Abstract: A system and method are provided which enable a print media color to be used, as a replacement for a mixture of one or more colorants, in rendering portions of a print job. One or more multidimensional look-up tables are provided. Each table provides for an identified input color, in a device-independent space, to be equated to no colorant, when printed on the respective print media. The identified input color is one of a set of input colors, which, when printed and measured, has an output color that is closest to a measured color of the print media.

Abstract: A method for generating device-dependent color values which satisfy a colorant limit for an output device includes, for an input color defined by input values for three color channels in a first device-dependent color space, converting the input values to a hue angle ?, a saturation S, and value V in a second device-dependent color space. Minimum, maximum and middle ones of the input values are identified. The minimum is set to zero and the middle adjusted to maintain the input hue angle. A hue leaf relating output colorant mixture to input color can be constructed for the hue angle, and partitioned into regions. The region of the hue leaf containing the input color is identified and interpolated to identify intermediate values for the input color in a third device-dependent color space, such as CMYK. Output values in the third device-dependent color are the intermediate values or values derived therefrom.

Abstract: A method for generating device-dependent color values which satisfy a colorant limit for an output device includes, for an input color defined by input values for three color channels in a first device-dependent color space, converting the input values to a hue angle ?, a saturation S, and value V in a second device-dependent color space. Minimum, maximum and middle ones of the input values are identified. The minimum is set to zero and the middle adjusted to maintain the input hue angle. A hue leaf relating output colorant mixture to input color can be constructed for the hue angle, and partitioned into regions. The region of the hue leaf containing the input color is identified and interpolated to identify intermediate values for the input color in a third device-dependent color space, such as CMYK. Output values in the third device-dependent color are the intermediate values or values derived therefrom.

Abstract: A method of compensating for an inoperable inkjet in a printer includes applying a first modification to a first swath of image data that includes a raster corresponding to the inoperable inkjet in image data of a printed image. The method also includes applying a plurality of modifications to a plurality of swaths in the image data to generate a plurality of modified swaths in the image data, where each swath in the plurality of swaths includes a plurality of rasters that do not include the raster corresponding to the inoperable inkjet. The method further includes forming a printed image based on the modified swaths of image data to compensate for an inoperable inkjet in the printer.

Abstract: A method for operating an imaging device identifies inoperative inkjets in an imaging device and modifies non-image data values in response to the identification of the inoperative inkjets. The method halftones image data for forming an image by generating halftoned image data with reference to modified non-image data values to compensate for identified inoperative inkjets. The method operates inkjets using the generated halftoned image data to form the image. The non-image data values modified in response to identified inoperative inkjets and later referenced while halftoning may include halftone threshold array, per-output raster column “RasterType” or TRC data values.

Abstract: A method of solid ink printer operation compensates for missing black ink in solid fill areas. The method includes ejecting at least one other color of ink into a black solid fill area at a predetermined distance to the area missing the black ink. The additional non-black ink urges black ink between the non-black ink and the area missing the black ink to migrate into the area in which the black ink is missing.

Abstract: An apparatus enables a printer to identify neighboring inkjets to compensate for inoperative inkjets with reference to different search patterns. The apparatus includes a plurality of mutliplexers, a memory, a decoder, and a controller. The multiplexers are operatively connected to the memory to receive data that selects one of a plurality of image data pixels on the inputs of the multiplexers. The outputs of the multiplexers are concatenated in a predetermined order and the decoder identifies a highest priority image data pixel available for inoperative inkjet compensation. The controller operates the memory to output the data stored at the plurality of storage locations in a first sequence to enable the multiplexers to output the image data pixels in the predetermined order for the decoder.

Abstract: A method of solid ink printer operation compensates for missing black ink in solid fill areas. The method includes ejecting at least one other color of ink into a black solid fill area at a predetermined distance to the area missing the black ink. The additional non-black ink urges black ink between the non-black ink and the area missing the black ink to migrate into the area in which the black ink is missing.

