Image Processing Apparatus Monochrome Mode Density Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face challenges in maintaining consistent recording density or brightness across different monochrome modes and various recording media, leading to noticeable tone differences and user discomfort, especially when printing on media with different paper whites.
Innovation Solution
An image processing method that compares and adjusts the amount of achromatic material recording to ensure equivalent recording density or brightness across multiple monochrome modes and different recording media, using a combination of chromatic and achromatic materials, while maintaining a total chromatic material amount less than the achromatic material amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the amounts of recording of chromatic inks are changed to provide different color tones (warm tone, cool tone) while maintaining constant achromatic ink amounts, then color tone variety is improved, but recording density consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the amounts of recording of achromatic inks (black and gray) in addition to chromatic inks to compensate for density variations. By adjusting multiple parameters (both chromatic and achromatic ink amounts), the system maintains density consistency while providing different color tones. This resolves the contradiction by modifying multiple variables rather than keeping achromatic ink amounts constant.
2Measurement precision
If achromatic inks are used dominantly to prevent color transition, then color accuracy is improved, but color tone adjustment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite approach by combining multiple ink types (black, gray, cyan, magenta, yellow) and adjusting their combinations to achieve both high color accuracy and color tone adjustment capability. The system leverages the properties of different ink materials to simultaneously satisfy both requirements that would be contradictory if only one ink type was used dominantly.
3Ease of operation
If different monochrome modes with different chromatic ink amounts are provided, then user preference satisfaction is improved, but image quality consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system compares recording densities between different monochrome modes and automatically adjusts achromatic ink amounts to compensate for variations. This closed-loop control ensures that user-selected color tones maintain consistent image quality, resolving the contradiction between user preference and quality consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing method is applied for recording an image on a recording medium using a plurality of color materials including a chromatic material and an achromatic material. A total amount of recording of the chromatic material is smaller than a total amount of recording of the achromatic material, and a plurality of monochrome modes including a first monochrome mode and a second monochrome mode are provided, the total amount of recording of the chromatic material being different for each of the monochrome modes. The image processing method includes adjusting the amount of recording of the achromatic material so that a recording density of an image recorded in the first monochrome mode and a recording density of an image recorded in the second monochrome mode become equivalent to each other with respect to the same luminance signal.