Abstract: An algorithm to control a printer wherein the separation set that is created for each print job is stored and managed in a storage unit within either the printer of the device that transmits the print job to the printer. The stored image separations are ranked or prioritized based on the frequency with which a particular job is printed. When the printer goes into an idle mode, such as between print jobs, the algorithm executes a re-separation or recalculates of each of the stored separation sets in descending order of the popularity of the separation set. The recalculation then accounts for changes or updates in the printing conditions thereby making it likely that the most popular separation set has been refreshed with current density compensation data.

Abstract: An algorithm for modulating printer half-tone screening based on the tonal values of the region being reproduced is provided. The algorithm determines the tonal values for a particular region and assigns real number constants to that region. As the clustering screen is applied, the threshold values in the clustering screen are reduced (divided) by the real number constants thereby modulating the effect of the application of the clustering screen. For deep tonal regions, the clustering screen is applied at full strength, while in light tonal regions no clustering effect is applied. The algorithm results in a an image that has a greater dynamic range without the appearance of stair stepping while eliminating clustering artifacts from the lighter regions.