Abstract: The method of controlling droplet discharge for a liquid discharge apparatus which discharges droplets from a discharge head onto a discharge receiving medium, the method comprises the steps of: discharging at least three droplets substantially simultaneously on a same line so that at least mutually adjacent droplets overlap when landing on the discharge receiving medium; controlling the droplet discharge so that a droplet discharge amount sequentially increases in a relative manner from a center area toward both ends of a dot group formed by the at least three droplets; and forming the dot group which contains the at least three dots with substantially a same diameter on the same line.

Abstract: An inkjet printing head is disclosed. The inkjet printing head comprises a nozzle unit having a length in the main scanning direction corresponds to a paper width, the nozzle unit comprising a plurality of nozzle sections split in a main scanning direction, one or more of the plurality of nozzle sections are arranged forward in a secondary direction, and a first depression depressed behind the one or more forward-arranged nozzle sections.

Abstract: The liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprises: a first color ink nozzle group in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink droplets of a first color are disposed; a second color ink nozzle group in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink droplets of a second color are disposed; and a treatment liquid nozzle group in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting droplets of a prescribed treatment liquid are disposed, the treatment liquid nozzle group being positioned on an upstream side of the first color ink nozzle group and the second color ink nozzle group in terms of a sub-scanning direction, wherein: the first color ink nozzle group and the second color ink nozzle group are disposed in displaced positions with respect to each other in a main scanning direction; and positions in the main scanning direction of the nozzles of the treatment liquid nozzle group lie between the positions in the main scanning direction of the nozzles of the first color ink nozzle group and the positions in the main scanning directio

Abstract: When image data output to an ink-jet recording apparatus for performing color recording using inks of a plurality of colors is to be processed, input image data is converted into data corresponding to colors of inks and gamma correction is applied to the data corresponding to colors of inks. In this gamma correction processing, the grayscale value represented by the data is decreased to reduce the amount of shot-in ink. In the present invention, gamma correction for data corresponding to a chromatic ink differs from gamma correction for data corresponding to an achromatic ink such that higher gray level data is decreased by a smaller factor than lower gray level data for the data corresponding to the achromatic ink.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing device, comprising: an N-level quantization unit, where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, the unit converting multi-level image data into N-level image data, the multi-level image data including a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a value corresponding to one of a multi-level gradation, and the N-level image data including a size of an ideal ink dot to be formed; a memory that stores error information, the error information corresponding to a difference between an ideal ink dot and an actual ink dot, the actual ink dot being formed by an image forming device, the image forming device having a plurality of nozzles, and each of the plurality of nozzles being associated with an ideal ink dot and an actual ink dot, and being capable of ejecting M-number of ink dot sizes, where M is a natural number equal to or greater than 2 and satisfies M?N); an error information obtaining unit that obtains from the memory error information corresponding to an iden

Abstract: The ink jet printing apparatus forms an image on a print medium with the following two operations. The printing operation makes a print head perform scan motions in a predetermined direction on the print medium, the print head having an array of nozzle rows corresponding to the required number of ink colors, each scan motion involving the ink being ejected from nozzles onto the print medium. The print medium feeding operation moves the print medium and the print head relative to each other a predetermined amount in a direction different from a direction of the scan motion between the scan motions. In a print mode using a small number of ink colors employed for printing, unidirectional printing is performed such that the nozzle row of a black ink to be ejected reaches a print start position when amplitude of vibration of the print head is a predetermined amount or less.

Abstract: A liquid droplet-ejecting apparatus includes a liquid flow passage and a liquid discharge surface which is formed with a plurality of nozzles communicated with the liquid flow passage, a liquid-repellent area, and two hydrophilic areas for interposing the liquid-repellent area therebetween respectively and which has one of the hydrophilic areas positioned nearer to the nozzles than the other of the hydrophilic areas. A boundary of the liquid-repellent area with respect to one of the hydrophilic areas has liquid repellence lower than that of a boundary of the liquid-repellent area with respect to the other of the hydrophilic areas. The liquid droplet can be moved in a direction to make separation from the nozzles in accordance with the movement of the liquid droplet-ejecting apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to decrease the number of times of the wiping operation on the liquid discharge surface.

