Abstract: [Problems] There is provided an image recording method that provides resulting images with an excellent gloss and an improved closeness of contact with the recording medium used. [Solving Means] An image recording method including a first step for recording a glossy image layer on a recording medium using a glossy ink composition containing a metal pigment and a second step for recording a finishing layer on the glossy image layer using a black ink composition to reduce the brightness of the glossy image.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for performing printing with the use of a special gloss material and a coloring material is provided. The printing apparatus includes: an inputting unit that receives or acquires image data as an input; and a printing unit that controls the arrangement of the special gloss material and the coloring material on a print target medium on the basis of the inputted image data to print the image data. The printing unit changes the amount of use of the special gloss material depending on an index value that is related to the lightness of a color represented by the coloring material.

Abstract: A method of creating a lookup table which describes a correspondence relationship between an input value to a printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting ink onto a printing medium, and output values of a special gloss ink and a color ink of the printing apparatus, includes: a first process of determining the output value of the special gloss ink to be relatively low at a lattice point where an index value relating to color intensity is dark to be equal to or lower than a predetermined value, with regard to each lattice point of the lookup table; and a second process of determining the output value of the color ink at each lattice point by increasing an ink duty limit value which is the upper limit of the sum of the color ink that can be ejected onto a unit area of the printing medium, according to the determined output value of the special gloss ink.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for performing printing using a special gloss material and a coloring material, includes: an input unit that inputs image data; and a printing unit that controls an arrangement of the special gloss material and the coloring material on a printing medium on the basis of the input data and prints the image data, wherein the printing unit relatively reduces an amount of the special gloss material to be used in a shadow region that is a printing region where an index value relating to color intensity expressed by the coloring material is equal to or lower than a predetermined darkness value.

Abstract: A one-dimensional LUT has been incapable of color matching. A three-dimensional LUT has been incapable of ensuring a color conversion accuracy enough to reproduce fine changes in color tone on a monochrome image. It has been impossible to suppress a storage capacity for a color conversion table by ensuring the accuracy. There is provided a color conversion table which has a plurality of pieces of reference color image data making correspondence between color data for a first image device and color data for a second image device and comprises a specified total information amount. The color conversion table is used to distribute the reference color image data over a prescribed area in a specified color space. Color data information for each reference color image data is increased more than a specified amount within a limit of the specified total information amount. Further, a color conversion table is created using an original table which highly accurately defines colors in part of the color conversion table.

Abstract: A tone setting screen that includes a tone specifying area 110 for specifying a color tone of a monotone image using a single specification point is disclosed. A monotone image tone is determined according to the position of the specification point specified in the tone specifying area 110. The tone specifying area 110 is defined on the a* b* plane in the L*a*b* color space, where three reference tone points Pneutral, Pwarm, and Pcool, for the neutral, warm, and cool tones are disposed linearly in advance in the tone specifying area 110.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, a printing method, an application program and a printing medium are disclosed. The printing apparatus is coupled to a control circuit which with the help of the application program, controls the operation of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus contains at least two kinds of glossy recording materials with different concentrations. The printing apparatus performs glossy printing on a printing medium by controlling the usage of the two kinds of glossy recording materials.

Abstract: An ink set includes an oil-based ink composition containing a metallic pigment; and at least one oil-based ink composition selected from the group consisting of a chromatic color ink composition containing a chromatic color oil dye, a black ink composition containing a black oil dye, and a colorless and transparent ink composition that does not contain a colorant.

Abstract: An inkjet printer performs printing by scanning a printing head having a plurality of ink nozzles, and has a monotone printing mode and a color printing mode. Under the condition of using the same print medium and the same printing resolution, the average pass count for the monotone printing mode is set to a larger value than the average pass count for the color printing mode.

Abstract: On the basis of a standard one-dimensional LUT 412, a plurality of one-dimensional LUTs 413 having mutually different tones are generated. Next, a plurality of monochrome sample images are generated using this one-dimensional LUTs 413, and a catalog print in which these monochrome sample images are arranged is printed out. Once the user has selected from the catalog print a sample image having the desired tone, a monochrome image is printed out using the one-dimensional LUT 413 that corresponds to the sample image.

Abstract: When setting a color tone during editing of an image, processes such as the following are performed. First, there is displayed a tone setting screen 200 that includes a tone specifying portion 210 for substantially specifying a plurality of color tone parameters that specify the tone of an image; and a sample image display area 220 for displaying a color sample image. Next, the plurality of color tone parameters are specified through the tone specifying portion 210. Then, the tone of the color sample image is adjusted with reference to the specified plurality of color tone parameters. Then, the plurality of color tone parameters are confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a black ink composition comprising (1) water, (2) carbon black, and (3) a fine particle emulsion, wherein (A) the content of said carbon black is less than 0.4 wt %, and wherein (B) the solid content of said fine particle emulsion is 20 times or more the content of said carbon black. Also disclosed are an ink set comprising the black ink composition, a recording method using the ink set, and recorded matter obtained by the method.

