Abstract: An ink jet printer has an ink jet printing head which includes plural nozzles arranged in a main scan direction. A feeder rollers feed continuous recording sheet relative to the printing head in a sub scan direction. A controller drives the printing head and the feeder rollers to print images and a head check pattern to the continuous recording sheet. The head check pattern is printed outside a region of the images, and adapted to check whether the nozzles print at intended printing density.

Abstract: A printer includes an image area sensor for picking up a picture frame in photo film to output image data. A printing projecting lens focuses and records a print frame to color photographic paper. Three LED light sources generate light. A digital micromirror device (DMD) is disposed in a traveling path of the light, includes plural micromirrors arranged in at least one array. The plural micromirrors are individually shiftable between first and second positions different in a direction, and when in the first position, direct the light to the photo film by reflection, and when in the second position, direct the light to the printing projecting lens by reflection. A controller initially sets the plural micromirrors in the first position, to illuminate the picture frame in the photo film while the image area sensor is operated.

Abstract: An ink jet printer forms an image frame in a continuous recording sheet at a size PL with reference to a feeding direction. The continuous recording sheet includes plural recording sheets, and a splicing portion for splicing the plural recording sheets to one another in one line. In ink jet printing, the image frame is printed to the continuous recording sheet with a printing bead while the continuous recording sheet is fed in the feeding direction. It is detected whether the splicing portion comes past a predetermined position upstream from the printing head at a distance L1. The printing head is inhibited from printing the image frame if an unavailable region including the splicing portion is estimated to overlap on a region of the image frame according to a detection signal from the detecting step.

Abstract: An ink jet printer includes an ink jet printing head, having plural recording elements arranged in a main scan direction. Feeder roller sets move continuous recording sheet relative to the printing head in a sub scan direction, to print an image to the continuous recording sheet. A printing head inspecting device for the printer is provided. A controller causes the feeder roller set to set first and second line positions of the continuous recording sheet sequentially at the printing head. While one of the first and second line positions is set at the printing head, the controller simultaneously drives recording elements in one of first and second groups into which the recording elements are grouped in the printing head, to print one check dot train to the continuous recording sheet. Thus, two check dot trains are printed in the first and second line positions. Each of the first and second groups includes plural recording elements intermittently arranged in the printing head.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has an ink jet printing head including plural nozzles arranged in a main scan direction, for ejecting ink. A feeder rollers move continuous recording sheet relative to the printing head in a sub scan direction, to print plural images to the continuous recording sheet. A system controller operates to clean the printing head in a beginning or ending position of respectively the plural images. The printing head prints a cutting indicia to the recording material upon being cleaned. The cutting indicia is adapted to separating the images.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has an ink jet printing head which includes plural nozzles arranged in a main scan direction. A feeder rollers feed continuous recording sheet relative to the printing head in a sub scan direction. A controller drives the printing head and the feeder rollers to print images and a head check pattern to the continuous recording sheet. The head check pattern is printed outside a region of the images, and adapted to check whether the nozzles print at intended printing density.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises at least one ink jet head, in which plural nozzles are arranged in an array in a main scan direction, and eject a droplet of ink to recording material respectively at an ejected amount according to information of an image. Feeder rollers feed the recording material relative to the ink jet head in a sub scan direction, to print the image to the recording material two-dimensionally. A thermal head includes plural heating elements arranged in an array in the main scan direction, for applying heat to the recording material respectively in a heating region. A system controller sets drying heat energy according to the ejected amount, and drives the thermal head to apply the drying heat energy to the heating region, to promote drying of the droplet in the heating region.

Abstract: In order to provide an image reading apparatus, which can read images on a monochromatically developed color photographic film, it is provided a reading conditions changing portion, which changes reading conditions of sensors on the basis of information applied to the color photosensitive material, or is provided light sources which irradiate light, having at least one of wavelength and light quantity being different from that of the other, at an emulsion surface side and a support surface side of the color photosensitive material, respectively.

Abstract: An optical printer has a DMD as a spatial light modulator. An optical image corresponding to a picture frame is projected from the DMD onto a photographic paper in a variable size to print the picture frame in a designated print size. When a maximum print size is designated, image data stored in three color image memories is entirely converted into mirror drive data for driving all micromirrors of the DMD in accordance with the image data. When a smaller print size is designated, the image data is thinned to reduce the image data size in correspondence with the smaller print size. Also a smaller area of the DMD is selected as an active area in which micromirrors are driven in accordance with the thinned image data, to print a picture in the smaller print size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing index prints makes the trend of compensation for main prints coincide with the trend of compensation for the index prints. When a scanner determines an exposure compensation amount for each frame based on image data of each frame of a negative film, the information representing the exposure compensation amount for each frame is transmitted to the drive controllers via a controller. In a main print section, an exposure process is performed by the drive controller based on the information regrading the exposure compensation amount for each frame, thereby obtaining a main print. In an index print section, an exposure process is performed by the drive controller based on the same information regrading the exposure compensation amount for each frame, thereby obtaining an index print. Also, a density adjusting method easily and automatically adjust unevenness in density produced in an image printing stage.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for printing images on different mediums, such as images recorded on a photographic film and index print images onto photographic paper while an image printing device is reduced in size. A film carrier is positioned to a first position so that images recorded on a negative film set on the film carrier are exposed by a light source. Further, the film carrier is moved to a second position so that images formed on a liquid crystal panel are exposed by the same light source as that used for the exposure of the images on the negative film.