Abstract: Ejection of a clear-ink nozzle is inspected with ease. When forming an ejection-test pattern for a clear ink, for example, the clear ink is ejected toward a medium from a clear-ink nozzle to form the ejection-test pattern, and a color ink is ejected toward a region in which the clear ink is to adhere from at least two color-ink nozzles to form the ejection-test pattern.

Abstract: The present invention suppresses the adverse effect of air currents resulting from ink ejection, regardless of the moving speed of a print head, to allow high-grade images to be printed. Input image data is converted into print data corresponding to each of a plurality of nozzle arrays so that an amount of ink droplets ejected from each of the plurality of nozzle arrays and ejected per unit area is different depending on the moving speed of the print head.

Abstract: A fluid ejection device and a printhead including one or more such fluid ejection devices are provided. The fluid ejection device includes a substrate having a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, each array having a plurality of nozzles and being arranged along a first direction, the first nozzle array being arranged spaced apart in a second direction from the second nozzle array. A first fluid delivery pathway is in fluid communication with the first nozzle array, and a second fluid delivery pathway is in fluid communication with the second nozzle array. Nozzles of the first nozzle array have a first opening area and are arranged along the first nozzle array at a pitch P. Nozzles of the second nozzle array have a second opening area, the second opening area being less than the first opening area. At least one nozzle of the second array is arranged offset in the first direction from at least one nozzle of the first array by a distance which is less than pitch P.

Abstract: A shifting amount of color compensation amount is calculated based on a shifting amount of color obtained from a shifting amount of color storage unit for each image forming unit, and shifting amount of color compensation in the pixel unit is performed by executing address conversion using the calculation result. A feature of an image to be processed is detected, and color density conversion compensation for performing shifting amount of color compensation in less than the pixel unit is performed according to the detected feature. Furthermore, half-tone processing or exceptional processing is selectively executed according to the detected feature.

Abstract: An ID (error information) 31a expressing the results of comparing calorimetric data obtained by measuring in the color space Lab (the specified color space) the color of each patch for correcting color (standard image) P3 of the standard dot recording rate (ink recording amount) printed by a printer (printing device) 20 on printing paper (printing medium) is acquired and the acquired ID 31a is used to correct dot amount data (printing data) expressing the image and to make dot amount data for compensating color drifts in image for printing printed by a printer 20 out of the dot amount data. The corrected dot amount data are used to control the printer 20 to print an image for printing corresponding thereto.

Abstract: Printing masters are produced by use of an inkjet printing system. The smallest halftone dot size which can be printed by the inkjet printing system is larger than the size of a pixel of the recording grid defined by the addressability of the printing device. Inferior image quality and graininess caused by standard error diffusion algorithms in this system can be counteracted by using a constraint correlation error diffusion system. Out of the complete set of all possible intensity level combinations for reproducing a pixel a subset is selected based upon the multilevel halftoning process of a quantized scalar value which is a function of at least one of the input pixel values of the corresponding colour component pixels. Preferably the scalar value represents the brightness or ink amount allocations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for converting a full color image to a two-color image for printing at a two-color printer capable of printing black pixels and alternate color pixels. Black pixels and alternate color pixels of the full color image will be printed as corresponding black and alternate color pixels in the two-color image. Printing in pixel areas of the two-color image which correspond to white pixels of the full color image will be inhibited, such that the white pixels of the full color image appear as corresponding background colored pixel areas of the substrate in the two-color image. A dithering algorithm is used for converting other color pixels of the full color image into the two-color image by utilizing either a combination of corresponding background colored pixel areas of the substrate and printed alternate color pixels or a combination of corresponding printed black and alternate color pixels.

