Image processing device, image processing method, recording device, and program

Abstract

To solve the problem that there is a risk of decreasing adhesion between a laminate layer and an ink layer surface of a recording product when subjecting the recording product to laminate processing as post-processing, and that, especially when a slip agent exists on the ink layer surface so that fastness of the ink layer of the recording product is secured, the slip agent may become a factor that deteriorates the adhesion between the laminate layer and the ink layer surface.SOLUTION: In accordance with presence / absence of a setting of a laminate processing mode, an imparting amount of reaction liquid when the laminate processing mode has been set, is larger than a reaction liquid imparting amount in the case that the laminate processing mode has not been set, thereby improving adhesion to the laminate layer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, a recording apparatus, and a program for recording an image on a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet recording devices are known that record images on a recording medium by applying ink to the recording medium. In recent years, there has been a demand for such inkjet recording devices to produce recorded results with less noticeable bleeding. When recording an image using multiple types of ink, there is a risk of image degradation due to "bleeding" between inks with different colorants. To reduce this bleeding, a reaction liquid that reacts with the colorants contained in the colorant inks is used. Bringing the colorant ink and the reaction liquid into contact on the recording medium causes the colorants contained in the colorant ink to aggregate, thereby reducing bleeding.

[0003] In order to reduce bleeding, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which the amount of reaction liquid applied is increased stepwise depending on the amount of colorant ink applied onto a recording medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-321349 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors' investigations have revealed that when lamination processing is performed as a post-processing step, there is a risk of reducing the adhesion between the laminate layer and the ink layer surface of the printed product. This problem may become more pronounced when the color ink contains a slipping agent such as wax particles. In order to ensure the robustness of the ink layer of the printed product, it is preferable to improve the slipping property of the ink layer surface. However, the presence of a slipping agent in the ink layer surface may reduce the adhesion to the laminate layer.

[0006] In response to such problems, an object of the present invention is to appropriately set the amount of reaction liquid to be applied. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is an image processing device that performs image processing for a recording device that includes a recording means having a plurality of recording elements for applying color ink containing a color material to a recording medium and a plurality of recording elements for applying a reaction liquid containing a component that aggregates the color material contained in the color ink to the recording medium, and a control means that controls the application operation of the color ink and the reaction liquid by the recording means, and is characterized by having an acquisition means that acquires information indicating whether a lamination process is to be performed on the recording medium on which an image is recorded, and a determination means that determines the amount of application of the reaction liquid based on the information and the amount of application of the color ink for each pixel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the amount of reaction liquid to be applied is set based on information indicating whether or not lamination processing is to be performed, and thus, when lamination processing is to be performed, the amount of reaction liquid to be applied can be appropriately set while improving adhesion with the laminate layer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart of recording data generation. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] Conceptual diagram of cold lamination processing equipment. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram showing how the ratio of slip agent present is reduced as the amount of reactant applied increases. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart of image data processing in the image processing system. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a UI screen for setting whether or not to use a lamination processing mode. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reactant applied. [Figure 12] Schematic diagram showing binary RCT data according to whether or not the color ink and reaction liquid distribution process and lamination process mode are set. [Figure 13] 10 is a schematic side view showing how the range of the non-printing area of ​​the printing medium differs depending on the type of printing medium in a predetermined area where a small amount of color ink is applied. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reactant applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] (Configuration of recording device) 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus according to this embodiment. The inkjet recording apparatus of this embodiment is a so-called serial scan printer. An image is recorded on the recording medium P by scanning a recording head 9 in a scanning direction (X direction in the figure) that intersects with the transport direction (Y direction in the figure) in which the recording medium P is transported.

[0012] The configuration of this inkjet recording device and its operation during recording will be outlined below. First, a transport motor (not shown) drives a transport roller via gears, transporting a recording medium P from a spool 6 in the transport direction. A guide shaft 8 extends in the X direction. A carriage motor (not shown) drives a carriage unit 2 to scan. The carriage unit 2 scans back and forth along the guide shaft 8 in a predetermined printing area. A print head 9 is attached to the carriage unit 2. During the scanning process of the carriage unit 2, ink is ejected from the print head 9 at a timing based on a position signal obtained by an encoder 7, and the ink is applied as droplets onto the recording medium. The print head 9 has an array of multiple ejection orifices, each of which has a printing element inside that converts electrical energy into energy for ejecting ink. In this embodiment, the printing element is an electrothermal conversion element, and the print head 9 is a so-called thermal inkjet print head.

[0013] In one scan of the carriage unit 2 carrying the print head 9, an image is printed in an area (hereinafter also referred to as a band) whose width corresponds to the arrangement range of the ejection ports. In this embodiment, an ink application operation is performed at a scanning speed of 40 inches per second and a printing resolution of 1200 dpi (1 / 1200 inch intervals). When one scan is completed, the print medium P is transported and the next scan is performed. Scanning at a speed faster than 40 inches per second is also possible.

[0014] A carriage belt can be used to transmit the driving force from the carriage motor to the carriage unit 2. Instead of a carriage belt, other driving methods can be used, such as a lead screw that is rotationally driven by the carriage motor and extends in the Y direction, or an engaging portion that is provided on the carriage unit 2 and engages with a groove in the lead screw.

[0015] The recording medium P is sandwiched between a paper feed roller and a pinch roller and transported to a recording area on the platen 4 where the recording head 9 can record. When no image recording job is being received, the nozzle surface of the recording head 9 where the nozzles are arranged is covered with a cap. When a recording command is received, the cap is opened and an initial operation is started to prepare the recording head 9 and carriage unit 2 for scanning. When data for one scan is accumulated in the buffer, the carriage unit 2 is caused to scan and the aforementioned recording operation is performed.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the recording device. A heater 10 supported by a frame (not shown) is located in a curing area downstream in the sub-scanning direction X from the position where a recording head 9 mounted on a carriage unit 2 reciprocates in the main scanning direction Y. The heater 10 dries the liquid ink on the recording medium P using heat. The heater 10 is covered by a heater cover 11, which efficiently irradiates the recording medium P with heat from the heater 10 and protects the heater 10. After recording is performed by the recording head 9, the recording medium P is wound around a take-up spool 12 to form a roll-shaped wound medium 6. Specific examples of the heater 10 include a sheath heater and a halogen heater. The heating temperature of the heating unit in the curing area is set taking into consideration the film-forming properties and productivity of the water-soluble resin emulsion and the heat resistance of the recording medium P. The heating unit in the curing area may use a method such as blowing hot air from above or a contact-type heat conduction heater from below the recording medium P. In the present embodiment, the heating means of the heating unit in the curing region is provided at one location, but two or more locations may be provided and used in combination.

[0017] Here, the recording device of this embodiment can perform so-called multi-pass recording, in which an image is recorded in a predetermined area (1 / n band) on the recording medium P by scanning the recording head 9 n times (n: an integer of 2 or more). This multi-pass recording will be described in detail later.

