Ink Dot Layout for Low Gloss and High Density Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing techniques struggle to achieve a low gloss representation on print products while maintaining a high ink covering ratio and preventing a decrease in the density range that can be represented on a recording medium.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves a method for determining ink dot layouts on a recording medium using a combination of scatter and cluster halftone processing, where colored ink dots are placed to minimize overlap and a colorless ink is used to create uneven surfaces, ensuring a high ink covering ratio and achieving a uniform low-gloss representation across all density regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ink dots are recorded by stacking inks in spaced target positions to reduce surface smoothness and achieve low gloss, then gloss characteristics are improved, but ink covering ratio decreases and density range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ink recording process into two distinct phases: scatter halftone processing that distributes ink dots to minimize overlap and maintain high covering ratio, and cluster halftone processing that stacks ink dots to create surface unevenness for low gloss effect. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional aspect by processing different density regions differently - applying scatter halftone processing to high-density regions and cluster halftone processing to low-density regions. This dimensional differentiation in processing approach enables simultaneous achievement of high ink covering ratio and low gloss representation across the entire image.
2Quantity of substance
If ink dots are positioned to minimize overlap to maintain high ink covering ratio, then ink covering ratio is improved, but surface unevenness decreases and low gloss representation cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different halftone processing methods for different regions of the image based on their density characteristics. High-density regions receive scatter halftone processing to maintain covering ratio, while low-density regions receive cluster halftone processing to create surface unevenness for low gloss effect.
3Ease of manufacture
If cluster halftone processing is used to create surface unevenness for low gloss, then gloss characteristics are improved, but graininess increases in high-density regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different halftone processing methods for different regions of the image based on their density characteristics. High-density regions receive scatter halftone processing to maintain covering ratio, while low-density regions receive cluster halftone processing to create surface unevenness for low gloss effect.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus provides image processing which realizes a representation of a low gloss while preventing a decrease in a density range of an image to be formed which can be represented on a recording medium. The image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data representing an image, a first determination unit configured to determine, based on the image data, a first recording amount for use in recording by arranging the colored ink side by side on the recording medium and a second recording amount for use in recording by stacking the colored ink in discrete positions on the recording medium, and an output unit configured to output layout data indicating a layout of the colored ink on the recording medium, based on the first recording amount and the second recording amount.