Abstract: The image processing method for an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by means of dots including a dot with a minimum dot size larger than a recording distance determined in accordance with resolution, the image processing method comprises the steps of: setting the recording medium; and forming the dots on the recording medium, wherein: outline area dots are dots for recording an outline area of a text character or line which are formed by depositing the dots onto recording positions based on data of the image in a case where a recording region in which the dots are to be formed corresponds to the text character or line; a distance A represents a distance in a direction perpendicular to an ideal outline of the text character or line which is determined in accordance with the recording distance, between the ideal outline and a first envelope line of the outline area dots which extends in a direction of the ideal outline; inner adjacent dots are dots formed by depositing the d

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head, a capping member sealing a nozzle forming face of the liquid ejecting head, and a suction unit applying a negative pressure to the nozzle forming face of the liquid ejecting head in a state that the nozzle forming face is sealed with the capping member so that the liquid in the liquid ejecting head is exhaust through a suction port of the capping member. The liquid ejecting head includes the nozzle forming face having a plurality of nozzle opening arrays, a plurality of pressure generating chambers communicating with the nozzle openings respectively, and a plurality of pressure generating members applying pressure to liquid in the pressure generating chambers respectively so as to eject the liquid from the nozzle openings. Each of the nozzle opening arrays has plural nozzle openings.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printhead includes an elongate ink distribution assembly connectable to an ink supply. A printhead chip is mounted on the ink distribution assembly to receive ink from the ink distribution assembly. A cover is fast with the ink distribution assembly. Power and data transmission circuitry is interposed between the cover and the ink distribution assembly and connected to the printhead chip to provide the printhead chip with power and data signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held and hand-operated printing device having a print (2) head assembly comprised in a housing (1) for a hand-held and hand-operated printing controlled by a processor (4), and a method therefore. The position of the printing device on a print medium is sensed in relation to pixels to be printed. An image is stored in a memory together with its mutual image pixel coordinate data. Image pixels are printed onto the print medium through nozzles (12) in a print-head array (60) in accordance with the pixel coordinate data during a printing sequence. The image is built-up through sectional printing whereby each section has at least one print area interfacing at least one other print area, said interfacing print areas being correlated to fill-out transition print areas during printing of said sections through at least one transition printing pattern by omitting printing of some pixels in said transition print area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a color paper/color ink register registering information on m kinds of color papers and information on n kinds of color inks, both which are usable for multicolor-printing a multicolor original image, in a color paper/color ink list; a color combinator listing up all combinations of k kinds of color papers, arbitrarily selected from the m kinds of color papers, and l kinds of color inks, arbitrarily selected from the n kinds of color inks; a color image creator creating color images colored in given image data corresponding to the multicolor original image for each combination; and a coloration selector selecting a coloration of a color image, selected by a user from among the color images, as a coloration for actually multicolor-printing the multicolor original image.

Abstract: A printing system includes a head, a carry unit, a memory, and a controller. The head has nozzles and ejects ink droplets corresponding to pixel data from each of the nozzles. The carry unit carries a medium. The memory stores position information that indicates a relationship between a position of a dot to be formed by an ink droplet ejected according to the pixel data and a position of a pixel on the medium corresponding to that pixel data. The controller alternately repeats a dot formation operation of causing ejection of the ink droplets from the nozzles which move in a movement direction to form the dots in the movement direction, and a carrying operation of causing the carry unit to carry the medium, to print an image on the medium.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method includes: forming a color image with color inks by while scanning a recording head multiple times on a same recording area, forming a thinned-out image, the recording head having a plurality of nozzle sections for jetting the color inks, wherein a nozzle pitch of the recording head is from 10 to 50 ?m, the color inks comprise C, M, Y and BK inks and at least one special color ink, the color inks contain pigments, at least one organic solvent with high boiling point and water, a dot formed by the color inks has a size of 10 to 50 ?m, the recording medium has a transferred amount at 0.04 seconds of absorption time, and the recording medium comprises a micro-porous layer containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder.