[0018] 3 shows the print head 9 according to this embodiment. The print head 9 includes an ejection opening array 30K that ejects black ink (K) as ink containing a coloring material, an ejection opening array 30C that ejects cyan ink (C), and an ejection opening array 30Y that ejects magenta ink (M) and yellow ink (Y).

[0019] These black ink (K), cyan ink (C), magenta ink (M), and yellow ink (Y) each contain coloring materials, and therefore, for simplicity in the following explanation, these inks will also be referred to as coloring material inks.

[0020] The recording head 9 also has an ejection port array 30RCT that ejects a reactive liquid (RCT) that does not contain a colorant. This reactive liquid does not contain a colorant, but does contain a reactant that reacts with the colorant contained in the colorant ink, and can reduce bleeding by coming into contact with the colorant ink on the recording medium P.

[0021] In this embodiment, four types of color inks (K, C, M, Y) are provided as color inks, but this is not limited thereto, and light cyan ink (Lc) and light magenta ink (Lm) may also be provided as light inks. Furthermore, a new light ink, gray ink (GY), and special color inks such as green ink (G), orange ink (OR), red ink (R), and blue ink (B) may also be provided.

[0022] In the print head 9, these ejection opening arrays are arranged in the order of ejection opening arrays 30RCT, 30K, 30C, 30M, and 30Y from left to right in the X direction.

[0023] These ejection opening arrays 30RCT, 30K, 30C, 30M, and 30Y are each configured with 1280 ejection openings 31 that eject each ink, arranged in the Y direction (transport direction) at a density of 1200 dpi. In this embodiment, the amount of ink ejected at one time from one ejection opening 31 is approximately 6 pl.

[0024] These ejection opening arrays 30RCT, 30K, 30C, 30M, and 30Y are connected to ink tanks (not shown) that store the corresponding inks, and ink is supplied to them. Note that the print head 9 and the ink tanks used in this embodiment may be configured as an integrated unit, or may be configured to be separable from each other.

[0025] Detailed ink compositions of the black ink (K), cyan ink (C), magenta ink (M), yellow ink (Y), and reactive liquid (RCT) will be described later.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a print control system in the printing apparatus 100 of this embodiment. The main control unit 400 includes a CPU 401, a ROM 402, a RAM 403, and an input / output port 404. The CPU 401 performs processing operations such as calculation, selection, discrimination, and control, as well as printing operations. The ROM 402 stores control programs to be executed by the CPU 401. The RAM 403 is used as a print data buffer, etc. The memory 413 stores mask patterns, which will be described later, etc. The input / output port 404 is connected to drive circuits 405, 406, 408, 408 for a conveyance motor (LF motor) 409, a carriage motor (CR motor) 410, the print head 9, the heater 10, and actuators in the cutting unit, etc. The main control unit 400 is connected to a host PC 412 via an interface circuit 411.

[0027] (Data generation) 5 is a flowchart of the print data generation process executed by the CPU 401 in accordance with a control program. In step S1, image data (brightness data) represented by 8-bit, 256-value information (0 to 255) for each of the colors red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is acquired from the host computer, host PC 412, to the printing device 100. In step S2, the image data represented by R, G, and B is color-converted into multi-value data represented by the multiple types of ink (K, C, M, Y, and RCT) used for printing. This color conversion process generates multi-value data that defines the gradation of each ink of K, C, M, Y, and RCT for each pixel group consisting of multiple pixels. This multi-value data is 8-bit, 256-value data (0 to 255).

[0028] In step S3, the multi-value data represented by K, C, M, Y, and RCT is quantized to generate quantized data (binary data) represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not each of the K, C, M, Y, and RCT inks is ejected for each pixel. Quantization processing can be performed using a variety of quantization methods, including error diffusion, dithering, and indexing.

[0029] In step S4, a distribution process is performed to distribute the quantized data to multiple scans of the print head 9 over a predetermined area. This distribution process generates 1-bit binary (0, 1) print data for each pixel during each of the multiple scans over a predetermined area of ​​the print medium P. This print data is generated for each of K, C, M, Y, and RCT, and determines whether or not each ink will be ejected. The distribution process corresponds to multiple scans and is performed using a mask pattern that determines whether or not ink will be ejected for each pixel.

[0030] Ink is ejected from the print head 9 in accordance with the print data generated by the above process, thereby printing an image on the print medium.

[0031] Here, the processing of steps S1 to S4 is performed by the CPU 401 in the recording device 100, but this is not limiting. For example, all of the processing of steps S1 to S4 may be performed by the host PC 412. Alternatively, some of the processing may be performed by the host PC 412, and the rest may be performed by the recording device 100.

[0032] (Multi-pass printing method) In this embodiment, so-called multi-pass printing is performed, in which K, C, M, Y, and RCT inks are used to print an image by multiple scans on a predetermined area on the print medium P. Multi-pass printing will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0033] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a multi-pass printing method. As described above, an image is printed on a predetermined area on a printing medium P by n scans of the printing head 9 (n: an integer equal to or greater than 2). In this diagram, n=6. The ejection opening groups A1 to A6 are obtained by dividing each ejection opening array 30 into six in the Y direction (transport direction). Each of the ejection opening groups A1 to A6 corresponds to one of six scans of the predetermined area. Between scans of the printing head 9, the printing medium P is transported downstream in the Y direction, but for simplicity, this diagram shows the printing head 9 moving upstream in the Y direction between scans.

[0034] During the first scan, a predetermined area 60 on the recording medium P is located opposite the ejection port group A1 in the ejection port array 30. Based on the print data corresponding to the first scan, the ejection port group A1 is driven to eject ink onto the predetermined area 60. After the first scan is completed, the recording medium P is transported in the Y direction by a distance corresponding to one ejection port group.

[0035] Similarly, the second scan is performed, and ejection opening group A2 is driven to eject ink onto the predetermined area 60. Thereafter, by alternately conveying the recording medium P and ejecting ink from the recording head 9, ejection operations are performed from ejection opening groups A3 to A6 during the third to sixth scans onto the predetermined area 60. As a result, the recording of the image onto the predetermined area 60 is completed.

[0036] In this figure, n=6, but this is not limited to this, and an image may be recorded using more than six scans. In this case, the area will be shorter than the length in the Y direction of the predetermined area 60 in Figure 6. Also, an image may be recorded using fewer scans than six, in which case the area will be longer than the length in the Y direction of the predetermined area 60.

[0037] (Ink composition overview) The inks constituting the ink set used in this embodiment will now be described in detail. Hereinafter, "parts" and "%" are by weight unless otherwise specified.

