Print Data Generation for Ink Limitation and Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face challenges in appropriately limiting the amount of color material to prevent deterioration of print quality, such as bleeding and strike-through, as excessive ink can narrow the color range expressible while insufficient ink can lead to defects like bleeding and mottle.
Innovation Solution
A print data generating device and method that acquire pixel data with grayscale values for multiple color components, determine limitation values based on the fixing characteristics of the color materials to the print medium, and correct the pixel data to ensure the total amount of color material does not exceed a determined allowable amount, thereby generating print data that suppresses print quality deterioration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of ink is excessively limited based on grayscale level, then print quality deterioration is suppressed, but the color range expressible is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for ink limitation from grayscale level to total ink amount. By calculating the sum of all ink components (C+M+Y+K) and comparing it against a threshold value, the system dynamically adjusts ink amounts to prevent defects while preserving color expressiveness. This parameter transformation resolves the contradiction by providing a more accurate control mechanism that considers the combined effect of all inks rather than treating each color independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the limitation on the amount of ink is not sufficient, then the color range is maintained, but bleeding and strike-through occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the total ink amount is calculated and compared against a predetermined threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, the system automatically reduces ink amounts in the pixel data to bring the total within acceptable limits. This closed-loop control ensures that color range is maintained as much as possible while preventing harmful effects like bleeding and strike-through through real-time monitoring and adjustment of ink usage.
3Device complexity
If fixed limitation values are applied to all ink types, then the control process is simplified, but the specific fixing characteristics of different color materials are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different limitation characteristics to different ink types based on their specific fixing properties. Instead of using a uniform limitation approach, the system considers the unique absorption and drying characteristics of each color material (C, M, Y, K) when determining the total ink threshold. This allows for more precise control that accounts for local variations in ink behavior while maintaining a relatively simple overall control structure through the use of a single threshold comparison.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a print data generating device which generates print data for printing using plural kinds of color material. The device includes a processor, and a memory storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the device to perform acquiring pixel data including grayscale values of plural color components corresponding to the plural kinds of color material, acquiring plural limitation values which are determined for the plural color components in the pixel data, respectively, and according to fixing characteristics of color material of the respective color components, to a print medium, determining a total allowable amount in printing a color represented by the pixel data based on the limitation values, correcting the pixel data such that a total amount of color material for the pixel data does not exceed the total allowable amount if needed, and generating the print data based on the corrected pixel data.