Abstract: A modular printhead assembly includes an elongate support structure. An ink feed member is mounted on the support structure. The feed member defines a number of ink channels, the ink channels extending in the direction of the support structure and being in fluid communication with an ink supply, the ink feed member having a plurality of outlet openings from which ink can be fed. A plurality of printhead modules is mounted, in a releasable manner, on the support structure to be positioned along a length of the ink feed member. Each printhead module has an ink delivery assembly that defines a mounting formation for an elongate printhead integrated circuit and a plurality of ink inlets in fluid communication with respective outlet openings of the ink feed member and an elongate printhead integrated circuit mounted in said mounting formation.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus having: a recording head having a plurality of nozzles formed thereon to jet ink; a feeding device to feed a recording medium; and a control unit to control ink jetting from the nozzles of the recording head so that the recording head is driven with multi-phase drive to record with recorded pixel locations shifted at every drive phase switching by an integer times a pixel width of a recording resolution.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head, which can effectively prevent any bubble and solid matter such as dust existing in supplied ink to reach the vicinity of a nozzle, includes a plurality of energy generating elements for generating energy for discharging the ink, a plurality of discharge ports provided at locations opposed to the respective energy generating elements to discharge the ink therethrough, a plurality of ink flow paths communicating with the respective discharge ports, and an ink supplying port for supplying the ink to the plurality of ink flow paths. Water repellent protruding portions having their surfaces formed of a material having surface energy smaller than the interfacial energy between them and the ink are provided upstream of the discharge ports with respect to an ink flow direction in which the ink flows from the ink supplying port into the ink flow paths and is discharged from the discharge ports.

Abstract: A print engine assembly includes an elongate chassis that defines a channel and a slot. A printhead assembly is fast with respect to the chassis and is configured to print upon print media fed through the chassis. A pair of bearing moldings is located within the channel and mounted on respective, opposite ends of the chassis. A print media feed mechanism is mounted between the bearing moldings and is arranged to feed the print media through the chassis in register with the printhead assembly and out through the slot.

Abstract: A printer is provided having a removably mounted printhead assembly. The printhead assembly has at least one printhead module having at least two printhead integrated circuits, each of which has nozzles formed therein for delivering printing fluid onto the surface of print media, and a support member supporting and carrying the printing fluid for the at least two printhead integrated circuits; and an elongate casing in which the at least one printhead module is removably mounted so as to constrain movement of the at least one printhead module relative to the casing in at least the direction of printing fluid delivery from the nozzles to the print media whilst allowing movement of the at least one printhead module in the longitudinal direction of the casing.

Abstract: Two arrays of ejection openings which eject relatively large amounts of ink are provided for each of different color inks and are disposed at symmetrical positions in the order of colors in a direction corresponding to a record scan. In addition, a single array of ejection openings which eject relatively small amounts of ink is disposed for at least one color ink. Since the symmetrical disposition in the color order of the ejection opening arrays which eject large amounts of ink prevents color unevenness from appearing even when the bidirectional recording is performed. Since the single array is formed of the ejection openings which eject small amount of ink, and which is used for highly precise recording, it is possible to avoid image deterioration due to the shift of dot formed positions, even when the recording head is mounted in an inclined manner attributable to the variation in manufacturing.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead with ink chambers that are supplied with ink via an adjacent ink chamber. The conduits for distributing ink to every ink chamber in the array can occupy a significant proportion of the wafer area. By making some ink chambers part of the ink flow path to other ink chambers, while keeping each chamber sufficiently free of fluidic cross talk, reduces the amount of wafer area lost to ink supply conduits.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method includes: forming a color image with respective inks on a recording medium by while scanning a recording head multiple times on a same recording area thereof, forming a thinned-out image according to an thinning-out pattern without regularity in each scanning, the recording head having a plurality of nozzle sections for jetting inks, wherein a nozzle pitch thereof is from 10 to 50 ?m, the respective inks contains pigments, at least one organic solvent with high boiling point and water, a surface tension of the respective inks is from 30 to 50 mN/m, the yellow ink contains C.I. Pigment Yellow 128 as pigment, a transferred amount at 0.04 sec of time by Bristow method is 10 ml/m2 or more, and the recording medium has a micro-porous layer containing inorganic fine particles with a mean particle size of 15 to 100 nm and a hydrophilic binder.