[0038] 1. Ink composition The composition of each ink is described in detail below. The colorant inks (K, C, M, Y) and the reaction liquid (RCT) used in this embodiment all contain a water-soluble organic solvent. The water-soluble organic solvent preferably has a boiling point of 150°C or higher and 300°C or lower for reasons of wettability and moisture retention of the print head 9 face surface. Furthermore, from the viewpoints of film-forming function for resin microparticles and swelling solubility in the recording medium P on which a resin layer is formed, ketone compounds such as acetone and cyclohexanone, propylene glycol derivatives such as tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and heterocyclic compounds with a lactam structure, such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone and 2-pyrrolidone, are particularly preferred. From the viewpoint of ejection performance, the content of the water-soluble organic solvent is preferably 3 wt% or higher and 30 wt% or lower. Specifically, examples of water-soluble organic solvents include alkyl alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, and tert-butyl alcohol. Amides such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide; ketones or ketoalcohols such as acetone and diacetone alcohol; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol; ethylene glycol; or alkylene glycols in which the alkylene group contains 2 to 6 carbon atoms, such as propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol, hexylene glycol, and diethylene glycol; lower alkyl ether acetates such as polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; glycerin; lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether, diethylene glycol methyl (or ethyl) ether, and triethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether; polyhydric alcohols such as trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane; N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. The water-soluble organic solvents mentioned above can be used alone or in combination.It is preferable to use deionized water as the water. The content of the water-soluble organic solvent in the reaction liquid (RCT) is not particularly limited, but in order to give the colorant inks (K, C, M, Y) desired physical properties, in addition to the above-mentioned components, antifoaming agents, preservatives, antifungal agents, etc. can be appropriately added as needed.

[0039] In addition, the colorant inks (K, C, M, Y) and the reaction liquid (RCT) used in this embodiment all contain surfactants. The surfactant is used to improve the ink's wetting and spreading properties on the recording medium P. The greater the amount of surfactant added, the stronger the ink's surface tension reduction effect, improving the ink's wetting and spreading properties on the recording medium P. In this embodiment, a small amount of acetylene glycol EO adduct or the like is added as a surfactant to adjust the static surface tension of each ink to 30 dyn / cm or less, and further adjust the difference in static surface tension between the colorant inks to within 2 dyn / cm. More specifically, the static surface tension of each colorant ink was adjusted to approximately 22 to 24 dyn / cm. The static surface tension of the inks was measured using a fully automatic surface tensiometer CBVP-Z (manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.). The measuring device is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, as long as it can measure the static surface tension of the ink.

[0040] Furthermore, the pH of each color ink in this embodiment is stable on the alkaline side, with values ​​ranging from 8.5 to 9.5. From the viewpoint of preventing elution and deterioration of components in the recording device and recording head 9 that come into contact with each color ink, and a decrease in the solubility of the dispersion resin in the color ink, it is preferable that the pH of each color ink be 7.0 or more and 10.0 or less. pH was measured using a pH meter model F-52 manufactured by Horiba, Ltd. The measuring device is not limited to the above examples, as long as it can measure the pH of the ink.

[0041] 2. Water-soluble resin emulsion The colorant ink used in this embodiment contains a water-soluble resin emulsion. "Water-soluble resin emulsion" refers to polymer particles dispersed in water. Specific examples include acrylic resin particles synthesized by emulsion polymerization of monomers such as (meth)acrylic acid alkyl esters or (meth)acrylic acid alkyl amides; styrene-acrylic resin particles synthesized by emulsion polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid alkyl esters or (meth)acrylic acid alkyl amides with styrene monomers; polyethylene resin particles, polypropylene resin particles, polyurethane resin particles, and styrene-butadiene resin particles. Core-shell resin particles, in which the polymer composition of the core and shell of the resin particles differ, and resin particles obtained by emulsion polymerization around pre-synthesized acrylic particles used as seed particles to control particle size, are also acceptable. Furthermore, hybrid resin particles, in which different resin particles, such as acrylic resin particles and urethane resin particles, are chemically bonded, are also acceptable.

[0042] 3. Slip agents The colorant ink used in this embodiment contains a slip agent. The term "slip agent" refers to wax particles or a silicone surfactant. Specifically, examples of wax particles include synthetic wax particles such as Fischer-Tropsch wax (EMUSTAR-6315) manufactured by Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd. and polyolefin wax (Hitec E-9500) manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., as well as natural wax particles such as carnauba wax (Cellosol 524) manufactured by Chukyo Yushi Co., Ltd. and paraffin wax (AQUACER 497) manufactured by BYK Japan. Silicone oil may also be used as the slip agent, such as polyether-modified silicone (BYK333) manufactured by BYK Japan.

[0043] 4. Reaction Solution In this embodiment, in order to solve problems in images such as bleeding and beading, a recording system is employed as needed, which uses a reaction liquid for insolubilizing part or all of the solid components of the color ink.

[0044] The purpose of the reaction solution is to insolubilize dissolved dyes and dispersed pigments and resins, and examples of the reactant in the reaction solution include polyvalent metal ions (e.g., magnesium sulfate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride, emulsified calcium, aluminum sulfate, iron chloride, etc.) As one type of flocculation action using such cations, a system using a low-molecular-weight cationic polymer flocculant can also be used to neutralize the charge of a water-soluble resin emulsion and to insolubilize anionic soluble substances.

[0045] Another reaction system is an insolubilization system using a reaction solution that utilizes a pH difference. As mentioned above, most color inks used in inkjet recording are stable on the alkaline side due to the properties of the color inks themselves. Their pH is generally between 7.0 and 10.0, but considering industrial and environmental factors, the pH is often set around 8.5 to 9.5. To aggregate and solidify such color inks, an acidic solution is added, and the pH is changed, destroying the stable state and causing the dispersed components to aggregate. For this purpose, an acidic solution can also be used as a reaction solution.

[0046] (Recording medium) In this embodiment, a low-absorbency recording medium P is used, which does not absorb water easily. Low-absorbency recording medium P is a medium that does not absorb water or absorbs only a very small amount of water. If an aqueous ink that does not contain organic solvents is used on such a medium, the ink will be repelled and images will not be formed. On the other hand, it has excellent water resistance and weather resistance, making it suitable as a medium for forming printed products for outdoor use. Typically, a recording medium with a water contact angle of 45° or more, preferably 60° or more at 25°C, is used.

[0047] Low-absorbency recording media P include recording media with a plastic layer formed on the outermost surface of a substrate, recording media without an ink-receiving layer formed on the substrate, and sheets, films, banners, etc. made of glass, Yupo, plastic, etc. Examples of the coated plastics include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. These low-absorbency recording media P have excellent water resistance, light resistance, and abrasion resistance, and are therefore generally used when recording results to be exhibited outdoors.

[0048] (Lamination processing) Generally, lamination of a recording product is performed by a lamination processing device provided separately from the recording device 100. The recording medium P on which an image has been recorded by the recording device 100 is wound up by the take-up spool 12 in Figure 2 to form a roll-shaped wound medium 6. The wound medium 6 is then carried into the lamination processing device, where the recording medium P and a sheet-shaped laminate film are bonded together, and then cut to fit the size of the recording medium P.

