Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing images having color combinations. Such combinations may be embodied in, for example, a black object being printed within a color object or in a black object that includes drops of process color within the object. In these circumstances, undesired image artifacts and halos are eliminated in images that include black portions that are adjacent color portions, and/or improved printed edges are created, by offsetting the corresponding black pixels relative to the color pixels and etching preselected pixels from the image before printing.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that ejects fluid over a current swath of media in one pass by a first fluid-ejection component, according to a first intended pass of a multiple-pass approach for the current swath. Fluid is also ejected over the current swath of media in the one pass by a second fluid-ejection component, according to a second intended pass of the multiple-pass approach for the current swath.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming method excellent in reduction in color unevenness, optical density unevenness, bleeding, inter-color bleeding, a drying time, caused by the printing order; and an image forming apparatus excellent in adaptability to a higher speed. The image forming method and the image forming apparatus are characterized by use of an ink-set, wherein an average value of rates of change over time in contact angle of the respective inks on plain paper is from 1.25 to 3.5 degrees/sec, a rate of change over time in contact angle of each ink on plain paper is less than 4.5 degrees/sec, a rate of change over time in contact angle of a mixed liquid of each ink and the liquid composition on plain paper is from 5 to 10 degrees/sec and the number of coarse particles each of 5 &mgr;m or more in diameter in the mixed liquid is 1×104 particles/&mgr;L or more.

Abstract: A printhead including plural groups of nozzles, which are provided for plural types of ink and each group of nozzles consists of a plurality of nozzles corresponding to one type of ink, is used to print a pixel with dots which are formed with plural types of ink. For the plural groups of nozzles in the printhead, a per-nozzle density table, indicative of a print density for each nozzle constituting the group of nozzles, is provided. With respect to a pixel of interest, a nozzle to be driven for discharge is determined, and a print density of the pixel of interest is calculated with reference to the per-nozzle density table. Based on the calculated print density of the pixel and a print density of the pixel designated by image data, error diffusion processing is performed. Density unevenness in the nozzles is corrected in this manner to achieve high-quality image forming.

Abstract: Method and system for determination of a reference printer state using recursive tone scale matching. The present invention determines the ink values for the primary colorants necessary to produce a desired reference printer state that includes a desired tone reproduction curve and a desired neutral response. The amount of ink for each colorant necessary to produce the desired printer response is initially estimated and then recursively adjusted. Upon each adjustment, a color print is produced with patches of the various combinations of colorants. The actual color of the printed color patches are then determined. If the actual colors match the desired print response, then the process ends and the reference printer state has been determined. If the printer response does not match the desired printer response, then the ink values for the colorants are adjusted and the processes it repeated.

Abstract: A novel ink-jet recording apparatus is provided for conducting margin-free recording on the peripheral area of the recording medium including the edge thereof with excellent image quality even in the peripheral area in comparison with quality of the usual printing having a margin. A process therefor is also provided.

Abstract: A method for mixing ink for use in an imaging apparatus including an ink jet printer capable of printing a plurality of primary color inks includes the steps of identifying available printing levels for each of the primary color inks, determining a target color profile for each of the primary color inks, and determining a graininess factor for each printing level. A mixing order is set up for at least some of the available printing levels, based in part on corresponding graininess factors and at least one mixing rule. At least a portion of the plurality of available printing levels is mixed, based on the mixing order and the target color profile, generating a plurality of mixing tables. Each mixing table corresponds to one of each of the primary color inks.

Abstract: When a printing apparatus performs printing using dark and light inks, a large variation in density caused by a rapid decrease in ink applying rate is prevented, thereby enabling proper density reproduction. More specifically, when for example, green hues of different densities are printed, light cyan ink is used between points corresponding to a variation of color from white to green. Furthermore, after the maximum saturation point, light cyan ink is used in addition to the dark cyan ink. This prevents the total applying rate from decreasing rapidly near the maximum eaturation point.

