Abstract: A consumable management device includes a life determining unit that determines whether a consumable reaching a life end exists in an object apparatus which operates with a plurality of consumables or not, a stop process unit that, when the life determining unit determines that a consumable reaching a life end exists, performs a stop process of stopping the operation of the object apparatus, an additional replacement determining unit that, when the object apparatus is to be stopped, determines whether, in addition to replacement or replenishment of the consumable, a consumable which is to be replaced or replenished exists or not, and a notification process unit that, when the additional replacement determining unit determines that a consumable which is to be additionally replaced or replenished exists, performs a notification process of notifying an operator that the consumable which is to be additionally replaced or replenished is to be replaced or replenished.

Abstract: A method of ordering a job queue includes providing a marking system that includes a first marking engine and a storage device storing first and second print jobs in queue. The first marking engine includes first and second metrics. The method includes determining a present state value of the first and second metrics for the first marking engine, and estimating an incremental depletion value of the first and second metrics of the first and second print jobs. The method further includes comparing the incremental depletion value of the first and second metrics, respectively, with the present state value of the first and second metrics for the first marking engine. The method also includes ordering the first and second print jobs in the storage device based at least partially on the comparison. A system is also discussed.

Abstract: A developer unit used in xerographic printing retains a mixture of at least a first colorant and a second colorant. An illuminator directs toward at least a portion of the mixture a first light of one color, a second light of a second color, and a third light substantially outside of a visible range. A photosensor records a first reflectance signal based on light reflected from the mixture substantially in a visible range, and a second reflectance signal based on light reflected from the mixture substantially outside a visible range. The signals can be used to maintain the mixture at the desired total color and other properties.

Abstract: There is provided a technique in which when an image forming processing with toners of plural colors is performed, a residual toner on a transfer-receiving member to which toner images are transferred by plural image forming units is not discarded, but is reused as a black toner, and a deterioration in picture quality due to a change in color tone of the black toner is prevented.

Abstract: A plurality of chambers are adapted to accommodate a plurality of cartridges each containing toner to be used for printing. A mode changer is operable to change an operation mode of the printing apparatus in accordance with a combination of respective colors of toner in the cartridges accommodated in the chambers. A first detector is operable to detect a residual amount of toner in each of the cartridges. A second detector is operable to detect the respective colors of toner in the cartridges when the operation mode is changed. A controller is operable to generate an image data including a plurality of first identifiers each indicative of the residual amount of toner in one of the cartridges and a plurality of second identifiers each indicative of one of the colors of toner and associated with one of the first identifiers. A display is adapted to display the image data.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in each of a cyan image forming unit, a magenta image forming unit, a yellow image forming unit, and a black image forming unit, during a non-development period during which no toner is discharged out of a development unit, when toner in the development unit is agitated with an agitation roller, every time the drive time of a development motor for driving the agitation roller is counted, the drive time is stored on an accumulative basis in an EEPROM; with respect to the developer unit of which the drive time has become equal to or longer than a predetermined period, a predetermined amount of toner is supplied thereto and the predetermined amount of toner is discharged therefrom, and thereafter the stored drive time is reset.

Abstract: Document processing systems and methods are presented in which a graphical user interface is used to set a user-selectable refill level for a print engine consumable, such as toner, replenisher, paper, etc. Once the user-selectable level has been reached, the user is notified and is prompted to either refill the print consumable or to continue use of the document processing system without refilling.

Abstract: Document processing systems and methods are presented in which the remaining amount of toner, replenisher, or other print consumable in a multi-dispenser bottle consumable supply system is determined, and a user can configure a user interface to graphically display the remaining print consumable supply levels for one or more colors in one or more print engines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: toner supply amount detecting means for detecting a toner supply amount to a developer tank; detecting means for detecting a signal value of each pixel of an image; and toner consumption amount estimating means for estimating a toner consumption amount, based on the signal value. The signal value detected by the detecting means is corrected in accordance with the toner supply amount detected by the toner supply amount detecting means. The toner consumption amount is estimated based on the signal value corrected. This allows the toner consumption amount to be always calculated accurately, regardless of a variation amongst various models, or a variation in a toner consumption characteristic due to aging, using environment, or the like.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer reservoir, a detector, a computing section, a display unit, and a controller. The developer reservoir holds developer therein. The detector detects when the developer decreases to a first amount (i.e. toner-low level) The computing section computes current accumulated developer usage. The current accumulated developer usage is displayed on the display unit. The controller controls the display unit to display the current accumulated developer usage. When the detector detects the first amount, the controller controls the display unit to display a first value of the current accumulated developer usage that has been consumed until the first amount is detected.

