Abstract: A method of setting up an operating state for a plurality of predetermined devices is provided. The method is carried out on a terminal device to which the predetermined devices are connected. The method includes the steps of collecting, for a setting item relating to a function of each of the predetermined devices, setting options which the predetermined devices support, displaying the setting options collected for the setting item, allowing the user to select one of the setting options for the setting item, and identifying at least one device supporting the selected one of the setting options from among the predetermined devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which a quantization is effected for a halftone color image decomposed into pixels, in which a comparison is made, for respective separate color-components of each pixel, between a tone level of each pixel and a threshold value, and in which the tone level of each pixel is quantized to produce a discrete value having n levels. With a neighboring pixel of the subject pixel containing a first color-component, and with the subject pixel containing a second color-component, a relationship between the tone level of the second color-component of the subject pixel and the threshold value is compensated, such that, as the tone level of the first color-component of the neighboring pixel increases, a probability of occurrence of a second color-component ink dot formed at the subject pixel and/or a volume of an ink used for the same dot at the subject pixel, decreases.

Abstract: In an image-forming method, a device reads line data L for one line and determines whether the resolution of the line data L in the main scanning direction is greater than or equal to a threshold th. If the resolution is greater than or equal to the threshold th, then a multiple line process is performed on the line data L to divide this data into two sets of partial line data L1 and L2. The partial line data 'L1 and L2 are used to form two lines at locations shifted from each other in the sub-scanning direction. However, if the resolution of the line data L is smaller than the threshold th, then a single line process is performed to divide the line data L into two segments Q1 and Q2. The segments Q1 and Q2 of the line data L are used to form a single line at the same location in the sub-scanning direction by printing the segment Q1 in the first main scanning operation and by printing the segment Q2 in the second main scanning operation.

Abstract: During the process of creating a density adjustment table, when the average value avg for ink amounts of Ci(n), Mi(n), and Yi(n) is less than or equal to 2 at some density level indicated by positioning number n, a CPU sets a correction range of 1 to n, which includes the subject density level with positioning number n and gradation levels lower than the density level with positioning number n. The CPU 5 corrects the n-number of sets of ink amount data (Ci(n), Mi(n), Yi(n)) within the correction range of 1 to n, and converts each data set (Ci(n), Mi(n), Yi(n)) within the correction range into a corrected data set (Co(n), Mo(n), Yo(n)), wherein Co(n), Mo(n), and Yo(n) have the values equal to the average value avg of the original ink amounts Ci(n), Mi(n), and Yi(n).

Abstract: A color-conversion-table creating method includes (a) defining a color gamut in a first color space defined for a first device, the color gamut having a surface, an internal space surrounded by the surface, surface grid points positioned on the surface, and internal grid points positioned in the internal space, and determining a correspondence relationship between the surface grid points in the first color space and parameters in a second color space defined for a second device, (b) determining, based on the correspondence relationship determined in step (a), a correspondence relationship between the internal grid points in the first color space and parameters in the second color space, and (c) creating a color conversion table indicative of a correspondence relationship between all grid points in the first color space and parameters in the second color space based on both the correspondence relationship determined in step (a) and the correspondence relationship determined in step (b).

Abstract: An inkjet recording device records images by forming dots on a recording medium with droplet modulating method. The inkjet recording device includes a recording unit, a multilevel-data creating portion, and a dot-layout-data creating portion. The recording unit ejects ink droplets for forming dots at corresponding pixel positions. The recording unit is capable of changing a volume of each ink droplet to form dots with different sizes. The multilevel-data creating portion creates multilevel data based on image data. The multilevel data includes a dot size for each dot. The dot-layout-data creating portion creating dot layout data based on the multilevel data, so as to prevent the recording unit from forming dots having the same size continuously by greater than or equal to a predetermined number. The recording unit performs recording operation based on the dot layout data.

