Abstract: A method of printing on a print medium includes using a first quantity of nozzles of a printhead to print a first set of scan lines of a plurality of scan lines at an edge of the print medium; using a second quantity of nozzles of the printhead to print a second set of scan lines of the plurality of scan lines in an interior region of the print medium; using a third quantity of nozzles to print a third set of scan lines of the plurality of scan lines to transition between the edge and the interior region, the third quantity of nozzles being greater in number than the first quantity of nozzles and less in number than the second quantity of nozzles; and printing each scan line of the plurality of scan lines forming the image with a same number of multiple passes of the printhead, regardless of the number of nozzles used for printing during a particular pass of the printhead.

Abstract: A method of forming images including obtaining image data defining an image portion and including data elements defining a first subset and a second subset of areas of the image portion having one or more lesser amounts and one or more greater amounts, respectively, of a colorant, and forming the image portion by placement of the colorant onto a medium during a set of overlapping passes so that the first subset of the areas is formed by at least one of (a) a subset of the overlapping passes and (b) a predefined subset of a plurality of structures available for placing the colorant.

Abstract: A plurality of nozzles forms the first row of nozzles, the second row of nozzles, the third row of nozzles and the fourth row of nozzles, which extend in parallel with a sub scanning direction. A black ink is adapted to be supplied to one row of nozzles. Color inks are adapted to be supplied to the other rows of nozzles, the color inks being different for each of the other rows of nozzles. Positions of the second row of nozzles to the fourth row of nozzles are shifted by ? or ? of an arrangement pitch of the nozzles, in the sub scanning direction, for each of the rows of nozzles, with respect to positions of the first row of nozzles. In a high-speed black mode, the color inks are ejected from corresponding nozzles, in connection with ink ejection of the black ink from corresponding nozzles.

Abstract: An ink jet printer has a line head having heating elements (121d) for ejecting ink droplets from nozzles, in which the plurality of heating elements (121d) are arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper feed direction. In the line head, the plurality of heating elements (121d) are divided into a plurality of blocks, with each block consisting of a predetermined number of spatially arrayed heating elements of the plurality of heating elements (121d) corresponding to the plurality of nozzles, and a phase signal PH is sequentially supplied to a set of heating elements (121d) simultaneously driven over the respective blocks, thus sequentially driving the respective heating elements (121d) by each set as a unit in a time-divisional manner. Thus, the ink jet printer can reduce the positional shift of dots on the paper and can reduce the instantaneous maximum dissipation power in time-division drive.

Abstract: A method for printing shingling print data in a shingling print pass of a multi-shingling-pass print swath. One step includes compacting the shingling print data by removing the deterministic voids associated with the shingling print algorithm. Another step includes expanding the compacted shingling print data based on the shingling print algorithm. An additional step includes printing the expanded shingling print data.

Abstract: A method of printing data defining an arrangement of a first set of image elements within an array of first and second sets of image elements. The first set may have a different color characteristic than the second set. At least one mode may be selected for placement of colorant-based representations of the image elements of the first set onto a print medium based on one or more values corresponding to the percentage of image elements of the first set in at least one of the array and one or more portions of the array. Colorant-based representations may be placed onto the print medium according to the at least one mode selected and in the arrangement defined by the data.

Abstract: A method for digital printing is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing apparatus and method which can appropriately thin dots for printing so as to ensure a print grade. When dots of a black ink is subjected to thinned printing, the dots are thinned using output gamma correction that corrects print data so as to reduce the print density of an image. On the other hand, when dot of a color ink other than the black ink is subjected to the thinned printing, the number of dots formed per print pixel is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ink jet printing, and more particularly to a method of printing and an apparatus for providing images having grey levels of varying intensity. The present invention provides a method and device for printing grey scale images on a printing medium. The method includes delivering at least a number of first droplets of printing material of a color with a first volume from a first printhead and a number of second droplets of printing material of that color with a second volume from a second printhead, the first volume and the second volume being different, and merging together the number of first droplets and the number of second droplets on a target pixel position on the printing medium to obtain a given greyscale dot on the printing medium.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fabricating a pattern which makes it possible to obtain a wide pattern having edges of a preferable shape. The apparatus for fabricating a pattern ejects a liquid material as liquid droplets from an ejecting section, and dispose the liquid droplets on a substrate in a line-shaped pattern. A plurality of line-shaped patterns are formed on the substrate by disposing a plurality of liquid droplets on the substrate in the line-shaped patterns, and then another set of liquid droplets are disposed between the line-shaped patterns so as to integrate the line-shaped patterns with each other.

