Abstract: A method of printing with an inkjet printer, the method includes moving the carriage along a first carriage scan direction while the second drop ejector array ejects drops of anti-curl solution onto the portion of recording medium providing a delay time that is greater than 15 milliseconds after the second drop ejector ejects drops of anti-curl solution at a given location on the portion of recording medium and before printing with the first drop ejector array moving the carriage along a second carriage scan direction while the first drop ejector array ejects drops of ink in an image-wise fashion onto the given location of the portion of recording medium.

Abstract: A printing method includes applying at least one of a plurality of pigmented colored inks to a receiving surface. A colorless ink is applied to the receiving surface. A majority of the colorless ink is ejected from of first nozzles on a printhead used for ejecting the colorless ink. At least 30% of an area on the receiving surface, which is passed over by the first nozzles, is covered with the colorless ink during a single pass of the printhead over the area.

Abstract: A method for reducing banding artifacts for bi-directional multi-pass printing on an inkjet printer utilizing a printhead with a plurality of ink nozzles includes defining different print masks to be used for leftward and rightward printing passes such that both the order of ink laydown and the timing between ink laydown on different passes are each substantially constant for a given horizontal position within the image, independent of the vertical position within the image; and printing an input image on the inkjet printer with the defined print masks using a bi-directional multi-pass print mode.

Abstract: A method of printing with an inkjet printer, the method includes a) providing a printhead including at least first drop ejector array and a second drop ejector array; b) providing a carriage for moving the printhead along a printing region of the inkjet printer; c) providing an ink supply that is fluidically connected to the first drop ejector array; d) providing an anti-curl solution supply that is fluidically connected to the second drop ejector array; e) providing a controller for controlling the printing operations of the printer; f) advancing a portion of recording medium into the printing region; g) moving the carriage along a first carriage scan direction while the second drop ejector array ejects drops of anti-curl solution onto the portion of recording medium that is in the printing region; h) providing a delay time that is greater than 15 milliseconds after the second drop ejector ejects drops of anti-curl solution at a given location on the portion of recording medium; i) moving the carriage along

Abstract: An inkjet printer, includes an ink containing a print uniformity improving polymer obtained by chain copolymerizing at least the following ethylenically unsaturated monomers: (a) a first monomer having a lowest pKa value greater than 3 and comprising a carboxylic acid group; (b) a second monomer having a lowest pKa value less than 2; and (c) a hydrophobic third monomer; together with pigment particles that are self-dispersed or dispersed with a dispersant other than a print uniformity improving polymer, and water. Such an ink provides improve print uniformity.

Abstract: A method for modifying an input digital image having one or more color channels corresponding to one or more color inks and a protective ink channel corresponding to a substantially clear protective ink, each channel having an (x,y) array of pixel values, to form a modified digital image including computing a first value responsive to corresponding pixel values of the one or more color channels; computing a second value responsive to the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel; and modifying the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel responsive to the first and second values.

Abstract: A method of computing swath data in response to a digital image having a plurality of rows and columns of pixels, each pixel having a multitone code value, the swath data suitable for commanding an inkjet printer containing at least one printhead having plurality of nozzles, wherein the inkjet printer is capable of ejecting ink drops in response to the swath data.

Abstract: An inkjet printer, includes an ink containing a print uniformity improving polymer obtained by chain copolymerizing at least the following ethylenically unsaturated monomers: (a) a first monomer having a lowest pKa value greater than 3 and comprising a carboxylic acid group; (b) a second monomer having a lowest pKa value less than 2; and (c) a hydrophobic third monomer; together with pigment particles that are self-dispersed or dispersed with a dispersant other than a print uniformity improving polymer, and water. Such an ink provides improve print uniformity.

Abstract: A method for reducing banding artifacts for bi-directional multi-pass printing on an inkjet printer utilizing a printhead with a plurality of ink nozzles includes defining different print masks to be used for leftward and rightward printing passes such that both the order of ink laydown and the timing between ink laydown on different passes are each substantially constant for a given horizontal position within the image, independent of the vertical position within the image; and printing an input image on the inkjet printer with the defined print masks using a bi-directional multi-pass print mode.

