Abstract: The interference between the dot arrangement pattern used for binarizing an image and the mask pattern for processing the dot arrangement pattern can be reduced and the well dispersed dot arrangement can realized by using the mask pattern. Specifically, in creating the mask, repulsive potential between the mask and the plane of dots arrangement pattern is calculated. That is, when the arrangement of print permitting pixels in the mask is determined, repulsive potential between print permitting pixels and dots on the plane of the dot arrangement pattern is calculated and print permitting pixels are arranged on the position where energy is the lowest and most dispersed. This enables print permitting pixels to be well dispersed in overlapping of the dot arrangement pattern and the mask. Consequently, as to dots formed by mask-processing and each scanning, their number is not unequally high in a specific scanning and dots are well dispersed.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus and method, both high-speed and high-quality formation of images can be achieved. The apparatus has a full-line printhead that includes printhead chips. A plurality of printing element arrays are disposed in parallel on the same printhead chip, and a distribution ratio of print data is controlled so as to at least differ in an overlap area in which end portions of the printing element arrays overlap each other.

Abstract: A spliced ink-jet head including head chips, each of which is capable of discharging inks of two or more colors, and which are spliced in a staggered manner which restrains the occurrence of splice streaks, white streaks caused by deflection at ends or uneven colors attributable to different landing orders of ink droplets in spliced portions of different colors when one-pass recording is carried out. The head chips is arranged such that, in a relationship between two adjoining head chips, at least one discharge port of one head chip and one discharge port of the other head chip for the same color tone ink in end portions overlap on a line in a recording material feeding direction, while discharge ports for different color tone inks do not overlap.

Abstract: 17-valued data of a pixel in a multi-valued image is divided into two divisions for a two-pass printing, obtaining the division data. Next, by using an index pattern where arrangements of the numerals of 1 to 16 are dispersed, each dot data of C, M and Y in the division data is arranged. First, six dot data of C are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 1 to 6 in accordance with a value of C1=6. Next, four dot data of M are assigned to the respective minor pixels of the numerals of 7 to 10 in accordance with a value of M1=4. Further, one dot data of Y is assigned to the minor pixel of the numerals of 11 in accordance with a value of Y1=1.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a mask processor for performing a mask process for binary data, which is obtained by a binarization process using a dot arrangement pattern, by using mask patterns having print permitting pixels to generate binary data used for each of a plurality of scans of a print head to a same area of a print medium. A logical product pattern obtained by a logical product operation of an arrangement pattern of the print permitting pixels in at least one of the mask patterns and the dot arrangement pattern satisfies the characteristics of (a) frequency components of a low frequency region are fewer than that of a high frequency region, and (b) peaks of the frequency components do not exist in a region lower side of half of the low frequency region.

Abstract: When a feeding amount for multi-pass printing is changed, the purpose related to an image quality using a binary data generation pattern can still be attained by, for example, a density pattern method. Specifically, a multi-pass printing mode is identified, and a density pattern selection matrix associated with a cycle of binary data generation is selected in accordance with the selected printing mode. That is, a density pattern selection matrix employed for binary data generation using a density pattern is changed to a size corresponding to the feeding amount designated by the selected printing mode. Thereby, a phenomenon that a unit used for image processing to gain a predetermined purpose related to an image quality does not match a unit area used for a printing operation is avoided, and an image printing purpose using a binary data generation pattern can be appropriately attained.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording method, recording on a first unit region, of unit regions provided on a recording medium, is performed by scanning a recording head an even number of times over the first unit region, and recording on a second unit region adjacent to the first unit region is performed by scanning the recording head an odd number of times over the second unit region. The last of the scanning motions of the recording head over the first and second unit regions is made in a first direction.

Abstract: Development of uneven gloss is reduced when printing mutually adjacent printing regions with pigment ink while overlapping boundary regions each other. A joint section and a non-joint section employ mutually different image processing such that a larger amount of ink having a relatively higher gloss level is used in the joint section as compared to the non-joint section. In this way, it is possible to uniform gloss impression between the non-joint section and the joint section and thereby to reduce uneven gloss.

Abstract: The printing elements of each printing element array are divided into blocks. A block to be driven and a block not to be driven are determined for each scanning of a printhead. The printhead is driven to print by complementing blocks to be driven by each scanning in a plurality of scanning operations. In each scanning, the printhead prints while making a printing area corresponding to at least one ink different from a printing area corresponding to another ink.

Abstract: Beading caused by interferences between block patterns, which are driving patterns of two nozzle arrays at the time of printing with the use of the two nozzle arrays for the same color, and a mask is reduced. Specifically, when the mask is created, repulsive potentials are calculated between the mask and planes with the block patterns. That is, when a placement of a print permitting area in the mask is determined, the repulsive potentials are calculated between the mask and dots in the planes with the block patterns, and then the print permitting area is placed on the most dispersive position with the lowest energy. This allows the print permitting areas to be well dispersed in terms of the overlaps between the block patterns and the mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mask for divided printing that completes an image by plural scans using inks of different plural inks, the mask being able to suppress possible grains during printing to reduce image degradation resulting from beading. If for example, among the print permitting pixels for which the total repulsive potential is to be calculated, a print permitting pixel Do has the highest total repulsive potential, changes in repulsive potential after movement of the pixels are determined and the print permitting pixel Do is moved to a pixel having the lowest total repulsive potential after the movement. This processing is repeated to enable a reduction in the total energy of the entire plane. Consequently, the print permitting pixels are appropriately dispersed in overlapping plane masks so as to have few low frequency components.