Abstract: A recording method for use in a recording system for completing an image by multiple scans of a recording head includes the steps of reading an image recorded by a predetermined number of scans among the multiple scans of the recording head except at least the last scan, and correcting, based on a result of reading the image in the reading step, data for an image to be recorded by one or more scans subsequent to the predetermined number of scans. An image is correctively recorded by performing one or more scans subsequent to the predetermined number of scans in accordance with the corrected data.

Abstract: The colors used for forming an image are limited in advance to a predetermined number of color patterns called representative colors; on the host side the image data received is divided into blocks, for each of which a representative color is determined in a representative color code conversion unit; the representative colors and their associated representative color codes are transmitted to the printer side; and on the printer side the representative color codes are converted into dot patterns in a pattern conversion unit for each pass before being output. The above procedure allows a series of processing—resolution conversion, masking/UCR processing, output ? correction and binarization processing—to be realized with a simple configuration.

Abstract: In color ink-jet recording, even if a black image is recorded adjacent to a color image, the present invention prevents bleeding between black ink and color ink to achieve a high recording grade. In a divided recording method, as division patterns used to allot image data to each recording scan, different division patterns are provided for black image data and for color image data. The division patterns for black and another color used during the same scan have different allotment rates so that the amount of image data allotted to the same scan varies between black and the other colors. As a result, the amount of image data recorded during the same scan also varies between black and the other colors. This reduces the frequency with which the black ink and the color ink are provided adjacent to each other during the same scan.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for printing an image using the printhead of an ink jet printer. The printhead ejects ink drops on a print medium in a series of scanning passes, and different addressing patterns are selected in each scanning pass to address ink drop locations for different portions of the raster lines addressed by each scanning pass. Addressing patterns having various interlacing percentages are selected in order to produce overlapping boundary regions between passes. The overlapping boundary regions minimize the banding effects that occur with inexact ink drop placement.

Abstract: In a method of printing with overlapping printhead dies, artifacts in the printed image caused by the printing nozzles in the overlapping region are removed, either by measuring the width of the band produced in the overlapping region and selecting an appropriate depletion or propletion printing mask for subsequent printing operations, or by printing out a test pattern in which areas corresponding to a range of depletion and propletion masks are printed out and the optimal mask is selected for subsequent printing operations. The dies overlap by only a few rows of nozzles. The method may be employed in fixed printhead apparatus (e.g. page wide arrays) or in a scanning printhead apparatus.

Abstract: A printhead assembly include a carrier, a first plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier and adapted to print a first color, and a second plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier and adapted to print a second color. Each of the first plurality of printhead dies are offset from and partially overlap an adjacent one of the first plurality of printhead dies, and each of the second plurality of printhead dies are offset from and partially overlap an adjacent one of the second plurality of printhead dies.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus is disclosed for printing an image on a printing medium by means of a printing head having a first number n of marking elements, the method includes printing the image as a set of N sub-images, N being a number C of colours used for printing multiplied by a number I of interlacing steps and multiplied by a number P of mutually interstitial printing steps (N=C*I*P), where the number I of interlacing steps is greater than 1. Each interlacing step generates an interlaced sub-image, a swath of an interlaced sub-image being printed during a printing pass. There is at least one linear relative movement between the printing medium and the printing head over a uniform transport distance TD in a slow scan direction between the printing of two subsequently printed interlaced sub-images.

Abstract: A printing method comprises the steps of: in a first movement, moving a print head to form dots on a medium at aperiodic intervals in a moving direction of the print head, wherein the print head includes N pieces of nozzles arranged at a constant pitch in a direction that intersects with the moving direction, wherein the N pieces of nozzles are for forming N dots of a same color, and wherein N is an integer of at least two; in second through M-th movements, moving the print head to form, on the medium, the rest of the dots that were not formed in the first movement, wherein M is an integer of at least two; and repeating the first through M-th movements to print information on the medium.

