Abstract: An original image is divided in a primary scan direction, and an upstream overlapping segment that overlaps with the divided image on the upstream in the primary scan direction is provided from the division position. Halftone processors are provided in correspondence with the divided images, and the pixels on each raster line of each of the divided images are sequentially picked up as a pixel of interest, and an error diffusion method is applied to the pixel of interest.

Abstract: An original image is divided in a primary scan direction, and an upstream overlapping segment that overlaps with the divided image on the upstream in the primary scan direction is provided from the division position. Halftone processors are provided in correspondence with the divided images, and the pixels on each raster line of each of the divided images are sequentially picked up as a pixel of interest, and an error diffusion method is applied to the pixel of interest.

Abstract: A plurality of halftone processing units are provided for processing each of a plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to a plurality of divided images to generate dot data representing presence or absence of dot formation. At least two halftone processing units simultaneously perform at least a part of halftone processing for at least two pieces of image data. In the halftone processing, complex error diffusion method processing of matching at least a part of dot data obtained by performing halftone processing using an error diffusion method for an error diffused gradation value of each pixel of a divided image with a determination result of a dither method, is performed.

Abstract: An image forming system that classifies a block formed by Nb pixels included in image data into Nt groups including a group including a pixel of a highest gradation value and a group including a pixel of a lowest gradation value, generates, for at least one of the Nt groups, positional information that is information indicating positions of pixels that form the corresponding group, determines a block gradation value in accordance with a data amount that is smaller than a data amount that is used for expressing gradation values of the Nb pixels for each of the Nt groups as a target, based on a gradation value for each of pixels that form each group, tentatively determines, determines, for the block as a target, the dot arrangement using the tentatively determined dot arrangement and the positional information, and forms an image using the determined dot arrangement.

Abstract: n (n is an integer that is equal to or greater than 2) error diffusion processing units are respectively provided to correspond to division images obtained by dividing an image into n images in a main scanning direction, and at least a part of halftone processing on two division images is performed simultaneously. When one error diffusion processing unit that processes the division image which is positioned ahead in the main scanning direction processes one of rasters up to an end portion in the main scanning direction to obtain diffusion errors that are diffused into pixels in the neighborhood of an objective pixel, the one error diffusion processing unit delivers a forward-direction diffusion error to the other error diffusion processing unit.

Abstract: n (n is an integer that is equal to or greater than 2) error diffusion processing units are respectively provided to correspond to division images obtained by dividing an image into n images in a main scanning direction, and at least a part of halftone processing on two division images is performed simultaneously. When one error diffusion processing unit that processes the division image which is positioned ahead in the main scanning direction processes one of rasters up to an end portion in the main scanning direction to obtain diffusion errors that are diffused into pixels in the neighborhood of an objective pixel, the one error diffusion processing unit delivers a forward-direction diffusion error to the other error diffusion processing unit.

Abstract: A plurality of halftone processing units are provided for processing each of a plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to a plurality of divided images to generate dot data representing presence or absence of dot formation. At least two halftone processing units simultaneously perform at least a part of halftone processing for at least two pieces of image data. In the halftone processing, complex error diffusion method processing of matching at least a part of dot data obtained by performing halftone processing using an error diffusion method for an error diffused gradation value of each pixel of a divided image with a determination result of a dither method, is performed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that prints an image includes a preliminary halftone processing unit configured to determine whether a preliminary dot through a dithering method is to be formed, a final halftone processing unit configured to determine whether a dot to be printed through an error diffusion method is to be formed, and a dither result application level control unit configured to control a dither result application level which is a level at which probability that the dot to be printed will be formed is raised with the final halftone processing unit when the preliminary dot is to be formed in the preliminary halftone processing unit. The dither result application level control unit reduces the dither result application level during printing in a case of copying a reflected document or a case where the image data contains many high-frequency components, compared to other instances of printing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that prints an image includes a preliminary halftone processing unit configured to determine whether a preliminary dot through a dithering method is to be formed, a final halftone processing unit configured to determine whether a dot to be printed through an error diffusion method is to be formed, and a dither result application level control unit configured to control a dither result application level which is a level at which probability that the dot to be printed will be formed is raised with the final halftone processing unit when the preliminary dot is to be formed in the preliminary halftone processing unit. The dither result application level control unit reduces the dither result application level during printing in a case of copying a reflected document or a case where the image data contains many high-frequency components, compared to other instances of printing.

Abstract: A block configured with Nb pixels included in image data is classified into Nt groups, position information which is information indicating a position of the pixel configuring is created, a block gradation value is decided by a data amount smaller than a data amount required for representing gradation values of the Nb pixels based on the gradation value for each pixel configuring each group, for each of the Nt groups, dot arrangement which is information indicating the presence or absence of dot formation for each pixel configuring the block is temporarily decided based on the block gradation value, for each of the Nt groups as the target, the dot arrangement targeting the block is decided by using the temporarily decided dot arrangement and the position information, and it is determined whether or not the dot arrangement decided by the dot arrangement deciding unit is corrected by using an error diffusion method.