[0049] 7 is a conceptual diagram of the cold lamination processing device used in this embodiment. A throwaway film 702 is taken up by a take-up spool 704 from a roll of throwaway film 701 at the bottom of the cold lamination processing device via a lower pressure roller 703. Similarly, a laminate film 707 is taken up by the take-up spool 704 from a roll of laminate film 706 at the top of the cold lamination processing device via an upper pressure roller 708. This produces a rolled-up medium 705.

[0050] At this time, release paper 709 of the laminate film is taken up by take-up spool 710. Therefore, the adhesive portion of laminate film 707 is exposed just before it is transported to upper pressure roller 708. Laminate film 707 with the exposed adhesive portion and waste film 702 are transported while still pressed by upper pressure roller 708 and lower pressure roller 703, respectively, to form roll-shaped wound medium 705.

[0051] Here, the recording medium P on which recording has been performed in the recording device 100 is attached to an attachment spool 711 provided in the lamination processing device. Then, it is transported in the W direction (transport direction), passed between the lower pressure roller 703 and the upper pressure roller 708, and similarly taken up by the take-up spool 704. As a result, the laminating film 707 with the exposed adhesive and the recording medium P are bonded together, and a roll-shaped taken-up medium 705 that has been subjected to the laminate processing is formed.

[0052] Lamination methods include cold lamination, hot lamination using OPP or PET films using dedicated or general-purpose lamination processing equipment, and methods using synthetic resins such as acrylic, or coating or spraying a coating liquid containing such resins, weather resistance improvers such as ultraviolet absorbers and antioxidants, and UV-curing components onto the surface of the ink layer.

[0053] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a laminating processing device provided separately from the recording device 100 is used, but this is not limitative. The recording device 100 may also be provided with a laminating processing device as an integrated unit.

[0054] (Relationship between lamination process and reaction solution volume) In this embodiment, the ratio of the slip agent present in the ink surface layer of the recorded product is made different between when the lamination processing mode is not set and when the lamination processing mode is set, thereby increasing the adhesion of a lamination layer such as a lamination film to the ink surface layer of the recorded product.

[0055] For the same type of recording medium, the amount of reaction liquid applied is varied based on whether or not the user has set a lamination processing mode for the recorded product. Specifically, the amount of reaction liquid applied when the lamination processing mode is set is controlled to be greater than the amount of reaction liquid applied when the lamination processing mode is not set.

[0056] Here, the ratio of the lubricant present in the surface layer of the ink layer will be described. The distribution of the lubricant present in the ink layer in the thickness direction is measured, and the amount of lubricant present in the ink layer from the outermost layer to a depth of 100 μm or less is calculated by normalizing the amount of lubricant present throughout the entire thickness of the ink layer to 100%. As an example of a method for evaluating the ratio of the lubricant present, for example, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) can be used to calculate the ratio by normalizing the detected intensity integral of the lubricant component.

[0057] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the ratio of slip agent present in the surface layer of the ink layer depending on whether or not the lamination processing mode is set for the same recording medium P. Figure 8(a) shows the case when the lamination processing mode is not set, and Figure 8(b) shows the case when the lamination processing mode is set.

[0058] The color ink and reaction liquid applied to the recording medium P are aqueous inks. Therefore, they do not easily penetrate the low-absorbency recording medium P and remain on the recording medium P. As shown in Figure 8(a), when the lamination processing mode is not set, the ink layer contains a reactant 81 contained in the reaction liquid, a slipping agent 82 contained in the color ink, a colorant 83, and a water-soluble resin emulsion 84. Here, the amount of reaction liquid applied is not greater than the amount required to reduce bleeding relative to the amount of color ink applied. In this case, the presence of the slipping agent 82 in the surface layer of the ink layer is high. This means that the slipperiness of the ink layer surface is high, ensuring the robustness of the ink layer in the printed product. However, the presence of the slipping agent 82 in the surface layer of the ink layer can also be an obstacle to reducing adhesion between the ink layer surface and the laminate layer.

[0059] Therefore, when the lamination processing mode is selected, the amount of reactive liquid applied is increased compared to when the lamination processing mode is not selected. This increases the amount of reactive agent 81 in the ink layer. As shown in Figure 8(b), the proportion of slipping agent 82 present in the surface layer of the ink layer is reduced, and the slipping agent 82 sinks into the ink layer. As a result, adhesion to the laminate layer is improved.

[0060] (Image Processing System) 9 is a flowchart of image data processing in an image processing system made up of the recording device 100 and the host PC 412 in this embodiment. The host PC 412, on which a printer driver is installed, performs a setting process for input image data 900 as to whether or not lamination processing is to be performed. Here, a lamination processing mode setting process S901 is performed. The main control unit 400 of the recording device 100 performs image processing on the input image data 900 transferred from the host PC 412 via the interface circuit 411.

[0061] The main control unit 400 performs rendering processing S902 on the input image data 900 at a resolution of 1200 dpi. This generates multi-value RGB data for printing 903. In this embodiment, the multi-value RGB data for printing 903 is 256-value data. A color conversion processing S904 is performed to convert the multi-value RGB data for printing 903 into 256-value KCMY data and 256-value RCT data.

[0062] Here, a determination process S906 is performed to determine whether the user set the lamination mode in S901. If the lamination mode is not set, multi-valued RCT data 907 for when the lamination mode is not set in S901 is generated. If the lamination mode is set, multi-valued RCT data 908 for when the lamination mode is set in S901 is generated. Either the multi-valued RCT data 907 or the multi-valued RCT data 908 generated in the determination process S906 becomes the final multi-valued RCT data 909.

[0063] The multi-value (256-value) KCMY data 905 generated in the color conversion process S904 and the final multi-value RCT data 909 are quantized by a quantization process S910 such as an error diffusion process, thereby generating binary KCMY data 911 and binary RCT data 912 with a resolution of 1200 dpi.

[0064] A distribution process S913 is performed on the binary KCMY data 911 and the binary RCT data 912, distributing them to multiple scans of the print head 9 over a predetermined area. This distribution process generates KCMY print data 914 represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not to eject each of the K, C, M, and Y inks for each pixel during each of the multiple scans over the predetermined area of ​​the print medium P. At the same time, RCT print data 915 is generated that is represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not to eject RCT ink for each pixel during each of the multiple scans over the predetermined area of ​​the print medium P. This distribution process S914 corresponds to multiple scans and is performed using a mask pattern that determines whether or not to allow ink ejection for each pixel.

[0065] An example of the user setting process S901 for determining whether or not to perform lamination processing on the input image data 900 is a UI screen displayed on the monitor of the host PC 412 in Fig. 10. If the "lamination processing" checkbox is checked, a YES determination is made in the determination process S906. On the other hand, if the "lamination processing" checkbox is not checked, a NO determination is made in the determination process S906. Here, the UI screen displayed on the monitor of the host PC 412 is used, but this is not limiting, and an operation unit provided in the recording device 100 may also be used, for example.

[0066] (Method for determining the amount of reaction solution to be applied) In this embodiment, when the lamination processing mode is set, the color conversion process S904 generates multi-valued RCT data for when the lamination processing mode is set.