Abstract: For a horizontally arranged print head, in which nozzle rows are arranged parallel with a scanning direction of the print head, two of a plurality of ink colors used, which have the greatest hue difference, are selected. Between the nozzle rows for these two colors, at least two nozzle rows for other colors are arranged so that the nozzle rows for the two colors have a large inter-nozzle-row distance. The resulting print head is used for printing. If cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, and black are used as ink colors, the light cyan, black, yellow, and light magenta inks are arranged between the cyan and magenta inks, having a great hue difference.

Abstract: A method of printing pixel images on a sheet or web of paper using an ink-jet printer, said printer having a print head which reciprocates across the sheet or web of paper along a first path in a first direction and along a second path in a second, opposite direction, wherein the pixel image consist of a plurality of pixels located adjacent to each other as viewed in said first and second directions, including first and second pixels to be placed at the leading or upstream edges of the image in question as considered in the first and second directions, wherein the print head is controlled to discharge an ink droplet for forming the first and second pixels only when moving in the first and second directions, respectively and is repeated over the image.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing image artifacts in printers that employ two or more printhead nozzle banks that must be aligned and registered with respect to each other either through adjustment of orientation and/or position of one nozzle bank relative to another or through selective control of actuation. In the method, discrete dots are printed by the nozzle banks upon a target receiver medium. Examination of the receiver medium or a reproduction thereof is made by a scanner and information regarding location of the dots is generated. From information regarding location of the dots a determination is made of error placement of the dots from ideal locations. Alignment of the nozzle banks are made in accordance with any errors determined in placement.

Abstract: A method of printing a substrate with ink drops, image-wise, utilizing an inkjet printing device containing at least one print head provided with at least one row of nozzles, the substrate forming a regular field of pixel rows and pixel columns, the resolution of the pixel columns being equal to the resolution of the row of nozzles, wherein a first printing stage is initiated in which a strip of pixel rows is provided with ink drops, whereafter the print head is displaced in a direction substantially parallel to the pixel columns, and a second printing stage is initiated in which the strip is provided with supplementary ink drops, wherein the print head is displaced over a distance such that the same is substantially equal to the width of one pixel row.

Abstract: Each nozzle array on a print head 28b has a plurality of nozzles arranged along sub-scanning direction for discharging a same ink, and at least a pair of nozzle arrays that discharge different inks (a leading nozzle array FN and a trailing nozzle array RN) are arranged in a staggered manner. In an interlace recording using this print head 28b, a reference is made to a printing data memory prior to a main scan pass, for a printing data of a plurality of main scan lines that correspond to an overall width in the sub-scanning direction of the staggered nozzle array pair. A single main scan pass is then performed according to the referenced printing data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ink jet printing enables a high grade image with the reduced ununiformity of colors to be inexpensively printed. A scan of a print head is executed to apply a reacting liquid to a print medium so that the number of reacting liquid dots impacting a unit area is reduced as the scan moves from a printing start-point of the reacting liquid to a printing end-point. Then, a scan of the print head is executed to apply the coloring inks to the area printed with the reacting liquid. Simultaneously, the reacting liquid is applied to an area which precedes by one band the area printed with coloring inks. Then, the coloring inks are applied. Simultaneously, the reacting liquid is applied to the area which precedes by one band the area printed with coloring inks. An image is formed by repeating the above steps.

Abstract: A dot matrix printing method is provided for printing an image on a printing medium with a printing head and having an array of equally spaced marking elements. The marking elements are spaced apart by a distance “x” in a slow scan direction and there is a first relative linear movement between the printing head and the printing medium in a fast scan direction perpendicular to the slow scan direction. The method includes printing the image as at least one set of monochromatic mutually interstitially printed sub-images wherein at least one of the number of sub-images and a sequence in which the printing of the sub-images is performed is settable by the user. An apparatus for dot matrix printing an image on a printing medium is also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which corrects a transfer amount of a recording material without a scanner is provided. A paper is transferred to a position in which the transfer amount is adjusted by an LF roller, and a plurality of test pattern images, each of which is composed of a first pattern image and a second pattern image, are printed. Then, the paper is transferred to a position in which the transfer amount is adjusted by an exit roller, and the aforementioned plurality of test pattern images are printed. The plurality of test pattern images differ from each other in the transfer amount between printings of the first pattern image and the second pattern image. A degree of error in the transfer amount of the respective rollers can be visually observed. Accordingly, by receiving an input based on the printed test pattern images, it is possible to correct the transfer amount of the respective rollers.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for producing efficient ink drop overlap filled with a pseudo hexagonal grid pattern. In general, the present invention can include an inkjet printhead assembly that incorporates a preprogrammed correction scheme or schemes [1-n] (herein correction scheme will refer to all applications), for correcting systematic ink drop placement errors of the inkjet printhead. The printing system of the present invention uses a unique ink dot pattern, called a pseudo-hexagonal close pack system. The present invention optimizes the addressable grid for dot placement, pseudo hexagonal close pack system, with an efficient geometry for packing circles to fill an area, similar to the hexagonal close pack system. However, the present invention in creating dots on a non-symmetric grid is supported by available software and is not computationally complex.

