Printing Data Scaling for Ink Limiting and Bleed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face issues such as bleeding and feathering due to excessive ink or toner application, and the use of look-up tables for color management is cumbersome and inadequate for dynamic adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that applies scaling factor functions and compensation factor functions on specific color combinations to accurately limit ink or toner application, using a linearity compensation module before an ink or toner limiting module to achieve targeted and efficient ink or toner control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a constant scaling factor is applied to reduce ink volume for each pixel, then bleeding and feathering problems are avoided, but the ink limiting cannot be optimized for different ink types, substrates, or environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static constant scaling factor into a dynamic function that adapts to different conditions. The scaling factor becomes a function of color values (e.g., λ(C+M+Y+K)) that can be adjusted based on ink type, substrate, and environmental conditions, allowing the system to maintain print quality while adapting to various printing scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter from a fixed constant to a variable function of color values. By defining the scaling factor as a function of the sum of CMYK values or other color parameters, the system can optimize ink limiting for different conditions without requiring manual reconfiguration, thus improving both reliability and adaptability
2Ease of manufacture
If look-up tables are used for color management and ink limiting, then color conversion can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome requiring many test patches and cannot handle dynamic adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ink limiting function from the static look-up table approach and implements it as a separate computational module that operates on color values. This allows the system to perform color management without the cumbersome test patch process, as the scaling factor function can be calculated directly from color values without requiring pre-generated lookup tables
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a general scaling factor function framework that can be applied directly to color values without requiring preliminary test patches for each specific case. The function λ(C+M+Y+K) provides a ready-to-use solution that eliminates the time-consuming calibration process while maintaining ease of manufacture
3Quantity of substance
If linear reduction of source image data is applied, then ink volume is reduced uniformly, but fine gradations are lost and the approach cannot be optimized for specific color combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating different color combinations differently through the scaling factor function. Instead of uniform reduction, the function λ(C+M+Y+K) applies different scaling effects based on the specific color values present, preserving fine gradations in areas where they matter while still reducing overall ink volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the scaling factor dependent on the actual color values rather than applying a fixed uniform reduction. The function adapts its effect based on the input color combination, allowing fine gradations to be preserved while achieving ink volume reduction
Data Source
AI summary
A system for preparing printing data based on pixel data comprising for a pixel a plurality of different ink or toner color values. The system includes an ink or toner limiting module configured to apply at least one scaling factor function for at least one color combination in order to limit an amount of ink or toner to be applied during printing. Each scaling factor function for a color combination determines scaled color values based on color values of the plurality of color values associated with the color combination.