Abstract: Coordinates in an image and its corresponding color-converted data are supplied to a control/operation portion for every pixel. Quantization is applied to each color. The quantization is carried out so that a kind of dot for at least one color is made different from kinds of dots for the others in one and the same pixel when dots for different colors are superimposed on the pixel. The control/operation portion refers to a two-dimensional matrix on the basis of the quantization result, determines an output dot for each color, and converts the data into data which can be processed by a printer. The printer records an image based on the quantization result while reciprocating a recording head. Thus, it is possible to reduce color shift caused by the difference of the ink landing order at the time of reciprocating the head for recording.

Abstract: A printing system of the present invention reduces a total amount of discharge of at least three different color inks that are mixable to express hues in a predetermined range without deteriorating the degree of granularity. The printing system of the invention reads recording ratios of the respective color inks corresponding to input tone data regarding the respective color inks from tables TC, TM, and TY and forms dots according to the recording ratios. Yellow ink Y has a higher dye density than a balancing density that ensures a color balance. This makes the recording ratio of the yellow ink Y lower than the recording ratios of cyan ink C and magenta ink M. The yellow ink Y has high lightness, so that sparely formed dots do not increase the degree of granularity even in an area of low tone data. The enhanced density of the yellow ink Y reduces the total amount of inks discharged from a head to satisfy a required printing density.

Abstract: Controlling ejection of ink drops with a less number of temperature sensors than the number of print heads. [Solution] The present invention is an printing apparatus for printing by ejecting ink drops onto a print medium. The printing apparatus comprises N print heads, M temperature sensors, and an ejection controller. M temperature sensors are allocated in the printing apparatus. An ejection controller is configured to control the ejection of he ink drops from at least part of the N print heads in response to an output of the M temperature sensors. The integer M is smaller than the integer N.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus 1, a fixing signal output section 461 outputs a signal indicating that no ink drop is jetted as a mode fixing signal SP to a head driver circuit 50 for nozzle orifices 111 belonging to the group not used for recording, and a mode fixing circuit 18 of the head driver circuit 50 fixes the nozzle orifices belonging to the corresponding group to a condition of jetting no ink drops based on the mode fixing signal SP. Therefore, serial conversion and serial transfer of the data indicating that no ink is jetted (“0” data) as record data SI need not be executed for the group of jetting no ink drops, so that fruitless processing time can be eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for ink jet printing of wide format substrates such as textiles in a manner to simulate screen printing, in which image data in one or more acceptable formats is input, transformed into a suitable L*a*b* file format, further converted into a driver format for a printer, then communicated to such printer. Optionally, the color gamut of the image in the L*a*b* file format is checked against an estimated screen gamut of a screen printer, and limited to the estimated screen gamut as required.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus forms a printed image on a print medium based on image data. The apparatus includes an ink jet print head having ink ejection nozzles in a nozzle array. Ink is ejected from the nozzles and onto the print medium as the print head scans across the print medium in a scan direction, thereby forming the image on the print medium. The nozzle array on the print head includes a first substantially columnar array of nozzles aligned with a print medium advance direction which is perpendicular to the scan direction. The first array has a first upper subarray pair that includes a first upper left and a first upper right subarray of nozzles. The first upper left and a first upper right subarrays each include a substantially linear arrangement of n number of nozzles having equal nozzle-to-nozzle spacings. The nozzle-to-nozzle spacing in the first upper right subarray is equivalent to the nozzle-to-nozzle spacing in the first upper left subarray.