Abstract: A low cost image forming apparatus can be provided in which the amount of remaining toner of each color in each development apparatus can be detected by a single detection sensor device and at the same time whether the development apparatus is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus can be discerned by the detection sensor device. The image forming apparatus includes development apparatuses for each color for developing an electrostatic latent image and supply of the developer is controlled based on the detected amount of toner in each of the development apparatuses. The detection sensor device includes a light emitting member and a light receiving member which receives the light emitted from the light emitting member and output a detection signal in accordance with the intensity of received light.

Abstract: In an image-on-image (IOI) color processing system, which superimposes toner images of different color separation toners onto a photoreceptor, a method for determining composite toner coverage on a page includes determining the order in which the color separations will be printed; determining an attenuation factor for each individual color separation and for all combinations of the color separations; determining a fractional amount of toner that is requested for each separation; and summing the fractional amounts of toner requested for each separation times the fraction of the substrate that is not yet covered by prior separations, and the amounts of toner that are deposited on each of the prior separations times the attenuation factor corresponding to that combination of prior separations, in all combinations. These revised coverages can be used to adjust the input values of an image before it is used in a reload detection method.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner-layer filling-rate lowering unit that causes a toner layer of toner images to be formed on an image carrier so that the toner layer has sufficient optical transparency for exposing and the toner-layer filling rate is set relatively low; and a toner rolling rate adjusting unit that rolls the toner images at a predetermined toner rolling rate in accordance with the toner-layer filling rate when the toner images are transferred to the transferring/fixing unit.

Abstract: Even when an image signal is converted into an image signal with a limited amount of toner adhesion, the gradation is prevented from changing rapidly near the limiting value and therefore the image quality is prevented from deteriorating. An amount-of-adhesion converting circuit 301 converts image data for each color plane into first amount-of-toner-adhesion data. On the basis of a preset amount-of-toner-adhesion threshold value table, an amount-of-toner-adhesion reduction computing circuit 303 converts the first amount-of-toner-adhesion data for each color plane into second amount-of-toner-adhesion data with a limited amount of toner adhesion. Then, an image signal converting circuit 304 converts the second amount-of-toner-adhesion data into an image signal. In such a method, since parameters in the amount-of-toner-adhesion threshold value table are set arbitrarily, a rapid change in gradation can be suppressed near the limiting value.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires information on disaster; and a switching unit that switches an operational mode of the image processing apparatus from a first operational mode in which image processing is not performed when there is lack of a part of consumables or failure of a part of functions to a second operational mode in which the image processing is performed by using other consumables that are available and other functions that do not fail even when there is the lack of a part of consumables or the failure of a part of functions, in response to the information on disaster acquired by the acquiring unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a determining unit that analyzes data concerning an image to be printed and determines the order of overlaying toners of in a plurality of colors to be used for printing the particular image, and a designating unit that designates positions of the toner cartridges in accordance with the order of overlaying the toners determined by the abovementioned determining unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image-forming apparatus capable of reducing the amount of toner at a position at which the trapping is carried out. The apparatus has an image-deformation processing unit where input image data is processed to deform the image shape or the trapping or overprinting is carried out on the respective color plates. The apparatus determines whether or not the trapping should be carried out to the target pixels on the boundary between color plates in the adjacent different objects, determines the color plate having the trap color, obtains the amount of toner of the trap color, determines based on the amount of toner of the trap color and the target pixels whether or not the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value, and reduces the total amount of toner if the total amount of toner of the trap exceeds the limit value.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for indicating the time to replace consumables in an image forming apparatus by receiving the current date and the critical time of the consumables from a host and comparing them. The apparatus and method include receiving information regarding replacement of the consumables from the host; comparing the received information regarding the replacement of the consumables to information on the critical time to replace the consumables; and when the comparison result indicates the need to replace the consumables, indicating the time to replace the consumables. The information regarding replacement of the consumables includes a current date, and the information on the critical time includes the critical time. The indicating of the time may include comparing the current date and the critical time and when the current date is the same as or greater than the critical time, determining that the consumables need to be replaced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the image forming apparatus. When print data is printed, the remaining amount of toner of each of the CMYK colors is analyzed. When print data is printed, the apparatus analyzes an original color of the print data and analyzes respective remaining amounts of toner of a plurality of colors. If the remaining amount of toner of any of the plurality of colors is insufficient, the apparatus generates a plurality of corrected sample images having colors similar to the original color, the similar colors being obtained by combining colors of toner other than that of the insufficient remaining amount of toner, and prints a report including the generated plurality of corrected sample images. This allows the user to print their preferred colors even if the remaining amount of toner of any color is insufficient, thereby increasing convenience and economic efficiency.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of a type wherein toner is replenished to a developing unit by turning or rotating a toner bottle, a phenomenon that a toner replenishment amount per turn of the bottle (replenishing rate) is decreased as the toner remaining quantity in the bottle is decreased, is utilized to provide a method and an apparatus for easily and reliably determining a toner near empty state when a number of the turns measured by counting a number of detection of an object to be sensed formed on an outer surface of the toner bottle.

