Abstract: An image processor, a printing apparatus, and an image processing method are provided that can reduce, when a plurality of types of inks are used to print an image, the color unevenness that is caused by the variation of ejecting characteristics among a pluralities of nozzles. To realize this, for a color formed by overlapping at least two colors of inks, parameters are prepared that are determined so as to reduce the color difference in the printing medium due to the variation of the ejecting characteristic among the respective pluralities of nozzles. During printing, the parameters are used to correct the first color signal owned by the individual pixels to the second color signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a generating unit configured to generate inspection target image data on the basis of read image data; a setting unit configured to set inspection target areas from the inspection target image data; and an extracting unit configured to extract a unique portion by applying a predetermined process to the set inspection target areas. The setting unit sets the inspection target areas so as to make the ratio of inspection target areas to the entire image area of the inspection target image data in a predetermined direction larger than the ratio of inspection target areas to the entire image area in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a first quantization configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the first ink to generate the first quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density; and a second quantization unit configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the second ink to generate the second quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density. In a case where a satellite of the first ink is more conspicuous than a satellite of the second ink on the print medium, a first dot pattern printed on the print medium based on the first quantized data has higher dispersibility than a second dot pattern printed on the print medium based on the second quantized data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a setting unit configured to set a division way for dividing an image data; a processing unit configured to divide the image data in accordance with the division way, and perform a predetermined process on each of resulting division areas; and an extracting unit configured to extract a unique portion from the image data. The predetermined process includes an averaging process on each of division areas obtained by dividing the image data in accordance with the division way, a quantization process for quantizing values obtained by the averaging process, and an addition process for adding values obtained by differentiating the division way. The setting unit sets a first division way for the predetermined process for a first area that is associated with the device in occurrence position of the unique portion and a second division way for a second area other than the first area.

Abstract: An image processor, a printing apparatus, and an image processing method are provided that can reduce, when a plurality of types of inks are used to print an image, the color unevenness that is caused by the variation of ejecting characteristics among a pluralities of nozzles. To realize this, for a color formed by overlapping at least two colors of inks, parameters are prepared that are determined so as to reduce the color difference in the printing medium due to the variation of the ejecting characteristic among the respective pluralities of nozzles. During printing, the parameters are used to correct the first color signal owned by the individual pixels to the second color signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing a process of detecting a unique portion that occurs periodically in an inspection target image, includes: a dividing unit for dividing a part area of the inspection target image into a plurality of division areas; an averaging unit for changing a phase of the plurality of division areas in the part area and averaging pixel values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; an addition unit for adding averaged values in each of the plurality of division areas in each of changed phases; and a setting unit for, with respect to a period ? with which the unique portion of a detection target appears, setting a size S of each of the plurality of division areas in a direction in which the unique portion may appear with the period ?, so as to meet S<?.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a setting unit configured to set a division way for dividing an image data; a processing unit configured to divide the image data in accordance with the division way, and perform a predetermined process on each of resulting division areas; and an extracting unit configured to extract a unique portion from the image data. The predetermined process includes an averaging process on each of division areas obtained by dividing the image data in accordance with the division way, a quantization process for quantizing values obtained by the averaging process, and an addition process for adding values obtained by differentiating the division way. The setting unit sets a first division way for the predetermined process for a first area that is associated with the device in occurrence position of the unique portion and a second division way for a second area other than the first area.

Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires image data resulting from reading an image printed sequentially in a first direction. A setting unit sets a division size in the first direction and a second direction of a division area for dividing the image data, the second direction crossing the first direction, as well as a shift amount in the first direction and the second direction of the division area. A processing unit performs a predetermined process including an averaging process on the image data in accordance with the division size and the shift amount. An extraction unit extracts a unique portion from image data on which the predetermined process has been performed. The setting unit sets (i) the division size greater in the second direction than in the first direction, and/or (ii) the shift amount greater in the second direction than in the first direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a generating unit configured to generate inspection target image data on the basis of read image data; a setting unit configured to set inspection target areas from the inspection target image data; and an extracting unit configured to extract a unique portion by applying a predetermined process to the set inspection target areas. The setting unit sets the inspection target areas so as to make the ratio of inspection target areas to the entire image area of the inspection target image data in a predetermined direction larger than the ratio of inspection target areas to the entire image area in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus sets a predetermined reading resolution for acquiring image data and a division size for performing a predetermined process on the image data and extract a unique portion from image data resulting from performing the predetermined process. The predetermined process includes an averaging process on the image data for each of division areas obtained by dividing the image data by the predetermined division size, a quantization process for quantizing values obtained by the averaging process, and an addition process for adding values obtained by the quantization process, that are different in the dividing way of the image data in the averaging process. The setting unit sets the predetermined reading resolution so as to make the width of the unique portion in the image correspond to N read pixels (N?2), and sets the division size so as to have a width larger than N pixels.