Abstract: A printing device includes a plurality of print heads, each of which has a printing zone. An extension of this printing zone in a direction of printing defines a line height and an extention of this printing zone perpendicular to the direction of printing defines a column width. The printing heads are arranged in several parallel rows which are located at a distance from one another. The print heads in different rows are offset in relation to each other direction perpendicular to the direction of printing. A separation distance between the print heads in each row corresponds to the column width multiplied by the number of rows. The distance between the rows corresponds to the line height multiplied by the number of rows plus one.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to a subset of the identified pixel locations that correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus has ink-jet heads provided for respective colors including a specific color, each being formed by arranging a plurality of head units in a transversal direction perpendicular to the printing direction and a printing timing regulating section which regulates the printing timings of the respective head units so as to make the printing position of the nozzle located at an end of each of the head units of the ink-jet head of the specific color and the printing position of the nozzle located at the opposite end of the adjacent head unit are paired and made agree with each other in the printing direction.

Abstract: A method for assessing color performance in a printing device, which is provided with color printing means for printing at least three primary color inks, comprises the steps of: (a) providing a printing file for printing at least one color scale, said scale comprising: a plurality of colored regions defined by substantially equal amounts of a first primary color ink and of a second primary color ink and a variable amount of a third primary color ink, said amount of third primary color ink increasing progressively from each region to the adjacent region in one direction of the scale, and a transition region defined by substantially equal amounts of the three primary color inks; (b) printing said printing file with said printing device to obtain a printed color scale; and (c) visually analysing the printed color scale to assess the performance of said color printing means for printing said third primary color ink, on the basis of the position of the transition region along the color scale.

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

Abstract: A technique of the present invention uses dark yellow (DY) ink, in addition to a plurality of conventionally used basic color inks including cyan (C) ink, magenta (M) ink, and yellow (Y) ink. The technique may cause a printer to create dots with the DY ink, in place of creation of dots with the Y, C, and M inks. This arrangement enhances the degree of freedom in specification of dot on-off conditions of the respective inks, and relieves the restriction of ink duty, thereby enabling a resulting printed image to have higher picture quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of printing a digital image on a textile including the steps of selecting 8 to 16 inks to form an ink set, calibrating the ink set to create an ink set profile, using the ink set profile to calculate hue and shade-based look-up tables directly correlating the inks with the color space coordinates of the pixels of the digital image. The present invention also is a system and an apparatus providing means for performing the calibration of the ink set and direct correlation of the color space coordinates. The printed fabric has a first plurality of dots having 8 to 16 differently colored inks per dot and a second plurality of dots having one color per dot. Significantly, the present invention produces printed textiles having a high detail, deep color, and broad shading, as well as a combination of dyes heretofore considered incompatible.

Abstract: A micro-miniature fluid ejecting device configured for ejecting a plurality of ink colors to an object. The device includes a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The housing contains a logic circuit and sources for at least two inks having different colors. A printhead is attached to the first end of the housing. The printhead is in electrical communication with the logic circuit and the ink sources. The printhead has at least two groups of nozzles for ejecting the at least two inks respectively therefrom. A color sensor is attached to the housing. The color sensor is operatively connected to the logic circuit to sample a color from a sample color source and provide an output for control of the printhead to provide ejection of ink therefrom comprising a mixture of at least two inks that substantially corresponds to the sample color source.

Abstract: The present invention is purposed to restrain temperature increase of a recording head by decreasing the preponderance of heat generation of the recording head. In order to accomplish the object, ink discharging units (Bk, C, M) having lower average printing duties are positioned between each of ink discharging units (LC, LM, Y) having higher average printing duties. Therefore, the preponderance of heat generation of the recording head during recording is decreased so that the temperature increase of the recording head may be efficiently restrained.

Abstract: A printing technique wherein pixel locations that are requested to be marked with only black are identified, black is applied to the identified pixel locations, and non-black color is applied to a subset of the identified pixel locations that correspond to on-pixels of a reference pattern of non-black color pixels having an on-pixel population of at least 20 percent and a toner transfer efficiency of less than about 20 percent.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises CPUs provided for corresponding one of a plurality of colors, each of which generates image data of a specified color; memories, each of which stores the image data of the specified color; system ASICs, each of which manages the memories; video output controllers, each outputting the image data supplied from the corresponding system ASICs as a video signal; and image generating sections, each generating an image based on the video signal outputted from the video output controllers.