Abstract: An image formation device has an image carrier in which is formed a latent image and a development device in which are detachably mounted a plurality of development units housing a developing agent. When development units of a plurality of colors, used to form color images are mounted in respectively predetermined mounting positions of the development device, operation is in color printing mode; and, a development unit of a single color among the development units of the plurality of colors is mountable in any mounting position of the plurality of mounting positions, and when the development unit of a single color is mounted in any of the positions of the plurality of mounting positions, operation is in monochrome printing mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting toner density in a color printer,. The apparatus includes a toner quantity adjusting module for reading remaining toner quantities from a plurality of cartridges, respectively, comparing a lowest level of the remaining toner quantities with a reference remaining quantity range to determine whether or not the lowest level is in the reference remaining quantity range, and applying a masking table, in which toner density matching the lowest level is set, to the remaining cartridges. Accordingly, toners can be fixed at the toner density matching the remaining toner quantity in the cartridges of the color printer so as to maintain optimum color density substantially equal to that of the original data, thereby providing a user with a printed material of desirable colors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is disclosed. A generation section generates color image data Y, M, and C and monochrome image data K. A first control section permits monochrome printing of the image data K when the generation section generates only the image data K. When the generation section generates color and monochrome image data, a determination section determines whether the image data Y, M, and C each correspond to a white image. A second control section deletes the image data Y, M, and C and permits monochrome printing of the image data K, when a determination result of the determination section is an affirmative result. A third control section permits color printing corresponding of the image data Y, M, C and K when the determination result of the determination section is a negative result.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image onto a recording medium; a controlling unit that controls the toner image forming unit such that a test image is formed on the recording medium; a sheet transfer unit that transfers the recording medium having the toner image formed thereon by the toner image forming unit; a fixing unit that fixes the toner image formed by the toner image forming unit onto the recording medium; an image detecting unit, disposed downstream from the image fixing unit along the sheet transfer unit, that detects the test image formed on the recording medium; and a calibration unit that performs a color calibration process based upon the test image detected by the image detecting unit.

