Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: A data processing method for generating print data to be supplied to a printing apparatus capable of multi-value recording, includes a multi-value conversion step of converting obtained image data to multi-value print data; a binarizing step of converting the obtained image data to binary print data; and a selection step of selecting either one of the multi-value conversion step and the binarizing step in accordance with a condition.

Abstract: When positional information expressed by a black dot pattern and an image other than the positional information recorded as color dots are recorded, black data and color (cyan, magenta, and yellow) data are compared. If the black dots and color dots are provided in the same positions, data conversion is performed so that color dots corresponding to those positions are not formed. Thus, bleeding resulting from overlaps of positional information image with the other image is reduced to prevent the degradation of recording quality, and waste of ink is prevented.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: Two sets of recording heads for applying ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are arranged in symmetry in a scanning direction and orders of colors C and M ejected onto a pixel of a secondary color are set to symmetric orders (C?M and M?C). This makes the application orders of ink symmetric in each pixel of secondary color and thus there is no difference between application orders in formation of the pixel by either forward or backward scanning, whereby occurrence of uneven color due to the application orders of ink can be reduced even in execution of two-way color print.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: When conveying tables for conveying the printing medium are selected to perform interlace printing, the occurrence of unevenness in an image which results from switching of the tables is prevented. It is determined whether a phase of the conveying table is a transfer inhibition phase in transfer to a printing area. In the case of the transfer inhibition phase, the switching is not made to a new table, but the previously used table is used. Thus, the switching can be made to a conveying table so as not to make a shift amount +1/2N or ?1/N continue. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unevenness in an image which is caused by 1/N deviation of a printing position in a sub-scanning direction with regard to print data at the time of transfer from a rear end area to the normal area or the normal area to the rear end area.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and a print position adjusting method capable of easily adjusting a relative print position between nozzle lines are provided. Images are printed on a print medium in a drive mode A and a drive mode B by using a print head which has a first nozzle group including a plurality of ink ejection nozzle lines and a second nozzle group including a plurality of ink ejection nozzle lines. The drive mode A is a drive mode to drive only one of the first and second nozzle groups during one scan of the print head. The drive mode B is a drive mode to drive the first and second nozzle group at different timings during one scan of the print head. A print position adjust value for adjusting a relative print position between the nozzle lines in the drive mode A is retrieved. Depending on whether the print position adjust value is even or odd, a print position correction value for the first nozzle group and a print position correction value for the second nozzle group are determined.

Abstract: A first printing pattern is formed for a patch by means of a paper feed upstream side part of a black head. Then, a second printing pattern is formed for the patch by means of a cyan head in the following scans, and density of the patch is read by a reflection optical sensor in a scan after the completion of both patterns.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having a plurality of interfaces capable of communicating with external devices performs recording based on recording data input through any one of the plurality of interfaces. The recording apparatus determines which interface is used for receiving the recording data from the plurality of interfaces, and performs conversion processing on the recording data by increasing the amount of data in accordance with the determination result of which interface is used for receiving the recording data. The conversion processing changes depending on whether or not the interface used for receiving the recording data is an interface having a relatively high transfer rate (high speed interface).

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: A control method at the time of preliminary ejection of ink is changed between a recording area in which a nozzle used for recording is not switched every recording scanning and a recording area in which the nozzle for recording is switched every recording scanning, whereby the preliminary ejection is performed at an appropriate frequency in any recording area.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for forming a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the cording material, the apparatus includes changing device for changing an order of applications of the inks to be applied for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; forming device for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a raster scan direction different from the order of another, by the changing device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus can reduce degradation in print quality of a printed image, notably in a highlight portion or an intermediate gradation portion, in the case where the image is printed by forming dots of a plurality of sizes. Specifically, data causing larger and smaller cyan ink droplets, respectively, to be ejected is independently subjected to a conversion to n-value process. Thus, the data for larger ink droplets is present in a portion of printing data which corresponds to the highlight portion or intermediate gradation portion of the image. During printing, larger dots are formed in this area, thereby making it difficult to perceive possible stripes caused by the offset of the positions at which smaller droplets impact a sheet.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: In an image processing method, on the basis of input image data with respect to a target pixel, independent multi-level data (g0, g1) corresponding to respective plural species of dots which are different in at least one of a density and a diameter are generated, and then data (O0, O1) relating to an amount of generation of the dots with respect to the target pixel are generated on the basis of a relationship between the generated independent multi-level data (g0, g1) corresponding to the plural species of dots. The image processing method is effective in performing design having a high degree of flexibility in proper use of a relatively high power dot (high density dot or large dot) and a relatively low power dot (low density dot or small dot) and can realize obviation or alleviation of an occurrence of granulation or an apparent frame caused due to the relatively high power dot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of obtaining an output characteristic of the print unit and determining a correction value for an output density, without using an expensive scanner. To realize this, a nozzle array consisting of a plurality of nozzles provided in the print head is divided into a plurality of nozzle blocks [a] to [d] and each of patches is formed by using the nozzles of the same nozzle block allocated to the patch. The patches are printed in a size and shape that allows the densities of the patches to be optically detected by the density sensor. A test pattern comprising these patches is measured by the density sensor to make a density correction for each nozzle of the print head.