Abstract: An image processing method involves processing image data indicative of an image represented with a prescribed number of input tones by each of pixel groups composed of a plurality of print pixels, and generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of the print pixels to be formed on a print medium. The method includes preparing a first conversion table and a second conversion table, determining the pixel group tone value in response to the input tone value corresponding to the pixel group, converting the determined pixel group tone value into the code values for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the first conversion table, decoding the acquired code value into the output dot arrangement for each of the pixel groups, by referring the second conversion table, and outputting the dot data in response to the output dot arrangement.

Abstract: The image output system of the invention collects a preset number of adjacent pixels to one pixel group to divide a number of pixels constituting an image into multiple pixel groups and specifies a pixel group tone value as a representative tone value of each pixel group. The image output system refers to a conversion table to generate dot number data of each pixel group. The conversion table stores dot number data, which represents number of dots to be created in one pixel group, in relation to a combination of a pixel group classification number allocated to each pixel group and the specified pixel group tone value of the pixel group. The image output system then refers to a priority order of pixels representing potentials of dot creation in respective pixels of one pixel group, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in each pixel group according to the generated dot number data of the pixel group, and actually creates dots according to the determined positions of the dot-on pixels.

Abstract: Provided is a printing device which prints an image using a metallic ink and a color ink, the device including: an input unit which inputs image data; a metallic dot formation unit which forms dot concentration dots on a printing medium using the metallic ink; and a color print unit which prints the image indicated by the image data using the color ink on the printing medium on which the dots using the metallic ink are formed.

Abstract: In an image output control system, an image processing device makes image data subjected to a preset series of image processing and supplies processed image data to an image output device to output a resulting image. The image processing device collects a number of pixels among pixels constituting the image to one pixel group, specifies a number of dots to be created in the pixel group, and outputs dot number data representing the specified number of dots to be created in the pixel group to the image output device, which stores multiple priority orders of pixels for dot formation in each pixel group. The image output device receives the output dot number data, selects one priority order among the stored multiple priority orders, determines position of each dot-on pixel in each pixel group, and actually creates a dot at the determined position of each dot-on pixel, so as to output a resulting image.

Abstract: This invention provides a printing apparatus that performs printing on a print medium. The printing apparatus includes: a dot data generator that performs a halftone process on image data, wherein the print image is formed by mutually combining print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel position groups for which a physical difference is assumed at a formation of dots by the print image generator, in a common print area, and the halftone process is configured to determine the status of dot formation on each of the print pixels on an assumption of the physical difference.

Abstract: A printing apparatus performs printing on a print medium. The printing apparatus includes: a dot data generator that performs a halftone process on image data, wherein the print image is formed by mutually combining print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel position groups for which a physical difference is assumed at a formation of dots by the print image generator, in a common print area, and the halftone process is configured to determine the status of dot formation on each of the print pixels on an assumption of the physical difference.

Abstract: The invention provides printing method of printing on a printing medium. The method includes: generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, by performing a halftone process on image data representing, a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image; providing a print head having a plurality of nozzle groups that eject inks of mutually different colors; and generating the print image by mutually combining dot groups of multiple colors formed in at least one scan in a common print area, by forming each dot group with each of the plurality of nozzle groups during each scan of the print head in response to the dot data, the each of the dot groups being mutually different in color.

Abstract: A printing method includes: providing a print head that includes a plurality of nozzle arrays for ejecting at least 3 colors of inks; performing a halftone process with a dither matrix on image data to generate dot data that represents a state of dot formation at each pixel. The dither matrix includes a single reference matrix that is set by determining threshold values in the reference matrix based on a predetermined index value being calculated based on an arrangement pattern of at least two colors of dot groups among M colors (M is an integer of at least 3 and less or equal to N) of dot groups among the at least N colors of dot groups, with respect to at least some tone values among the input tone values.

Abstract: An image processing method involves processing image data indicative of an image represented with a prescribed number of input tones by each of pixel groups composed of a plurality of print pixels, and generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of the print pixels to be formed on a print medium. The method includes preparing a first conversion table and a second conversion table, determining the pixel group tone value in response to the input tone value corresponding to the pixel group, converting the determined pixel group tone value into the code values for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the first conversion table, decoding the acquired code value into the output dot arrangement for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the second conversion table, and outputting the dot data in response to the output dot arrangement.

Abstract: In an image output control system, an image processing device processes image data in accordance with a preset series of image processing and supplies processed image data to an image output device, which outputs the processed image. The image processing device determines the number of dots to be created in each pixel group, which has a preset number of multiple pixels included in an image, and outputs the number of dots as dot number data to the output device. In response to the dot number data, the output device selects one among multiple options for a priority order of individual pixels included in each pixel group, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in the pixel group, and creates dots at the determined positions of the dot-on pixels to output an image. In the image output control system, the image processing device supplies the dot number data to the output device.