Abstract: Toner cartridges 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K have storage elements 33C, 33M, 33Y, and 33K mounted thereon to transmit information carried on electromagnetic wave in a predetermined frequency band. An information receiver transmitter unit 30 is located in a neighborhood of an end of a developer unit 23 with the toner cartridges 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K attached thereto to transmit information carried on the electromagnetic wave in the predetermined frequency band to and from a color laser printer 20. While the developer unit 23 is rotated to develop each color component image with a supply of toner from the corresponding one of the toner cartridges 32C, 32M, 32Y, and 32K, the information receiver transmitter unit 30 is controlled to write a cumulative toner consumption and a cumulative number of printed sheets into the corresponding one of the storage elements 33C, 33M, 33Y, and 33K.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus network system, which connects two or more image forming apparatuses on a network, that includes image forming apparatuses which receive image data of the object to be printed, have image creating engines for two or more colors, and have a linked interface that enables intercommunication with other machines. The image forming apparatus includes a remaining toner information acquiring unit that acquires information about amounts of remaining toner of the image creating engines, an image data volume computing unit that computes the amount of image data of objects to be created, and a main controller that selects a linked image forming apparatus in accordance with the amounts of remaining toner and image data and executes image forming operations.

Abstract: An encoder of a process unit encodes an identification code output by the CPU of a main unit, thereby obtaining a response code. The response code is returned to the main unit. The logic of the encoder is changeable. At shipment, a first logic is set in the encoder. After use, a second logic determined on the basis of a predetermined rule is set to the encoder under control of the CPU. The main unit stores the second logic set in the encoder of the process unit. The identification code is encoded by the encoder of the main unit individually with the first logic and the stored second logic, with the result that normal codes are obtained. The normal codes are collated with the response code by a collator. The CPU identifies the status of the process unit based on the result of the collation by the collator.

Abstract: A carrier and a dummy toner are stored in a developing unit of a process cartridge in a brand new status. A plurality of process cartridges corresponding to a plurality of color toners is used in common. The color toners are respectively supplied to the developing unit from toner supply units after the process cartridges in the brand new status are installed in installation sections in a main unit of an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and storage medium, if an image forming stop factor occurs in a cartridge of a certain color, image forming using a cartridge of another color is enabled to increase the utilization efficiency and operability of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a plurality of detachable process cartridges including image carriers (photosensitive drums) on which latent images are to be formed and developing units which develop the latent images. When a replacement timing for at least one of the process cartridges has arrived, only the developing unit of the process cartridge whose replacement timing has not arrived is driven in accordance with the state of the cartridge whose replacement timing has arrived to perform image forming.

Abstract: A method for maintaining developer material within in a predefined state through the scheduling of increased toner throughput coordinated among multiple developer housings. The method monitors developer material health at each developer station within a plurality of developer stations to detect unhealthy developer material. If unhealthy developer material is detected in at least one of developer stations, a toner purge state is identified for each of the remaining developer stations. Based on the toner purge states, a toner purge is performed.

Abstract: Informing the user when consumables and/or customer replaceable units will have to be resupplied, changed and/or replaced, relative to the jobs sent to the image forming system, is a beneficial way to avoid unnecessary printing delays. When a job is added to a job queue or repositioned within the job queue, a warning can be associated with that job, and displayed to the user. With this information, the user can pre-emptively add a consumable and/or to replace a customer replaceable unit to avoid delays and maintain productivity. Alternatively, if such a system fault would occur prior to an urgent job reaching the top of the job queue, the user can manipulate the order and/or presence of the various jobs in the queue to ensure the high-priority job is completed before the consumable is fully exhausted and/or the customer replaceable unit reaches the end of its useful life.

Abstract: A toner advisor apparatus and method for imaging systems includes an imaging device with a toner cartridge. More than one toner compartment in the toner cartridge is conformed to hold various toner colors. A cartridge scanner device is connected to the imaging system for scanning the more than one toner compartment. An analysis device is connected to the cartridge scanner device and to the imaging device for comparing the type of color required for a print job on the imaging device and the amounts of toner in the more than one toner compartment and for suggesting colors that optimize toner consumption. In one aspect of the invention, the analysis device is conformed to optimize toner consumption by suggesting colors that use nearly equal amounts of different toner colors over time.

Abstract: In a facsimile device enabling color and monochrome images to be received, setting can be made to validate an alternative memory reception function. With such setting, if setting is made to make color reception ability declaration in self machine ability declaration during call incoming and invalidate the alternative memory reception function, a printer unit judges whether color printing is enabled or not. If color recording is enabled, then color reception ability declaration is made in self machine ability declaration. If color printing is not enabled, then color reception ability declaration is not made.