Abstract: In an inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording method, recording on a first unit region, of unit regions provided on a recording medium, is performed by scanning a recording head an even number of times over the first unit region, and recording on a second unit region adjacent to the first unit region is performed by scanning the recording head an odd number of times over the second unit region. The last of the scanning motions of the recording head over the first and second unit regions is made in a first direction.

Abstract: The generation of dot data of planes depending on a plurality of scannings and ink colors in an ink jet printing apparatus is performed based on the error diffusion processing for each plane without causing a problem of grain. Specifically, in a binarization processing, C divided data D8c/2 is subjected to an error diffusion processing to calculate binary (dot) data D2c1 for the first pass of C. Next, M divided data D8m/2 is compensated by being added with a term of Kc1m1(D8c/2-D2c1). Then, this compensated data [D8m/2+Kc1m1(D8c/2-D2c1)] is subjected to an error diffusion processing to calculate dot data D2m1 for the first pass of M. In this manner, the generation of the respective planes performs correction to reflect the results of the binarization processing of the respective previously processed planes to subject the compensated data to an error diffusion processing.

Abstract: The invention discloses a printing apparatus and method whereby it is possible to achieve both high-speed and high-quality formation of images. The apparatus has a full-line printhead that includes printhead chips. A plurality of printing element arrays are disposed in parallel on the same printhead chip, and a distribution ratio of print data is controlled so as to at least differ in an overlap area in which end portions of the printing element arrays overlap each other.

Abstract: The invention has an object to provide a liquid discharge recording method and a liquid discharge recording apparatus capable of outputting images at high speed with high quality and high reliability, and has a feature in that when adjacent overlapping dots are formed on a print material, the dots are formed with a dot placement time difference that may reduce uneven optical densities of the overlapping portion of the dots.

Abstract: Provided are a data processing method and a data processor for ink jet printing, which are capable of achieving uniform and high-quality images while stabilizing density and color development in each of pixels. To this end, a mask pattern for setting permission and non-permission to print dots in each area is arranged non-periodically by using an integral multiple of m×n areas as one unit. The m×n areas allow one pixel to be expressed in half-tone. Thereby, density in the pixel is stable since a plurality of dots printed in the same pixel are printed approximately in the same event. Moreover, since each of the units (clusters) is non-periodically arranged, a uniform image can be obtained.

Abstract: The interference between the dot arrangement pattern used for binarizing an image and the mask pattern for processing the dot arrangement pattern can be reduced and the well dispersed dot arrangement can realized by using the mask pattern. Specifically, in creating the mask, repulsive potential between the mask and the plane of dots arrangement pattern is calculated. That is, when the arrangement of print permitting pixels in the mask is determined, repulsive potential between print permitting pixels and dots on the plane of the dot arrangement pattern is calculated and print permitting pixels are arranged on the position where energy is the lowest and most dispersed. This enables print permitting pixels to be well dispersed in overlapping of the dot arrangement pattern and the mask. Consequently, as to dots formed by mask-processing and each scanning, their number is not unequally high in a specific scanning and dots are well dispersed.

Abstract: Beading caused by interferences between block patterns, which are driving patterns of two nozzle arrays at the time of printing with the use of the two nozzle arrays for the same color, and a mask is reduced. Specifically, when the mask is created, repulsive potentials are calculated between the mask and planes with the block patterns. That is, when a placement of a print permitting area in the mask is determined, the repulsive potentials are calculated between the mask and dots in the planes with the block patterns, and then the print permitting area is placed on the most dispersive position with the lowest energy. This allows the print permitting areas to be well dispersed in terms of the overlaps between the block patterns and the mask.

Abstract: In a binarization process employing dot arrangement patterns, the deviation of formed dots is prevented from occurring. Specifically, the arrangements of the dot arrangement patterns of each of four planes, which correspond to the groups of the four species of dot arrangement patterns of one certain level of five-valued data, are determined. In a process for determining the arrangements of the dot arrangement patterns of the four planes, the repulsive potential between the dot arrangement patterns in each plane and the repulsive potentials among the dot arrangement pattern in one plane and the dot arrangement patterns in the other planes are computed. Besides, the arrangements of the dot arrangement patterns of the planes are determined on the basis of the results of the repulsive potential computations.

Abstract: There is provided a dither pattern capable of reducing deterioration in image quality caused due to beading by suppressing the occurrence of grains in printing images using a plurality of color inks. If among threshold dots, for which repulsive force potentials are totalized, a threshold dot Do has the largest total, a change in repulsive force potential is obtained between before and after the movement of dot Do. The threshold dot Do is moved to a dot with the smallest total of repulsive force potentials between before and after its movement. By repeating this process, the total energy of all the three planes can be reduced, achieving a dot distribution, in which the number of low frequency components is reduced and the dots are appropriately dispersed, for superposed dither patterns.