Abstract: Printing an image on a printing medium includes using a print head that ejects a first ink and a second ink having higher lightness than the first ink with preliminary ejection that is performed in a predetermined area in which the image is to be formed in order to maintain an ink ejection state of the print head and that does not contribute to printing of the image, wherein dots of the first ink and dots of the second ink formed in the predetermined area by the preliminary ejection are printed so as to be superposed on each other.

Abstract: Multiple test pattern printing using each of multiple printing element arrays are read, and in a case where a streak is present in predetermined test patterns of the multiple test patterns at the same position in the direction of the array of the printing elements, determination is made that the streak is not due to failure of a printing element.

Abstract: An ejection complement process is performed during which both a usual ejection failure and a sudden ejection failure can be appropriately coped with, without being accompanied by a frequent maintenance process. In a case wherein sequential printing is not currently being performed, the first detection process is performed with a high accuracy while being accompanied by the maintenance process, and in a case wherein sequential printing is currently being performed, the second detection process that requires only a small process load is performed at a predetermined timing without being accompanied by the maintenance processing. At this time, when the number of ejection failed nozzles detected in the second ejection process has reached a predetermined value or greater, the maintenance process is performed, and only the information for the ejection failed nozzle, detected in the second detection process, is reset.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printhead configured to array a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink are arrayed in the first direction, a reading unit configured to read, as a plurality of luminance values aligned in a nozzle arrayed direction, an inspection pattern formed by discharging ink from the plurality of nozzles of the printhead, a calculation unit configured to calculate a plurality of difference values each by calculating a difference between two luminance values spaced apart by a predetermined number of luminance values, and an analysis unit configured to analyze an ink discharge state in the plurality of nozzles based on the plurality of difference values.

Abstract: An ejection complement process is performed during which both a usual ejection failure and a sudden ejection failure can be appropriately coped with, without being accompanied by a frequent maintenance process. In a case wherein sequential printing is not currently being performed, the first detection process is performed with a high accuracy while being accompanied by the maintenance process, and in a case wherein sequential printing is currently being performed, the second detection process that requires only a small process load is performed at a predetermined timing without being accompanied by the maintenance processing. At this time, when the number of ejection failed nozzles detected in the second ejection process has reached a predetermined value or greater, the maintenance process is performed, and only the information for the ejection failed nozzle, detected in the second detection process, is reset.

Abstract: An aspect of this invention is directed to efficiently sorting printed products into non-defective ones and defective ones even when a discharge failure occurs during the printing operation. In the aspect, two inspection patterns for detecting discharge failure are printed before and after a plurality of images. The inspection patterns are read to determine the type of discharge failure. Printed media are sorted based on whether it is determined that there is a continuous discharge failure, whether it is determined that there is an accidental discharge failure, or whether it is determined that the discharge is normal.

Abstract: The ink jet printing apparatus, wherein, to print images on a printing medium, a plurality of print heads, each of which includes an ejection port array provided by arranging multiple ink ejection ports in a widthwise direction of the printing medium, are arranged in a conveying direction of the printing medium, including: a unit for detecting a printing position displacement with respect to a printing position of a reference print head on the printing medium for each of remaining print heads excluding the reference print head which is one of the plurality of print heads; and a unit for adding non-image data corresponding to the printing position displacement to print data to be printed by the plurality of print heads, so as to align the printing positions of the plurality of print heads.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided by which, even under an environment in which water in ink easily evaporates (e.g., a high temperature and a low humidity), the humidification of the ambience near the nozzle opening can be provided by the control depending on the temperature and humidity or the printing mode. Thus, such an inkjet printing apparatus is provided that can provide a high-quality printing while reducing the amount of waste ink or cost. To realize this, ink is ejected to the platen absorber and is humidified. Then, water evaporated from the platen absorber is used to humidify the nozzle section of the print head.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus is provided by which, even under an environment in which water in ink easily evaporates (e.g., a high temperature and a low humidity), the humidification of the ambience near the nozzle opening can be provided by the control depending on the temperature and humidity or the printing mode. Thus, such an inkjet printing apparatus is provided that can provide a high-quality printing while reducing the amount of waste ink or cost. To realize this, ink is ejected to the platen absorber and is humidified. Then, water evaporated from the platen absorber is used to humidify the nozzle section of the print head.