[0067] FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid in this embodiment. In this figure, the horizontal axis represents the amount of applied colorant ink, and the vertical axis represents the amount of applied reaction liquid. The amount of applied colorant ink shown on the horizontal axis is the total amount of applied colorant ink in a predetermined area. In this embodiment, it is the sum of the amounts of each of the K, C, M, and Y inks. Line 1101 shows the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid when the lamination processing mode is not selected. Line 1102 shows the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid when the lamination processing mode is selected. In this embodiment, the slope of line 1102 is twice that of line 1101. In other words, if the amount of applied reaction liquid when the lamination processing mode is not selected is A for a certain amount of applied colorant ink, the amount of applied reaction liquid when the lamination processing mode is selected is 2A. In this example, the amount of reaction liquid applied when the lamination processing mode is set is twice the amount of reaction liquid applied when the lamination processing mode is not set, but it is not limited to this value as long as it is an amount that improves the adhesion of the recording product to the laminate layer.

[0068] (Recording Control) FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the final binary RCT data according to the distribution process of the color ink and the reaction liquid and whether or not the lamination process mode is set in this embodiment. FIG. 12(a) shows a group of mask patterns applied to the quantized data corresponding to the black ink ejection port array 30K. FIG. 12(b) shows a group of mask patterns applied to the quantized data corresponding to the reaction liquid ejection port array 30RCT for which a NO determination was made in the determination process S906. FIG. 12(c) shows a group of mask patterns applied to the quantized data corresponding to the reaction liquid ejection port array 30RCT for which a YES determination was made in the determination process S906. In the figure, black pixels are print-permitted pixels that permit ink ejection, and white pixels are print-non-permitted pixels that do not permit ink ejection.

[0069] 12A shows a mask pattern to be applied to the quantized data of black ink as a mask pattern to be applied to the quantized data of color inks. Mask patterns to be applied to the quantized data of cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink are set in the same way.

[0070] The mask pattern 1200 corresponding to black ink shown in FIG. 12(a) arranges print permission pixels in mutually exclusive and complementary positions. The total print permission rate of the mask pattern is 100%. For example, suppose quantized data 1201 that determines ink ejection for 100% (=32 / 32×100) pixels is input as quantized data corresponding to black ink. In this case, the total of pixels that determine ink ejection is 100% in the print data corresponding to the first to sixth scans generated using the mask pattern 1200 shown in FIG. 12(a). In other words, the amount of black ink applied is maintained before and after the distribution process.

[0071] In the mask pattern 1203 corresponding to the reaction liquid shown in FIG. 12(b), print permission pixels are arranged in mutually exclusive and complementary positions. The total print permission rate of the mask pattern is 100%. Assume that quantized data that determines ink ejection for 18.8% (= 6 / 32 × 100) of the pixels is input as quantized data 1204 corresponding to the reaction liquid. In this case, the total number of pixels that determine ink ejection is 18.8% in the print data corresponding to the first to sixth scans generated using the mask pattern shown in FIG. 12(b).

[0072] The mask pattern 1203 corresponding to the reaction liquid shown in Figure 12(c) is the same as the mask pattern 1203 corresponding to the reaction liquid shown in Figure 12(b). However, the quantized data 1206 corresponding to the reaction liquid for which a YES determination was made in the determination process S906 has a higher proportion of print-permitted pixels than the quantized data 1204 corresponding to the reaction liquid for which a NO determination was made in the determination process S906. For example, suppose quantized data that determines ink ejection for 37.5% (= 12 / 32 × 100) of pixels is input. In the print data corresponding to the first to sixth scans generated using the mask pattern 1203 in Figure 12(c), the total number of pixels that determine ejection is 37.5%.

[0073] In this embodiment, the print data pixels of the reaction liquid that were judged as NO in the judgment process S906 were set to 18.8%, and the print data pixels of the black ink were set to 100%, but this is not limited to this as long as the bleeding phenomenon in the print product can be suppressed.

[0074] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment described above, the amount of reaction liquid applied was increased uniformly regardless of the amount of color ink applied, depending on whether the lamination processing mode was set or not. In contrast, in this embodiment, the increase rate of the amount of reaction liquid applied varies depending on the amount of color ink applied. Explanation of parts similar to the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0075] As mentioned above, poor adhesion between the printed product and the laminate layer is an issue, but this issue is less likely to occur in areas of the printed product where a small amount of color ink is applied. This is thought to be due to the following two factors. The first factor is that the small amount of color ink applied results in a small amount of slip agent, which can be a major inhibitor of reduced adhesion between the ink layer surface and the laminate layer. The second factor is that non-printed areas on the printing medium where no color ink is applied, so-called paper-white areas, have high adhesion to the laminate layer. In areas where a small amount of color ink is applied, the contribution of non-printed areas with high adhesion to the laminate layer is significant.

[0076] Considering these factors, when determining the amount of reaction liquid to be applied depending on whether the lamination processing mode is set, the increase rate of the reaction liquid application amount can be changed depending on the amount of color ink applied. Specifically, the increase rate of the reaction liquid application amount depending on whether the lamination processing mode is set for areas where a large amount of color ink is applied is lower than the increase rate of the reaction liquid application amount depending on whether the lamination processing mode is set for areas where a small amount of color ink is applied. As a result, the amount of reaction liquid consumed can be reduced compared to the configuration described in the first embodiment.

[0077] It is known that the wettability and spreadability of color ink differs depending on the type of recording medium, and therefore the occupancy rate of the paper white area in areas where the amount of color ink applied is small differs depending on the type of recording medium, and therefore the adhesion of the area where the amount of color ink applied is small to the laminate layer differs depending on the type of recording medium.

[0078] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the extent of the paper white region of a recording medium in an area where the amount of applied colorant ink is small. FIG. 13(a) shows a case where a type of recording medium is used in which the surface of the paper white region is smooth and the isolated dots 1301 of the colorant ink do not easily spread. This figure shows that the occupancy rate of the paper white region, which has high adhesion to the laminate layer, is high. This type of recording medium has high adhesion to the laminate layer in areas where the amount of applied colorant ink is small. On the other hand, FIG. 13(b) shows a case where a type of recording medium is used in which the surface of the paper white region is smooth but the isolated dots 1302 of the colorant ink do not easily spread. This figure shows that the occupancy rate of the paper white region, which has high adhesion to the laminate layer, is low. This type of recording medium has low adhesion to the laminate layer in areas where the amount of applied colorant ink is small.

[0079] (Method of increasing the amount of reaction solution applied) 14 is a graph showing the amount of reaction liquid applied relative to the amount of color ink applied, used in the binary RCT additional data generation process. As described above, the increase in the amount of reaction liquid applied depending on whether or not the lamination processing mode is set for areas where a large amount of color ink is applied is smaller than the increase in the amount of reaction liquid applied depending on whether or not the lamination processing mode is set for areas where a small amount of color ink is applied. However, the increase in the amount of reaction liquid applied depending on whether or not the lamination processing mode is set for areas where a small amount of color ink is applied is further changed depending on the type of recording medium.