Abstract: An apparatus for exposing index prints, in which a plurality of images recorded on a photographic film are displayed on an image display device and a photographic printing paper is exposed by light transmitted through the image display device so that an index print is prepared on the photographic printing paper such that the plurality of images are arranged in a matrix. The apparatus includes a system for setting the number of frames displayed on the image display device and exposure magnification of the images displayed on the image display device; dividing a plurality of image frames of the photographic film every predetermined number of frames to be displayed on the image display device; displaying, on the image display device, the plurality of image frames of the photographic film every predetermined number of the divided image frames; and exposing the divided plurality of image frames on the photographic printing paper at predetermined intervals in accordance with display of the image display device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing index prints makes the trend of compensation for main prints coincide with the trend of compensation for the index prints. When a scanner determines an exposure compensation amount for each frame based on image data of each frame of a negative film, the information representing the exposure compensation amount for each frame is transmitted to the drive controllers via a controller. In a main print section, an exposure process is performed by the drive controller based on the information regrading the exposure compensation amount for each frame, thereby obtaining a main print. In an index print section, an exposure process is performed by the drive controller based on the same information regrading the exposure compensation amount for each frame, thereby obtaining an index print. Also, a density adjusting method easily and automatically adjust unevenness in density produced in an image printing stage.

Abstract: A film analyzer calculates exposure correction amounts for red, green, and blue colors in an image of an original frame of a spliced long film by using the characteristic values of a scene determined from the output of a color image sensor. For a low LATD frame having a minimum value of three-color LATDs smaller than a reference value, a density of an ND filter to be used for printing is calculated in accordance with a difference between the minimum value and the reference value. The long film is loaded into an auto-printer from the film analyzer. A photometry sensor measures three-color LATDs of an original frame set to a print station of the auto-printer. A print exposure time of each color is calculated from the three-color LATDs and exposure correction amounts. Immediately before the low LATD frame is set to the print station, an ND filter having the density determined in advance is inserted into a printing path. Three-color LATDs are measured while the ND filter is inserted into the printing path.

Abstract: A method of making color and gradation correction performs color and gradation correction differently for a human subject image and a computer graphic image before or after composing these images. A gradation correction is carried out by the use of linear table data written in a look-up table for computer graphic images and non-linear table data for human subject images. A color correction circuit for transforming image data by the use of a matrix calculation comprises three look-up table memories and an adder for adding together outputs from the look-up table memories for each color to be color corrected. In these three look-up table memories, different table data are written in, according to the kinds of human subject image and computer graphic image. There are provided a plurality of different table data for human subject images and computer graphic images, respectively and suitable table data are selected according to a human subject image and a computer graphic image to be composed.

Abstract: A method of printing exposed photographic film, comprises the steps of: storing on a first storage medium frame information containing at least the exposure information on, and the frame number of, exposed photographic film; printing an image from the photographic film into photographic paper on the basis of the exposure information stored on the first storage medium; and storing the aforesaid frame information on a second storage medium in the printing order of the printed image frame. Accordingly, the image printed on the photographic paper correctly corresponds to the frame information associated with this image.

Abstract: A photographic printing method in which images on frames of an original film are printed onto printing paper. Before printing is effected, data which is necessary for printing is stored onto a storage medium. Before any printing is effected in the printing step, the data is read and checked. Because data which is necessary to the printing step is checked prior to the start of printing, it is possible to prevent errors from occurring in the printing step.

Abstract: A verification apparatus for verifying a negative image on film and a positive image on photographic paper against each other. Respective transmission densities of a plurality of picture elements of the film image and respective reflection densities of a plurality of picture elements of the photographic paper image are detected, and comparison is made between the transmission density of each of the picture elements of the film image and the reflection density of the corresponding picture element of the photographic paper image, thereby making judgement as to whether or not the photographic paper image and the film image correspond to each other.

Abstract: A photographic paper accommodating apparatus is disposed between a photographic paper printing section and a developing section so as to absorb or retain the slack in a continuous photographic paper fed from the former to the latter which occurs due to a difference between the respective processing speeds at these sections. First clamping and transporting rollers are provided on the downstream side of the printing section so as to define a first photographic paper looping area between the printing section and the first clamping and transporting rollers. Second clamping and transporting rollers are provided on the downstream side of the first clamping and transporting rollers so as to define a second photographic paper looping area between the first and second clamping and transporting rollers.

Abstract: A shutter device for a photographic printer includes a pair of paddle devices respectively driven by a pair of rotary solenoids. The solenoids are actuated such that one paddle moves to open the optical path to begin an exposure, and the other paddle moves to close the optical path to end the exposure, and remains in the optical path until moved to start a further exposure. In this manner, the opening and closing functions of the paddles are reversed with each exposure.