Abstract: Method for printing an image on a print medium having an edge or an edge portion. A printer adapted to print the image by printing dots is obtained. Dots are printed beyond a preselected distance from the edge or edge portion at a first percent of print dot density. Dots are printed at and within the preselected distance from the edge or edge portion at a varying percent of print dot density, wherein the varying percent steps down and not up at least two times as the distance from the edge or edge portion of dots to be printed decreases. In one example, the printer is an inkjet printer.

Abstract: There are provided an ink jet printer capable of printing efficiently by reducing the useless operation dependent on the width of a print image to thereby increase the printing speed and an image printing system incorporating the ink jet printer, as well as printing methods therefor. In one aspect, a print head capable of simultaneously printing M dots at a predetermined nozzle pitch in an X-axis direction is scanned in the X-axis and a Y-axis direction, to print an image on a medium. The print image width in the Y-axis direction is detected. Depending on the width, a head moving pitch in the X-axis direction relative scan is determined. The scanning of the head in the X-axis direction relative to the print medium prints maximum M dot lines along the X-axis juxtaposed in the Y-axis direction. The scanning of the head in the Y-axis direction is effected by moving the head relative to the medium at the head moving pitch, after printing by the scanning of the head in the X-axis direction.

Abstract: Multipass printing is carried out to print a plurality of registration patterns using different nozzle drive timings. A user selects the most appropriate one of the registration patterns. A driving pattern for the selected pattern is set as a reference value for the adjustment of a print position. This reference value is saved in a predetermined memory of a CPU. During a printing operation, in a unidirectional print mode, a printing operation is performed on the basis of the reference value. On the other hand, in a bidirectional and non-multipass print mode, a printing operation is performed on the basis of the reference value plus a predetermined correction value (+1). In a bidirectional and multipass print mode, a printing operation is performed on the basis of the reference value.

Abstract: The invention prevents a pattern arising from periodicity of dot arrangements from appearing as noise, such as a streak, when a plurality of different dot arrangements are used repeatedly in a unit of a predetermined number of the dot arrangements for the same level of gradation of input image data, and thereby makes it possible to print a high-quality image. To this end, when input image data quantized to one of multivalued levels of gradation is allocated to a dot arrangement of M×N, a matrix of A×B created by combining a plurality of different dot arrangements each displaying the same level of gradation of the input image data in a raster direction and in a column direction is used as a minimum unit, and the dot arrangement of this matrix is allocated to the input image data.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which performs printing using a printhead having plural printing elements. Print data corresponding to a defective nozzle is added to print data corresponding to an adjacent normal nozzle, then the print data corresponding to the defective nozzle is masked, and printing is performed based on the print data corresponding to the normal nozzle as a result of addition and the masked print data corresponding to the defective nozzle. An image printing operation is performed by preferably 1-path printing. Further, preferably, the print data corresponding to the defective nozzle is sequentially distributed between data corresponding to two adjacent normal nozzles. Otherwise, on/off states of the data corresponding to the two adjacent normal nozzles are detected then the print data corresponding to the defective nozzle is distributed based on the result of detection.

Abstract: A printhead for printing on a print media includes a column of nozzles oriented at an angle to an axis of relative movement between the printhead and the print media, and a print axis oriented substantially parallel to the axis of relative movement between the printhead and the print media such that at least some of the nozzles are variably aligned to the print axis.