Abstract: An image forming system that classifies a block formed by Nb pixels included in image data into Nt groups including a group including a pixel of a highest gradation value and a group including a pixel of a lowest gradation value, generates, for at least one of the Nt groups, positional information that is information indicating positions of pixels that form the corresponding group, determines a block gradation value in accordance with a data amount that is smaller than a data amount that is used for expressing gradation values of the Nb pixels for each of the Nt groups as a target, based on a gradation value for each of pixels that form each group, tentatively determines, determines, for the block as a target, the dot arrangement using the tentatively determined dot arrangement and the positional information, and forms an image using the determined dot arrangement.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a plurality of nozzles including preceding nozzles that discharge ink onto a printing medium before ink discharge of the other nozzles, and succeeding nozzles that discharge ink onto the printing medium after the ink discharge of the preceding nozzles, and if the amount of black ink discharged on the printing target region is larger than a predetermined amount, the printing apparatus discharges a smaller amount of chromatic ink than the amount of the discharged black ink onto the printing target region from the plurality of nozzles so that the amount of the chromatic ink discharged from the succeeding nozzles is larger than the amount of the chromatic ink discharged from the preceding nozzles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a plurality of nozzles capable of discharging dark ink and light ink that are of the same type color; the plurality of nozzles includes preceding nozzles that discharge the ink onto the printing medium before the ink discharge of the other nozzles, and succeeding nozzles that discharge the ink onto the printing medium after the ink discharge of the preceding nozzles, and if the amount of the dark ink discharged on the printing target region is larger than a predetermined amount, the printing apparatus discharges a smaller amount of the light ink than the amount of the discharged dark ink onto the printing target region from the plurality of nozzles so that the amount of the light ink discharged from the succeeding nozzles is larger than the amount of the light ink discharged from the preceding nozzles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a plurality of nozzles including preceding nozzles that discharge ink onto a printing medium before ink discharge of the other nozzles, and succeeding nozzles that discharge ink onto the printing medium after the ink discharge of the preceding nozzles, and if the amount of black ink discharged on the printing target region is larger than a predetermined amount, the printing apparatus discharges a smaller amount of chromatic ink than the amount of the discharged black ink onto the printing target region from the plurality of nozzles so that the amount of the chromatic ink discharged from the succeeding nozzles is larger than the amount of the chromatic ink discharged from the preceding nozzles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a plurality of nozzles capable of discharging dark ink and light ink that are of the same type color; the plurality of nozzles includes preceding nozzles that discharge the ink onto the printing medium before the ink discharge of the other nozzles, and succeeding nozzles that discharge the ink onto the printing medium after the ink discharge of the preceding nozzles, and if the amount of the dark ink discharged on the printing target region is larger than a predetermined amount, the printing apparatus discharges a smaller amount of the light ink than the amount of the discharged dark ink onto the printing target region from the plurality of nozzles so that the amount of the light ink discharged from the succeeding nozzles is larger than the amount of the light ink discharged from the preceding nozzles.

Abstract: An image processing method includes performing first halftone processing and second halftone processing. The second halftone processing is performed, for a second kind of color in advance among a plurality of colors constituting an original image, in units of blocks each consisting of a plurality of pixels that constitute the original image and the second kind of color is converted into an amount of second kind of ink corresponding to the second kind of color among the plurality of inks. The first halftone processing is performed, for the first kind of color, for each pixel that constitutes the original image or each pixel group having a smaller number of pixels than the block and the first kind of color is converted into an amount of first kind of ink corresponding to the first kind of color among the plurality of inks.

Abstract: An image processing method includes performing first halftone processing and second halftone processing. The second halftone processing is performed, for a second kind of color in advance among a plurality of colors constituting an original image, in units of blocks each consisting of a plurality of pixels that constitute the original image and the second kind of color is converted into an amount of second kind of ink corresponding to the second kind of color among the plurality of inks. The first halftone processing is performed, for the first kind of color, for each pixel that constitutes the original image or each pixel group having a smaller number of pixels than the block and the first kind of color is converted into an amount of first kind of ink corresponding to the first kind of color among the plurality of inks.

Abstract: Provided is a printing apparatus which prints by performing a halftoning process, by setting a block which is formed of a plurality of pixels as a unit, the apparatus including a first determination unit which determines whether or not a gradation value of each of the plurality of pixels satisfies a predetermined condition; a second determination unit which applies different conditions based on a determination result of the first determination unit, and determines whether or not to form a dot in at least one of the plurality of pixels; an error calculation unit which performs a calculation of a gradation error which occurs due to a determination result of the second determination unit, and a distribution of the calculated error to an unprocessed pixel by setting the block as a unit; and a dot forming unit which performs forming of dots using the determination result of the second determination unit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a dot data generating section configured to: compare a first threshold which is aligned with a dither mask and a corresponding gradation value which corresponds with the image data which is input; generate the dot data by determining that dots are to be formed in a case where it is determined that the corresponding gradation value exceeds the first threshold and generate the dot data by determining the forming of dots due to application of an error diffusion method by comparing correction data, where error diffusion in the image data is complete, and a second threshold in a case where it is determined that the corresponding gradation value does not exceed the first threshold as a result of the comparing; and diffuse errors, which occur as a result of generating the dot data, to pixels in a predetermined range in the vicinity in both cases.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided with a CPU. The CPU generates dot data where dots are regularly distributed and arranged in a case where gradation values which are represented by image data are a predetermined value or less by using a dither mask where thresholds are set for each printing pixel and comparing the gradation values of each of the pixels which configure the original image and the thresholds for each of the printing pixels which are set in the dither mask, and generates the dot data such that the degree of regularity of the dots which are distributed and arranged is reduced as the gradation values are increased in a case where the gradation values which are represented by the image data exceed the predetermined value through execution of a dot data generating module.