Printing apparatus

For a serial color ink jet printing apparatus that forms an image using a symmetric printing head that ejects large dots and small dots, the configuration of a printing head is provided for suppressing, to the extent possible, a cyclic fluctuation in the main scanning direction. According to the present invention, individual nozzle arrays are arranged so that two nozzle arrays, i.e., a cyan nozzle array c 1 and a magenta nozzle array m 1 , that are located nearer each other, form dots on adjacent scan lines. With this arrangement, a high quality image, having neither an uneven density nor an uneven color, can be formed when a printing head is inclined, or when a cyclic shift in printing positions occurs, depending on the position of the main scanning direction.

Printing device and printing method

A printing device using a print head ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles to print ink dots of a plurality of dot diameters, includes a print-characteristic acquisition unit obtaining print characteristic information on dot diameters of ink dots to be printed per each predetermined portion of the plurality of nozzles, a distribution ratio determination unit determining a distribution ratio for distributing image data to the predetermined portions of the plurality of nozzles based on the information, a dot print position determination unit quantizing the image data to determine a dot print position based on the image data and sizes and an array of thresholds; and a plurality of masks based on dot distribution order determined according to the distribution ratio, distributing printing of each of the ink dots of the plurality of dot diameters to the dot print position determined by the dot print position determination unit.

Liquid ejecting apparatus

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having a nozzle; a pressure-changing unit for changing pressure of liquid in the nozzle in such a manner that the liquid is ejected from the nozzle; a first level-data setting unit for setting a selected first level data from a plurality of first level data, based on an ejecting data for a first kind of liquid; a second level-data setting unit for setting a selected second level data from a plurality of second level data, based on an ejecting data for a second kind of liquid; a driving-signal generator for generating a driving signal; and a driving-pulse generator for generating a driving pulse based on the selected first or second level data and the driving signal. The plurality of first level data and the plurality of second level data are different from each other.

Printing apparatus and printing method

A head unit is provided that includes a plurality of head groups having a first head and a second head in a direction which crosses a transport direction of a medium. Color difference is obtained which indicates difference in color between patches formed for each band using dots having the same dot diameter from among a plurality of patches based on the result of color measurement performed on a test pattern which includes the plurality of patches for each band, the plurality of patches being formed for each head group using dots having different dot diameters. The amount of first ink and the amount of second ink, which are respectively ejected from the first head and the second head which are included in all the head groups, are adjusted such that the dot diameter becomes the dot diameter which is determined based on the color difference.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD

This invention enhances gloss uniformity of a formed image surface by selectively using colorless inks according to dot layouts of colored inks. A dot-layout unit sets colored dot layouts for respective colors of colored ink data. A colorless-dot-layout unit sets a colorless dot layout for one colorless ink with reference to a colorless dot layout table according to the colored ink data. An image is formed according to the colored and colorless dot layouts. In the colorless dot layout table, when a specular glossiness calculated according to the colored dot layouts is high, the colorless dot layout is set to superpose a colorless ink having a low refractive index on a colored ink having a high refractive index. Conversely, when the specular glossiness is low, the colorless dot layout is set to superpose a colorless ink having a high refractive index on a colored ink having a low refractive index. 1. An image forming apparatus , which forms an image using a plurality of colors of colored inks which contain pigment color materials and have different refractive indices , and a plurality of types of colorless inks which contain colorless materials and have different refractive indices , comprising:a color separating means for acquiring colored ink data for respective colors of the colored inks by color separation processing for each pixel of input color image data;a colored dot layout means for setting, for each pixel, colored dot layouts of the respective colors of the colored inks according to tone levels of the respective colors indicated by the colored ink data;a colorless dot layout means for setting, for each pixel, a colorless dot layout for one of the plurality of types of colorless inks with reference to a colorless dot layout table using the colored ink data as indices; andan image forming means for forming a color image on a recording medium by recording, for each pixel, the respective colored inks in the colored dot layouts, and the colorless ink set by said ...

Printing device, printing method and program thereof

A printing device includes the following features. The first dot group in which dots are formed based on the first printing condition and the second dot group in which dots are formed based on a printing condition which is different from the first printing condition are formed together in a common region. In the common region, when the printing is performed in a plurality of conditions such that a difference of the dot pitch between a formation position of dots belonging to the first pixel group and a formation position of dots belonging to the second pixel group is 2/720 inch to 5/720 inch, the change in CIEL*a*b* of the printed image is within the preliminary determined range.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

At least two dot formers are provided for each of a plurality of colors. Dot formers, which form dots in a particular color, are disposed at a greater interval along a direction perpendicular to an array direction of dot forming elements than intervals along the direction perpendicular to the array direction at which other dot formers, which form dots in the remaining colors, are disposed. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:at least two dot formers each including a plurality of dot forming elements arranged along an array direction for ejecting droplets to form dots in one color on a recording medium; anda dot formation controller for independently controlling the at least two dot formers to form the dots successively at a plurality of times to generate image arrays while the at least two dot formers and the recording medium are moved relatively to each other, wherein:the at least two dot formers and the recording medium are moved relatively to each other in a direction perpendicular to the array direction;the at least two dot formers are provided for each of a plurality of colors; andthe at least two dot formers, which form the dots in a particular one of the plurality of colors, are disposed at a greater interval along the direction perpendicular to the array direction than the intervals along the direction perpendicular to the array direction at which the at least two dot formers, which form the dots in the remaining ones of the plurality of colors, are disposed.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interval along the direction perpendicular to the array direction is determined based on visibility of the colors of the dots; andthe particular one of the plurality of colors comprises a color the visibility of which is highest among the plurality of colors.3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the visibility is quantified based on granularity taking into account human visual response characteristics.4. The ...

Image processing method and image processing apparatus

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an image processing method that can perform an accurate calibration corresponding to an ink receiving characteristic of a printing medium. The present invention obtains information regarding an ink amount that can be applied to a unit area of a printing medium. Then, the present invention determines, based on the information obtained, a combination of a plurality of ink application amounts corresponding to a plurality of first patches for adjusting ink application amounts corresponding to the respective gradation levels of an image to be printed on the printing medium.

INKJET PRINTHEAD AND METHOD OF PRINTING WITH MULTIPLE DROP VOLUMES

A printhead and a method of ejecting liquid droplets are provided. The method includes providing a printhead operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of drop volumes V, for i equal to 1 through n, where n≧2, with V>Vwhen j>i. One of the plurality of drop volumes is a minimum drop volume V, and a difference in drop volumes between successively larger drops equals (V−V) which is less than V, for k equal to 1 through n−1. The method also includes ejecting liquid drops through the printhead. 1. A method of ejecting ink droplets , comprising:{'sub': min', 'min, 'providing a printhead operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of drop volumes, the printhead including a plurality of nozzles of different nozzle sizes through which the liquid drops are ejected, the plurality of nozzles including a first nozzle and a second nozzle, the size of the first nozzle being smaller when compared to the size of the second nozzle, the volume of the liquid drop ejected from the first nozzle being a minimum drop volume V, respective increments between adjacent drop volumes being Подробнее

INKJET PRINTHEAD AND METHOD OF PRINTING WITH MULTIPLE DROP VOLUMES

A printhead and a method of ejecting liquid droplets are provided. The method includes providing a printhead operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of drop volumes V, for i equal to 1 through n, where n>2, with V>Vwhen j>i. One of the plurality of drop volumes is a minimum drop volume V, and a difference in drop volumes between successively larger drops equals (V−V) which is less than V, for k equal to 1 through n−1. The method also includes ejecting liquid drops through the printhead. 1. A method of ejecting ink droplets , comprising:{'sub': min', 'max', 'min, 'providing a printhead operable to eject liquid drops having a plurality of drop volumes, the printhead including a plurality of nozzles of different nozzle sizes through which the liquid drops are ejected toward a pixel location, the plurality of nozzles including a first nozzle and a second nozzle, the size of the first nozzle being smaller when compared to the size of the second nozzle, the volume of the liquid drop ejected from the first nozzle being a minimum drop volume V, another of the plurality of drop volumes ejected from the second nozzle being a maximum drop volume Vthat is less than two times the minimum drop volume V; and'}ejecting liquid drops through the first nozzle and the second nozzle of the printhead toward the same pixel location.2. The method of ejecting ink droplets as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the minimum drop volume Vis ≦2.0 pL.3. The method of ejecting ink droplets as set forth in claim 1 , wherein δ=(V−V)1 pl and δ<1 pl for k equal to 1 through n−1. This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/179,788 filed Jul. 25, 2008.The present invention relates to inkjet printing. It ...

IMAGE FORMING METHOD

An image forming method including applying a treatment liquid; and applying a first ink containing a pigment, water, and polymer particles of with the content is 1.0 mass % to 3.0 mass %, and applying a second ink having a different hue to the first ink onto the applied first ink at an ink droplet speed of 6 m/sec to 10 m/sec to form a multi-color image, in which an interval from a landing time point of the first ink to a landing time point of the second ink is 200 msec or less, and a dot diameter φ2 of the second ink, and a dot diameter φ1 of the second ink in an ink droplet amount equal to an ink droplet amount in the forming of the multi-color image satisfy a relationship of 0.90≦φ2/φ1≦1.10. 1. An image forming method comprising:applying a treatment liquid containing an aggregation component capable of aggregating components in an ink composition to a recording medium to form a treatment liquid application face;applying a first ink composition containing a pigment, water, and polymer particles of which a content is 1.0 mass % to 3.0 mass % with respect to the entire composition to the treatment liquid application face using an ink jet method; andapplying a second ink composition including a pigment and water and having a different hue to the first ink composition onto the applied first ink composition at an ink droplet speed of 6 m/sec to 10 m/sec to form a multi-color image using an ink jet method,in which an interval from a landing time point of the first ink composition to a landing time point of the second ink composition is 200 msec or less, anda dot diameter φ2 of the second ink composition applied onto the first ink composition, and a dot diameter φ1 of the second ink composition applied onto the treatment liquid application face in an ink droplet amount equal to an ink droplet amount in the forming of the multi-color image satisfy a relationship of 0.90≦φ2/φ1≦1.10.2. The image forming method according to claim 1 , wherein the recording medium is coated ...

THRESHOLD MATRIX GENERATION METHOD, IMAGE DATA GENERATION METHOD, IMAGE DATA GENERATION APPARATUS, IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS, AND THRESHOLD MATRIX

A threshold matrix generation part determines a turn-on order in a matrix area where a threshold matrix is generated and determines a threshold value of each matrix element. In determining the turn-on order, a temporary evaluation value element is obtained based on a distance between each undetermined matrix element whose position in the turn-on order has not been determined and each determined matrix element. If these matrix elements are located in the same position with respect to a row or column direction, the temporary evaluation value element is corrected such that the undetermined matrix element is less evaluated based on the evaluation value. Then, the position of an undetermined matrix element that is most highly evaluated in the turn-on order is determined. Accordingly, a threshold matrix that suppresses the occurrence of a grid-like dot pattern can be provided. 1. A threshold matrix generation method of generating a threshold matrix that is compared with a multi-tone original image when halftoning said original image , the method comprising the steps of:a) obtaining an evaluation value element for a given undetermined matrix element in a matrix area based on a positional relationship between each determined matrix element and said undetermined matrix element while taking into consideration repetitive application of a threshold matrix when halftoning an original image, said undetermined matrix element being a matrix element whose position in a turn-on order has not been determined, said turn-on order indicating an order in which dots are added with increasing tone level, said matrix area being an area where said threshold matrix is generated and in which a plurality of matrix elements are arranged in a row direction and a column direction, said determined matrix element being a matrix element whose position in said turn-on order has been determined;b) adding up an evaluation value element regarding said each determined matrix element so as to obtain an ...

Color processing apparatus and method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

A color processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a setting unit, and a color converting unit. The obtaining unit obtains a predetermined corresponding relationship between total amount limit information regarding limitation of a total amount of inks of colors, and a combination in which, among droplet diameters of inks of colors ejectable to satisfy the total amount limit information, droplet diameters of at least two or more inks are made uniform, and the types of droplet diameters of inks of the colors are two or fewer types. The setting unit sets the combination of droplet diameters corresponding to the accepted ink total amount limit information, on the basis of the obtained corresponding relationship. The color converting unit converts a color in an input color gamut reproducible by an input device into a color in an output color gamut in accordance with the set combination of droplet diameters.

Image producing apparatus and image producing method

A control signal is generated, so that if dots, which are formed in a transverse direction across a recording medium, are classified into plural groups depending on a plurality of timings, then preceding dots, which belong to a group having an earliest timing, are formed in a pale color. A head drive circuit controls a recording head based on the generated control signal.

IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS, DITHER MASK, AND IMAGE RECORDING METHOD

Provided are an image recording apparatus, a dither mask, and an image recording method capable of reducing occurrence of concentration unevenness without decrease in productivity. In an image recording apparatus that repeats a main scan operation of relatively moving a recording head having a nozzle row with respect to a recording medium in a main scan direction to perform recording and a sub scan operation of relatively moving the recording medium with respect to the recording head in a sub scan direction, a nozzle jetting rate of each nozzle is controlled by a dither mask. The dither mask is subjected to threshold setting so that a sum of a sum of nozzle jetting rates of corresponding nozzles of respective nozzle groups used in recording a first half scan for recording each scan band and a sum of nozzle jetting rates of corresponding nozzles of respective nozzle groups used in recording a second half scan becomes a specific value that is in a defined allowable range, with respect to at least a part of a recording duty range. 1. An image recording apparatus comprising:a recording head that includes a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles that jet ink are arranged in a sub scan direction;a halftone processing unit that performs halftone processing with respect to image data by using a dither mask; anda recording control section that controls the jetting of the ink from the nozzles on the basis of dot data generated through the halftone processing and performs a control for recording an image on a recording medium by repeating a main scan operation of jetting the ink from the nozzles while relatively moving the recording head with respect to the recording medium in a main scan direction that is orthogonal to the sub scan direction to perform recording and a sub scan operation of relatively moving the recording medium with respect to the recording head in the sub scan direction,wherein in a recording process of completing, with respect to each scan band that is ...

NETWORKED DIGITAL IMAGING CUSTOMIZATION

A geographically remote computing device transmits an image to a central computing device. The geographically remote computing device also communicates specifications of a substrate or substrates to be imaged to the central computing device. The central computing device selects a geographically remote fulfillment printer. A local, but geographically diverse distribution system is available according to the invention. The central computing device chooses the geographically remote fulfillment printer as a function of factors such as the selected image and substrate, printer capabilities, and the consumer's location. Image quality and consistency is maintained by the central computer selecting an appropriate geographically remote computing device and providing printer the appropriate instructions, rather than the instructions for printing being determined locally at the printer. 1. An imaging method , comprising the steps of:selecting an image and a substrate upon which the image is to be formed;transmitting by a geographically remote computing device an image selection to a central computing device;the geographically remote computing device communicating to the central computing device a specification of a substrate upon which an image is to be formed;the central computing device selecting a geographically remote inkjet printer from a plurality of geographically remote printers that are geographically separated from each other;the central computing device communicating a graphic image file for the image selection to the geographically remote inkjet printer and the central computing device selecting and communicating a printing specification for the substrate to the geographically remote inkjet printer, wherein selection of the printing specification of the substrate by the central computing device is based upon a material from which the substrate is formed;the central computing device selecting an ink and communicating a printing specification of the ink selected to ...

DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING NETWORK

In an imaging method an image or multiple images, an ink specification and substrate or substrates for imaging are selected. A central computing device (CCD) determines a volume of ink required to form the images and communicates with a plurality of printers that are geographically remote from the CCD. Each of the plurality of printers communicates to the CCD an ink specification available at the printer, a volume of ink available and optionally substrates that are available at the printer location. The CCD selects a printer or printers from the plurality of printers to fulfill the print job considering the geographic location of the printer(s), the ink specification available to the printer, and the volume of ink available at the printer. The CCD provides to the printer information and specifications which may include an image specification, an ink specification, a waveform specification and a substrate specification. 1. A printing system for imaging substrates , comprisinga central computing device;a plurality of computing devices, each of the plurality of computing devices geographically separated from the central computing device and from each other, the plurality of computing devices constructed and arranged to communicate to the central computing device an ink specification and substrate specification required for a printing task and the geographic location of a computing device of the plurality of computing devices communicating the ink specification and substrate specification required for the printing task;a plurality of printers, wherein each printer of the plurality of printers is associated with a computing device of the plurality of computing devices, and the plurality of computing devices are constructed and arranged to communicate to the central computing device ink inventory and substrate inventory at the printer associated with the computing device of the plurality of computing devices, and the geographic location of the printer;the central ...

Liquid discharging apparatus and control method of liquid discharging apparatus

When the discharging abnormalities detection circuit detects a state in which the ink droplet is not discharged from the first nozzle which discharges a relatively large ink droplet, a second recording mode is set, and in a recording process, the ink droplet discharges from a second nozzle without discharging the ink droplet from a first nozzle.

DROPLET EJECTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING, TO DRIVE CIRCUIT, A PLURALITY OF ITEMS OF INFORMATION USED TO DRIVE A PLURALITY OF DRIVE ELEMENTS

A droplet ejecting device includes: a head including N-number drive elements; a driving circuit including N-number waveform signal selectors and N-number power supply circuit selectors; a plurality of power supply circuits connected to the driving circuit; and a control circuit. Each waveform signal selector selects a waveform signal to be outputted to the corresponding drive element from among a plurality of types of waveform signals. Each power supply circuit selectors selects a power supply circuit to be connected to the drive elements from among the plurality of power supply circuits. The control circuit serially transmits, to the driving circuit via a single control line: N-number items of waveform signal designation information each of which designates the waveform signal to be outputted to the corresponding drive element; and N-number items of power supply designation information each of which designates the power supply circuit to be connected to the corresponding drive element. 1. A droplet ejection device comprising:a head comprising N-number drive elements positioned to correspond to nozzles;a driving circuit configured to drive the N-number drive elements;a plurality of power supply circuits connected to the driving circuit; anda control circuit configured to transmit a signal to the driving circuit on the basis of image data constituted by a plurality of items of dot size data for designating a dot size to be formed for each pixel, N-number waveform signal selectors, each being configured to select, from among a plurality of types of waveform signals, a waveform signal to be outputted to a corresponding one of the N-number drive elements; and', 'N-number power supply circuit selectors, each being configured to select, from among the plurality of power supply circuits, a power supply circuit to be connected to the corresponding one of the N-number drive elements,, 'wherein the driving circuit comprises [ N-number items of waveform signal designation ...

Liquid ejection head and recording device using same

A liquid ejection head includes an ejection hole surface where a plurality of nozzles ejecting liquid open. The ejection hole surface includes a nozzle arrangement region where the plurality of nozzles are arranged. Each nozzle includes an inversely tapered part where a cross-sectional area increases toward the ejection hole surface. A first nozzle is arranged at a center part of a predetermined direction of the nozzle arrangement region, while second nozzles are arranged at the end parts at the two sides in the predetermined direction. When viewed from the ejection hole surface side as “T”, the width of the first nozzle's inversely tapered part is larger than the widths of the inversely tapered parts of the second nozzles. In the nozzle arrangement region, the ejection hole surface includes a shape that the center part in the predetermined direction projects with respect to the end parts on the two sides.

FLUIDIC DIE

A fluidic die may include a number of actuators. The number of actuators form a number of primitives. The fluidic die may include a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to drive a number of the delay circuits. The delay circuits delay a number of activation pulses that activate the actuators associated with the primitives to reduce peak power demands of the fluidic die. A number of delay circuits may be coupled to each primitive. 1. A print circuit comprising:at least one delay circuit to be coupled to at least one respective primitive, each primitive associated with a number of fluid ejection actuators of a fluid ejection die;a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to drive the at least one delay circuit, the delay circuit configured to delay a number of activation pulses that activate the actuators associated with the at least one primitive to reduce peak power demands of the fluid ejection die; anda DAC input to receive an input voltage to be provided to the DAC so that the DAC is tuned by the input voltage.2. The print circuit of claim 1 , wherein the input voltage is a bias voltage provided to the DAC.3. The print circuit of claim 2 , wherein the input voltage depends on a value in a register on the print circuit.4. The print circuit of claim 1 , wherein the DAC is located on the fluid ejection die.5. The print circuit of claim 4 , wherein the DAC is a die-global circuit direct electrical connection to the delay circuits of each primitive.6. The print circuit of claim 1 , wherein the delay circuit comprises multiple delay circuits between two sequential primitives.7. The print circuit of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ejection die is a sliver die.8. The print circuit of claim 1 , wherein the delay circuits is configured to delay activation of a next primitive such that a leading edge of an activation of the next primitive occurs during activation of a previous primitive.9. The print circuit of claim 1 , wherein the delay circuit is tunable in increments less than a ...

DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING NETWORK

In an imaging method an image or multiple images, an ink specification and substrate or substrates for imaging are selected. A central computing device (CCD) determines a volume of ink required to form the images and communicates with a plurality of printers that are geographically remote from the CCD. Each of the plurality of printers communicates to the CCD an ink specification available at the printer, a volume of ink available and optionally substrates that are available at the printer location. The CCD selects a printer or printers from the plurality of printers to fulfill the print job considering the geographic location of the printer(s), the ink specification available to the printer, and the volume of ink available at the printer. The CCD provides to the printer information and specifications which may include an image specification, an ink specification, a waveform specification and a substrate specification. 1. An imaging method , comprising the steps of:selecting an ink specification for forming an image, and selecting a substrate upon which the image is formed;a central computing device determining a volume of ink required to form the image and the central computing device communicating with a plurality of printers that are geographically remote from the central computing device, wherein each of the plurality of printers is geographically separated from other printers of the plurality of printers;the plurality of printers communicating to the central computing device an ink specification available at each of the plurality of printers and a volume of ink available at each of the plurality of printers;the central computing selecting a printer from the plurality of printers based upon the ink specification available to the printer and the volume of ink available at the printer; andthe central computing device providing imaging information to the printer.2. The imaging method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of printers is selected from a larger ...

LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD USING DISCHARGE ENERGY GENERATION ELEMENTS

A supporting member includes a first supporting portion disposed on a first and second recording element substrate side, and a second supporting portion disposed on a side opposite to the first and second recording element substrate side with respect to the first supporting portion, the first supporting portion includes a first individual flow path for supplying liquid to a first recording element substrate, and a second individual flow path for supplying liquid to a second recording element substrate, and the second supporting portion includes a common flow path for supplying liquid to the first and second individual flow paths. 1. A liquid discharge head comprising:first and second recording element substrates, each including discharge ports for discharging liquid and energy generation elements for generating energy for use in discharging liquid, and arranged along a longitudinal direction of the liquid discharge head; anda supporting member configured to support the first and second recording element substrates,wherein the supporting member includes a first supporting portion, which is a portion on a side, in a thickness direction of the supporting member, where the first and second recording element substrates are provided, and a second supporting portion, which is a portion on an opposite side of the first supporting portion,wherein the first supporting portion includes a first individual flow path for supplying liquid to the first recording element substrate, and a second individual flow path for supplying liquid to the second recording element substrate, andwherein the second supporting portion includes a common flow path for supplying liquid to the first and second individual flow paths.2. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first supporting portion is smaller than a thickness of the second supporting portion.3. The liquid discharge head according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second recording element substrates ...

PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

A print head capable of forming dots on a print medium based on print data and a print medium are caused to perform relative movement in a specified direction, and a speed of the relative movement is set according to the number of dots to be formed in an area of a specified size. Whether to set the speed of the relative movement to a first speed is determined according to the number of dots to be formed in an area of a first size on the print medium. Whether to set the speed of the relative movement to a second speed lower than the first speed is determined according to the number of dots to be formed in an area of a second size which is smaller than the area of the first size in the specified direction. 1. A printing apparatus comprising:a print head capable of forming dots on a print medium based on print data;a movement unit configured to cause relative movement of the print head and the print medium in a specified direction; anda setting unit configured to, based on the print data, set a speed of the relative movement caused by the movement unit to a first speed in a case where the number of dots to be formed in an area of a specified size on the print medium is smaller than or equal to a threshold, and set the speed of the relative movement to a speed lower than the first speed in a case where the number of dots to be formed in the area of the specified size is not smaller than the threshold, whereinthe setting unit determines whether to set the speed of the relative movement to the first speed, according to the number of dots to be formed in an area of a first size on the print medium, and determines whether to set the speed of the relative movement to a second speed lower than the first speed, according to the number of dots to be formed in an area of a second size which is smaller than the area of the first size in the specified direction.2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , whereinthe setting unit includes a first counting unit configured to ...

PRINTER AND PROGRAM

A printer includes a liquid ejection section and a drive control section. The liquid ejection section is configured to eject a plurality of types of liquids and form dots having different sizes. The drive control section is configured to control a dot size of the liquids to be ejected by the liquid ejection section based on image data. When an image including a three-dimensional image in which a plurality of linear images are arrayed is printed on a medium, the liquid ejection section is configured to eject the liquids, at least in an end section area in an array direction of the linear images in a print area of the image, under a setting in which an ejection ratio of relatively small dots is set lower than in an inner area that is positioned more inward than the end section area. 1. A printer comprising:a liquid ejection section configured to eject a plurality of types of liquids and form dots having different sizes; anda drive control section configured to control a dot size of the liquids to be ejected by the liquid ejection section based on image data,when an image including a three-dimensional image in which a plurality of linear images are arrayed is printed on a medium, the liquid ejection section being configured to eject the liquids, at least in an end section area in an array direction of the linear images in a print area of the image, under a setting in which an ejection ratio of relatively small dots is set lower than in an inner area that is positioned more inward than the end section area.2. The printer according to claim 1 , whereinthe medium is a lens sheet having a lenticular lens.3. The printer according to claim 2 , whereinthe liquid ejection section is configured to eject the liquid, at least in the end section area of the print area, under a setting in which an ejection ratio of large dots is set higher than in the inner section area.4. The printer according to claim 3 , whereinthe print area is larger than a medium area at least in the array ...