Abstract: Drop volume compensation that is at least substantially invariant to the reflectance sensor illuminate being used is disclosed for at least some embodiments of the invention. A method of one embodiment first prints a pattern of a predetermined mixture of colorants that results in at least a substantially identical response from each of a number of reflectance sensors that have different spectral emission profiles. Drop volume compensation is then performed to color balance a first colorant source to a second colorant source, utilizing the mixture of colorants and one of the reflectance sensors. The drop volume compensation is at least substantially invariant to the reflectance sensor utilized.

Abstract: A method of correcting for malfunctioning ink ejection elements in a printing system using a single pass over a recording medium which includes obtaining a standard printmask, identifying ink ejection elements which are malfunctioning, ascertaining an original color measurement value for each pixel which will be printed with the malfunctioning ink ejection elements, determining a replacement color measurement value closest in value to the original color measurement value which does not use the malfunctioning ink ejection elements for each pixel which will be printed with the malfunctioning ink ejection elements and modifying the standard printmask by adjusting the number and color of ink drops deposited based on the replacement color measurement value for each pixel which will be printed with the malfunctioning ink ejection elements to create a modified printmask.

Abstract: There is provided a color conversion processing method and the like, which are capable of performing a data processing for images with a common processing system independently of a printer and also capable of performing a flexible alteration of the processing method, even if it is concerned with the printer restricted in the above-mentioned matter. In the event that there is a restriction on a total value of the respective values of CMYK on one pixel for instance, for a respective printer, image data is converted into image data suitable for the printer involved in the restriction. Processing in a printer conversion processing section, which is hitherto performed by the hardware operating processing, is implemented in form of a profile (referred to as a printer processing conversion profile). The printing profile and the printer profile are combined with the printer processing conversion profile to create a combined profile. The color conversion processing is performed in accordance with the combined profile.

Abstract: The printing apparatus of the present invention allows dots to be formed after being selected from dot types whose number is greater than the number of gradations in each of the pixels constituting print data received from outside the printing apparatus. In the process, dots are formed for each gradation value after being selected from a plurality of types of dots having different sizes and/or formation positions such that the outlines contained in the printed image are smoothed, making it possible to smooth the outlines of line drawings while minimizing any increase in the volume of data transmitted from the outside and believed to cause a reduction in the printing speed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method of that provides a user with the ability to choose the combination of dye species that best fits his or her application. Users can create prints that are colorful, lightfast, or some combination of these two. In one embodiment, the invention takes into account the characteristics of the printing medium and determines from that information how to optimize the lightfastness and gamut of an image. Lightfastness and gamut tend to relate inversely, in that the better the lightfastness, the worse the gamut and vice versa. The lightfastness and gamut of an image can be altered by changing the colorants used to print the image. High-chroma inks produce images with high gamut values. Conversely, images printed with low-chroma inks have increased lightfastness. An embodiment of this invention uses the characteristics of the print medium, upon which the image will be printed, to optimize the tradeoffs that exist between lightfastness and gamut.

Abstract: An ink jet printer comprises a color head having a plurality of nozzles arranged on a head carrier, each of the plurality of nozzles injecting color ink particles by the drive of a piezoelectric element; and a monochrome head having a plurality of nozzles arranged the head carrier, each of the plurality of nozzles injecting monochrome ink particles by the drive of a piezoelectric element. Within a single scanning of the head carrier, a control unit switches the printing mode between a color printing mode by the color head and a monochrome printing mode by the monochrome head, to thereby provide a control of printing. For the color-printing mode, a multivalued intensity mode is set, and for the monochrome-printing mode, a high-resolution mode is set, where the resolution of the monochrome head is integer times the resolution of the color head.