[0080] For the type of recording medium shown in FIG. 13(a), the relationship between the amount of colorant ink and the amount of reaction liquid shown in FIG. 14(a) is used. On the other hand, for the type of recording medium shown in FIG. 13(b), the relationship between the amount of colorant ink and the amount of reaction liquid shown in FIG. 14(b) is used. Line 1401 shows the relationship between the amount of colorant ink and the amount of reaction liquid when the lamination processing mode is not selected by the user for the recording medium shown in FIG. 13(a). Here, the amount of reaction liquid applied is greater than or equal to the amount of colorant ink applied, which reduces bleeding and beading. On the other hand, line 1402 shows the relationship between the amount of colorant ink and the amount of reaction liquid applied when the lamination processing mode is selected by the user. Here, in areas where the amount of colorant ink applied is greater than a threshold value 1403, the amount of reaction liquid applied is increased beyond the amount shown by line 1401. On the other hand, in the area where the amount of color ink applied is less than the threshold value 1403, the amount of reaction liquid applied is set to be approximately the same as that of the line 1401.

[0081] As described above, the recording medium of Fig. 13(a) has high adhesion to the laminate layer in areas where the amount of color ink applied is small, so there is no need to increase the amount of reaction liquid applied. Therefore, it is possible to apply a smaller amount of reaction liquid than in the first embodiment, and the amount of reaction liquid consumed can be reduced. The threshold value 1403 will be described in detail later.

[0082] When the amount of applied colorant ink is lower than a threshold value 1403, the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1402 is the same as the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1401. When the amount of applied colorant ink is greater than the threshold value 1403, the amount of applied reaction liquid is increased so that it is twice as large as the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1401 at the maximum amount of applied colorant ink. In other words, in the region where the amount of applied colorant ink is greater than the threshold value 1403 and up to the maximum amount of applied colorant ink, the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1402 is increased in stages from 1 to 2 times the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1401.

[0083] On the other hand, for the recording medium in FIG. 13(b), when the lamination processing mode is not set, the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid is as shown by line 1404. The amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1404 may be the same as or different from line 1401, even though the type of recording medium is different. It is sufficient that the amount of applied reaction liquid is equal to or greater than the amount of applied colorant ink that can reduce bleeding and beading. On the other hand, when the lamination processing mode is set, the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid is as shown by line 1405. In areas where the amount of applied colorant ink is greater than a threshold value 1406, the amount of applied reaction liquid is increased relative to line 1404. Even in areas where the amount of applied colorant ink is less than the threshold value 1406, the amount of applied reaction liquid is increased relative to line 1404. The increase rate of the amount of reaction liquid applied in regions where the amount of colorant ink is large, depending on whether the lamination processing mode is set or not, is lower than the increase rate of the amount of reaction liquid applied in regions where the amount of colorant ink is small, depending on whether the lamination processing mode is set or not. As mentioned above, in the recording medium of Figure 13(b), even in regions where the amount of colorant ink applied is small, adhesion with the laminate layer is likely to be an issue, so the amount of reaction liquid applied needs to be increased. On the other hand, the increase rate of the amount of reaction liquid applied can be lowered due to the first factor, that is, the small amount of slip agent itself, which is a factor that inhibits adhesion.

[0084] In this embodiment, the deposition amount of reaction liquid indicated by line 1405 is increased to 1.5 times that of line 1404 when the deposition amount is smaller than threshold value 1406. Furthermore, when the deposition amount is greater than threshold value 1406, the deposition amount of reaction liquid indicated by line 1404 is increased to twice that of line 1404 at the maximum deposition amount of colorant ink. In other words, in the region where the deposition amount of colorant ink is greater than threshold value 1406 and up to the maximum deposition amount of colorant ink, the deposition amount of reaction liquid indicated by line 1405 is increased in stages from 1.5 to 2 times the deposition amount of reaction liquid indicated by line 1404.

[0085] Note that an area where the amount of applied color ink is small is an area where there are many paper-white areas in the printed product, and an area where the amount of applied color ink is large is an area where there are few paper-white areas in the printed product. In this embodiment, the printed product is observed with an optical microscope, and the occupancy rate of non-printed areas relative to the area is calculated. An area where the occupancy rate of non-printed areas is 10% or more is determined to be an area where the amount of applied color ink is small. On the other hand, an area where the occupancy rate of non-printed areas is less than 10% is determined to be an area where the amount of applied color ink is large.

[0086] A threshold value 1403 for the amount of applied color ink for a type of recording medium on which isolated dots of color ink do not easily wet and spread is greater than a threshold value 1406 for the amount of applied color ink for a type of recording medium P on which isolated dots of color ink do easily wet and spread. In this embodiment, the occupancy rate of 10% of the non-printed area in the printed product is used as a guideline for the threshold value for the amount of applied color ink, but this is not limited to this.

[0087] (Example) Examples will be described below.

[0088] <Ink composition> The inks constituting the ink set used in this example will be described in detail below. Unless otherwise specified, "parts" and "%" are based on mass.

[0089] 1. Black ink 1-1. Preparation of black dispersion First, an anionic polymer P-1 [styrene / butyl acrylate / acrylic acid copolymer (polymerization ratio (weight ratio) = 30 / 40 / 30), acid value 202, weight average molecular weight 6500] was prepared. This was neutralized with an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution and diluted with ion-exchanged water to prepare a homogeneous 10% by mass polymer solution.

[0090] 600 g of the polymer solution, 100 g of carbon black, and 300 g of ion-exchanged water were mixed and mechanically stirred for a predetermined time, followed by centrifugal separation to remove undispersed material, including coarse particles, to obtain a black dispersion. The resulting black dispersion had a pigment concentration of 10% by mass.

[0091] 1-2. Preparation of resin particle dispersion First, under a nitrogen atmosphere, the mixture was heated to 70°C and stirred with a motor. The following three additive solutions were added dropwise little by little, and polymerization was carried out for 5 hours. Each additive solution was a mixture containing a hydrophobic monomer consisting of 28.5 parts methyl methacrylate, a hydrophilic monomer consisting of 4.3 parts sodium p-styrenesulfonate and 30 parts water, and a polymerization initiator consisting of 0.05 parts potassium persulfate and 30 parts water. The glass transition temperature of these resin microparticles was 60°C.

[0092] 1-3. Preparation of black ink To prepare the black ink, the above black dispersion was used, and the following components were added to it to achieve the desired concentration. After thoroughly mixing and stirring these components, the mixture was filtered under pressure using a microfilter with a pore size of 2.5 μm (manufactured by Fujifilm Corporation) to prepare a pigment ink with a pigment concentration of 2% by mass. 20 parts of the above black dispersion 4 parts of the above water-soluble resin emulsion dispersion Wax particles 3 parts Zonyl FSO-100 (DuPont fluorine-based surfactant) 0.05 parts 1,2-butanediol 15 parts Acetylene glycol EO adduct (Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.) 0.5 parts Ion-exchanged water (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.) Remaining

[0093] 2. Reaction solution The reaction liquid used in this example contains a reactant that reacts with the pigment contained in the ink and causes the pigment to aggregate or gel. In this example, a polyvalent metal salt was used as the reactant, specifically magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. It is not necessary to use magnesium sulfate heptahydrate; in this example, various water-soluble organic acids and polyvalent metal salts can be used as reactants in the reaction liquid. The content of the organic acid or polyvalent metal salt is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 1.0% by mass or more and 70.0% by mass or less, based on the total mass of the composition contained in the reaction liquid.