Abstract: The technique is provided that reduces degraded quality in printed results due to nozzles employed to record dots on each pixel in combination with the order in which these dots are recorded on pixels. A plurality of nozzles on a print head are grouped, in order from the nozzles that first reach a point over the print medium, into a first nozzle group, a second nozzle group, and a third nozzle group. During main scanning, certain pixels in main scan lines positioned facing the nozzles of the first nozzle group are targeted for dot recording. All pixels contained in main scan lines positioned facing the nozzles of the second nozzle group are targeted for dot recording. Those pixels among the pixels contained in main scan lines positioned facing the nozzles of the third nozzle group, and that have not previously had dots recorded thereon by the first nozzle group in a previous main scan, are targeted for dot recording.

Abstract: Printing on an area of a printing medium in which printing locations may be significantly deviated due to inaccurate feeding of the printing medium can be performed, without degrading image quality. Specifically, when lines in this area (second area) are printed using four scanning operations (passes) of a print head, a duty in masking process is set at zero for the scanning operation (pass A) after a change-line operation for feeding the printing medium with a possible large shift feeding error, and is distributed to other scanning operations. Thus, no dots are formed during this scanning operation (pass A), thereby preventing significantly deviated dots from being formed.

Abstract: Using a printer having a recessed portion, printing up to the edge of printing paper is performed without depositing ink drops on the platen. Printing paper P is advanced by upstream paper feed rollers 25a, 25b, and when its leading edge Pf reaches the opening of a downstream recessed portion 26r, printing is initiated using nozzles #1-#3. Since printing commences with leading edge Pf situated upstream from nozzle #1, even if there is some degree of error in paper feed, the image can be printed up to the edge of leading edge portion Pf. Subsequently, printing of the midsectional portion of the printing medium is performed with nozzles #1-#13. During both printing of the leading edge portion of the printing paper using nozzles #1-#3 and printing of the midsectional portion of the printing paper using nozzles #1-#13, printing is carried out in units of a band of predetermined width in the printing paper feed direction.

Abstract: Efficient printing of data containing two types of areas (color and monochromatic) in the direction of sub-scanning is present. Routine feeding is performed in 15-dots feed increments while dots are recorded using black nozzle Nos. 1 to 15 during routine monochromatic mode printing (step S2). Minor-feeding is then performed in 3-dot feed increments while the same type of main scanning is carried out in the course of lower-edge monochromatic mode printing (step S4). A position adjusting feed may be optionally performed (steps S6, S8). Five nozzles each for cyan, magenta, and yellow are used, and black nozzle Nos. 11 to 15 are used during upper-edge color mode printing (step S10). Minor-feeding is performed in single-dot feed increments. Routine feeding is then performed in 5-dot feed increments while the same type of main scanning is carried out in the course of routine color mode printing (step S12).

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are provided for non-uniform passes per raster printing. In one embodiment, a printing method includes receiving a print job. The method further includes performing the print job. Performing the print job includes printing non-uniform passes per raster in a contiguous vertical block of rasters.

Abstract: Printing is performed on a printing medium by using an ink-jet printhead for discharging ink, multilevel printing is performed by multipass printing operation of executing main scanning operation of moving the printhead relative to the printing medium with respect to each print area while changing the number of ink droplets discharged to each pixel, and the number of scans to be performed to discharge ink droplets used to print a pixel with a low gray level value is made larger than the number of scans to be performed to discharge ink droplets used only to print a pixel with a high gray level value, thereby preventing the occurrence of density irregularity and streaks in a low gray level portion and printing a high-quality image.

Abstract: A linefeed calibration method for identifying media advancement errors utilizes plural test patterns, including both a base pattern and an overlay pattern that are printed overlying each other to form an interference pattern. A sensor detects overall alignment of the interference pattern. That overall alignment is compared to alignment of at least a second interference pattern to identify a linefeed advance error. The error is correlated to a position on a media advancement mechanism such as a roller. A processor then adjusts the media advancement mechanism to correct the identified media advancement error. Under-advance errors, over-advance errors and skew errors may be identified using the described method.

Abstract: A multipass printer and printing method is described for printing an image on a sheet printing medium using a page wide printing head. A transporting device provides relative movement between the sheet printing media and a first print head. A series of sheet printing media are presented to the first print head for printing in sequence. The first print head prints a first sub-image of at least one set of monochromatic mutually interstitially printed sub-images of a first image onto a first sheet of printing medium of the series in one pass. A sub-image of an image is printed in succession on each remaining one of the series of sheet printing media followed by printing a further sub-image of the at least one set of monochromatic mutually interstitially printed sub-images of the first image onto the first sheet printing medium.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus records an image on a recording medium by causing a recording head having an arrangement of a plurality of recording elements to conduct its main scanning for the recording medium interrelatedly in the direction opposite to the arrangement of the recording elements. The apparatus comprises a setting device to set the number of main scannings by the recording head; a main scanning device to perform recording by plural numbers of main scannings with respect to one pixel by causing the recording head to conduct its main scannings for the same recording area of the recording medium in accordance with the number set by the setting device; and a sub-scanning device to cause the recording head and the recording medium to be sub-scanned interrelatedly per main scanning in an amount smaller than the width of the arrangement of the recording elements of the recording head.