Recording apparatus and recording method

A recording apparatus includes a recording head including a plurality of recording elements arranged in a predetermined direction, and a determination unit configured to determine a first mode in which a specified image is recorded or a second mode in which a pattern is recorded in each of recording scannings in forward and backward directions to form an adjustment pattern for adjusting a recording position in the intersecting direction of the recording head, and the recording position of the recording head in accordance with the formed adjustment pattern is adjusted, in which a driving unit controls driving of the recording elements in a manner that a correspondence relationship between positions in the predetermined direction and the intersecting direction among a plurality of dots that form the same column is varied or is the same in the recording scannings in the forward and backward directions in accordance with the determined mode.

Printing apparatus and printing method

The printing apparatus is provided with a transport mechanism section that transports work, a printing mechanism section that has nozzles, which carry out printing by discharging an ink, as liquid droplets, onto the work transported by the transport mechanism section, and an adjustment section that adjusts a volume per single droplet of the ink discharged from the nozzles on the basis of a separation distance between the nozzles and the work, which is positioned directly below the nozzles.

METHOD AND FACILITY FOR COATING A BODY WITH FORMATION OF A STRUCTURED SURFACE

The present invention relates to a method for coating, optionally with specific colouring, an exposed surface of a body with simultaneous formation of a structured surface, including projecting formations, via a device for depositing one or more liquid substances in droplets, in particular by a jet, said method consisting, for each affected site () of the surface to be printed (), of consecutively depositing at least two vertically adjacent layers () of a first substance selected from the group made up of a size, a varnish, an adhesion or attachment agent and a coating agent, preferably white or transparent and at least one second substance such as a colouring substance or a mixture of colouring substances, each of the consecutive layers () being formed by depositing droplets (). The method is characterised in that it consists of consecutively depositing at least three vertically adjacent layers () which are made up, alternatively, of a first substance and a second substance, each layer () being made up of separate individual droplets (), arranged in each layer according to a predetermined pattern. 244566. A method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the droplets ( claim 1 , ′; ) are individually and separately deposited with a predetermined shifting of the interlayer depositing pattern claim 1 , immediately consecutive and adjacent or not claim 1 , in the layering of layers ( claim 1 , ′).36666. A method according to or claim 1 , characterized in that the different layers ( claim 1 , ′) claim 1 , preferably over a substantially continuous overlay claim 1 , are constituted successively and alternately by a layer of transparent varnish or resin ()′) or the like claim 1 , and a layer of coloring substance(s) () claim 1 , preferably at least partially opaque claim 1 , such as ink filled with color pigments.465. A method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the first layer deposited on the face (P) to be coated is a layer (′) formed of droplets () of ...

PRINTING METHOD AND INK DISCHARGE AMOUNT UPPER LIMIT DETERMINING METHOD

A printing method includes determining the upper limit of the amount of the ink to be discharged based on a color saturation suppression upper limit, and at least one of an overflowing suppression upper limit, a bleeding suppression upper limit, and an aggregation suppression upper limit. The determining of the upper limit of the amount of the ink to be discharged includes setting in advance priorities among the suppressing of the color saturation of the ink and at least one of the overflowing of the ink, the bleeding of the ink, and the aggregation of the ink, and determining the upper limit of the amount of the ink to be discharged based on the priorities. 1. A printing method for discharging ink onto a printing medium to print an image on the printing medium , the printing method comprising:printing on a medium a test pattern for determining an upper limit of an amount of ink to be discharged;capturing an image of the medium on which the test pattern has been printed;executing color measurement on the medium on which the test pattern has been printed; and a color saturation suppression upper limit calculated based on color measurement information of the medium obtained by the color measurement, the color saturation suppression upper limit being an upper limit of the amount of the ink to be discharged for suppressing color saturation of the ink, and', an overflowing suppression upper limit calculated based on imaging information of the medium obtained from the image captured, the overflowing suppression upper limit being an upper limit of the amount of the ink to be discharged for suppressing overflowing of the ink,', 'a bleeding suppression upper limit calculated based on the imaging information, the bleeding suppression upper limit being an upper limit of the amount of the ink to be discharged for suppressing bleeding of the ink, and', 'an aggregation suppression upper limit calculated based on the imaging information, the aggregation suppression upper limit ...

CUSTOM PRODUCT IMAGING METHOD

A networked product imaging system includes devices that provide the production of imaged goods. Sellers are easily integrated into the network with minimal or no inventory requirements. Customer requirements are provided to a central computing device (CCD) that has two-way communication with a plurality of geographically separated product image forming devices. The central computing device determines specifications for forming the image on the blank product in accordance with the customer's order. The central computing device selects a product image forming device from the plurality of geographically separated product forming devices for fulfilling the order, based upon factors that include the specification of the product image forming device available, the product image forming inventory and the blank product inventory available at the geographic location of the product image forming device. The selected product image forming device forms the image on the blank product at the remote location. 1. A network for providing images on products comprising:a plurality of geographically separated image forming devices, each geographically separated image forming device in communication with a central computing device and communicating to the central computing device specifications of the image forming device and a blank product inventory associated with the image forming device and available to the image forming device; anda plurality of communication devices communicating image specifications and blank product specifications to the central computing device.2. A network for providing images on products as described in claim 1 , wherein the central computing device is constructed and arranged to create a plurality of custom websites and communicate the custom websites to the plurality of communication devices claim 1 , each website of the plurality of websites presenting a plurality of image choices and a plurality of blank product choices.3. A network for providing images ...

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage medium

To generate a dot pattern whose deterioration of a feeling of granularity, density unevenness, and streaks are unlikely to be recognized visually by more effectively suppressing a change of an overlap of ink droplets on a printing medium. Halftone image data representing a dot pattern of each of two or more kinds of dot different in density reproduction is acquired. Then, in a case where there is a possibility that the contact state between dots changes due to a landed-dot shift of ink in a plurality of specific dots on a condition that dots are formed in accordance with a dot pattern in the halftone image data, the plurality of specific dots is replaced with dots of another kind whose number is less than or equal to that of the plurality of specific dots.

INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS AND INKJET RECORDING METHOD

An inkjet recording apparatus and an inkjet recording method which enable changing a droplet amount without changing a droplet speed of an ink discharged from the same nozzle, and including an inkjet head which expands and contracts a capacity of a pressure chamber by applying a driving signal to an actuator and a driving circuit which applies the driving signal to the actuator, the driving signal including a first expansion pulse which starts from a reference potential and expands the capacity of the pressure chamber, a first contraction pulse which contracts the capacity of the pressure chamber to discharge the ink from the nozzle, a second expansion pulse which expands the capacity of the pressure chamber, and a second contraction pulse which contracts the capacity of the pressure chamber and returns to the reference potential in the mentioned order, the driving circuit being configured to enable discharging different droplet amounts of the ink from the same nozzle by changing a potential difference between a start edge and an end edge of the first contraction pulse. 1. An inkjet recording apparatus comprising:an inkjet head which expands and contracts a capacity of a pressure chamber corresponding to an actuator by applying a driving signal to the actuator, and thus discharges an ink in the pressure chamber from a nozzle to perform printing on a recording medium; anda driving circuit which applies the driving signal to the actuator of the inkjet head,wherein the driving signal includes a first expansion pulse which starts from a reference potential and expands the capacity of the pressure chamber, a first contraction pulse which contracts the capacity of the pressure chamber to discharge the ink from the nozzle, a second expansion pulse which expands the capacity of the pressure chamber, and a contraction pulse which contracts the capacity of the pressure chamber and returns to the reference potential in the mentioned order, andthe driving circuit is configured ...

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM

An image processing apparatus generates dot data for printing an image on a printing medium by using dots of different sizes formed by a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink. The image processing apparatus includes a first acquisition unit that acquires dot data specifying printing or non-printing of each of the dots of a plurality of sizes for each pixel, a specification unit that specifies a dot having a strong possibility of being pulled by a dot having landed earlier on the printing medium of dots in the dot data, and a correction unit that corrects a dot specified by the specification unit in the dot data. The image processing apparatus can output an image whose banding is unlikely to be recognized by suppressing image defect due to a change of dots accompanying liquid droplet interference. 1. An image processing apparatus that generates dot data for printing an image on a printing medium by using dots of different sizes formed by a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink , the image processing apparatus , comprising:a first acquisition unit configured to acquire dot data that specifies printing or non-printing of each of the dots of a plurality of sizes for each pixel;a specification unit configured to specify a dot having a strong possibility of being pulled by a dot having landed earlier on the printing medium of dots in the dot data; anda correction unit configured to correct a dot specified by the specification unit in the dot data.2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , whereinthe specification unit specifies a dot that is ejected after the adjacent dot so as to land with a landing time difference from an adjacent dot less than or equal to a predetermined time.3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:a second acquisition unit configured to acquire time difference information relating to a time difference in landing on the printing medium of ink that is ejected from each of the plurality of nozzles, whereinthe ...

PRINTING METHOD AND PRINTING MEDIUM

A printing method includes a step of forming a first image by ejecting a pretreatment liquid, and a step of forming a second image on the first image by ejecting a colored ink onto the first image. Here, the first image is allowed to include an extra portion by which the edge of the first image exists on the outside of the edge of the second image. Further, an amount of the ejection of the pretreatment liquid onto the extra portion per area at a position on the extra portion is allowed to be decreased further as the position is located further toward the outside from the edge of the second image. 1. A printing method comprising:forming a first image by ejecting a pretreatment liquid; andforming a second image on the first image by ejecting a colored ink onto the first image,wherein the first image is allowed to include an extra portion by which an edge of the first image exists on an outside of an edge of the second image, andwherein an amount of the ejection of the pretreatment liquid onto the extra portion per area at a position on the extra portion is allowed to be decreased further as the position is located further toward the outside from the edge of the second image.2. The printing method according to claim 1 , wherein the extra portion of the first image is formed by a plurality of dots that are arranged toward an outside from a position corresponding to the edge of the second image up to the edge of the first image.3. The printing method according to claim 2 , wherein a dot diameter of a dot among the plurality of dots in the extra portion is reduced further as the position of the dot is located further toward the outside of the first image.4. The printing method according to claim 2 , wherein a degree of overlapping between a pair of adjacent dots among the plurality of dots in the extra portion is reduced further as the position of the pair of adjacent dots is located further toward the outside of the first image.5. The printing method according to claim 1 ...

PRINTING SYSTEMS

The present disclosure is drawn to printing systems. In one example, a printing system can include a pretreatment head, an inkjet print head, and a post-treatment head. The pretreatment head can include a first plasma generator to apply a plasma treatment to a media substrate. The inkjet print head can be positioned with respect to the pretreatment head to form a printed image on the media substrate after the plasma treatment. The post-treatment head can include a second plasma generator positioned with respect to the inkjet print head to treat the printed image on the media substrate. 1. A printing system , comprising:a pretreatment head comprising a first plasma generator to apply a plasma treatment to a media substrate;an inkjet print head positioned with respect to the pretreatment head to form a printed image on the media substrate after the plasma treatment; anda post-treatment head comprising a second plasma generator positioned with respect to the inkjet print head to treat the printed image on the media substrate.2. The printing system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first plasma generator and second plasma generator is a surface barrier discharge plasma generator.3. The printing system of claim 1 , further comprising the media substrate claim 1 , wherein the media substrate is media web that is web fed claim 1 , and wherein the pretreatment head and the post-treatment head are independently 75% or more as wide as the media web.4. The printing system of claim 1 , further comprising the media substrate claim 1 , wherein the media substrate is a paper that is substantially devoid of fixer.5. The printing system of claim 1 , further comprising an ink reservoir in fluid communication with the inkjet print head claim 1 , the ink reservoir comprising a pigment-based inkjet ink claim 1 , wherein the pigment-based inkjet ink comprises an anionic pigment.6. The printing system of claim 5 , wherein the pigment-based inkjet ink further comprises a ...

Binary continuous ink jet printer

A printing control method of a multi-nozzle binary continuous ink jet printer wherein drops of a first category and drops of a second category are formed by jet breaking The flowpaths followed by the drops of the first and second categories are differentiated. For printing a black pixel followed by a white pixel, a drop of the first category and a drop of the second category are formed. The cumulative formation time drops of the first and second categories is equal to or higher than the running time of one pixel.