[0094] 2-1. Preparation of reaction mixture In this example, as described above, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate was used, and the following components were mixed to prepare a reaction solution. Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 4 parts 1,2-butanediol 10 parts Acetylene glycol EO adduct 0.5 parts Ion-exchanged water (manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd.) Remaining

[0095] <Recording Media> One of the low-absorbency recording media P in this example has the characteristics of a smooth surface in the non-recording area and of the isolated dots 1301 of color ink not wetting and spreading easily, as shown in Figure 13(a). Specifically, Scotchcal Graphics Film (IJ1220-10), an adhesive PVC film manufactured by 3M, was used as the recording medium P (Type A).

[0096] Another low-absorbency recording medium P in this embodiment is one shown in Figure 13(b), which has the characteristics of a smooth surface in the non-recording area and of the isolated dots 1301 of color ink not easily spreading. Specifically, the recording medium P (Type B) used was High Tack Strong Adhesive General-Purpose Inkjet Media (MPI1206), an adhesive PVC film manufactured by Avery Dennison.

[0097] <Lamination processing> In this example, the laminating film used was Scotchcal Overlaminate Film (IJ4132), a cold laminating film manufactured by 3M Co. This laminating film is a 3M-recommended laminating film compatible with the recording medium P (IJ1220-10) of Type A used in this example, and the laminating film thickness is 100 nm (including adhesive).

[0098] In this example, a laminator (Titan 165) manufactured by CBC Corporation was used as the laminating processing device. The laminating temperature for both the upper and lower main rollers was set to 30°C, and the laminating speed was set to setting 1, which was approximately 7 mm per second. The gap between the upper and lower main rollers was set to 1.5 mil (approximately 38.1 μm).

[0099] <Method for evaluating adhesion to laminate layer> In this example, a film peeling analyzer (VPA-3) manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd. was used as a peel force measuring device to quantify the adhesion between the ink layer surface of the recording product and the laminate layer. The recording product that had been laminated for 24 hours was attached to a stainless steel plate, and the peel force was measured at a peel angle of 180° and a peel speed of 30 mm per minute. Laminate adhesion rating: Excellent The adhesive strength between the ink layer surface of the printed product and the laminate layer is high, and is equivalent to the adhesive strength between the non-printing area (white area) of the recording medium P and the recommended laminate film. Laminate adhesion rating: Good The adhesion between the ink surface layer of the printed product and the laminate layer is strong, but it is somewhat weaker than the adhesion between the non-printed area (white area) of the recording medium P and the recommended laminate film. However, even if the laminated printed product is folded, the laminate layer will not peel off. Laminate adhesion rating: Poor The adhesion between the ink surface layer of the printed product and the laminate layer is low. When a laminated recording product is folded, the laminate layer at the edge of the recording product may partially peel off.

[0100] <Evaluation of the robustness of the ink layer before lamination processing> In this example, a Gakushin abrasion tester (compliant with JIS L0849) was used to evaluate abrasion resistance in order to quantify the robustness of the ink layer of the printed product before lamination when the lamination mode was selected. The printed product was placed on the arc-shaped test stand of the Gakushin abrasion tester and brought into contact with a 500g abrasion element. A white abrasion cloth (JIS L0905 No. 3 cotton) was attached to the abrasion element. In this state, the test stand was moved back and forth horizontally 50 times at a constant speed while a load was applied, and the degree of abrasion of the ink layer of the printed product was evaluated. The robustness evaluation criteria are as follows: Robustness rating: Excellent There is almost no change in the ink layer of the printed product. Furthermore, even after careful observation, it is unclear whether the coloring material has been transferred to the white rubbing cloth. Robustness rating: Good There are some scraping marks visible on the ink layer of the printed product. There is very little transfer of coloring material to the white rubbing cloth, but it is only noticeable upon close observation. Robustness rating: Poor Scratch marks are visible on the ink layer of the printed product, and the transfer of coloring material to the white rubbing cloth is obvious at a glance.

[0101] Example 1 It is assumed that the recording medium is Type A and the lamination processing mode is set. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reaction liquid applied shown by line 1102 in Figure 11, the amount of reaction liquid applied relative to the amount of color ink applied 100% was doubled to 37.5% (=18.8%+18.7%).

[0102] <Example 2> It is assumed that the recording medium is Type B and the lamination processing mode is set. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reaction liquid applied shown by line 1102 in Figure 11, the amount of reaction liquid applied relative to the amount of color ink applied 100% was doubled to 37.5% (=18.8%+18.7%).

[0103] Example 3 It is assumed that the recording medium is Type A and the lamination processing mode is set. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reaction liquid applied shown by line 1102 in Figure 11, the amount of reaction liquid applied was doubled to 12.5% ​​(= 6.3% + 6.2%), compared to the amount of color ink applied, 33%.

[0104] Example 4 It is assumed that the recording medium is Type B and the lamination processing mode is set. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reaction liquid applied shown by line 1102 in Figure 11, the amount of reaction liquid applied was doubled to 12.5% ​​(= 6.3% + 6.2%), compared to the amount of color ink applied, 33%.

[0105] <Example 5> It is assumed that the recording medium is Type A, the lamination processing mode is set, and the amount of applied colorant ink is less than the threshold value 1403. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1402 in Figure 14(a), the amount of applied reaction liquid was set to 6.3% (= 6.3% + 0%) for the amount of applied colorant ink of 33%, the same as the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1401C.

[0106] Example 6 It is assumed that the recording medium is Type B, the lamination processing mode is set, and the amount of colorant ink applied is less than the threshold value 1406. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of colorant ink applied and the amount of reaction liquid applied shown by line 1405 in Figure 14(b), the amount of reaction liquid applied is 1.5 times the amount of colorant ink applied, 33%, to 9.4% (= 6.3% + 3.1%).

[0107] <Comparative Example 1> It is assumed that the recording medium is Type A and the lamination processing mode is set. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of color ink applied and the amount of reaction liquid applied shown by line 1101 in Figure 11, the amount of reaction liquid applied was set to 18.8% relative to the amount of color ink applied of 100%.

[0108] <Comparative Example 2> It is assumed that the recording medium is Type B and the lamination processing mode is set. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of applied color ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1101 in Figure 11, the amount of applied reaction liquid was set to 18.8% relative to the amount of applied color ink of 100%.