Abstract: A binary conversion error value as to neighboring pixels stored in an error value storage portion is added to a pixel density of a subject pixel, which is read from an input image storage portion, at a ratio based on an error distribution matrix, so that a modified density is calculated. A determination is made as to whether the modified density is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and an output image is binarized based on the determination, and stored in an output image storage portion. An output density, which is a value of the output image for calculating the binary conversion error value, is set to a value corresponding to a print mode currently set. By subtracting the output density from the modified density, the binary conversion error value generated in the binarization process for the subject pixel is calculated.

Abstract: Colorimetric data corresponding to corner grid points in an RGB color space, such as grid point P1, is used without correction. For grid points positioned on an edge, such as grid point P2, an average value is calculated for calorimetric data corresponding to a total of three grid points, including a target grid point and two adjacent grid points on the edge. For grid points positioned on a surface, such as grid point P4, an average value is calculated for calorimetric data corresponding to a total of nine grid points, including the target grid point and eight adjacent grid points on the surface. For grid points positioned inside the cube-shaped grid, such as grid point P5, an average value is calculated for calorimetric data corresponding to a total of 27 grid points, including the target grid point and 26 grid points adjacent to the target grid point three-dimensionally.

Abstract: An image processing device performs an error diffusion on multilevel input image data to generate multilevel output image data that has fewer levels than the multilevel input image data. The image processing device includes a plurality of setting devices, each of which sets a threshold value to be used at the error diffusion, a threshold value selecting device that randomly selects one of the plurality of setting devices with respect to each pixel to be processed and allows the selected setting device to set a threshold value with respect to the pixel to be processed when the image processing device performs the error diffusion, and a converting device that converts the pixel to be processed into multilevel output image data with fewer levels than multilevel input image data by the error diffusion, in accordance with the threshold value set by the setting device selected by the threshold value selecting device.

Abstract: According to a hue conversion, hue angles of C, M, and Y are always set to hue angles HC, HM, and HY of C, M, and Y of a printer, hue angles of R and G are always set to hue angles HR and HG of R and G of a monitor, and the hue angle of B is always set to a value HB desired by a user. The gradation from black through a full color to white is made linear in each color of R, G, B, C, M, and Y according to the hue conversion. The user sets the hue angle HB for B. Therefore, the user can obtain blue color B which provides the user's favorite hue and gradation. Every hue can be reproduced excellently and gradations can be reproduced without color shifts.

Abstract: A monitor calibration method for determining the black point of a monitor display, wherein a solid black display area and a gray display area are displayed on a monitor screen in the form of stripes, for example, so that each display area is sandwiched by the other type of display area. Then, while the brightness of the gray display area is gradually changed, the user signals OK using a mouse device at the point in time that the viewer determines a difference between the two display areas. The input value of the gray display area at that time is fixed and saved as the black point. By arranging the display areas in alternating stripes, even a subtle difference in the two display areas is visually striking. Hence, a very accurate black point can be determined.

Abstract: A monitor calibration method for determining the black point of a monitor display, wherein a solid black display area and a gray display area are displayed on a monitor screen in the form of stripes, for example, so that each display area is sandwiched by the other type of display area. Then, while the brightness of the gray display area is gradually changed, the user signals OK using a mouse device at the point in time that the viewer determines a difference between the two display areas. The input value of the gray display area at that time is fixed and saved as the black point. By arranging the display areas in alternating stripes, even a subtle difference in the two display areas is visually striking. Hence, a very accurate black point can be determined.

Abstract: If the subject pixel density I is the minimum density (0), the input conversion portion H1 controls the output conversion portion H4 to output a level of OFF. If the subject pixel density I is the maximum density (255), the input conversion portion H1 controls the output conversion portion H4 to output the other level of ON. The input conversion portion H1 outputs the imaginary density A of one (1) to the input modification portion H2 if the subject pixel density I is the minimum density of zero (0). The input conversion portion H1 outputs the other imaginary density B of 254 to the input modification portion H2 if the subject pixel density I is the maximum density of 255. The conversion portion H3 compares, with the threshold value, a modified value I′ supplied from the input modification portion H2. Even in the uniform density region having the density of zero (0) or 255, the comparison judgment attained by the conversion portion H3 will frequently change.

