Glossy Image Formation on Colored Media via Surface Color Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for forming glossy images on image forming media, such as colored paper, often result in cloudiness due to uneven toner layers and surface properties of the medium, which reduces glossiness and transparency.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires color information of the image forming medium, sets an image forming color to apply gloss by matching it to the medium's surface color, and outputs instructions to form an image with this color, enhancing glossiness and transparency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a special color toner is used to form glossy images on colored image forming media, then glossiness should be improved, but cloudiness occurs due to uneven toner layers and surface properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different image forming colors to different regions or areas of the image forming medium based on local surface color variations. By measuring the surface color at multiple locations and adjusting the toner color locally to match each region's surface color, the patent achieves uniform glossiness across the entire medium while avoiding cloudiness caused by mismatched toner-color combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the image forming color parameters (hue, saturation, brightness) based on measured surface color characteristics of the image forming medium. By adjusting these color parameters to match the medium's surface color, the patent optimizes toner adhesion and layer uniformity, thereby improving glossiness while preventing cloudiness.
2Device complexity
If the image forming color is standardized regardless of medium color, then device complexity is reduced, but glossiness and transparency deteriorate due to color mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated system where the image forming apparatus itself measures the surface color of the image forming medium and automatically adjusts the image forming color without requiring manual user input. This self-service approach maintains device simplicity while achieving optimal color matching for enhanced glossiness and transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the surface color measurement results are used to adjust the image forming color in real-time. The system measures the medium's surface color, compares it with the planned image forming color, and modifies the toner parameters to achieve optimal matching, thereby improving glossiness while maintaining automated operation.
3Productivity
If toner is applied uniformly across the surface, then productivity is improved, but cloudiness occurs on colored media reducing transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of the image forming medium's surface color before the actual image formation process. By obtaining the surface color characteristics in advance, the system can pre-calculate the optimal image forming color parameters, enabling both high-speed printing and precise color matching without compromising transparency or producing cloudiness.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes circuitry to acquire color information indicating a surface color of an image forming medium, set, based on the acquired color information, an image forming color for applying gloss to the image forming medium, and output an instruction to form an image on the image forming medium with the image forming color.