Abstract: An inkjet recording method and apparatus including: forming a color image with color inks and an invisible ink by while scanning a first recording head multiple times on a same recording area, forming a thinned-out image, and jetting an invisible ink from a second recording head in accordance with an adhering amount of the color inks per, wherein a nozzle pitch of the first recording head is from 10 to 50 ?m, the color inks comprise C, M, Y and BK inks and at least one special color ink, the color inks contain pigments, at least one organic solvent with high boiling point and water, a dot formed color inks has a size of 10 to 50 ?m, and the recording medium has a transferred amount at 0.04 seconds of absorption time of 10 ml/m2 or more, a micro-porous layer containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder.

Abstract: A method for printing includes providing a substrate on which a matrix of color elements is defined, the color elements having respective center lines. A printhead assembly is positioned over the substrate. The printhead assembly includes multiple controllable nozzles. At least one of the substrate and the printhead assembly is translated so that the printhead assembly scans over the substrate in a scan direction transverse to the center lines of the color elements. Droplets of ink are ejected from the nozzles onto the substrate at selected times while the printhead assembly scans over the substrate. The times at which to eject the droplets are selected so as to cause the droplets to land on the color elements at respective locations, such that respective locations are displaced from the center lines.

Abstract: Inkjet printing of barcodes is enhanced by several methods. In a printhead having two staggered columns of nozzles, using only the even (or odd) column enhances resolution of a vertical barcode element. Filling interior portions of the barcode element with the odd (or even) column improves barcode appearance. Barcode swelling, due to ink migration after application, is reduced by use of a depletion matrix to lessen the quantity of ink applied. Application of the depletion matrix to the edges of the barcode elements resists swelling where resolution is most required. Where a printing mask is applied to the edges of the barcode elements, the edges may be printed only by one column of printhead nozzles, or only during one direction of printhead movement, or both. Alternately, removal of one or more pixels along the edge of a barcode element allows each barcode element to swell to the desired size.

Abstract: In an ink-jet recording apparatus, an active portion for jetting a pigment ink has an area greater than an area of an active portion for jetting a dye ink. Accordingly, the active portion for jetting the pigment ink is capable of generating energy greater than that generated by the active portion for jetting the dye ink. In addition, since a diameter of nozzles which jet the pigment ink is greater than that of nozzles which jet the dye ink, it is possible to jet, at a substantially same speed, the pigment ink and the dye ink to which the different energies are imparted. Further, when performing the recording with the pigment ink, a liquid-droplet having a large volume can be obtained, and when performing the recording with the dye ink, a liquid-droplet having a small volume can be obtained.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus forms an image on a prescribed recording medium by carrying out digital halftoning using a threshold value matrix. The image forming apparatus comprises: a plurality of nozzles which eject ink toward the recording medium to form an image; an ejection characteristics determination device which determines ejection characteristics of each of the nozzles; and a threshold value correction device which performs first threshold value correction to reduce density non-uniformity occurring in the image due to error in the ejection characteristics of the nozzles, by correcting the threshold value matrix according to the error in the ejection characteristics of the nozzles, and performs second threshold value correction to reduce granularity in the image by correcting the threshold value matrix having undergone the first threshold value correction, according to threshold values in the threshold value matrix.

