Ink Application Control for Fluorescent Ink Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users with lower proficiency levels in using printers struggle to adjust ink application amounts for recording media, often relying on conversion tables provided by vendors, which limit their ability to set custom ink ratios.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that acquires pixel values representing ink application amounts for multiple color inks, determines if the total value exceeds a threshold, and reduces specific pixel values to prevent overflow, ensuring the fluorescent ink reduction is less than the reduction of basic color inks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conversion tables with adjusted ink application amounts are used, then ink overflow is prevented, but user flexibility to set custom ink ratios is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ink application amounts based on real-time pixel value calculations rather than using fixed conversion tables. The determination unit calculates total pixel values and compares them against thresholds, then the reduction unit dynamically reduces pixel values for specific inks based on the excess amount, allowing flexible adaptation to different recording media while preventing overflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of ink application amounts by calculating pixel values and comparing them to threshold values. When the total pixel value exceeds the threshold, the system modifies the pixel values for individual inks (particularly reducing basic color inks while preserving fluorescent ink ratios) to bring the total within acceptable limits, thus preventing overflow while maintaining color balance.
2Quantity of substance
If pixel values for basic color inks are reduced to prevent overflow, then ink application amount is controlled, but fluorescent ink noticeability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different reduction strategies to different ink types based on their local quality requirements. The reduction unit is configured to reduce pixel values for basic color inks (cyan, magenta, yellow) while preserving the pixel value ratios for fluorescent inks. This selective local quality approach ensures that basic inks are controlled to prevent overflow while fluorescent inks maintain their noticeability and angle dependence characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of reducing all ink values (which would diminish fluorescent ink noticeability) into a benefit by selectively reducing only basic color inks. The determination unit identifies when overflow is imminent, and the reduction unit strategically reduces basic color ink pixel values, thereby preventing overflow while actually preserving or enhancing fluorescent ink noticeability by maintaining their relative proportions.
3Quantity of substance
If total ink application amount is reduced, then recording medium capacity is respected, but image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters selectively rather than uniformly reducing all ink values. The determination unit calculates the total pixel value and identifies the excess amount over the threshold. The reduction unit then applies parameter changes specifically to basic color inks proportional to their contribution to the total, preserving the overall color balance and image quality while respecting the recording medium's ink capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus acquires, with respect to a pixel of interest, a combination of a plurality of pixel values representing respective ink application amounts of a plurality of color inks including at least one basic color ink and a fluorescent ink containing a dispersion element having a fluorescent property, determines whether a total value of the plurality of pixel values is larger than a threshold value, and, in a case where it is determined that the total value is larger than the threshold value, reduces a pixel value for at least one ink of the at least one basic color ink in such a manner that an amount by which to reduce a pixel value for the fluorescent ink becomes smaller than an amount by which to reduce a pixel value corresponding to at least one ink of the at least one basic color ink.