[0109] <Comparative Example 3> It is assumed that the recording medium is Type B, the lamination processing mode is set, and the amount of applied colorant ink is less than the threshold value 1406. In order to achieve the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid on the recording medium (Type A) shown in Figure 14(a) as indicated by line 1402, the amount of applied reaction liquid was set to 6.3% (= 6.3% + 0%) relative to the amount of applied colorant ink of 33%, the same as the relationship between the amount of applied colorant ink and the amount of applied reaction liquid shown by line 1401.

[0110] [Table 1]

[0111] In Example 1, the amount of reactive liquid applied was increased beyond the amount necessary to reduce bleeding. As a result, laminate adhesion was improved compared to Comparative Example 1. The evaluation was Excellent. By increasing the amount of reactive agent 81 in the ink layer, the proportion of slipping agent 82 present in the ink layer surface was reduced, as shown in Figure 8(b), and the slipping agent sank into the ink layer. As a result, it is believed that the factors that inhibit the adhesion of the ink layer surface to the laminate layer were reduced. However, if the proportion of slipping agent present in the ink layer surface is reduced in order to improve the slipperiness of the ink layer surface of the printed product, the robustness before lamination processing will be reduced. However, it is sufficient to be able to withstand the lamination processing, and this level is considered to be acceptable for practical use.

[0112] In Example 2, the recording medium P is Type B. As in Example 1, the evaluation of the lamination adhesion is Excellent. The robustness before lamination is lower than in Comparative Example 2, but is at a level that does not pose a problem in practical use.

[0113] In Example 3, the recording medium P was Type A, and the amount of colorant ink applied was less than in Example 1. When the amount of reaction liquid applied was increased beyond the amount necessary to reduce bleeding, the laminate adhesion was evaluated as Excellent, and the robustness before lamination processing was evaluated as Good.

[0114] In Example 4, the recording medium P is Type B. As in Example 3, the laminate adhesion was evaluated as Excellent, and the robustness before lamination was evaluated as Good.

[0115] In Example 5, the recording medium P is Type A, and the amount of colorant ink applied is less than in Example 1. The amount of reactant applied was not increased beyond the amount necessary to reduce bleeding, but the laminate adhesion was rated Excellent. This is because the recording medium P is Type A, and the non-recording area, which has high adhesion to the laminate layer, contributes greatly, as shown in Figure 13(a). Furthermore, because the amount of reactant applied was not increased, the robustness before the lamination process did not decrease, and the evaluation was Excellent.

[0116] In Example 6, the recording medium P is Type B. The increase in the amount of reaction liquid applied is 3.1% compared to Example 4. As a result, similar to Example 4, the evaluation of lamination adhesion was Excellent. By halving the increase in the amount of reaction liquid applied, the robustness before lamination processing did not decrease, and the evaluation was Excellent.

[0117] On the other hand, in Comparative Example 3, when the recording medium P is Type B and the amount of colorant ink applied is less than that in Example 2, the amount of reaction liquid applied is not increased beyond the amount necessary to reduce bleeding. The laminate adhesion is evaluated as Good, meaning no improvement. This is because the recording medium P is Type B and, as shown in Figure 13(b), the contribution of the non-recording area, which has high adhesion to the laminate layer, is small. Because the amount of reaction liquid applied is not increased, the robustness before the lamination process does not decrease, and the evaluation is Excellent.

[0118] (Other embodiments) Although the reaction liquid in the above embodiment does not contain a coloring material, it may contain a small amount of coloring material as long as it does not affect the image quality. The expression "does not contain a coloring material" also includes cases where a small amount of coloring material is contained within a range that does not affect the image quality.

[0119] Furthermore, while the above-described embodiments have been described with respect to inkjet printing apparatuses and printing methods using inkjet printing apparatuses, the present invention can also be applied to image processing apparatuses or image processing methods that generate data for performing the printing methods described in the respective embodiments. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a program for executing the printing methods described in the respective embodiments is prepared separately from the printing apparatus.

[0120] Furthermore, in addition to thermal jet inkjet recording devices, the present invention can be applied to various image recording devices, such as so-called piezo inkjet recording devices that use piezoelectric elements to eject ink, etc. In the above-described embodiments, a serial inkjet printer has been used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may also be applied to a recording device having line heads in which each color is arranged along the sheet transport direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0121] P Recording medium 9. Recording head 81 Reactants 82 Slip agents 400 Main control unit 412 Host PC 900 Input image data

Claims

1. An image processing device for performing image processing for a recording device including: a recording means having a plurality of recording elements for applying color ink containing a color material to a recording medium; and a plurality of recording elements for applying a reaction liquid containing a component that aggregates the color ink to the recording medium; and a control means for controlling an operation of the recording means to apply the color ink and the reaction liquid, an acquiring means for acquiring information indicating whether or not a lamination process is to be performed on the recording medium on which the image is recorded; a determining means for determining the amount of the reaction liquid to be applied based on the information and the amount of the color ink to be applied to each pixel; An image processing device comprising:

2. The image processing device described in claim 1, characterized in that the amount of reaction liquid to be applied determined by the decision means when the information indicates that a lamination process is to be performed is greater than the amount of reaction liquid to be applied determined by the decision means when the information indicates that a lamination process is not to be performed.

3. a first ratio is a ratio of the amount of the reaction liquid to be applied that is determined by the determining means when the information indicates that a lamination process is to be performed to the amount of the reaction liquid to be applied that is determined by the determining means when the information indicates that a lamination process is to be performed, the amount of the color ink to be applied being a first ratio; When the amount of the color ink applied is a second amount greater than the first amount, and the ratio of the amount of the reaction liquid applied determined by the determination means when the information indicates that a lamination process is to be performed to the amount of the reaction liquid applied determined by the determination means when the information indicates that a lamination process is not to be performed is set to a second ratio, 2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first ratio is smaller than the second ratio.

4. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color ink contains a water-soluble resin emulsion and a slipping agent.

5. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the slipping agent contained in the color ink is wax particles, a silicone surfactant, or a fluorine surfactant.

6. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium has low absorbency.

7. a recording means having a plurality of recording elements for applying a color ink containing a color material to a recording medium, and a plurality of recording elements for applying a reaction liquid containing a component that aggregates the color ink to the recording medium; an acquiring means for acquiring information indicating whether or not a lamination process is to be performed on the recording medium on which the image is recorded; a determining means for determining the amount of the reaction liquid to be applied based on the information and the amount of the color ink to be applied to each pixel; a control unit that controls the application of the color ink and the reaction liquid by the recording unit based on the determination by the determination unit.

8. An image processing method for a recording device having a recording means having a plurality of recording elements for applying a color ink containing a color material to a recording medium, and a plurality of recording elements for applying a reaction liquid containing a component that aggregates the color ink, the method comprising: an acquiring step of acquiring information indicating whether or not to perform lamination processing on the recording medium on which the image is recorded; a determining step of determining the amount of the reaction liquid to be applied based on the information and the amount of the color ink to be applied to each pixel; An image processing method comprising:

9. A program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method according to claim 8.

Images