Abstract: A printhead assembly includes elongate, printhead integrated circuits having a plurality of micro-electromechanical ink ejection mechanisms configured to eject ink. An ink distribution assembly, to which the, or each, printhead integrated circuit can be mounted, defines a plurality of converging ink passages in fluid communication with respective ink ejection mechanisms. An ink reservoir is mounted to the ink distribution assembly and defines a plurality of parallel ink channels in fluid communication with respective groups of the passages, such that inks can be fed from the channels to respective groups of the ink ejection mechanisms.

Abstract: A method determines a color ink deposition order when inks of a plurality of colors are overlapped on one another to form an image on a recording medium. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining information on OD_?(?) concerning an ink of a first color ? and OD_?(?) concerning an ink of a second color ?, where OD_?(?) is a reflection density in a range of a color complementary to the second color ? in a deposition sample obtained when only the ink of the first color ? is deposited, and OD_?(?) is a reflection density in a range of a color complementary to the first color ? in a deposition sample obtained when only the ink of the second color ? is deposited; and determining the color ink deposition order so that of one of the inks of the first color ? and the second color ? which one corresponds to smaller one of OD_?(?) and OD_?(?) is first deposited and the other of the inks of the first color ? and the second color ? is subsequently deposited.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that has a fixative reservoir with at least one outlet formed in a wall section that partially defines the reservoir. The printer also has a pagewidth printhead having designated nozzles for printing the ink fixative. The fixative reservoir has fluid conduits at least partially defined in the wall section exterior such that the at least one outlet is in fluid communication with the designated nozzles. Forming the reservoir and the fluid distribution conduits to the printhead in the same component reduces the assembly time and complexity.

Abstract: A liquid-discharge recording head includes large nozzles for discharging large liquid drops and medium and small nozzles for discharging medium and small liquid drops that are smaller than the large liquid drops. The large nozzles are arranged on one side of an ink-supply opening and the medium and small nozzles are arranged on the other side of the ink-supply opening. The number of large nozzles is greater than the number of medium and small nozzles, and the liquid-discharge recording head performs high-speed printing using the large nozzles, high-speed photo printing using the medium and small nozzles, and high-quality photo printing using the small nozzles.

Abstract: A droplet ejecting head including a nozzle plate having nozzle holes each ejecting a droplet and comprising: a jetting end open at a first surface of the plate; an inflow end open at a second surface of the plate; a taper portion between the jetting end and a vicinity of the inflow end, where a diameter of the nozzle hole linearly increases from the jetting end to the vicinity so as to have a taper angle; a connecting portion comprising a surface connecting the taper portion and the inflow end, at the connecting portion the diameter increasing more greatly than at the taper angle; and where D1 and D2 respectively represent the diameter of the nozzle hole at the inflow end and at an imaginary inflow end obtained if the taper portion extends at the taper angle up to the second surface, D2<D1<1.2×D2.

Abstract: A printhead module including at least one row of printhead nozzles, at least one row including at least one displaced row portion, the displacement of the row portion including a component in a direction normal to that of a pagewidth to be printed.

Abstract: The image quality deterioration due to the collection of dots of low-lightness by the preliminary ejection is prevented, in the case of performing the ink ejection for preliminary ejection during the printing onto printing paper. More specifically, the preliminary ejection pattern is set as a pattern in which the distance between a cyan dot of relatively low-lightness and a magenta dot is longer than a distance between a yellow dot of relatively high-lightness and a cyan dot nearest the yellow dot among low-lightness colors. Closely forming dots of low-lightness that would be perceived as a group of collected dots can be prevented, thereby performing printing that will not deteriorate the printing quality due to the paper preliminary ejection.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which is capable of printing an image on a printing medium by a print head having a nozzle that is capable of creating two or more types of dots varied depending on size, and a printing module that prints the image on the medium by the print head based on the printing data.