Abstract: Minimum density pixels are always turned OFF. Maximum density pixels are always turned ON. The binary conversion errors obtained along the main scanning direction based on the maximum and minimum density pixels are subjected to modification processes with using the correction value “a”. Thus, binary conversion errors are gradually converted into the non-uniform value pattern IE[pos]. Accordingly, uniform conversion errors will not be distributed to pixels along each main scanning line. The leading edge S of the middle density region will not receive uniform conversion errors. Turned-On pixels will be generated properly non-uniformly, thereby preventing occurrence of any undesirable textures.

Abstract: For each of the color components of an inputted continuous tone color image, densities of the pixels are successively compared with a threshold value, thereby converting the pixels into ON or OFF. A binary conversion error obtained during this conversion operation is distributed to neighboring pixels. A printing prohibiting matrix is previously set to determine several pixels to be compulsively turned OFF. The error diffusion conversion process is attained with using the printing prohibiting matrix, thereby reducing the number of turned ON pixels and limiting the amount of ink to be ejected.

Abstract: The standard brightness region is displayed with input values of zero. The comparison brightness region is displayed with an input value which is variable in the range of 0 to 255. The standard brightness and comparison brightness regions are displayed next to each other in the display. The input value is changed from zero. A first black point is determined as an input value which causes the comparison brightness region to first appear distinguishable from the black regions of the standard brightness regions. Then, the input value is changed from 255. A second black point is determined as an input value which causes the comparison brightness region to first appear indistinguishable from the black regions of the standard brightness regions. Then, a black point is calculated as an average of the first and second black points.

Abstract: When a subject pixel has been turned OFF, an accumulated error value is calculated based on binary conversion. Then, the sum of the accumulated error value and the binary conversion error for the subject pixel is compared with a predetermined value. When the sum is less than the predetermined value, the binary conversion error for the subject pixel is multiplied with a coefficient so that the absolute value of the binary conversion error is decreased. Then, the absolute-decreased error is distributed to unprocessed neighboring pixels according to an error distribution matrix. Then, the binary conversion error for the subject pixel is stored in a working memory as a binary conversion error for the s-th pixel to be used in the process of the next pixel.

Abstract: To facilitate determination of a black point on a display unit, a reference brightness region and a comparison brightness region are displayed on the display unit. The former emits at a reference brightness that is used as a reference for determining the black point. The reference brightness is set by inputting a predetermined input value to the display unit. The brightness on the comparison brightness region is compared with the reference brightness. The comparison brightness is changed by increasing and decreasing the input value to the display unit to obtain a critical input value representing the input value wherein an operator can first distinguish the comparison brightness region from the reference brightness region. The two regions are arranged so that the comparison brightness region which is, for example, a star mark is completely surrounded by the reference brightness region, or vice versa.

Abstract: In S100, multilevel density data C, M, Y, and K for a subject pixel are read out from the data recording medium. Then, the total ink density ND is calculated in S110. It is judged whether or not the total ink density ND is higher than the predetermined limit value L1. When the total density ND is not higher than the value L1 (no in S120), the original density data C, M, Y, and K for the subject pixel are subjected to the binarization process in S140. When the total density ND is higher than the value L1 (yes in S120), on the other hand, the value of the multilevel data for each chromatic color component is reduced through an ink density reduction process in S130. The thus obtained reduced multilevel data C3, M3, and Y3 and the black multilevel data are subjected to the binarization process in S140.

Abstract: A printing head includes P=3 ink supplying portion arrangement sections having n=4 nozzles effectively used and a length L in a sub-scanning direction continuously disposed in the sub-scanning direction and in which the nozzles are disposed in m-th arrangement nominated section within P arrangement nominated sections which are defined by equally dividing, by P, the n individual arrangement sections having a length L/n in the sub-scanning direction which are defined by equally dividing the length by n in respective ink supplying portion arrangement sections. This m is the same number within each ink supplying portion arrangement section but different among the ink supplying portion arrangement sections. Thus, in the interlace drive system printing, it is possible to eliminate striped patterns even in the sections of the same color.