Image Processing Device and Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium

An image processing device configured to: determine whether a specific condition indicating ink supplied from an ink supplier to a printing head may be delayed; generate dot data by using image data, including: generating first dot data when the specific condition is not satisfied; and generating second dot data when the specific condition is satisfied, a ratio of first/second type of dots included in an image based on specific second dot data generated using specific image data being greater/smaller than that included in an image based on specific first dot data generated using the specific image data, and total number of dots included in the image based on the specific second dot data being larger that included in the image based on the specific first dot data; and output printing data based on the dot data.

IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

An image processing device causing a printing execution unit to: in a first case where a specific condition indicating that ink supply from an ink supply unit to a printing head may be delayed in partial printing is not satisfied, print a partial image by single partial printing; in a second case where the specific condition is satisfied, print the partial image by partial printings including a first partial printing and a second partial printing; in the first case, form a dot having a specific size by the single partial printing, as a dot corresponding to a specific pixel in the partial image; and in the second case, form a dot having a size smaller than the specific size by the first partial printing and form a dot having a size smaller than the specific size by the second partial printing, as the dot corresponding to the specific pixel. 1. An image processing device for a printing execution unit including: a printing head having a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge ink; an ink supply unit configured to supply the ink to the printing head; a main scanning unit configured to execute a main scanning in which the printing head is moved relative to a printing medium in a main scanning direction; and a sub-scanning unit configured to execute a sub-scanning in which the printing medium is moved relative to the printing head in a sub-scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction , the image processing device comprising: acquiring image data; and', 'causing the printing execution unit to perform printing by using the acquired image data, the printing being performed by executing, for a plurality of times, (i) partial printing in which the printing head is caused to discharge the ink while causing the main scanning unit to execute the main scanning and (ii) sub-scanning in which the sub-scanning unit is caused to execute the sub-scanning,, 'a controller configured to perform in a first case where a specific condition is not satisfied, printing ...

RECORDING DEVICE

A recording device includes a recording head housed in a carriage, and for discharging a droplet on an obverse surface of a medium to perform recording on the medium, a support section having a support surface for supporting a reverse surface of the medium, and a heater for heating the droplet adhered to the obverse surface of the medium. The carriage is provided with a collection section capable of collecting steam generated when the droplet is heated by the heater. The recording head includes a nozzle cover provided with a plurality of holes for discharging the droplet. The nozzle cover includes a nozzle surface opposed to the support surface The collection section is formed of a material higher in hydrophilic property than the nozzle surface. 1. A recording device comprising:a carriage configured to reciprocate in a first direction;a recording head housed in the carriage, and configured to discharge a droplet on an obverse surface of a medium to perform recording on the medium;a support section including a support surface configured to support a reverse surface of the medium; anda heating section configured to heat the droplet adhered to the obverse surface of the medium, whereinthe carriage is provided with at least one collection section configured to collect steam generated when the droplet is heated by the heating section,the recording head includes a nozzle cover provided with a plurality of holes configured to discharge the droplet,the nozzle cover includes a nozzle surface opposed to the support surface, andthe collection section is formed of a material higher in hydrophilic property than the nozzle surface, and is disposed at a lower surface of the carriage, and at a position different from the nozzle surface.2. The recording device according to claim 1 , whereina thermal diffusivity per unit volume of the at least one collection section is lower than a thermal diffusivity per unit volume of the nozzle cover.3. The recording device according to claim 1 , ...

PRINTING DEVICE AND PRINTING METHOD

Dots with metallic ink are formed in an arrangement in which an average of distances between dots with the metallic dots is shorter than an average of distances between dots with color ink. The “distance between dots with the color ink” indicates a distance from a color dot to be focused to one color dot at the closest position thereto. The same holds true for the metallic ink. 1. A printing method comprising:a dot forming step that forms color dots on a medium by ejecting a color ink from a nozzle and forms metallic dots on the medium by ejecting a metallic ink from a nozzle, wherein a value obtained by normalizing an average of a distance between the metallic dots by a dot generation ratio of the metallic dots, is shorter than a value obtained by normalizing an average of a distance between the color dots by a dot generation ratio of the color dots.2. The printing method according to claim 1 , the dot forming step comprises relatively scanning the nozzle and the medium claim 1 , and a forming position of the color dots or the metallic dots are deviated in the scanning direction with each scanning.3. The printing method according to claim 2 , wherein the dot forming step is performed to change the discharge timing of the color ink or the metallic ink in the scanning direction.4. The printing method according to claim 2 , wherein the dot forming step is performed relatively scanning a plurality of the nozzle are placed in a direction intersecting the scanning direction claim 2 ,wherein the forming position of the metallic dots or the color dots are deviated in the direction intersecting the scanning direction. The application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/714,832, filed Dec. 14, 2012, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/714,832 claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.: 2011-274155, filed Dec. 15, 2011, which is also expressly incorporated by reference herein.1. ...

INKJET APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DENSITY CORRECTION IN INKJET APPARATUS

An inkjet apparatus includes a plurality of heads to discharge droplets from a plurality of nozzles of the plurality of heads to form an image on a medium, a head driver to generate a drive waveform to discharge the droplets from the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of heads, a scanner to read a specific pattern from the image on the medium formed by the droplets discharged from the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of heads, and a discharge amount adjuster to correct the drive waveform to reduce differences in discharge amount of the droplets between the plurality of heads according to the specific pattern read by the scanner. 1. An inkjet apparatus comprising:a plurality of heads to discharge droplets from a plurality of nozzles of the plurality of heads to form an image on a medium;a head driver to generate a drive waveform to discharge the droplets from the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of heads;a scanner to read a specific pattern from the image on the medium formed by the droplets discharged from the plurality of nozzles of the plurality of heads; anda discharge amount adjuster to correct the drive waveform to reduce differences in discharge amount of the droplets between the plurality of heads according to the specific pattern read by the scanner.2. The inkjet apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge amount adjuster corrects the drive waveform to equalize the discharge amount of the droplets between the plurality of heads.3. The inkjet apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge amount adjuster sets a magnification of an amplitude of the drive waveform for each of multiple droplet sizes to correct the drive waveform.4. The inkjet apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the discharge amount adjuster corrects the drive waveform of a head of the plurality of heads to be matched with the drive waveform of another head of the plurality of heads claim 2 , which is smaller in the discharge amount than the head.5. The inkjet ...

IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE

A calculator calculates a total value of tone values of all pixels in each aggregation by allocating each pixel of M-valued image data to one aggregation. Each block is either one of ejection-port groups including ejection ports having a common liquid channel serving as a liquid supply source or one of divided ejection-port groups. Each aggregation includes pixels of the M-valued image data corresponding to dots formed on a medium when liquid is ejected from ejection ports in one block during one L ejection period. Each L ejection period is obtained by dividing, by a plural number, a number of ejection cycles required to record an image on one recording medium. A tone-value reducer reduces tone values of at least part of pixels in an adjustment-requiring aggregation so that the total value becomes less than a threshold. A transmitter transmits the adjusted M-valued image data to a liquid ejecting device. 1. An image processing device configured to transmit input image data to a liquid ejecting device including a recording head and a drive data generator , the recording head having a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting liquid onto a recording medium and having at least one liquid channel for supplying liquid to respective ones of the plurality of ejection ports , the drive data generator being configured to quantize the input image data to an N-valued data (N is a natural number satisfying N≧2) with a quantization process including a process of reducing a quantization error to generate drive data of the recording head , the image processing device comprising:a calculator configured to calculate a total value of tone values of all pixels belonging to each of a plurality of aggregations by allocating each pixel of M-valued image data (M is a natural number satisfying M>N) to one of the plurality of aggregations, each of a plurality of blocks being defined as either one of ejection-port groups including the plurality of ejection ports having a common liquid channel ...

DOT RECORDING APPARATUS, PRODUCTION METHOD OF DOT RECORDED MATTER, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

A dot recording apparatus executes recording of dots that are included in a common region using a plurality of main scan passes, and, in each main scan pass, executes a first recording, which records a supercell, which is a mass of dot groups in which at least a portion of a boundary line is not parallel to either the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction, and a second recording, which records dots so as to be smaller than the supercell, which is recorded in the first recording, in positions in the main scanning direction that differ from positions in the main scanning direction, which the first recording executed. 1. A dot recording apparatus comprising:a main scan driving mechanism that executes a main scan pass, which records dots on a medium while relatively moving a head having a plurality of nozzles, and the medium in a main scanning direction; anda sub-scan driving mechanism that executes a sub-scanning, which relatively moves the medium and the head in a sub-scanning direction, which intersects the main scanning direction,wherein recording of dots is executed in a common region of the medium using a plurality of main scan passes, andwherein, in the respective a plurality of main scan passes,a first recording, which records a supercell, which is a mass of dot groups in which at least a portion of a boundary line is not parallel to either the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction, anda second recording, which records dots so as to be smaller than the supercell, which is recorded in the first recording, in positions in the main scanning direction that differ from positions in the main scanning direction, which the first recording executed, are executed.2. The dot recording apparatus according to claim 1 ,wherein recording is performed so that the second recording is larger than the first recording in a case in which the head is positioned in a center in the main scanning direction.3. The dot recording apparatus according to claim ...

IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING BANDING

An imaging apparatus includes a print engine having a printhead that generates ink drops, and a printhead carrier that carries the printhead in a first direction and in a second direction. A controller determines an initial print direction based on ink drop information obtained by printing patches in the first direction and in the second direction. The controller is operatively coupled to the print engine to print an image based on the initial print direction. 120-. (canceled)21. An imaging apparatus , comprising:a print engine having a printhead that generates ink drops, and a printhead carrier that carries the printhead in a first direction and in a second direction; anda controller that determines an initial print direction based on ink drop information obtained by printing patches in the first direction and in the second direction, the controller operatively coupled to the print engine to print an image based on the initial print direction.22. The imaging apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the ink drop information includes a characteristic of the patches.23. The imaging apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the characteristic includes a luminance L* value.24. The imaging apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the characteristic includes a chromatic value.25. The imaging apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.26. The imaging apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising a scanner to scan the patches to obtain the ink drop information from the patches claim 21 , the patches including a first patch and a second patch.27. The imaging apparatus of claim 26 , wherein:the first patch has a first luminance L* value and the second patch has a second luminance L* value; andthe controller selects the first direction as the initial print direction if the first luminance L* value of the first patch is less than the second luminance L* value of the second patch, and selects the second direction as the initial print direction if the second ...

Printing apparatus having head to eject first type of liquid to form background and second type of liquid to form image

In a printing apparatus, in a first mode a head ejects a first type of liquid onto a printing medium and an energy applying device applies energy to the first type of liquid to form a background, and subsequently the head ejects a second type of liquid onto the background and the energy applying device applies energy to the second type of liquid on the background so that an image is formed on the background. In a second mode the head ejects the second type of liquid onto the printing medium without forming a background, and the energy applying device applies energy to the second type of liquid. The controller performs setting a quantity of the second type of liquid to be used in the first mode, to be greater than a quantity of the second type of liquid to be used in the second mode.

Liquid discharge system, image forming apparatus, and liquid discharge method

A liquid discharge system includes a pretreatment execution device to perform pretreatment on a medium and a liquid discharge head to discharge liquid onto the medium based on image information on an image to be output. The liquid discharge system further includes circuitry configured to control a manner of the pretreatment based on the image information.

PRINTING DEVICE, PRINTING METHOD AND PROGRAM THEREOF

A printing device includes the following features. The first dot group in which dots are formed based on the first printing condition and the second dot group in which dots are formed based on a printing condition which is different from the first printing condition are formed together in a common region. In the common region, when the printing is performed in a plurality of conditions such that a difference of the dot pitch between a formation position of dots belonging to the first pixel group and a formation position of dots belonging to the second pixel group is 2/720 inch to 5/720 inch, the change in CIEL*a*b* of the printed image is within the preliminary determined range. 1a printing unit that prints an image;wherein the printing of the image is performed such that when the dots are formed on the printing medium in accordance with dot data indicating existence or non-existence of a dot formation per each pixel, the dot formation is divided into at least first and second pixel groups, and at least a portion of dot formation in the first and second pixel groups is performed in a common region;wherein the printing unit includes a print head for performing a color printing by multiple color dots in a resolution N (N is a natural number of more than 180) dot per inch (dpi), and when the printing is performed in each of a plurality of conditions of which a relative position between the first pixel group and the second pixel group is different, at least one of following conditions is satisfied;(A) when the printed image is yellow (RGB value: R=G=255, B=0 to 64, when RGB value is 8 bit conversion), color difference in CIEL*a*b* color space of images printed in each of the plurality of different conditions is less than value 2 as a change of b*;(B) when the printed image is magenta (RGB value: R=B=255, G=0 to 64, when RGB value is 8 bit conversion), the color difference in CIEL*a*b* color space of the images printed in each of the plurality of different conditions is ...