Abstract: A variation in a discharge characteristic among respective nozzles of an inkjet printer is corrected. A color correction table generating section 48, (1) based upon error information (nozzle classes) representing errors of color values of outputs due to errors in ink weights for three types of dots (large, middle, and small) respectively for multiple types of ink colors (CMYK), determines a second correspondence between tone values of color-converted image data and combinations of respective recording ratios of the three types of dots so that the error is approximately zero, and (2) determines combinations of a first tone value and a second tone value so that a total ink discharge quantity according to a first correspondence (SML table recording section 44a) of the first tone value representing color-converted image data and a total ink discharge quantity according to a second correspondence of the second tone value representing the color-converted image data are approximately equal.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus includes a print head that is an array of a plurality of nozzles arranged according to each color of ink in a predetermined direction. The apparatus is provided with a plurality of print modes, each using a different number of colors of ink for printing. In a print mode using a smaller number of colors of ink for printing (e.g., a monochrome print mode) out of the plurality of print modes, a print method is adopted, in which an image of a predetermined area is formed by a greater print pass count than the print pass count for the predetermined area in a print mode using a greater number of colors of ink for printing (e.g., a color print mode).

Abstract: A printing system which prints an image with a print head having a plurality of nozzles capable of forming a dot includes a section acquiring first image data including pixel data constituting the image, which shows a pixel density value of M (M?3), a section storing nozzle information of each nozzle, a section determining whether to use the nozzle corresponding to each pixel data, a section modifying the density value of the pixel data set as non-use to a lower density, a section increment-correcting the modification-prior density value, a section distributing the increment-corrected density value to the density value of a predetermined pixel adjacent the pixel of the increment-corrected pixel data, a section generating print data to prescribe dot formation information of the nozzles corresponding to the image data after the distribution of the density value, and a section printing the image based on the print data.

Abstract: The invention provides a printhead assembly for a printer which prints onto a moving web that follows a path. A full width printhead located across the path of the printer. The printhead is a color printhead which is at least as wide as the web. The printhead is supplied with a number of different inks which are remote from the printhead and which are supplied to the printhead through tubes. In some embodiments the printhead is retained by a rail which is located across the path and along which the printhead slides into and out of a printing position.

Abstract: A printer includes a print engine and a monochrome formatter connected to the print engine and being operatively connectable to a color chip. A monochrome print engine and a monochrome formatter provide a monochrome printer. A color print engine and a monochrome formatter operatively connected to a color chip provide a color printer.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a light emitting device which illuminates filled ink with light; a measuring device which measures a spectral characteristic of one of the light transmitted through the filled ink and the light reflected by the filled ink; and a determining device which determines whether the filled ink is a specific ink according to the spectral characteristic measured by the measuring device.

Abstract: A a color ink-jet printer has at least four ink cartridges each containing one basic color selected from among yellow, magenta, cyan and black, and at least one additional cartridge containing a basic pale color ink. A processor receives a printing order containing data concerning the requested color and/or the number and color of the ink droplets to be deposited on one another at a specific location of a selected printing substrate. The processor includes an optimizing mode capable of matching the requested color and/or the required number and color of droplets to be superimposed to obtain a selected color at a given pixel with an equivalent color and/or an equivalent number and/or color of droplets to be superimposed to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in conformity with the human eye sensory response. The thus-determined equivalent color and/or the equivalent number and color of droplets to be superimposed is applied to the printer for each printing order received.

Abstract: A plurality of unit areas (bit) B are set on a base board. A liquid drop made of a liquid member is ejected to the unit area B from a liquid drop ejecting head so as to form a layer on the base board. A first pattern is formed by a first nozzle group Na in nozzles N which are formed in the liquid drop ejecting head. A second pattern is formed by a second nozzle group Nb which is different from the first nozzle group Na. By doing this, it is possible to maintain a stable ejection operation so as to form a pattern in preferable accuracy when patterns having different features are formed on the base board by using the liquid drop ejecting apparatus.