White Ink Pixel Control for Print Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing methods using white ink are inefficient in terms of speed and cost, and struggle to reproduce white scales (gradation) due to binary control, leading to pseudo-outlines at borders and deteriorated image quality, especially when the base color of the recording medium is strong, requiring manual estimation of white ink levels.
Innovation Solution
A print data generating apparatus that converts color information of pixels into white colorant levels using a white conversion table, allowing for adjustable white ink usage based on pixel color similarity to the recording medium, enabling high-quality image reproduction at high speed and low cost without being affected by the medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If white ink is ejected on the entire area of the recording medium, then image quality is improved by covering the base color, but the amount of white ink used increases, reducing printing speed and increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining white ink ejection on a pixel-by-pixel basis rather than uniformly across the entire recording medium. The processing apparatus calculates the degree of similarity between each pixel's color and the recording medium's base color, then selectively ejects white ink only where needed to achieve the desired image quality while minimizing ink consumption and maintaining high printing speed.
2Device complexity
If binary control is used for white ink ejection, then device complexity is reduced, but image quality deteriorates due to inability to reproduce white scales and generation of pseudo-outlines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by introducing a multi-level white ink ejection system that goes beyond binary control. The processing apparatus calculates a similarity degree for each pixel and uses this parameter to determine the appropriate amount of white ink to eject, enabling smooth gradation reproduction and eliminating pseudo-outlines while maintaining reasonable system complexity through algorithmic control.
3Manufacturing precision
If white ink is ejected uniformly on each pixel, then image quality is improved by covering base color, but the amount of white ink used increases, increasing print cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining white ink ejection on a pixel-by-pixel basis rather than uniformly across the entire recording medium. The processing apparatus calculates the degree of similarity between each pixel's color and the recording medium's base color, then selectively ejects white ink only where needed to achieve the desired image quality while minimizing ink consumption and maintaining high printing speed.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual estimation of white ink levels is performed, then image quality can be optimized for specific recording media, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming sample printing and observation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the processing apparatus to automatically determine optimal white ink ejection levels through computational algorithms. The system calculates the similarity degree between pixel colors and the recording medium's base color using colorimetric data, eliminating the need for manual sample printing and human observation while maintaining or improving image quality optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A print data generating apparatus to generate print data which is used for printing in a printing apparatus based on image data is provided. The print data generating apparatus comprises a conversion table storing system, which stores a white conversion table defining a white colorant level corresponding to color information of each of a plurality of pixels that configure the image data, the white colorant level indicating a level of white colorant to be used in the printing apparatus, a colorant data generating system, which generates white colorant data wherein color information of each of the plurality of pixels is converted into the white colorant level according to the white conversion table, and a print data generating system, which generates white print data to be used for printing with the white colorant in the printing apparatus based on the white colorant data.