GENERATING A HALFTONE

In one example, a first subset of a plurality of pixels in a halftone is determined to be associated with a first colorant. A second subset of the plurality of pixels in the halftone is determined to be associated with a second colorant, the second colorant being different from the first colorant. Pixel data associating a pixel in the plurality of pixels in the halftone with the first colorant and not the second colorant is generated when the pixel is included in the first subset and the second subset. Pixel data associating the pixel in the plurality of pixels in the halftone with the second colorant and not the first colorant is generated when the pixel is included in the second subset and not the first subset. 1. A method comprising; first data representing a first halftone screen, the first halftone screen associating a first subset of the plurality of pixels in the halftone with a first colorant; and', 'second data representing a second halftone screen, the second halftone screen associating a second subset of the plurality of pixels in the halftone with a second colorant, the second colorant being different from the first colorant;, 'generating halftone data representing a plurality of pixels in a halftone, the halftone data comprisingidentifying one or more pixels common to the first subset of the plurality of pixels and the second subset of the plurality of pixels; andmodifying the second data to remove the one or more pixels from the second subset of pixels.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of pixels defines a first continuous region corresponding to first dot in a first amplitude modulated halftone pattern and the second subset of the plurality of pixels defines a second continuous region corresponding to a second dot in a second amplitude modulated halftone pattern.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of pixels are spatially distributed according to a first frequency modulated halftone ...

LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS, LIQUID DISCHARGE METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head, a scanning device, a storage device, and circuitry. The liquid discharge head discharges liquid from a plurality of nozzles onto a recording medium. The scanning device moves at least one of the recording medium and the liquid discharge head to perform scanning. The storage device stores a plurality of mask patterns to change a discharge amount and a discharge size of the liquid from the liquid discharge head. The circuitry acquires image data, creates dot data from the image data, and determines the discharge size of the liquid to be discharged from the liquid discharge head, based on the dot data and one of the plurality of mask patterns. 1. A liquid discharge apparatus comprising:a liquid discharge head configured to discharge liquid from a plurality of nozzles onto a recording medium;a scanning device configured to move at least one of the recording medium and the liquid discharge head to perform scanning;a storage device configured to store a plurality of mask patterns to change a discharge amount and a discharge size of the liquid from the liquid discharge head; and acquire image data; and', 'create dot data from the image data and determine the discharge size of the liquid to be discharged from the liquid discharge head, based on the dot data and one of the plurality of mask patterns., 'circuitry configured to2. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,wherein the storage device is configured to store a first mask pattern for discharging no liquid from the liquid discharge head, a second mask pattern for discharging the liquid without changing the discharge size of the liquid from the liquid discharge head, and a third mask pattern for discharging the liquid with changing the discharge size of the liquid from the liquid discharge head.3. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1 ,wherein the circuitry is configured to convert dot data to be printed according to the plurality ...

Serpentine direction reversal in bidirectional error diffusion halftoning

Bidirectional error diffusion halftoning of data. Pixels are halftoned in one serpentine direction, and pixels are halftoned in an opposite serpentine direction.

Printed matter creating device performing adjustment of on dots in connecting part of first print and second print

A printed matter creating device includes a controller configured to: acquire print data; form a first print on a printing medium while conveying the printing medium, the first print being based on first ON dots in the acquired print data; interrupt the conveyance of the printing medium after forming the first print; cut the printing medium after interrupting the conveyance; and form a second print on the printing medium while conveying the printing medium after cutting the printing medium, the second print being based on second ON dots in the acquired print data. The print data includes a specific print data corresponding to a connecting part connecting the first print and the second print. Based on the acquired print data, the controller adjusts at least one of: aspects of the first ON dots in the specific print data; and aspects of the second ON dots in the specific print data.

MULTILAYER WHITE PRINTING WITH WHITE-BALANCE

White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity). 1. A method for printing an image on a substrate having a particular color other than white , with a printer having an inkset , wherein the inkset includes a plurality of inks having white ink and an ink having a color other than white , the method comprising:receiving a media identifier that uniquely identifies a media type and the particular color of the substrate;retrieving from a stored configuration file, based at least on the particular color of the media type identified by the media identifier, a first offset color value for a first offset color, wherein the first offset color value indicates an amount of the ink other than white;printing on the substrate of the identified media type in a first pass a first layer of ink, including the white ink mixed with the amount of ink other than white indicated by the first offset color value; andwherein the printed first layer of mixed ink appears as a neutral color, so that the particular color of the substrate is not visible; andprinting the image on top of the printed first layer of ink.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printed first layer of ink appears as a neutral color claim 1 , so that the particular color of the substrate is not visible through the printed first layer of ink.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein colors of the printed image are not modified based on the particular color of the ...

INK JET RECORDING METHOD

Provided is an ink jet recording method including recording an infrared absorbing image by applying a first ink, which contains an infrared absorber and a first curable compound, onto an impermeable substrate by an ink jet method, semi-curing the infrared absorbing image by irradiating the infrared absorbing image with active energy rays, recording a non-infrared absorbing image by applying a second ink, which has a content of the infrared absorber of lower than 0.1% by mass and contains a second curable compound, to a surface of the substrate with the infrared absorbing image by the ink jet method, and curing the semi-cured infrared absorbing image and the non-infrared absorbing image by irradiating these images with active energy rays. 1. An ink jet recording method comprising:recording an infrared absorbing image by applying a first ink, which contains an infrared absorber and a first curable compound to be cured by application of active energy rays, onto an impermeable substrate by an ink jet method;semi-curing the infrared absorbing image by irradiating the infrared absorbing image with active energy rays;recording a non-infrared absorbing image by applying a second ink, which has a content of the infrared absorber of lower than 0.1% by mass and contains a second curable compound, to a surface of the substrate with the semi-cured infrared absorbing image by the ink jet method; andcuring the semi-cured infrared absorbing image and the non-infrared absorbing image by irradiating these images with active energy rays,wherein the first curable compound and the second curable compound contain a urethane (meth)acrylate-based oligomer, andwherein an absolute value of a difference between a refractive index of the first curable compound and a refractive index of the second curable compound is equal to or lower than 0.07.2. The ink jet recording method according to claim 1 ,wherein the recording of a non-infrared absorbing image is applying the second ink to an area of ...

PRODUCT IMAGING

A networked product imaging system includes devices that provide the production of imaged goods. Customer requirements are provided to a central computing device (CCD) that has two-way communication with a plurality of geographically separated image forming devices. The central computing device determines specifications for forming the image on the blank product in accordance with the customer's order. The central computing device selects an image forming device from the plurality of geographically separated image forming devices for fulfilling the order, based upon factors that include the specification of the image forming device available, the image forming inventory and the blank product inventory available at the geographic location of the image forming device. The selected image forming device forms the image on the blank product at the remote location. 1. A method for providing images on products using a system comprising:a plurality of geographically separated image forming devices, each geographically separated image forming device being capable of data communication with a central computing device so as to permit communication to the central computing device of a specification of the image forming device and an image forming inventory of materials with which the image may be formed and a blank product inventory associated with the image forming device and available to the image forming device;the method comprising the steps of:selecting an image and a blank product upon which the image is to be formed;communicating the selection to the central computing device;the central computing device determining specifications for forming the selected image on the selected blank product;the central computing device using the determined specifications to select an appropriate image forming device of the plurality of geographically separated image forming devices for forming the selected image on the selected blank product based upon the specification of the image ...

Ink Jet Printing

Printheads and printers are described herein. In one example, a printhead includes a number of drop generators disposed in a first array and a second array. The drop generators in both the first array and the second array are spaced one dot pitch apart perpendicular to the motion of a print medium, and alternate between a high drop weight (HDW) drop generator and a low drop weight (LDW) drop generator. Each drop generator in the first array is in a line of the motion of the print medium with a corresponding drop generator in the second array, wherein each HDW drop generator in the first array is in line with an LDW drop generator in the second array, and each LDW drop generator in the first array is in line with an HDW drop generator in the second array. 1. A printhead comprising:a first linear array of drop generators alternating between first and second types of drop generators, wherein the first type of drop generator discharges more ink than the second type of drop generator; anda second linear array of drop generators, disposed parallel to the first linear array, and alternating between the second and first types of drop generators;wherein the first type of drop generators each has a nozzle with a non-circular bore having a first portion that is narrower than a second portion, and wherein the second type of drop generators each includes a nozzle that is aligned in a direction of the first linear array with the first portion of the non-circular bore.2. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein each of the first type of drop generators in the first linear array aligns along the relative motion with a respective second type of drop generator in the second linear array.3. The printhead of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the non-circular bore comprises a central portion that is narrower in the direction than two flanking portions claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises one of the flanking portions.4. The printhead of claim 3 , wherein the non-circular bore ...

IMAGE RECORDING DEVICE

In an image recording device, in a case where a J-th nozzle (H]) of a certain image recording head (H) among plural image recording heads (H, H) is in a discharge defect state, a dot size of an image recording droplet discharged from a J-th nozzle (H]) of an image recording head (H) other than the image recording head (H) is changed to a size within dot sizes used in normal image recording in a high-speed image recording mode, which is larger than a dot size of an image recording droplet to be discharged from the discharging nozzle (H]). In a low-speed image recording mode, the dot size of the image recording droplet discharged from the discharging nozzle (H]) is changed to a size which is larger than the largest dot size among dot sizes used in the normal image recording. 1. An image recording device comprising:an image recording unit that includes a plurality of image recording heads in which each head includes the same number of a plurality of discharging nozzles that discharge an image recording droplet;an image processing unit that converts an input image into dot data configured by dots of two or more sizes;a data transmitting unit that transmits the dot data from the image processing unit to the image recording unit;an image recording mode control unit that controls the image recording unit so that an image is recorded in at least two image recording modes where image recording speeds are different from each other;a discharge state reading unit that reads discharge states of the plurality of discharging nozzles; anda dot data change unit that changes, when the discharge state reading unit detects a discharge defect of a first discharging nozzle which is a J-th discharging nozzle among the plurality of discharging nozzles of one image recording head among the plurality of image recording heads, a dot size of an image recording droplet discharged from a second discharging nozzle which is a J-th discharging nozzle of at least one image recording head other than ...

Image processing apparatus and image processing method

There is provided an image processing method that can output a high-quality image having high dispersing quality in the configuration for printing an image using a plurality of different kinds of dots. Therefore in the same region of a printing medium, binary data is generated such that a low frequency component of space frequency characteristics is suppressed with priority to a dot pattern of a combination in which a plurality of kinds of dots are relatively noticeable.

Digital customizer system and method

The present invention is a system and method for digitally customizing or decorating objects typically formed of substrates other than paper. The system includes a computer, color management software, and a full color inkjet printer designed for printing heat activatable ink. The ink comprises heat activatable colorant solids that are printed onto media in the form of an image that may be activated and/or transferred to a subsequent or final substrate by applying heat and intimate contact between the medium and the subsequent or final substrate. Control of color cell formation according to the invention improves first level dot gain upon printing and second level dot gain upon heat activation of the colorant to provide an image of high quality for most substrates that are usable with the system and method of the invention.

Printing apparatus

A printing apparatus includes a head and a control unit. The head discharges an imaging liquid for forming an image, and a supplementary liquid for supplementing formation of the image onto a printing medium. The control unit controls the head to execute a first operation, in which the imaging liquid is discharged onto a first region and a second operation, in which the supplementary liquid is discharged onto a region of the printing medium onto which the imaging liquid is not discharged. The control unit controls the head such that the discharge amount of the supplementary liquid on a second region, which is adjacent to the first region, is less than the discharge amount of the supplementary liquid on a third region, which is a region onto which the imaging liquid is not discharged and is not adjacent to the first region.

Liquid discharging apparatus and liquid discharging method

There is provided a liquid discharging apparatus including: a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row in which nozzles for discharging liquid are lined up in a predetermined direction; and a control unit, in which the control unit, when a value of the input data of the image is at least in a partial range, obtains a corrected discharging rate which is a discharging rate smaller than a discharging rate in the non-overlapped region with respect to the value of the input data at least in the partial range of the input data, and discharges the liquid from the nozzles of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row depending on the corrected discharging rate, and a predetermined recording duty which is a recording duty higher than a recording duty in the non-overlapped region, in the overlapped region.

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, HALFTONE PROCESSING METHOD, AND HALFTONE PROCESSING PROGRAM

An image forming apparatus includes: a nozzle head in which nozzles that form dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink onto the recording medium are arranged in a row in a first direction; a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the recording medium or the nozzle head relative to another in a second direction intersecting the first direction; an image acquirer that acquires image data for forming an image of dots on the recording medium; and a halftone processor that determines whether to form a dot at each pixel position of the image on the basis of the image data, wherein the halftone processor includes: an n-value processor; a grouping processor; a total value calculator; and a rearrangement processor. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:a nozzle head in which nozzles that form dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink onto the recording medium are arranged in a row in a first direction;a moving mechanism that moves at least one of the recording medium or the nozzle head relative to another in a second direction intersecting the first direction;an image acquirer that acquires image data for forming an image of dots on the recording medium; anda halftone processor that determines whether to form a dot at each pixel position of the image on the basis of the image data,wherein the halftone processor comprises:an n-value processor that performs n-value processing on the image data to generate n-value data;a grouping processor that groups a plurality of pixel positions adjacent in the second direction into one group in the n-value data;a total value calculator that calculates a total value of n-value data at respective pixel positions of each of the group; anda rearrangement processor that performs, on the basis of the total value, rearrangement processing of rearranging density of dots at respective pixel positions of the image data so as to suppress continuous formation of dots on the recording medium.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ...

