Image Forming System Attribute Information Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming systems, the degradation of printing quality occurs when digital printers connected to digital-RIPs process image data rasterized by CTP-RIPs, as attribute information is lost, leading to garbled text and rubbed lines, and existing solutions may incorrectly identify image attributes, disrupting the identity of the original image.
Innovation Solution
An image forming method where attribute information is generated by a second image forming apparatus based on print data and transmitted to a first image forming apparatus, allowing the first apparatus to perform necessary processes like outline and contour enhancement, ensuring the printing quality is maintained and variations in drawing results are minimized by unifying the rasterization process across multiple RIPs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the rasterization process is unifiedly performed by a CTP-RIP for PDF data, then drawing results are uniformized, but attribute information disappears causing text and graphic quality to degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts attribute information from the rasterized image data generated by the CTP-RIP. A determination unit identifies text and graphic portions within the rasterized data, separating this attribute information from the general image data. This extracted attribute information is then transmitted to the digital printer, enabling it to perform outline processes and maintain text/graphic quality while still using the unified CTP-RIP rasterization process.
2Manufacturing precision
If gradation conversion using binarization is performed for text and graphic portions, then printing quality is prevented from degrading, but there is a possibility of erroneous determination of image attributes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of text and graphic portions within the rasterized image data before executing the outline process. The determination unit analyzes the rasterized data in advance to identify which portions require special processing, and this pre-identified attribute information is transmitted to the digital printer. This preliminary action allows the digital printer to apply appropriate processing (such as outline processes) only to the identified text and graphic portions, maintaining printing quality while minimizing erroneous determination through targeted processing.
3Reliability
If attribute information is generated and transmitted from a second image forming apparatus, then outline processes can be performed by the first apparatus, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal attribute information transmission mechanism that can operate across different image forming apparatus configurations. The determination unit and attribute information transmission functionality are designed to work with standard data formats and communication protocols, allowing the system to function whether the determination is performed by the same apparatus or a different apparatus (CTP-RIP). This multi-functionality maintains printing quality through reliable attribute information transmission while minimizing system complexity by using standardized interfaces and protocols that can be integrated into existing workflows.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image forming method using an image forming system that includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses. A print setting using attribute information that is necessary for image formation performed by a first image forming apparatus is registered in a second image forming apparatus in advance, it is determined whether a print setting of print data coincides with the registered print setting when a rasterization process of image data is performed by the second image forming apparatus, when the print settings coincide with each other, the attribute information is generated by the second image forming apparatus and is transmitted from the processing unit of the second image forming apparatus to an image forming unit of the first image forming apparatus together with the image data and the print setting, whereby the image formation is performed.