Printing Apparatus Gloss Material Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for techniques to efficiently reduce the usage of special gloss materials in printing, such as metallic ink, while maintaining print quality, as these materials are expensive and wasteful when used excessively.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that adjust the amount of special gloss material based on an index value related to the lightness of the coloring material, reducing its use in highlight areas and areas where the lightness index is higher, thereby optimizing the use of special gloss materials and preventing luminance level inversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a fixed amount of special gloss material is used in all print areas, then the metallic color reproduction is consistent, but the cost increases and material is wasted in highlight areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the amount of special gloss material according to the specific print area characteristics. The control section adjusts the special gloss material amount based on the color tone and luminance level of each region, using more material in shadow areas and less in highlight areas, thereby optimizing both material efficiency and color reproduction quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the special gloss material amount adjustable rather than fixed. The control section dynamically changes the material quantity based on real-time analysis of the print area's color tone and luminance characteristics, enabling adaptive optimization across different regions of the printed image
2Loss of substance
If special gloss material is reduced in highlight areas, then material cost decreases, but luminance level inversion may occur causing color tone imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback by using the luminance level information as a control parameter to adjust the special gloss material amount. The control section continuously monitors the luminance characteristics of each print area and adjusts the material quantity accordingly, preventing luminance level inversion while optimizing material usage through this closed-loop control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by using luminance level as a variable parameter to control the special gloss material amount. By establishing a relationship between luminance characteristics and material quantity, the system dynamically adjusts material parameters to maintain color tone accuracy while reducing overall material consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus for performing printing with the use of a special gloss material and a coloring material is provided. The printing apparatus includes: an inputting unit that receives or acquires image data as an input; and a printing unit that controls the arrangement of the special gloss material and the coloring material on a print target medium on the basis of the inputted image data to print the image data. The printing unit changes the amount of use of the special gloss material depending on an index value that is related to the lightness of a color represented by the coloring material.