Abstract: A color tone setting window 100 that includes an ink color circle 110 is displayed in order to set a color tone of a monochrome image. By specifying a point Pcc in the ink color circle 110, intensities of color components representing three chromatic primary color inks are specified. The color component intensities representing three chromatic primary color inks are determined as parameters defining the color tone of the monochrome image in accordance with the position of the specified point Pcc in the ink color circle 110. The ink color circle 110 is configured such that the color component intensities representing three chromatic primary color inks can be visually recognized from the position in the ink color circle 110. Alternatively, ink color sliders can be used in lieu of the ink color circle 110.

Abstract: The following processes are performed when generating new image data by modifying the color tones of images in image data: First the user is allowed to select a parameter from a plurality of modification candidate parameters corresponding to mutually differing modification details; then, according to the selected parameter, modified image data in which the colors of at least a portion of the pixels differ from those in the subject image data, is generated. Note that when the subject image data is color image data, then the selection can be made from Nc color image modification candidate parameters, and when monochrome image data, the selection can be made from Nm (where Nm is an integer larger than Nc) monochrome image modification candidate parameters. This type of process can provide image processing means that fulfill the needs of some users with the strict requirement while not complicating the operations performed by typical users.

Abstract: An inkjet printer performs printing by scanning a printing head having a plurality of ink nozzles, and has a monotone printing mode and a color printing mode. Under the condition of using the same print medium and the same printing resolution, the average pass count for the monotone printing mode is set to a larger value than the average pass count for the color printing mode.

Abstract: A tone setting screen that includes a tone specifying area 110 for specifying a color tone of a monotone image using a single specification point is disclosed. A monotone image tone is determined according to the position of the specification point specified in the tone specifying area 110. The tone specifying area 110 is defined on the a* b* plane in the L*a*b* color space, where three reference tone points Pneutral, Pwarm, and Pcool, for the neutral, warm, and cool tones are disposed linearly in advance in the tone specifying area 110.

Abstract: Display image data for displaying images on a screen, and when display image data that has undergone specified gradation conversion is received, the characteristics of the output brightness displayed on the screen is checked. In the area for which the output brightness of the display image data is convex at the bottom in relation to the image data gradation values, the display image data gradation values are corrected so as to have a roughly linear relationship between the gradation values and the output brightness. Printing image data is generated based on the post-correction image data and an image is printed. In the area for which the output brightness bottom is convex, by performing this kind of correction, it is possible to print an image with an impression closer to the display on the screen. As a result, it is possible to print images on the monitor screen easily and without losing the impression received from the image displayed on the monitor screen.

Abstract: When setting a color tone during editing of an image, processes such as the following are performed. First, there is displayed a tone setting screen 200 that includes a tone specifying portion 210 for substantially specifying a plurality of color tone parameters that specify the tone of an image; and a sample image display area 220 for displaying a color sample image. Next, the plurality of color tone parameters are specified through the tone specifying portion 210. Then, the tone of the color sample image is adjusted with reference to the specified plurality of color tone parameters. Then, the plurality of color tone parameters are confirmed.

Abstract: A one-dimensional LUT has been incapable of color matching. A three-dimensional LUT has been incapable of ensuring a color conversion accuracy enough to reproduce fine changes in color tone on a monochrome image. It has been impossible to suppress a storage capacity for a color conversion table by ensuring the accuracy. There is provided a color conversion table which has a plurality of pieces of reference color image data making correspondence between color data for a first image device and color data for a second image device and comprises a specified total information amount. The color conversion table is used to distribute the reference color image data over a prescribed area in a specified color space. Color data information for each reference color image data is increased more than a specified amount within a limit of the specified total information amount. Further, a color conversion table is created using an original table which highly accurately defines colors in part of the color conversion table.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the image quality so as to effectively prevent banding and keep dot granularity unremarkable. A print condition specified for image data is acquired from a plurality of print conditions provided as influencing the possibility of banding on a printout produced by a printer (printing apparatus). There is provided a plurality of color conversion modes having modified usage ratios between chromatic inks and LLk ink (second light black ink). The image data is color-converted in a color conversion mode corresponding to the acquired print condition out of those color conversion modes. The printer is controlled so as to print an image corresponding to the color-converted image data. The printer produces a printout of the image at the usage ratio between the chromatic inks and the LLk ink. At this time, the usage ratio is modified according to a print condition that affects the possibility of banding.