Abstract: Feeding a recording medium through a printer for printing images on the recording medium by actuating a line feeding motor in predetermined stepped increments, feeding the recording medium through the printer by a line feeding device driven by the line feeding motor, printing a image on the recording medium by a print head scanning across the recording medium and ejecting ink from nozzles, the print head having j nozzles spaced at a predetermined pixel resolution that is less than a pixel resolution printed by the printer, j being an integer number, controlling the actuating step to actuate the line feed motor in stepped increments, and controlling the j nozzles utilized in printing the image. For each stepped increment of the line feed motor, the line feeding device feeds the recording medium (m×1/n) pixels of the print head pixel resolution, where m and n are integer numbers and m is greater than n.

Abstract: A single-pass print head has multiple orifice plates each serving some but not all of the area to be printed.

Abstract: A method of printing with an ink jet printer includes providing a printhead having a plurality of first nozzles with a first size and a plurality of second nozzles with a second size larger than the first size. The first nozzles and the second nozzles are alternatingly disposed in a vertical direction. Print data corresponding to first columns of pixel locations is provided. The print data includes for each pixel location in the first columns both a respective large dot print datum and a respective small dot print datum. One of the respective large dot print datum and the respective small dot print datum is printed at a first pixel location of the corresponding pixel locations in the first columns. Second columns of pixel locations interleaved with the first columns of pixel locations are provided.

Abstract: Each of pixels of recorded image is formed by a plurality of dots composed with ink droplets ejected from a plurality of different orifices at individual different main-scannings. With this recording process, the variation of ink ejection characteristics between a plurality of orifices in a recording head can be reduced in forming pixels.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus using a printhead having an array of printing elements in which a plurality of printing elements are arranged in a predetermined direction, the printing apparatus performing printing by scanning the printhead over a printing medium in a direction crossing to the predetermined direction on the basis of information transmitted from a host apparatus, print data transmitted from the host apparatus is stored in a buffer, printing by the scanning is started when the print data stored in the buffer reaches a first amount that is smaller than an amount of print data to be printed on the printing medium by the printhead by one scanning, the scanning is interrupted when storage of the print data in the buffer is delayed during the scanning, and when, after the interruption, subsequent print data stored in the buffer reaches a second amount, the interrupted scanning is executed to complete printing by one scanning.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a transportation roller unit and discharging roller units to transport printing media. When printing an image on a front end portion of the printing medium, ink is ejected from a partial number of nozzles of a print head on a side near to the transportation roller unit. When the printing medium is transported by both the transportation roller unit and the discharging roller unit, ink is ejected from all the nozzles of the print head. When printing an image on a rear end portion of the printing medium, ink is ejected from a partial number of nozzles of a print head on a side near to the discharging roller unit.

Abstract: A method of selecting inkjet nozzle banks for assembly into an inkjet printhead. The printhead when assembled includes at least two nozzle banks and is operative for printing one particular color ink or other liquid and each nozzlebank includes plural nozzles. The printhead is operational in a printer to print raster rows so that at least one raster row is printed using ink drops deposited at respective different pixel locations on the raster row by respective different nozzles on each of the at least two nozzle banks.

Abstract: This invention provides a low-cost printing apparatus and print control method capable of high-quality printing even in the use of a data buffer smaller in capacity than print data necessary for printing by one scanning of a printhead. According to this method, in printing using a small-capacity print buffer, print data is read out for each block of the print buffer divided into a plurality of blocks. Printing is done while the printhead is being scanned. As for printing using print data stored in the final block, printing is performed by one scanning of the printhead using print data stored in all blocks except the final block and print data obtained by sampling part of the print data stored in the final block. Further, printing is performed by the next scanning of the printhead using the remaining sampled data and print data newly stored in all the blocks except the final block.