Abstract: In an image output control system of the invention, an image processing device makes image data subjected to a preset series of image processing and supplies the processed image data to an image output device, which then outputs a resulting processed image. The image processing device determines the number of dots to be created in each pixel group, which has a preset number of multiple pixels included in an image, and outputs the determined number of dots as dot number data to the image output device. The image output device stores multiple options for a priority order of individual pixels included in each pixel group for dot formation. In response to reception of the dot number data, the image output device selects one among the multiple options for the priority order, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in the pixel group, and actually creates dots at the determined positions of the dot-on pixels to output a resulting image.

Abstract: In an image output control system of the invention, an image processing device makes image data subjected to a preset series of image processing and supplies processed image data to an image output device to output a resulting processed image. The image processing device collects a predetermined number of plural pixels among a large number of pixels constituting the image to one pixel group, specifies number of dots to be created in the pixel group, and outputs dot number data representing the specified number of dots to be created in the pixel group to the image output device. The image output device stores multiple priority orders of pixels for dot formation in each pixel group. The image output device receives the output dot number data, selects one priority order among the stored multiple priority orders, determines position of each dot-on pixel in each pixel group, and actually creates a dot at the determined position of each dot-on pixel, so as to output a resulting image.

Abstract: An image processing method involves processing image data indicative of an image represented with a prescribed number of input tones by each of pixel groups composed of a plurality of print pixels, and generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of the print pixels to be formed on a print medium. The method includes preparing a first conversion table and a second conversion table, determining the pixel group tone value in response to the input tone value corresponding to the pixel group, converting the determined pixel group tone value into the code values for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the first conversion table, decoding the acquired code value into the output dot arrangement for each of the pixel groups, by referring to the second conversion table, and outputting the dot data in response to the output dot arrangement.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is adapted to perform printing of image data corresponding to a plurality of pixels representing a predetermined image. The printing apparatus includes a halftone processing section including a comparison section and an error diffusion section. The comparison section is configured to compare, for at least one of the pixels, a related grayscale value relating to a data grayscale value of the input image data with a corresponding one of a plurality of thresholds included in a dither mask. The error diffusion section is configured to generate dot data for indicating the presence or absence of formation of a dot in each of the pixels according to an error diffusion method, on the basis of the data grayscale values of the input image data, and to control the easiness of the dot formation according to the error diffusion method, on the basis of a comparison result of the comparison section.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of generating a dither matrix that stores each of a plurality of threshold values in each of elements for determining a status of dot formation of each print pixel of a print image to be produced on a printing medium by carrying out halftone processing on image data.

Abstract: The invention provides printing method of printing on a printing medium. The method includes: generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, by performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image; and generating the print image with a print head by mutually combining a plurality dot groups in a common print area, each of the plurality dot groups being formed in each scan of the print head in response to the dot data. The generating dot data comprise setting a condition for the halftone process for reducing contact between dot groups formed consecutively by a plurality of temporally consecutive scan within at least part of tone values.

Abstract: The image output system of the invention collects a preset number of adjacent pixels to one pixel group to divide a number of pixels constituting an image into multiple pixel groups and specifies a pixel group tone value as a representative tone value of each pixel group. The image output system refers to a conversion table to generate dot number data of each pixel group. The conversion table stores dot number data, which represents number of dots to be created in one pixel group, in relation to a combination of a pixel group classification number allocated to each pixel group and the specified pixel group tone value of the pixel group. The image output system then refers to a priority order of pixels representing potentials of dot creation in respective pixels of one pixel group, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in each pixel group according to the generated dot number data of the pixel group, and actually creates dots according to the determined positions of the dot-on pixels.

Abstract: There is provided a color conversion table having 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 including 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 table. If such color conversion tables are referenced for color conversion, it is possible to suppress the storage capacity, provide color matching, and perform high accuracy color conversion.

Abstract: The image output system of the invention collects a preset number of adjacent pixels to one pixel group to divide a number of pixels constituting an image into multiple pixel groups and specifies a pixel group tone value as a representative tone value of each pixel group. The image output system refers to a conversion table to generate dot number data of each pixel group. The conversion table stores dot number data, which represents number of dots to be created in one pixel group, in relation to a combination of a pixel group classification number allocated to each pixel group and the specified pixel group tone value of the pixel group. The image output system then refers to a priority order of pixels representing potentials of dot creation in respective pixels of one pixel group, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in each pixel group according to the generated dot number data of the pixel group, and actually creates dots according to the determined positions of the dot-on pixels.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet printing apparatus capable of printing halftone image data representing a halftone image including at least color components of cyan, magenta, and yellow, the ink jet printing apparatus including: an input unit which is used to input the halftone image data; a smoothing unit which creates smoothing image data by performing a smoothing process only on the yellow component in the halftone image data or performing a smoothing process having a smoothing degree relatively stronger than those of other color components on the yellow component; and a printing control unit which controls execution of a printing process on the basis of the smoothing image data.