrays including at least a first nozzle array, a second nozzle array, and a third nozzle array, and the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array being arrayed to be shifted in a nozzle arrayed direction. The printing apparatus controls the first and second nozzle arrays to discharge inks to form a plurality of first patterns. The printing apparatus controls the third nozzle array to discharge inks to form second patterns while changing a shift amount in a direction which intersects with the nozzle arrayed direction with respect to the plurality of first patterns. The printing apparatus calculates an adjustment value required to adjust relative printing positions between the first nozzle array and the third nozzle array in the intersecting direction using the first patterns and the second patterns.

Abstract: Provided is a printing method for multi-pass printing with column thinning in which the multi-pass number is not restricted to being a multiple of the column thinning number. A mask pattern of a size corresponding to the number of printing elements in use is prepared, and divided into blocks 1 to P. Taking R(x) to be the mask pattern for the region corresponding to block x (where x=1 to P), these P block mask patterns satisfy the following condition. Namely, for all integers s obtainable between the values from 1 to M, the arrangements of printing pixels exist in a complementary relationship with each other in the combination of mask patterns R(s), R(s+M), R(s+2M), and so on to R(s+N×M). However, for all s, N is taken to be the largest integer satisfying s+N×M?P.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are provided which can correct, with high precision, print position deviations among a plurality of printing element arrays in each of a plurality of print modes that use different groups of printing elements in each printing element array. The adjustment values for the print position deviations between the first and second printing element arrays are differentiated between the high-speed mode and the high-quality mode. In the high-speed mode, all printing elements in the first and second printing element arrays are used. In the high-quality mode, a part of the printing elements in each of the first and second printing element arrays are used. Based on these adjustment values, the ink ejection timings of the first and second printing element arrays are adjusted.

Abstract: The optimal number of print passes and a head-to-platen distance are set according to a content of an image to be printed and the user's request (emphasis is put on quality or speed, etc.) to thereby appropriately meet the needs for higher image quality and higher productivity and to perform printing with high reliability. To this end, it is made possible to select whether to execute processing for issuing an instruction to set the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance according to discrimination of the content of the image. When the execution of the processing is selected, the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance are appropriately set according to the content of the image (duty, etc.). Meanwhile, when it is not selected, the image is printed by one-pass print with the head-to-platen distance set larger, regardless of the content of the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides an printing apparatus including a pattern printing unit for causing printing elements in partial regions of first and second printing element arrays to print adjustment patterns on a print medium, the adjustment patterns being for acquiring an amount of printing position shift of the second print head with respect to a printing position of the first print head, an acquisition unit for acquiring an amount of relative inclination between the first and second print element arrays, and a selection unit for selecting positions of the partial regions of the first and second printing element arrays based on the amount of relative inclination between the first and second print element arrays. As a result, consumption of media and ink upon a registration process and the amount of time required for the registration process can be reduced.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer that prints an image by a forward scan and a backward scan of printing heads, it is determined whether or not a color unevenness occurrence value set on the basis of values of unit image data constituting image data is more than a predetermined threshold value. If the color unevenness occurrence value is less than the threshold value, data that enable a dot to be formed in a unit area corresponding to the unit image data by the forward scan and the backward scan of the printing heads are generated. If the color unevenness occurrence value is more than the threshold value, data that enable a dot to be formed in the unit area only by one of the forward scan and the backward scan of the printing heads are generated.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: When recording is performed by causing a recording head to scan a unit region of a recording medium multiple times, values related to the respective amounts of inks of multiple colors to be ejected to each of sub-regions obtained by dividing the unit region in the scanning direction are obtained. On the basis of values related to the respective amounts of the inks of multiple colors for a sub-region of interest and neighboring sub-regions adjacent to the sub-region of interest, the number of scans for the unit region including the sub-region of interest is determined.

Abstract: The optimal number of print passes and a head-to-platen distance are set according to a content of an image to be printed and the user's request (emphasis is put on quality or speed, etc.) to thereby appropriately meet the needs for higher image quality and higher productivity and to perform printing with high reliability. To this end, it is made possible to select whether to execute processing for issuing an instruction to set the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance according to discrimination of the content of the image. When the execution of the processing is selected, the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance are appropriately set according to the content of the image (duty, etc.). Meanwhile, when it is not selected, the image is printed by one-pass print with the head-to-platen distance set larger, regardless of the content of the image.

Abstract: An apparatus records a first pattern used for correcting a shift in positions recorded by a plurality of nozzle arrays and a second pattern used for detecting a conveyance error that occurs when the first pattern is recorded, and changes a correction value according to the detected conveyance error.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing apparatus which can adjust printing position more accurately. The apparatus has a printing unit, a pattern printing unit to print a first pattern and a second pattern so as to form a third pattern, and an adjustment unit to perform an adjustment regarding position of dots to be printed by the printing unit based on an optical reflectivity of the third pattern. The second pattern is substantially the same as the first pattern and is shifted relative to the first pattern in a predetermined direction. The first and second patterns each include a plurality of patterns having different cyclic natures in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an printing apparatus including a pattern printing unit for causing printing elements in partial regions of first and second printing element arrays to print adjustment patterns on a print medium, the adjustment patterns being for acquiring an amount of printing position shift of the second print head with respect to a printing position of the first print head, an acquisition unit for acquiring an amount of relative inclination between the first and second print element arrays, and a selection unit for selecting positions of the partial regions of the first and second printing element arrays based on the amount of relative inclination between the first and second print element arrays. As a result, consumption of media and ink upon a registration process and the amount of time required for the registration process can be reduced.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet printer that prints an image by a forward scan and a backward scan of printing heads. In the present invention, it is determined whether or not a color unevenness occurrence value set on the basis of values of unit image data constituting image data is more than a predetermined threshold value. If the color unevenness occurrence value is less than the threshold value, data that enable a dot to be formed in a unit area corresponding to the unit image data by the forward scan and the backward scan of the printing heads are generated. If the color unevenness occurrence value is more than the threshold value, data that enable a dot to be formed in the unit area only by any one of the forward scan and the backward scan by the printing heads are generated.

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints by discharging inks from respective nozzle arrays, the printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrays including at least a first nozzle array, a second nozzle array, and a third nozzle array, and the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array being arrayed to be shifted in a nozzle arrayed direction. The printing apparatus controls the first and second nozzle arrays to discharge inks to form a plurality of first patterns. The printing apparatus controls the third nozzle array to discharge inks to form second patterns while changing a shift amount in a direction which intersects with the nozzle arrayed direction with respect to the plurality of first patterns. The printing apparatus calculates an adjustment value required to adjust relative printing positions between the first nozzle array and the third nozzle array in the intersecting direction using the first patterns and the second patterns.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a calibration method are provided which, by using a small-capacity memory, can perform a high-speed calibration processing on data used to eject ink of the same color from a plurality of nozzle arrays. By ejecting ink of the same color from the plurality of nozzle arrays, patch is printed and, based on the printed result of the patch, a content of a print data correction processing is changed.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are provided which can correct, with high precision, print position deviations among a plurality of printing element arrays in each of a plurality of print modes that use different groups of printing elements in each printing element array. The adjustment values for the print position deviations between the first and second printing element arrays are differentiated between the high-speed mode and the high-quality mode. In the high-speed mode, all printing elements in the first and second printing element arrays are used. In the high-quality mode, a part of the printing elements in each of the first and second printing element arrays are used. Based on these adjustment values, the ink ejection timings of the first and second printing element arrays are adjusted.