Abstract: A printing method includes applying at least one of a plurality of pigmented colored inks to a receiving surface. A colorless ink is applied to the receiving surface. A majority of the colorless ink is ejected from of first nozzles on a printhead used for ejecting the colorless ink. At least 30% of an area on the receiving surface, which is passed over by the first nozzles, is covered with the colorless ink during a single pass of the printhead over the area.

Abstract: A method of printing comprises providing a carriage-type inkjet printer having a printhead, with the printer being responsive to digital signals and capable of printing in a multi-pass printing mode, supplying the printer with pigment-based inks, supplying the printer with a receiver surface suitable for printing of photographic images, detecting a degree of texturing on the receiver surface, selecting a number of passes for the multi-pass printing mode based on the detected degree of texturing of the receiver surface, and passing the print head over the receiver surface in accordance with the selected number of passes.

Abstract: A method for modifying an input digital image having one or more color channels corresponding to one or more color inks and a protective ink channel corresponding to a substantially clear protective ink, each channel having an (x,y) array of pixel values, to form a modified digital image including computing a first value responsive to corresponding pixel values of the one or more color channels; computing a second value responsive to the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel; and modifying the corresponding pixel value of the protective ink channel responsive to the first and second values.

Abstract: A pigment-based ink jet ink set and image-recording element combination is described, wherein the ink jet image-recording element has a gloss value of at least 5 when measured at 60°, and wherein each ink in the ink set has a normalized differential specular reflectance, N?RS(X), of less than 1.25. N?RS(X) is defined as the maximum value within a set of N?RS(Xn) values in which each N?RS(Xn) is the normalized specular reflectance for a density patch of a printed test image. The printed test image consists of a series of at least eleven density patches printed such that the ink laydown of the patches increases incrementally, from no ink laydown to a maximum level generating a density of at least 1.

Abstract: Cyan, magenta and yellow pigment-based ink compositions for ink jet printing are described; wherein the ink compositions each comprise a pigment, water, water miscible humectants and/or water-miscible organic co-solvents, surfactants, or mixtures thereof; wherein the normalized differential specular reflectance, N&Dgr;RS(X), for the cyan, magenta and yellow inks is less than 1.25, 0.50 and 0.30, respectively. N&Dgr;RS(X) is defined as the maximum value within a set of N&Dgr;RS(Xn) values in which each N&Dgr;RS(Xn) is the normalized specular reflectance for a density patch of a printed test image. The printed test image consists of a series of at least ten density patches printed such that the ink laydown on the patches increases incrementally, from no ink laydown to a maximum level generating a density of at least 1.

Abstract: A pigment-based ink jet ink set and image-recording element combination is described, wherein the ink jet image-recording element has a gloss value of at least 5 when measured at 60°, and wherein each ink in the ink set has a normalized differential specular reflectance, N&Dgr;RS(X), of less than 1.25. N&Dgr;RS(X) is defined as the maximum value within a set of N&Dgr;RS(Xn) values in which each N&Dgr;RS(Xn) is the normalized specular reflectance for a density patch of a printed test image. The printed test image consists of a series of at least eleven density patches printed such that the ink laydown of the patches increases incrementally, from no ink laydown to a maximum level generating a density of at least 1.

Abstract: A pigment-based ink set for ink jet printing is described, wherein each ink in the ink set has a normalized differential specular reflectance, N&Dgr;RS(X), of less than 1.25. N&Dgr;RS(X) is defined as the maximum value within a set of N&Dgr;RS(Xn) values in which each N&Dgr;RS(Xn) is the normalized specular reflectance for a density patch of a printed test image. The printed test image consists of a series of at least ten density patches printed such that the ink laydown of the patches increases incrementally, from no ink laydown to a maximum level generating a density of at least about 1.