Abstract: By setting a parameter in accordance with features of a unique portion appearing in a print image, the unique portion in the print image is efficiently determined. The image is printed on a sheet along with a relative movement in a main scanning direction of the sheet and a print head on which multiple printing elements are arrayed in a sub-scanning direction. One division area is set such that a size in the main scanning direction is greater than a size in the sub-scanning direction. A shift amount from one division area to another division area is set such that a shift amount in the main scanning direction greater than a shift amount in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: Parameters are set according to features of a unique portion appearing in a print image, ensuring that the unique portion can be efficiently determined in the print image. In order to do so, information about a form of appearance of the unique portion in the print image is acquired, and the parameters are set in accordance with the form of the appearance.

Abstract: An image group including at least one image is acquired, a layout candidate is created, by laying out images included in an acquired image group, and the created layout candidate is evaluated. Evaluation of the layout candidate is performed based on evaluation of each image laid out within a layout, and a scaling factor based on image size of the image placed in the layout, and a size of the image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a first quantization configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the first ink to generate the first quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density; and a second quantization unit configured to quantize multi-valued data corresponding to the second ink to generate the second quantized data, the multi-valued data indicating intermediate density. In a case where a satellite of the first ink is more conspicuous than a satellite of the second ink on the print medium, a first dot pattern printed on the print medium based on the first quantized data has higher dispersibility than a second dot pattern printed on the print medium based on the second quantized data.

Abstract: When the width of a recording head is greater than the width of a recording medium having a maximum conveyable width, a recorded image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head cannot be corrected. Multiple correction test patterns are recorded using ejecting ports in part of the recording head, and correction data for correcting an image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head on the basis of the colorimetric result of the test patterns. In this way, image data to be recorded by the ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head is corrected.

Abstract: Differences in color change due to bronze colors and the optical interference state related to bronzing are suppressed among multiple print modes. The blue primary color “Blue” in the standard RGB gamut is mapped to a point (color) that has moved in the clockwise direction, and that color is taken to be the primary color “Blue-s” in the Standard mode gamut. As a result, when an observer observes this color, the color shifted in the counter-clockwise direction is perceived as a color of the same hue as the primary color “Blue-f” in the Fine mode gamut, suppressing the difference in perceived color between the Fine mode and the Standard mode.

Abstract: Area information is obtained with respect to a specified color and nozzle position having color unevenness. Then, coordinate information indicating a nozzle position corresponding to the above area information is obtained in a printing head or nozzle array corresponding to an ink color relating to the specified color information. Next, the number of candidate correction values or candidate patches is obtained on the basis of nozzle coordinates obtained corresponding to the area, by referring to a table. In this table, for example, the number of candidate correction values is small at a nozzle position where an effect due to the variations of nozzle ejection characteristics such as a nozzle ejection volume is small and a change direction is constant, and the number of candidate correction values is large at a nozzle position where an effect due to variations of nozzle ejection characteristics is large.

Abstract: A check pattern is printed which makes it possible to detect, with high precision, individual patterns corresponding to nozzles of a print head of an inkjet printing apparatus. More specifically, after an alignment mark is printed, ejection of an ink from the nozzles is stopped for a certain time. Because of this stoppage time, the concentration of a coloring material of the ink ejected from the nozzles increases, whereby the optical density of an analysis pattern which is printed later can be increased. In this manner, a scanner can read, with high precision, the patterns corresponding to the nozzles.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus, the colors of ink dots are controlled to make it possible to change the colors of an image to be printed. More specifically, ink temperatures, ink permeation speeds, and the capillary occupancy rates of inks in a print medium are used to control a permeation area formed by performing printing with preceding cyan and subsequent magenta, thereby controlling the colors realized by the inks which are ejected in an overlapping manner.

Abstract: The present invention reduces an uneven color of a color having two or more colors of inks, the uneven color occurring due to manufacturing variations of ink ejection nozzles and so on. Each of a plurality of correction tables that is assigned to each predetermined number of nozzles that are used for printing on a common region in the print medium, of a plurality of nozzle arrays formed on a print head, each of the nozzle arrays ejecting a plurality of inks including a first ink and a second ink whose color is different from the color of the first ink, is generated on the basis of at least an ink ejection property of nozzles ejecting the first and second inks.