Print Control Device for Color Variation in Overlapping Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in reducing color variation at the boundaries of printed areas, particularly in joint areas printed through multiple passes, due to differences in material, temperature, and humidity, which are not adequately addressed by current color conversion processing methods.
Innovation Solution
A control device for a print execution device that alternately executes partial printing and medium movement, using distinct processing for overlapping and non-overlapping areas, with specific density lowering processing in overlapping areas to minimize color variation by adjusting ink density based on pixel ranges and color characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple passes are used to print joint areas, then color variation is reduced, but printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process is segmented into multiple passes, where the printing area is divided into first and second printable areas that are printed in separate passes. This segmentation allows for optimized processing of overlapping regions, reducing color variation while maintaining efficient printing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
Dot data is generated in advance for both printable areas, with preliminary determination of which dots should be formed in each pass. This preliminary action allows the printing system to execute multiple passes efficiently without excessive processing time during actual printing.
2Manufacturing precision
If different look-up tables are used for joint areas, then color variation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different dot data generation approaches are applied to different areas: the first printable area uses one processing method while the second printable area uses another method. This local quality approach optimizes color accuracy in joint areas without unnecessarily complicating the processing of non-overlapping areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes processing parameters based on area type, using different dot data generation methods for overlapping versus non-overlapping regions. This parameter change strategy maintains color accuracy while avoiding uniform complexity across the entire printing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If dots are formed in overlapping areas during both passes, then color consistency improves, but ink density becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
In the second printable area, dots are selectively formed only in certain pixels during the second pass rather than all pixels. This partial action approach maintains color consistency in overlapping regions while preventing excessive ink density by omitting dots where not necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and identifies specific pixels in the second printable area where dot formation should occur during the second pass. By taking out only the necessary dot formation operations, the system achieves color consistency without excessive ink application.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device is configured to: obtain target image data; generate dot data using the target image data; and control a print execution device to print a print image using the dot data by executing: a first partial printing of forming the dots in an overlapping area and a first non-overlapping area; and a second partial printing of forming the dots in the overlapping area and a second non-overlapping area. The control device generates data of the dot data corresponding to the overlapping area by executing an overlapping area processing including first processing for values of pixels within a first range and second processing for values of pixels within a second range, the first processing including lowering a density of an image to be printed in the overlapping area.