Abstract: An inkjet printing device employs an inkjet printhead with a plurality of drop generators to eject drops of ink. Each drop generator includes a planar heater resistor, comprising three segments. Two of the segments are disposed on either side of the third segment and provide a reduced thermal loss for the third segment. This reduced thermal loss and other features cause a controlled nucleation point to occur over the third segment even though the two segments on either side will create ink vapor bubbles of variable size depending upon the applied energy.

Abstract: A look up table LUT with specific gray reproduction characteristics is used for converting RGB image data to multi-tone data of ink colors. The gray reproduction characteristics of LUT are set such that the color difference &Dgr;E of a gray color area with an arbitrary tone level in the L*a*b* color system is kept at about 4 or less, assuming that the results are observed under two different light sources, such as standard light D50 and standard light A, respectively.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method for shortening fixing time as well as preventing deterioration of recording by using a low-permeability first ink (e.g., black ink). In the event that a first ink with a predetermined permeability (e.g., black ink) and second ink having higher permeability than the predetermined permeability (e.g., color ink) are employed in recording, decision is made regarding whether to provide the second ink to a predetermined region where the first ink is provided, based upon provision conditions of the first ink for the predetermined region of the recording medium. Specifically, in the event that discharging duty of black ink for the predetermined region is great, color ink is provided to the region to which black ink is also provided, in an overlapping manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing color inkjet images includes an image processing unit which processes source color data to generate output color data together with a signal indicative of an order of ink squirts in which a plurality of inks of respective colors are squirted onto a given pixel, and an inkjet print unit which is configured to squirt the plurality of inks in different orders of ink squirts, and prints color images based on the output color data by squirting the inks in the order of ink squirts indicated by the signal.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system and method for printing using both pigmented inks and dye-based inks. A supply of pigmented ink of a certain color is provided, along with another supply of dye-based ink of the same color. A pigmented nozzle array controllably deposits drops of the pigmented ink of the certain color, while a dye-based nozzle array controllably deposits drops of the dye-based ink of the same color. A region of a media is printed with the color by depositing, as governed by a controller, drops from the pigmented supply and drops from the dye-based supply on different subregions of the region.

Abstract: Determining the control points for constructing a lookup table from a first color space to a second color space is disclosed. Black and white control points are determined based on an allowable total colorant amount and an absence of colorant, respectively. Control points between the black control point and the white control point are determined. A primary control point is determined for each of a number of first and secondary primary colors, based at least on the allowable total colorant amount. Control points between the white control point and the primary control point for each primary color are also determined. Control points between the black control point and the primary control point for each primary color are finally determined.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head (120) having ink discharge nozzles (203) for discharging droplets of inks, and a head controller (162) for controlling the liquid discharge head to discharge droplet from liquid discharge units onto the surface of recording paper (P), wherein the liquid discharge head includes the plural liquid discharge heads in a direction perpendicular to movement direction of recording paper where the recording paper is relatively moved with respect to the liquid discharge head. The head controller serves to allow discharge timings of droplets in movement direction of the recording paper to be different every one pixel in movement direction of the recording paper to eliminate stripes apt to take place when a portion or the entirety of image is printed by one scanning operation to obtain image having less defect.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention lowers boundary artifacts by diminishing inking selectively at a boundary, only in high-total-inking areas—considering essentially all real colorant planes in the aggregate. In another aspect, printmasking helps define ink-diminishment regions. In yet another, a printer allocates inking-diminishment units within an emulation of a masking plane (e.g. a color plane), analogously to allocation of inking units in real color planes. The entire diminishment plane or “eraser plane”, however, is later applied subtractively. Localized diminishment bits can be set in the mask at pixels close to boundaries, to define diminishment regions that negate artifact-causing boundary coalescence specifically—or such bits can be generated adaptively from results of measuring nonuniformity in an area-fill test pattern.

Abstract: Printing media, a method and an apparatus for printing an image on a print medium are provided, the image having super-pixels made up of a combination of dots, wherein each of the dots is independently controlled with respect to the size of each dot, the density of each dot, and an overlap of at least two of the dots.