Printhead calibration and printing

A method of calibrating a printhead, for printing two-dimensional bit-mapped images having a number of pixels per row, is disclosed for printheads ( 1 ) having a row of printing channels ( 5 ). During printing, in order to cause volumes of charged particulate concentrations of one of a number of predetermined volume sizes to be ejected from selected ejection channels of the printhead to form printed pixels, control pulse values of respective predetermined amplitude and duration, as determined by respective image pixel bit values, are applied to the selected printing channels. The calibration method comprises providing an image ( 50 ) that causes each channel of the printhead to be driven with the same pulse value, and printing one or more test prints of the image. The pulse value for all channels is then varied ( 101 ) in a set of defined steps within the test print or between the test prints and the optical density of the test print or test prints measured ( 102 ) at positions arranged on a grid ( 51 ) to obtain data of print density and pulse value at positions across the printhead. A desired tone reproduction curve ( 52 ) is pre-selected for the print process represented by optical density versus image grey level. Then pulse values are calculated ( 104 ) from the measured test print or test prints that are estimated to produce the desired values of print density corresponding to selected values of image grey level and which may include non-printing pulse values, and the pulse value for each of said positions across the printhead for each of said image grey levels is recorded in memory ( 105,106 ).

CUSTOM PRODUCT IMAGING METHOD

A networked product imaging system includes devices that provide the production of imaged goods. Sellers are easily integrated into the network with minimal or no inventory requirements. Customer requirements are provided to a central computing device (CCD) that has two-way communication with a plurality of geographically separated product image forming devices. The central computing device determines specifications for forming the image on the blank product in accordance with the customer's order. The central computing device selects a product image forming device from the plurality of geographically separated product forming devices for fulfilling the order, based upon factors that include the specification of the product image forming device available, the product image forming inventory and the blank product inventory available at the geographic location of the product image forming device. The selected product image forming device forms the image on the blank product at the remote location. 1. A method for providing images on products using a system comprising:a plurality of geographically separated image forming devices, each geographically separated image forming device being capable of data communication with a central computing device so as to permit communication to the central computing device of a specification of the image forming device and an image forming inventory of materials with which the image may be formed and a blank product inventory associated with the image forming device and available to the image forming device;the method comprising the steps of:the central computing device creating a plurality of custom websites for a plurality of sellers, each website of the plurality of websites presenting a plurality of image choices and a plurality of blank product choices;selecting an image and a blank product upon which the image is to be formed through a website of a seller of the plurality of sellers;communicating the selected image and selected ...

INTERMEDIATE MEMBER SURFACE COMPOSITION FOR SENSING BY AN IMAGE SENSOR

There is described a method of operating an aqueous ink jet printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a member defining a reflective imaging surface wherein the imaging surface is substantially white or grey in the visible spectrum and wherein the imaging surface has an optical density variation of less than about 0.3. The method includes a photosensor array disposed to receive light reflected from the reflective imaging surface. The method includes ejecting aqueous ink onto the reflective imaging surface using a printhead and forming aqueous ink drops on the surface of the rotating member. The method includes generating image data from the reflecting imaging surface using the photosensor array. The method includes identifying a parameter from the generated image data that is not within specification 1. A method of operating an aqueous ink jet printing apparatus , the printing apparatus comprising a member defining a reflective imaging surface wherein the imaging surface is substantially white or grey in the visible spectrum and wherein the imaging surface has an optical density variation of less than about 0.3 , and a photosensor array disposed to receive light reflected from the reflective imaging surface , the method comprising:ejecting aqueous ink onto the reflective imaging surface using a printhead and forming aqueous ink drops on the surface;transferring the aqueous ink drops to a media substrate;generating image data from the reflecting imaging surface prior to the transfer of the aqueous ink drops to the media substrate using the photosensor array; andidentifying a parameter from the generated image data on the reflecting imaging surface that is not within specification.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of: an absence of an ink drop claim 1 , a misplacement of an ink drop and an ink drop size variation.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the absence of an ink drop claim 2 , the misplacement of an ...

PRINTING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND PRINT METHOD

A printing system is provided and includes an image processing portion that generates a generated image by image processing, and a printing portion that performs printing on a medium based on the generated image. The image processing portion generates the generated image by performing a quantization processing that performs quantization by comparing the pixel value of each pixel in the input image with a threshold, and in the quantization processing, calculates a dot influence value indicating to what extent a position corresponding to a selected pixel is covered by the ink dots formed at the position set on the medium in correspondence with the peripheral pixels of the selected pixel, performs adjustment of reflecting the dot influence value on at least one of the pixel value of the selected pixel or the threshold, and compares the pixel value and the threshold based on a value after adjustment. 1. A printing system that performs printing on a medium through an inkjet method , the printing system comprising:an image processing portion, being configured to perform an image processing on an input image that indicates an image to be printed, the image processing portion generating an image in which a gradation number of a pixel value is smaller than the input image as a generated image which is an image generated by the image processing; anda printing portion, being configured to execute printing on the medium based on the generated image generated by the image processing portion;whereinthe printing portion includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the medium, the inkjet head forming ink dots on the medium by ejecting ink to a position set on the medium in correspondence with each pixel in the generated image; generate the generated image by performing a quantization processing for performing quantization by comparing a pixel value of each pixel in the input image with a threshold that is preset; and', calculate a dot influence value which is a value indicating to ...

PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD

An apparatus for printing an image on a transparent medium based on a selected mode, the apparatus includes: a head that ejects ink droplets from nozzles, wherein when a first mode is selected, the head prints a first image on the transparent medium, prints a background image on the first image, and prints a second image which is different from the first image on the background image, and wherein when a second mode is selected, the head prints a second image on the transparent medium, prints a background image on the second image, and prints a first image on the background image. 1. An apparatus for printing an image on a transparent medium based on a selected mode , the apparatus comprising:a head that ejects ink droplets from nozzles,wherein when a first mode is selected, the head prints a first image on the transparent medium, prints a background image on the first image, and prints a second image which is different from the first image on the background image, andwherein when a second mode is selected, the head prints a second image on the transparent medium, prints a background image on the second image, and prints a first image on the background image.2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in the first mode claim 1 , a mirror image of the first image is printed claim 1 , and simultaneously claim 1 , an actual image of the second image is printed claim 1 , andin the second mode, a mirror image of the second image is printed, and simultaneously, an actual image of the first image is printed.3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first image is an additive image having an area of printing which is smaller than that of the second image claim 1 ,the first mode is a front-beat print mode in which the second image is positioned closer to the head than the additive image in a printing completion state, andthe second mode is a back-beat print mode in which the additive image is positioned closer to the head than the second image in the printing ...

Dot Recording Apparatus, Dot Recording Method, Computer Program Therefor, and Method of Manufacturing Recording Medium

A first mask region is a dot recording region including a pixel position on which a dot is recorded, a second mask region is a dot non-recording region including only a pixel position on which a dot is not recorded, recording of dots is performed so as to overlap the first mask regions with each other in a state where the first mask regions of two masks or more among the P masks are shifted from each other on the recording medium, and D Подробнее

Dot Recording Apparatus, Dot Recording Method, Computer Program Therefor, and Method of Manufacturing Recording Medium

A dot recording apparatus performs multi-pass recording through which recording of dots is terminated in main scanning passes of N times (N is an integer equal to or greater than two) on a main scanning line, the multi-pass recording is performed for respective supercell regions defined as a region including pixel positions on which recording of dots is performed in each main pass, a first supercell region recorded in a first pass in the supercell regions is configured with a first concave polygon having a concave portion and a convex portion, a second supercell region recorded in a second pass in the supercell regions is configured with a second concave polygon having a concave portion and a convex portion, and shapes of the first concave polygon and the second concave polygon are inversely symmetrical shapes in the main scanning direction.

MULTILEVEL DENSITY COMPENSATION FOR DIGITAL PRINTING MACHINES

A method corrects color density unevenness during a printing operation on an inkjet printing machine having printing nozzles and a computer. The computer modifies the number or size of the drops to be applied to a printing substrate to attain nominal color density values after the processing of a rasterized print image. For different actual tone values, it is determined which target tone value is required to attain a nominal coloration by measuring a test image for every printing nozzle using a color measurement device, and, based thereon, an area coverage-dependent compensation profile is determined and saved on the computer to be applied in the printing operation to calculate the number and size of the drops on the computer. 1. A method for correcting color density unevenness during a printing operation on an inkjet printing machine having printing nozzles and a computer , which comprises the steps of:modifying, via the computer, a number or size of drops to be applied to a printing substrate after a processing of a rasterized print image to attain nominal color density values;determining, for different actual tone values, which target tone value is required to attain a nominal coloration by measuring a test image for every printing nozzle using a color measurement device; anddetermining an area coverage-dependent compensation profile based on the target tone value and saving the area coverage-dependent compensation profile on the computer to be applied during the printing operation to calculate the number and/or the size of the drops on the computer.2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer applies the area coverage-dependent compensation profile by calculating a required number and/or the size of the drops in real time during the printing operation.3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drops exist in two sizes and the computer calculates a required number of the drops in the two sizes.4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the ...

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM

The image processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a pixel value group consisting of pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in a predetermined target area in image data; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a threshold value group consisting of a plurality of threshold values corresponding to the plurality of pixels; a calculation unit configured to calculate a target number of dots indicating a number of dots to be arranged within the target area; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a pixel position at which a dot is expected to be formed by a non-ejectable nozzle in the image data as a non-ejectable nozzle position; and determination unit configured to determine arrangement of dots in the target area based on a priority level determined based on the pixel value group and the threshold value group, the target number of dots, and the non-ejectable nozzle position. 1. An image processing apparatus that processes image data for forming an image by ejection of ink from a plurality of nozzles , the image processing apparatus comprising:a pixel value acquisition unit configured to acquire a pixel value group consisting of pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in a predetermined target area in the image data;a threshold value acquisition unit configured to acquire a threshold value group consisting of a plurality of threshold values corresponding to the plurality of pixels;a derivation unit configured to derive a target number of dots indicating a number of dots to be arranged within the target area;a position acquisition unit configured to acquire a pixel position at which a dot is expected to be formed by a non-ejectable nozzle in the image data as a non-ejectable nozzle position; anda dot arrangement determination unit configured to determine arrangement of dots in the target area based on a priority level determined based on the pixel value group and the threshold value group, the target number of dots, and ...

IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE GENERATING DOT DATA USING MACHINE LEARNING MODEL AND METHOD FOR TRAINING MACHINE LEARNING MODEL

In an image processing device, a controller performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image; inputting first and second datasets into a machine learning model and causing the machine learning model to output first and second partial dot data; and generating dot data specifying a dot formation state for each of a plurality of pixels in a print image corresponding to the target image using the first and second partial dot data. The first dataset includes first partial image data and a first value for an input parameter. The second dataset includes second partial image data and a second value for the input parameter. The machine learning model outputs the second partial dot data different from the first partial dot data according to the second value being different from the first value even when the second partial image data is identical to the first partial image data. 1. An image processing device configured to perform an image process for a printer , the printer being configured to form dots on a printing medium using colorant , the image processing device comprising a controller configured to perform:(a) acquiring target image data representing a target image, the target image having a plurality of pixels; and (b1) inputting a first dataset into a machine learning model and causing the machine learning model to output first partial dot data, the first dataset including first partial image data and a first value for an input parameter, the first partial image data corresponding to the target image data within a first input area in the target image, the first partial dot data specifying a dot formation state for each pixel in a first output area, the first output area including a first corresponding area corresponding to the first input area in the print image;', '(b2) inputting a second dataset into the machine learning model and causing the machine learning model to output second partial dot data, the second dataset including second partial image ...

System For Detecting Inoperative Inkjets In Three-Dimensional Object Printing Using A Digital Camera And Strobe Light

An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing of three-dimensional objects. The apparatus includes an optical sensor with a predetermined focal plane. The optical sensor is moved to a position that enables the sensor to generate image data of material drops ejected by a group of inkjets in a single row of a printhead. These image data are analyzed to detect inoperative inkjets to enable printhead maintenance at appropriate times to maintain the operational status of the inkjets in the printhead. The optical sensor is moved along a length and width of the printhead to enable the sensor to generate image data of all the inkjets that eject material from the printhead. 1. A printer comprising:a printhead configured for movement in a plane in two perpendicular directions in the plane;an optical sensor having a focal plane at a predetermined distance from the optical sensor, the optical sensor is positioned to enable the focal plane to be perpendicular to a face of the printhead and the plane in which the printhead is configured for movement;an illumination source positioned to illuminate the focal plane of the optical sensor; anda controller operatively connected to the printhead, the illumination source and the optical sensor, the controller being configured to operate the printhead to eject drops from inkjets in the printhead, to activate the illumination source as the printhead ejects drops through the focal plane of the optical sensor, and to receive image data of the drops passing through the focal plane of the optical sensor generated by the optical sensor.2. The printer of claim 1 , the controller being further configured to detect an absence of drops at predetermined positions in the image data received from the optical sensor to identify inoperative inkjets in the printhead.3. The printer of claim 1 , the controller being further configured to identify a volume of each drop depicted in the image data received from the optical sensor to identify ...

IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING BANDING

An imaging apparatus includes a print engine having a printhead that generates ink drops, and a printhead carrier that carries the printhead in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction. A controller determines an initial print direction based on ink drop information obtained by printing patches in the first direction and in the second direction, wherein the ink drop information includes a respective chromatic value of each of the patches. The controller is operatively coupled to the print engine to print an image based on the initial print direction. 120-. (canceled)21. An imaging apparatus , comprising:a print engine having a printhead that generates ink drops, and a printhead carrier that carries the printhead in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction; anda controller that determines an initial print direction based on ink drop information obtained by printing patches in the first direction and in the second direction, wherein the ink drop information includes a respective chromatic value of each of the patches, the controller operatively coupled to the print engine to print an image based on the initial print direction.22. The imaging apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising a scanner to scan the patches to obtain the respective chromatic value of each of the patches.23. The imaging apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the patches include a first patch and a second patch.24. The imaging apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the first patch has a first chromatic value and the second patch has a second chromatic value.25. The imaging apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the controller selects the first direction as the initial print direction if the first chromatic value of the first patch is greater than the second chromatic value of the second patch claim 24 , and selects the second direction as the initial print direction if the second chromatic value of the second patch is greater than the first chromatic ...

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS

In a case where ink having a relatively high dot height is ejected a small amount, binary data corresponding to ink having a relatively low dot height is quantized so that dot adjacency is increased. 1. An image processing apparatus for processing multi-valued data corresponding to an image to be recorded in a unit area on a recording medium to record an image in the unit area during each of a plurality of relative scans of a recording head across the unit area in a scanning direction , the recording head being configured to eject at least ink of a first color containing a pigment and ink of a second color containing a pigment , in accordance with recording data that specifies ejection or non-ejection of each of the ink of the first color and the ink of the second color to each of a plurality of pixel areas each having a plurality of pixels within the unit area , the image processing apparatus comprising:an acquisition unit configured to acquire information concerning gradation values in the multi-valued data, each of the gradation values corresponding to one of the ink of the first color and the ink of the second color; anda quantization unit configured to quantize the multi-valued data to generate binary data that specifies, for each of the plurality of pixels, ejection or non-ejection of each of the ink of the first color and the ink of the second color to each of the plurality of pixel areas, whereina dot formed by applying the ink of the second color to the recording medium a predetermined amount has a lower height than a dot formed by applying the ink of the first color to the recording medium the predetermined amount, andthe quantization unit quantizes the multi-valued data corresponding to the ink of the second color so that an average of numbers of adjacent pixels among pixels within the unit area for which ejection of the ink of the second color is specified by the binary data in a case where the gradation value in the multi-valued data corresponding to ...

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND FLUSHING CONTROL METHOD FOR ASSIGNING RESPECTIVE DOT PATTERNS FOR USE IN FLUSHING WITH INKS OF DIFFERENT COLORS ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF OVERLAPPING DOTS IN IMAGE AREA

An image forming apparatus includes a recording head that ejects inks of different colors on a recording medium to form an image based on image data, a storage device that stores a plurality of different dot patterns for flushing, and a control device that functions as: a controller that allows the recording head to make flushing; an image area detector that detects an image area in the image data; an overlapping dot counter that counts a number of overlapping dots for each of the plurality of dot patterns according to which flushing is to be made on the image area, the number of overlapping dots being a number of dots in the dot pattern of the ink ejected on the image area; and a dot pattern assignor that assigns, according to the number of overlapping dots, the respective dot patterns for use in flushing with the inks of different colors. 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:a recording head that ejects inks of a plurality of different colors on a recording medium to form an image based on image data;a storage device that stores a plurality of different dot patterns for flushing; anda control device that includes a processor and functions, through the processor operating in accordance with a control program, as:a controller that allows the recording head to make flushing which is forcible ejection of the inks;an image area detector that detects an image area in the image data;an overlapping dot counter that counts a number of overlapping dots with the image area for each of the plurality of dot patterns according to which the inks are to be forcibly ejected on the image area under control of the controller, the number of overlapping dots being a number of dots in the dot pattern of the ink ejected on the image area; anda dot pattern assignor that assigns, according to the number of overlapping dots, the respective dot patterns for use in flushing with the inks of the plurality of different colors.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein ...

CONTROL DEVICE AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

A control device is configured to: obtain target image data; generate dot data using the target image data; and control a print execution device to print a print image using the dot data by executing: a first partial printing of forming the dots in an overlapping area and a first non-overlapping area; and a second partial printing of forming the dots in the overlapping area and a second non-overlapping area. The control device generates data of the dot data corresponding to the overlapping area by executing an overlapping area processing including first processing for values of pixels within a first range and second processing for values of pixels within a second range, the first processing including lowering a density of an image to be printed in the overlapping area. 1. A control device for controlling a print execution device , the print execution device comprising a print head having a plurality of nozzles configured to eject ink , a head driver configured to cause the print head to eject the ink to form dots on a printing medium , and a mover configured to move the printing medium relative to the print head in a moving direction , the control device being configured to:obtain target image data;generate dot data indicating a formation state of the dots for each pixel using the target image data; andcontrol the print execution device to print a print image using the dot data by alternately executing a partial printing of controlling the print head to form the dots and a moving of controlling the mover to move the printing medium for plural times, control the print execution device to execute a first partial printing;', 'control the mover to move the printing medium by a specific moving amount after the first partial printing; and', 'control the print execution device to execute a second partial printing after moving the printing medium by the specific moving amount,', form the dots in an overlapping area and a first non-overlapping area, the overlapping area ...

INKJET PRINTER AND PRINTING METHOD

An inkjet printer ejects a first ink including multiple colors and a second ink. A controller generates dot groups including an underlying layer dot group and an image dot group from ink dots of the first ink of each of the colors. The dot groups of each of the colors include all of the ink dots of the corresponding color. The controller forms a first printing layer of at least the ink dots of the underlying layer dot group of each of the colors and ink dots of the second ink. The controller forms a second printing layer of at least the ink dots of the image dot group of each of the colors. 1. An inkjet printer , comprising: a first color ink head including a plurality of nozzles through which a first ink of a first color is ejected towards a recording medium to form ink dots of the first ink of the first color on the recording medium;', 'a second color ink head including a plurality of nozzles through which a first ink of a second color is ejected towards the recording medium to form ink dots of the first ink of the second color on the recording medium; and', 'a second ink ink head including a plurality of nozzles through which a second ink is ejected towards the recording medium to form ink dots of the second ink on the recording medium;, 'a plurality of ink heads includinga moving mechanism to move the plurality of ink heads and the recording medium with respect to each other; anda controller connected with the plurality of ink heads and the moving mechanism to control the plurality of ink heads and the moving mechanism; wherein a first generator to generate, upon receipt of data on the ink dots of the first ink of the first color, a plurality of first dot groups, including a first underlying layer dot group and a first image dot group, of the ink dots of the first ink of the first color;', 'a second generator to generate, upon receipt of data on the ink dots of the first ink of the second color, a plurality of second dot groups, including a second underlying ...

PRINTING METHOD, PRINTING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

Printing an image on a printing medium includes using a print head that ejects a first ink and a second ink having higher lightness than the first ink with preliminary ejection that is performed in a predetermined area in which the image is to be formed in order to maintain an ink ejection state of the print head and that does not contribute to printing of the image, wherein dots of the first ink and dots of the second ink formed in the predetermined area by the preliminary ejection are printed so as to be superposed on each other. 1. A method of printing an image on a printing medium using a print head ejecting a first ink and a second ink having higher lightness than the first ink , the method comprising:preliminarily ejecting the first ink in a predetermined area;preliminarily ejecting the second ink in the predetermined area; andejecting ink in the predetermined area to form the image,wherein preliminarily ejecting the first ink and the second ink maintains an ink ejection state of the print head without contributing to printing of the image, andwherein dots of the first ink and dots of the second ink formed in the predetermined area by the preliminary ejection are printed so as to be superposed on each other.2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a region in which each of the dots of the first ink and a corresponding one of the dots of the second ink formed by the preliminary ejection are superposed on each other has higher lightness than a region in which only the dot of the first ink is formed on the printing medium.3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second ink is ejected prior to the first ink.4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first ink contains a black color material or a magenta color material.5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second ink contains a yellow color material.6. The method according to claim 1 ,wherein the print head includes a first nozzle array including nozzles ejecting the first ink arranged ...

INK JET PRINTHEAD

Printheads and methods for forming printheads are described herein. In one example, a printhead includes a number of drop generators, wherein a pitch between each adjacent drop generator is substantially the same, and the drop generators alternate between a high drop weight (HDW) drop generator and a low drop weight (LDW) drop generator. The printhead also includes a flow channel from an ink source leading into an ejection chamber associated with each drop generator, wherein the flow channel comprises an inflow region proximate to the ink source, wherein an area of the inflow region is adjusted to control the flux of ink into the ejection chamber. 1. A method for forming a printhead , comprising:depositing a conductor layer over a starting wafer, wherein the starting wafer comprises control electronics for a printhead;etching a resistor window across the wafer;depositing a resistor layer over the conductor layer and resistor window;etching the resistor layer and conductor layer to form traces and resistors;depositing a passivation film over the traces and resistors;depositing an anticavitation film over the passivation film;forming a primer layer over the passivation film;designing flow structures to control the refill rate of a drop generator based, at least in part, on drop sizeforming the flow structures over the primer layer; andforming caps and nozzles over the flow structures.2. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming the flow structures using a photoimageable epoxy claim 1 , and an exposure mask to form the structures.3. The method of claim 2 , comprising forming wider resistors in an alternating pattern with narrower resistors claim 2 , wherein the pitch between each resistor is held substantially constant.4. The method of claim 1 , wherein designing the flow structures comprises disposing alternating a plurality of high drop weight (HDW) drop generators with a plurality of low drop weight (LDW) drop generators claim 1 , wherein:a pitch between each drop ...

LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD AND RECORDING DEVICE USING SAME

A liquid discharge head includes a plurality of discharge holes, a plurality of pressurizing units, a plurality of drive circuits, a switch circuit, and first and second control circuits. The drive signals include a first signal for a pixel of a first size and a second drive signal for a pixel of a second size. The second control circuit controls the switch circuit so that each of the plurality of pressurizing units is connected to the drive circuit outputting the first signal when a droplet forming the pixel of the first size is discharged and is connected to the drive circuit outputting the second signal when a droplet forming the pixel of the second size is discharged. The first control circuit controls the drive circuits so that the drive circuits in charge of outputting the first signal is changed among the plurality of drive circuits.

MULTILAYER WHITE PRINTING WITH WHITE-BALANCE

White-balance is improved when printing on colored media, while minimizing the time and use of costly materials required by present approaches. In an embodiment, the typical solid white fill or background layer is altered by including in the white layer one or more of the other colors already available in the printer to shade this layer. Thus, a small amount of cyan, for example, helps balance a pink-ish (red) media; yellow is used for blue media; and magenta is used for green media; as well as combinations thereof. A combination of transparent process inks and opaque white helps to maintain brightness (luminosity).

IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE, METHOD AND PROGRAM

There are provided an image formation device, method, and program capable of forming an image, which is appropriate for a combination of dot sizes, with high flexibility in design for optimizing halftone processing in a case of using a plurality of dot sizes. Two or more combinations are selected among combinations of a plurality of types of threshold matrix and at least one type of division information for classifying a whole range of threshold values covered by the types of threshold matrix into a plurality of divisions. Then, by respectively applying the two or more combinations, dot sizes of pixels are determined on the basis of assigned two or more code values. 1. An image formation device that forms an image which is formed of dots with a plurality of dot sizes , the image formation device comprising:a combination selection portion that selects two or more combinations among combinations of a plurality of types of threshold matrix for performing binarization processing on a continuous tone image signal and at least one type of division information for classifying a whole range of threshold values covered by the types of threshold matrix into a plurality of divisions;a code assigning portion that respectively assigns code values, which are based on whether or not pixels of the continuous tone image signal belong to the plurality of divisions, to the two or more combinations; anda dot size determination portion that determines the dot sizes of the respective pixels on the basis of the two or more code values respectively corresponding to the two or more combinations.2. The image formation device according to claim 1 , further comprisinga data storage portion that stores size correspondence information which indicates a correspondence relationship between the dot sizes and the combination codes in which the two or more code values are combined in accordance with combination rules,wherein the dot size determination portion generates the combination codes, and ...