Abstract: A printer, printer control method, and medium for storing the control method meter and store cumulative values relating to the operation of replaceable units (parts or devices) in the printer to make maintenance easier and more reliable, and enable more accurate analysis of part or device failure. The printing processor of the printer prints text or graphics, and a holder holds a replaceable part or device that operates or a consumable that is used in conjunction with the printing operation of the printing processor. A counting processor meters operation or use of the replaceable part or device, and a detection processor detects when the part or device in the holder has been replaced or newly installed. Values indicative of the operation or use metered by the counting processor are stored in nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided including at least one color cartridge that supplies at least one color toner, a monochrome cartridge that supplies monochrome toner, an image formation unit configured to form an image on an image-transferring member using at least one of the at least one color toner and the monochrome toner, and a processor electrically coupled to the image formation unit. The processor is configured to: determine whether the at least one color cartridge contains insufficient color toner for printing an image according to a first image job, queue a second image job not requiring the at least one color cartridge before the first image job requiring the at least one color cartridge if the at least one color cartridge contains insufficient color toner for printing the image of the first image job, and control the image formation unit to form images in accordance with the queue.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a developing unit for developing latent image, and a reserve tank that temporarily stores developer ejected from a first cartridge and a second cartridge and that discharges the developer to the developing unit. The reserve tank is provided with a storage amount sensor for sensing storage amount of the developer in the first reserve tank. The image formation apparatus further includes a controller for controlling ejection of developer from at least the first cartridge and the second cartridge into the first reserve tank in accordance with output from the storage amount sensor.

Abstract: A printer or other color output device is configured to manage consumable wear. A wear level and a consumable use level of a color cartridge are evaluated. A color cartridge failure mechanism is projected to be either color cartridge wear-out or consumable exhaustion. Where color cartridge wear-out is projected, selection is made between faster printing and a reduced risk of color cartridge wear-out.

Abstract: The invention seeks to improve the accuracy of management of remaining amount of ink in a printer in which remaining amount of ink is managed based upon amount of ink consumed. If a print job is sent to a printer, first the printer is requested for status information that includes a warning concerning remaining amount of ink. When the status information is received from the printer, it is determined whether the status information indicates the possibility that ink has been replaced. If the information indicates such possibility, then the user is prompted to enter the nature of the ink replacement. If the user makes an entry to the effect that the ink replacement was performed, then the current status information of the printer is acquired again and discriminated. If possibility that ink has been replaced is indicated in this status information as well, then the printer is sent a command for initializing the information relating to remaining amount of ink.

Abstract: A method and system for the determination of toner usage in proportion to image-feature density, with independent estimation of each color toner module consumption. The system accurately accounts for image-wise color interactions due to color occlusion that may effect the actual amount of toner used by multiple color modules. The method includes a toner replenishment flow control process that responds to the toner consumption/depletion in the developer material (e.g., toner and carrier) as determined by one or more estimation modules, and thus maintains a stable and constant toner/carrier concentration ratio.

Abstract: A method of determining a time to replace a developing solution in a printer includes providing a reference card including sample patches of standard colors for predetermined colors of the developing solutions, sample patches of test colors into which the standard colors change due to contamination, and standard color differences &Dgr;E* calculated from standard color values Es* corresponding to the respective standard colors and measured standard contamination values Ec* corresponding to the respective test colors; inputting information about test patches for the predetermined colors into the printer and printing the test patches; and comparing the sample patches with the test patches to determine whether to replace the developing solutions. Since the reference card is provided together with a printer including information about test patches, a user can easily determine a time to replace a developing solution.

Abstract: A toner advisor apparatus and method for imaging systems includes an imaging device with a toner cartridge. More than one toner compartment in the toner cartridge is conformed to hold various toner colors. A cartridge scanner device is connected to the imaging system for scanning the more than one toner compartment. An analysis device is connected to the cartridge scanner device and to the imaging device for comparing the type of color required for a print job on the imaging device and the amounts of toner in the more than one toner compartment and for suggesting colors that optimize toner consumption. In one aspect of the invention, the analysis device is conformed to optimize toner consumption by suggesting colors that use nearly equal amounts of different toner colors over time.