Abstract: A method for correcting image degradations due to nonejecting nozzles or kink ejection of nozzles without reducing a recording rate for an inkjet recording apparatus for recording images at high speed employing a one-pass recording system, in which an image is completed by one time scanning of a recording head relative to a recording medium, such as an inkjet recording apparatus using a full-line type recording head. When corrected data during head shading correction and nonejection complementing in image processing exceed a maximum value capable of being recorded, complementing is controlled with a different color corresponding to data-amount which exceeds the maximum value.

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: For a horizontally arranged 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 largest hue difference are selected. Then, between the nozzle rows for these two colors, at least two nozzle rows for other colors are arranged so that the first nozzle row for the two colors have a large inter-nozzle-row distance. Then, 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 large hue difference.

Abstract: An image data processing method for ink jet printer comprising the steps of obtaining an allowable amount of ink in accordance with inputted image data and characteristics of a medium for forming an image; selecting and ink jetting domain and fixing the amount of ink in the selected ink jetting domain at a specified value, on the basis of the allowable amount of ink; and practicing a quantization processing with the amount of ink in the ink jetting domain fixed at the specified value.

Abstract: The number of printing elements that perform printing with a plurality of types of printing agents is determined in accordance with a maximum multiple printing count with which dots of each one of the plurality of types of printing agents are printed in an overlaying manner at substantially one position on a printing medium.

Abstract: The present invention includes as one embodiment a method for printing ink on a print media with a fluid ejection device of an inkjet printing mechanism, comprising generating first grid pattern data and second grid pattern data different from the first grid pattern data, sending the first grid pattern data to a first printing mechanism of the fluid ejection device and sending the second grid pattern data to a second printing mechanism of the fluid ejection device.

Abstract: Selective replacement methods and systems based on a stochastic process use a redundancy inherent, for example, in a four-plus color printing system that has full-width colors. Since the absorption spectra of the four or more colors usually overlap to some extent, there is a redundancy that can be used to reduce artifacts, such as streaks. Since the human visual system is much less sensitive to chrominance changes, than to luminance changes, matching the luminance of a pixel where a color is missing, to the luminance of the original color or to the luminance of the pixels that neighbor that pixel can adequately to reduce the severity of the artifact caused by the missing color while reducing the chance that the replacing process itself introduces any additional artifacts.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus capable of outputting a color image by reducing the information amount of each color component of the image by a method suited to the color component without deteriorating the quality of the image, and an image printing apparatus capable of printing an image without deteriorating the quality of the image, on the basis of received image data. Of color image data to be transmitted to the image printing apparatus (which uses, e.g., six colors Y, M, C, Bk, LC, and LM), the image processing apparatus quantizes colors (LC and LM) whose tone quality is important by a large number of gray levels (e.g., nine values), and does not compress these colors. The image processing apparatus quantizes colors (Y, M, C, and Bk) whose tone quality is not important by the number of gray levels (e.g., five values) by which the compression efficiency is improved, and then compresses these colors, thereby reducing the transmission data amount.

Abstract: A method of printing a multi-color composition having a relatively large background area with a prevailing color and different color smaller objects superimposed on the relatively large background area, comprises: uniformly applying a colored substance that is not a printing ink, and has the same color as the prevailing color of the relatively large background area, on a particular surface; and printing the smaller objects on the particular surface, using different color printing inks.

Abstract: A method for optimizing colored images emitted by a color printer on the non-white surfaces of substrates and for optimizing the amounts of printing ink used, wherein an image motif is processed by a computer-assisted image processing system in order to form a master copy which is ready for output. The method determines, for each pixel, whether and with what color density, a white underprint can be applied to a corresponding pixel, using an algorithm based on overall color density SF. The surface of the substrate is thus only underprinted with white on the pixels of the master copy where the overall color density is lacking or low.