Abstract: Writing a decompressed bit-map cell in accordance with a pixel count and a fill order pattern based on half-tone threshold values of a half-toned bit-map compression cell that was used to determine the pixel count.

Abstract: An imaging system that forms an image on a receiving medium including a fluid ejector that ejects fluid onto the receiving medium and a controller that controls the fluid ejector to eject the fluid to include a non-white and non-clear fluid or one of at least white and clear W fluid on each pixel on the receiving medium. A substantially single layer of fluid is ejected onto the receiving medium. A method for forming an image on a receiving medium includes ejecting a fluid onto the receiving medium, and controlling the ejection of the fluid to include a non-white and non-clear fluid or one of at least white and clear fluid for each pixel on the receiving medium.

Abstract: A method of processing cyan, magenta and yellow color values including half-toning cyan and magenta colors values, and half-toning yellow color values in such a manner that yellow dots tend to be printed next to cyan, magenta or secondary color dots regardless of cyan, magenta, or yellow coverages.

Abstract: A method of modifying a single color bi level bitmap including selecting a marked pixel, determining whether the selected marked pixel is in a half-toned uniform region, marking a first unmarked pixel of a first sequence of potential destination pixel locations if the selected marked pixel is in a half-toned uniform region, marking a first unmarked pixel of a second sequence of potential destination pixel locations if the selected marked pixel is not in a half-toned uniform region, and wherein the second sequence of potential destination pixel locations is different from the first sequence of potential destination pixel locations.

Abstract: A method for printer to monitor color matching includes displaying a target color pattern corresponding to a source color pattern and printing a plurality of reference color patterns, each reference color pattern corresponding to a color corrected source color pattern. The method includes comparing the reference and target color patterns and determining whether there is a match according to a user-defined criteria. A system includes a display device to display a source color pattern represented in a first color space in a second color space; a printer to map first color space values of the source color pattern to third color space values associated with the printer; color correction transforms to map the third color space values associated with the printer to another set of color space values; and a printer driver to configure color settings according to the selected color correction transform and a selected print mode.

Abstract: A method of improving black print quality in a color printer having at least one color ink and black ink includes determining a location on a substrate where a black pixel is to be printed, printing a droplet of color ink at the location, and printing a droplet of black ink with the color droplet. If the color printer includes cyan, magenta and yellow, then a droplet of cyan ink, magenta ink or yellow ink may be printed with the droplet of black ink. For images containing black at a plurality of locations, the cyan, magenta and yellow droplets may be equally distributed among the plurality of locations. Alternatively, the cyan, magenta and yellow droplets may be distributed in accordance with a digital halftone screen.

Abstract: A technique for selective enhancement of black including printing a non-black color at pixel locations identified by a candidate pixel array and which correspond to marked pixels in a predetermined pixel pattern, wherein the candidate pixel array comprises a plurality of N-pixel candidate tiles respectively associated with N-pixel image tiles of a black half-toned bit map, wherein an N-pixel candidate tile includes marked pixels only if the associated N-pixel image tile comprises a portion of a half-toned uniform region and the number of marked pixels in the associated N-pixel image tile is at least a predetermined percentage of N, and wherein the number of marked pixels in some of the N-pixel candidate tiles is less than the number of marked pixels of the associated N-pixel image tile.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to those identified pixel locations that (A) have an associated black half-tone threshold level that is darker than a predetermined non-white threshold level, and (B) correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to a subset of the identified pixel locations that correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to a subset of the identified pixel locations that correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, non-black color is applied to a subset of the identified pixel locations that have an associated black half-tone threshold level that is darker than a predetermined non-white threshold level, such that only black is applied to identified pixel locations having an associated black half-tone threshold level that is lighter than or equal to the predetermined non-white threshold level.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to those identified pixel locations that (A) have an associated black half-tone threshold level that is darker than a predetermined non-white threshold level, and (B) correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.