INK JET PRINTING APPARATUS

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printing apparatus whose compactness is improved. The ink jet printing apparatus includes: a print head; an ink tank for each ink color; an ink flow path plate for each ink color having a supply flow path that guides the ink supplied from the ink tank to the print head and a recovery flow path that guides the ink recovered from the print head to the ink tank; a flow path concentration plate in which the supply flow path and the recovery flow path for each ink color are concentrated and which guides the ink between the ink flow path plate and the print head; and one or a plurality of function parts provided within a range of a space demarcated by the ink flow path plate and the flow path concentration plate. 1. An ink jet printing apparatus comprising:a print head that ejects ink;an ink tank for each ink color that stores the ink;an ink flow path plate for each ink color provided under the ink tank in the direction of gravity and having a supply flow path that guides the ink supplied from the ink tank to the print head and a recovery flow path that guides the ink recovered from the print head to the ink tank;a flow path concentration plate in which the supply flow path and the recovery flow path for each ink color are concentrated and which guides the ink between the ink flow path plate and the print head; andone or a plurality of function parts provided within a range of a space demarcated by the ink flow path plate and the flow path concentration plate having an inclination with respect to the ink flow path plate, and which acts on at least one of the supply flow path and the recovery flow path inside the ink flow path plate.2. The ink jet printing apparatus according to claim 1 , whereinin a case where the direction of gravity is taken to be a z-direction, a direction in which the ink flow path plate for each ink color is arrayed to be a y-direction, and a direction perpendicular to the z-direction and ...

RECORDING DEVICE AND RECORDING METHOD

A recording device includes a recording head (a printing head) with multiple nozzles arranged therein to discharge droplets (ink droplets) onto a recording medium (a printing medium), and a recording controller (a printing controller) configured to control recording of a recording image, the recording including moving the recording head relative to the recording medium while the droplets are discharged. The recording controller is configured to control the recording for pixel data of the recording image that have a prescribed gray scale value or larger under conditions that a nozzle duty corresponding to the number of nozzles, included in the multiple nozzles and being able to discharge the droplets per unit area on the recording medium, is smaller than or equal to an upper limit value and that a discharge amount of the droplets discharged per the unit area is variable. 1. A recording device comprising:a recording head including multiple nozzles arranged therein to discharge droplets onto a recording medium; anda recording controller configured to control recording of a recording image, the recording including moving the recording head relative to the recording medium while the droplets are discharged, whereinthe recording controller is configured to control the recording for pixel data of the recording image that have a prescribed gray scale value or larger under conditions that a nozzle duty corresponding to the number of nozzles, included in the multiple nozzles and being able to discharge the droplets per unit area on the recording medium, is smaller than or equal to an upper limit value and that a discharge amount of the droplets discharged per the unit area is variable.2. The recording device according to claim 1 , whereinthe recording controller is configured to control the recording under a condition that, for the pixel data having the prescribed gray scale value or larger, the nozzle duty is constant.3. The recording device according to claim 1 , whereinthe ...

IMAGE FORMATION DEVICE, METHOD, PROGRAM, AND FORMED IMAGE

There are provided an image formation device, an image formation method, a program, and an image forming product capable of preventing noise and granularity of an image from deteriorating even when dots with a plurality of dot sizes are arranged to be aggregated. When a continuous tone image signal is a signal which indicates a tint image, at least one of dot aggregation portions , and is formed through arrangement for aggregation of dots (dots L and S) with two or more dot sizes, on a part of dot images , and which are indicated by dot image signals. In addition, the dot aggregation portions , and are formed through arrangement for non-aggregation of the dots (dots L) with at least one dot size.

LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS AND LIQUID REFILLING CONTAINER

An object is to provide a liquid ejecting apparatus that enables a liquid storage container to be properly and easily refilled with a liquid from a liquid refilling container without causing color mixture in the liquid storage container. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes liquid storage containers each configured to feed the liquid to a liquid ejecting portion and liquid refilling containers each configured to refill the liquid storage container with the liquid. A first fitting unit is provided around a liquid injection port in each of the liquid storage containers. A second fitting unit is provided around a liquid pour-out port in each of the liquid refilling containers. The second fitting unit is fitted to the first fitting unit to enable the liquid to be delivered from the liquid pour-out port to the liquid injection port. 1. A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid , liquid storage containers each configured to store the liquid fed to the liquid ejecting portion , and liquid refilling containers each configured to refill the liquid storage container with the liquid ,wherein each of the liquid storage containers has a liquid injection port through which the liquid is injected, a pressing member provided inside the liquid injection port, a first shape portion, and a second shape portion,each of the liquid refilling containers has a liquid pour-out port through which the liquid is poured out, a sealing material configured to seal the liquid pour-out port, a third shape portion enabled to engage with the first shape portion, and a fourth shape portion enabled to engage with the second shape portion, andin a case where the first shape portion engages with the third shape portion and the second shape portion engages with the fourth shape portion, the pressing member presses the sealing material to open the liquid pour-out port.2. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first shape portion ...

FLUID EJECTION DEVICES TO DISPENSE FLUID OF DIFFERENT SIZES

In some examples, a fluid ejection device includes a support body, a multi-die assembly, and a fluid channel that extends through the support body from a first side to a second side adjacent the multi-die assembly. The multi-die assembly includes a plurality of fluid ejection dies to receive fluid from the fluid channel, where a first fluid ejection die of the plurality of fluid ejection dies is to dispense fluid of a first drop size, and a second fluid ejection die of the plurality of fluid ejection dies is to dispense fluid of a second drop size different from the first drop size.

Image processing device, image forming apparatus, method of forming image for decorating object, and non-transitory recording medium

An image processing device includes circuitry to acquire image data of an image to be formed by a recording unit employing an inkjet method, calculate, based on the image data, ink thickness per pixel that indicates a thickness of ink to be discharged to form the image, set the maximum ink thickness per pixel of the entire image as a target thickness of the image, calculate, for each pixel, the difference between the target thickness and the ink thickness per pixel, create complementary data regulating thickness compensating the difference, and create print data including the image data and the complementary data.

RECORDING DEVICE AND RECORDING METHOD

A recording device includes a head including a plurality of nozzles discharging ink droplets and a head including a plurality of nozzles discharging ink droplets of a color identical to that of the ink droplets, a driving circuit configured to drive the former head at a drive voltage and drive the latter head by another drive voltage, an input unit configured to receive an input of selection information selected, based on comparison between a print image printed by the former head and a plurality of other print images G printed by the latter head, with the other drive voltage being changed individually, and a control unit configured to control the drive voltage and the other drive voltage, based on the selection information input from the input unit. 1. A recording device comprising:a first nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles discharging droplets and a second nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles discharging droplets of a color identical to that of the droplets discharged from the first nozzle row;a driving circuit configured to drive the first nozzle row at a first voltage and drive the second nozzle row at a second voltage;an input unit configured to receive an input of selection information selected based on comparison between a first recording image recorded by the first nozzle row and a plurality of second recording images recorded by the second nozzle row, with the second voltage being changed accordingly; anda control unit configured to control the first voltage and the second voltage based on the selection information input from the input unit.2. The recording device according to claim 1 , comprising a storage unit configured to store the selection information input from the input unit.3. The recording device according to claim 1 , whereinthe plurality of second recording images to be compared with the first recording image are recorded by the second nozzle row driven at the second voltage set with a plurality of differential voltages, which ...

Printhead control system and inkjet printer system

The present disclosure relates to a printhead control system for a printer, wherein the printer includes at least one printhead comprising a plurality of nozzles for ejecting printing fluid, wherein the nozzles include high drop weight nozzles and low drop weight nozzles ejecting drops of different drop weight, and are each arranged to eject printing fluid on a print medium such as to print images in frame areas of the print medium and such as to clean nozzles in spit bar areas of the print medium; the printer further includes a transport unit for moving the print medium relative to the printhead, wherein the print medium includes frame areas for printing images and spit bar areas for cleaning the nozzles; the printhead control device including: a module to determine a first group of said nozzles located over a frame area of the print medium and a second group of said nozzles located over a spit bar area of the print medium; a module to operate the high drop weight nozzles of the first group such as to eject printing fluid and print an image in the frame area; a module to operate disable the low drop weight nozzles of the first group such as to not eject printing fluid in the frame area; and a module to operate the high drop weight nozzles and the low drop weight nozzles of the second group such as to alternately eject printing fluid in the spit bar area.

Probabilistic pixel biasing in low area coverage

Methods, apparatuses, devices, and systems are disclosed herein for upscaling an input image to a higher resolution while simultaneously converting the image data from a multi-drop state to a binary state. These systems and methods use a probabilistic combination of randomized and biased positioning of inkjet firings in order to yield perceptibly lower graininess in low-coverage areas of output prints without introducing new artefacts.

Dual and single drop weight printing

In an example implementation, a method of dual and single drop weight printing includes operating a printing system in a hybrid drop weight print mode to enable ejecting black ink from high drop weight nozzles and low drop weight nozzles, and ejecting color ink from high drop weight nozzles but not from low drop weight nozzles.

Hybrid multi-drop/multi-pass printing system

In a hybrid multi-drop and multi-pass printing system, composite drops are formed from separate drops merging onto media and highlight regions are formed by using single drops to form a dot. Individual drops are nearly invisible and thus can form highlights with low graininess. As the density of the image increases, multi-drop dots are formed by merging two or more drops. Drops merging together on the media cover white space more efficiently, increase optical density without throughput loss and reduce ink ejection frequency. Multiple passes result in error hiding and improved ink/media interaction. An array of ink ejection elements forms a single printhead in a carriage which is passed along a scan axis perpendicular to the media in the advance direction so that the array path defines a swath area on the media surface. The ink ejection elements are energized during the initial passing step. Subsequent passages of the carriage along the carriage scan axis and energization of the ink ejection elements cause a predetermined number of ink droplets to be ejected onto the media surface at predetermined individual pixel locations.

Multi-drop merge on media printing system

A printing method that includes supplying ink from an ink reservoir through an ink channel that connects the ink reservoir with ink ejection chambers formed on a first surface of a substrate. The ink channel is connected at a first end to the ink reservoir and at a second end to a separate inlet passage for refilling each of the ink ejection chambers with ink. A group of the ink ejection chambers in adjacent relationship forms one of a plurality of primitives on the first surface of the substrate in which only a maximum of one of the ink ejection chambers is energized at a time. An ejection element within one of the ink ejection chambers is energized to cause the plurality of ink drops to be ejected onto a media surface at a single pixel location in a single pass of the substrate over the media surface.

Multi-drop merge on media printing system

Disclosed is a method for printing including the steps of supplying ink from an ink reservoir (30) through an ink channel connecting the reservoir (30) with ink ejection chambers (94) formed on a first surface of a substrate (88). The channel is connected at a first end with the reservoir (30) and at a second end to a separate inlet passage (132) for refilling each ejection chamber (94) with ink. A group of the ejection chambers (94) in adjacent relationship forming one of a plurality of primitives on the first surface of the substrate (88) in which only a maximum of one ejection chamber (94) of each of the primitives is energized at a time. Energizing an ejection element (96) formed on a first surface of the substrate (88) within each of the ink ejection chambers (94), to cause a plurality of ink drops to be ejected from the ink ejection chamber (94) onto a media surface at a single pixel location in a single pass of said substrate (88) over said media. Maintaining the plurality of ink drops ejected as subtantially separate drops until the plurality of ink drops merge upon impact with the media.

インクジェット記録ヘッドおよび記録装置

Hybrid multi-drop/multi-pass printing system

Hybrides Drucksystem unter Verwendung von Mehrfachströpfen und Mehrfach-Durchlauf

Method of driving print head in ink jet printer and ink jet printer

An ink jet printer ( 100 ) ejects ink drops from a plurality of nozzles and drops the ink drops on paper P, thus recording information including a character and/or an image in the form of dots based on the ink drops. The ink jet printer ( 100 ) has a line head ( 120 ) having a driving element for ejecting ink drops from the nozzles. The ink jet printer ( 100 ) causes the line head ( 120 ) to scan the same portion on the paper P only once in one print and drives the line head ( 120 ) to modulate the diameter of a dot by the number of ink drops, using one or a plurality of ink drops for forming one dot.

Method of Preventing the Formation of Inkjet Printing Artifacts

A method for compensating for a tendency for droplets deposited by a plurality of nozzles of an ink jet printer to merge in the direction of printing on a substrate, comprising: identifying lines of pixels to be printed by each nozzle which have a grey level greater than a first threshold value; selecting certain of those pixels which are separated by a distance in the printing direction determined by a probability function and reducing the grey level of those certain pixels below a second threshold value so as to prevent merging of drops in the printing direction.