Ink Superposition Order Control for Light Scattering Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing techniques fail to effectively control the superposition order of inks, leading to issues with color reproduction range and glossiness, especially in multi-color printers, where the number of processes required becomes impractical as the number of colors, printing media, and print modes increase.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method and printing apparatus that acquire light scattering characteristic information of the inks and decide the superposition order based on this information to generate print data, ensuring that inks with lower light scattering intensity are printed on top, thereby suppressing scattering and widening the color reproduction range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If all color orders are measured in advance to determine optimal ink discharge order, then color reproduction range is improved, but the number of processes increases abruptly making it impractical for multi-color printers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter basis from measuring all color combinations to measuring only light scattering characteristics of individual inks. This parameter transformation reduces the measurement process from exponential (all combinations) to linear (individual properties), making it practical for multi-color printers while maintaining color reproduction quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of light scattering characteristics for each ink type in advance, stores these characteristics, and uses them for subsequent print data generation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated measurements of all color combinations during actual printing operations
2Productivity
If inks are superposed in arbitrary order, then printing process is simple, but light scattering occurs in unnecessary wavelength bands reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light scattering characteristic values as a new parameter to determine ink superposition order. By calculating these values from measured data and using them to sort inks before printing, the system achieves both efficient processing and high image quality without requiring complex real-time measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for complex mechanical control of ink superposition with a computational approach. Light scattering characteristics are measured and calculated, then used to generate print data with optimized ink ordering, substituting physical trial-and-error with mathematical optimization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances image quality by reducing light scattering and expanding the color reproduction range, particularly in high-saturation and high-density areas, while maintaining practicality for multi-color printers.
Implementation Method 1
a generating step of generating print data to form an image on the printing medium by superposing the plurality of types of printing materials in at least some pixels of an output image in an order complying with intensities of light scattering characteristics of the plurality of types of printing materials
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus for generating print data for a printing apparatus that forms an image on a printing medium with a plurality of types of printing materials. An acquisition unit acquires light scattering characteristic information representing a light scattering characteristic of each of the plurality of types of printing materials. A decision unit decides an order of superposing the plurality of types of printing materials in a predetermined region of the image in accordance with the acquired light scattering characteristic information such that a printing material having a relatively high light scattering characteristic is printed on a relatively lower layer on the printing medium. A generation unit generates the print data to form the image on the printing medium using the plurality of types of printing materials in accordance with the decided order.