Abstract: A method and system for the determination of toner usage in proportion to image-feature density, with independent estimation of each color toner module consumption. The system accurately accounts for image-wise color interactions due to color occlusion that may effect the actual amount of toner used by multiple color modules. The method includes a toner replenishment flow control process that responds to the toner consumption/depletion in the developer material (e.g., toner and carrier) as determined by one or more estimation modules, and thus maintains a stable and constant toner/carrier concentration ratio.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for indicating a low toner condition in a printer having a plurality of toner cartridges are provided. A method is provided which includes presenting a cartridge having low toner at a cartridge access way where the cartridge can be removed and replaced. The method can also include providing a carriage which can movably support the plurality of toner cartridges and can automatically move the cartridge having low toner to the cartridge access way when a low toner condition is detected. An apparatus is provided which includes a movable carriage which can move in a substantially linear manner. Other apparatus are provided which include a movable carriage which can move in a substantially rotational manner.

Abstract: Technology for controlling consumables for color printers to prevent the mere recording agent of a specific color from being excessively consumed. In this technology, when the printer is used, the system detects the residual ink volume of each color, and replaces an original color with another color by performing color conversion (image synthesis) on an image data by means of a prescribed processing method if a biased ink consumption exceeds a prescribed value, thus restricting the use of the particular ink before it is used up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming stations forming images of different colors on a transfer material and is provided along a direction of conveyance of the transfer material by a conveying system, in which a toner replenishing system is operated on the basis of a result of a detected magnetic permeability a detecting device and the developer, which is not transferred to the transfer material but and, which remains on an image bearing member is collected by a developing system.

Abstract: A developing device mounted on a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and adapted to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, includes: a developer container including a developing portion with a developer bearing member for containing a developer therein and feeding the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a hopper for containing the developer therein and feeding the developer to the developing portion in order to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developer residual amount detecting electrode pair having first and second electrodes disposed to interpose the developing portion and the hopper portion therebetween in order to detect the residual amount of developer by the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; wherein the first electrode of the developer residual amount detecting electrode pair comprises the developer bea

Abstract: A printing machine that records information about resources expended to carry out a printing request. The recorded resource information may include quantities of particular paper types and colored toner needed to satisfy the printing request. Subsequently, before carrying out another printing request, the printing machine uses the recorded information to make a prediction or estimate of resources required to carry out the printing request. The printing machine thus reduces uncertainty about whether there are sufficient resources to satisfy the next request, and alleviates the burden of maintaining excessive consumables in inventory.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink-jet recording apparatus, comprises: a tank housing containing ink, the ink being visible from an outside; and indications, marked along a depth direction of the tank housing, for displaying the number and size of record sheets which can be subjected to printing, corresponding to a quantity of remaining ink. Alternately, at least an ink consumption state and enablement or disablement of printing are displayed on a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms test patches with no lowering of image density and no unevenness of image density. The image forming device includes a unit for generating image data for at least one test patch, an image bearing medium on which a latent image of the test patch is formed being based upon the image data generated by the test patch generating unit, developing unit for supplying toner by means of a developing roller onto the latent image so as to manifest the latent image in order to obtain a toner image, a density sensor for detecting a toner density of a toner image in the manifested test patch, and a compensator for compensating the density, being based upon a value of an output from the density sensor. With this arrangement, the test patch generating unit is adapted to create the test patches after the toner on the developing roller is consumed by a quantity corresponding to one turn of the developing roller.

Abstract: Magnetic iron oxide-containing granules for producing toners or inks, the granules comprising 95.0 to 99.8 wt. % of a magnetic iron oxide-containing compound and 0.2 to 5.0 wt. % of a binder, wherein the magnetic iron oxide-containing compound has an iron content of 50 to 73 wt. %, and wherein the granules have the following properties: a lightness under brightening L* of 40 to 79 CIELAB units, a color cast a* of -1.0 to 4.0 CIELAB units, a color cast b* of 0.0 to -7.0 CIELAB units, an average particle size of 30 to 250 .mu.m, and a residue of less than 2 wt. % in a flow properties test having a 1 mm sieve and 400 strokes.