Ejecion control of quality-enhancing ink

Abstract

A printing control method of generating print data to be supplied to a print unit capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material. The printing control method comprises a tone-decreasing step which includes the step of generating transparent dot data by a process configured such that size of first processing-targeted pixels is larger than size of second processing-targeted pixels, the first processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the transparent dot data generating process, the second processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the colored dot data generating process.

1 . A printing control method of generating print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit being capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, the printing control method comprising:
 (a) a color conversion step of converting pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   (b) a tone-decreasing step of generating dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing step includes the step of generating transparent dot data by a process configured such that size of first processing-targeted pixels is larger than size of second processing-targeted pixels, the first processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the transparent dot data generating process, the second processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the colored dot data generating process.   
   
   
       2 . The printing control method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first processing-targeted pixels correspond to groupings of the second processing-targeted pixels, and   pixel values of the first processing-targeted pixels are determined according to pixel values of the second processing-targeted pixels belonging to the first processing-targeted pixels.   
   
   
       3 . The printing control method according to  claim 2 , wherein
 pixel values of the first processing-targeted pixels are pixel values of a specific pixel among the second processing-targeted pixels belonging to the first processing-targeted pixels.   
   
   
       4 . The printing control method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tone-decreasing step includes the step of generating transparent dot data using a tone-decreasing process method requiring shorter time for execution thereof than a tone-decreasing process method used to generate the colored dot data.   
   
   
       5 . The printing control method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the tone-decreasing step generates the colored dot data using an error diffusion method at least in part, and generates the transparent dot data using a systematic dither method.   
   
   
       6 . The printing control method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the tone-decreasing step generates the colored dot data using an error diffusion method at least in part, and generates the transparent dot data using a density pattern method.   
   
   
       7 . A printing control method of generating print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit being capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, the printing control method comprising:
 (a) a color conversion step of converting pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   (b) a tone-decreasing step of generating dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the step (a) includes the step of generating the multi-tone data such that tone number of the quality-enhancing ink is smaller than tone number of the colored ink.   
   
   
       8 . A printing control method of generating print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit being capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, the printing control method comprising:
 (a) a color conversion step of converting pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   (b) a tone-decreasing step of generating dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the step (b) includes the step of generating transparent dot data, using a tone-decreasing process method requiring shorter time for execution thereof than a tone-decreasing process method used to generate at least a portion of the colored dot data.   
   
   
       9 . A printing control apparatus for generating print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit being capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, the printing control apparatus comprising:
 a color converter configured to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a tone-decreasing unit configured to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing unit is configured to generate transparent dot data by a process configured such that size of first processing-targeted pixels is larger than size of second processing-targeted pixels, the first processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the transparent dot data generating process, the second processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the colored dot data generating process.   
   
   
       10 . A printing control apparatus for generating print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit being capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, the printing apparatus comprising:
 a color converter configured to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a tone-decreasing unit configured to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing unit is configured to generate the multi-tone data such that tone number of the quality-enhancing ink is smaller than tone number of the colored ink.   
   
   
       11 . A printing control apparatus for generating print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit being capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, the printing control apparatus comprising:
 a color converter configured to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a tone-decreasing unit configured to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing unit is configured to generate transparent dot data, using a tone-decreasing process method requiring shorter time for execution thereof than a tone-decreasing process method used to generate at least a portion of the colored dot data.   
   
   
       12 . A printing apparatus for printing by forming dot on a print medium, the printing apparatus comprising:
 a print unit capable of forming dots on the print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material;   a color converter configured to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a tone-decreasing unit configured to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing unit is configured to generate transparent dot data by a process configured such that size of first processing-targeted pixels is larger than size of second processing-targeted pixels, the first processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the transparent dot data generating process, the second processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the colored dot data generating process.   
   
   
       13 . A printing apparatus for printing by forming dot on a print medium, the printing apparatus comprising:
 a print unit capable of forming dots on the print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material;   a color converter configured to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a tone-decreasing unit configured to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing unit is configured to generate the multi-tone data such that tone number of the quality-enhancing ink is smaller than tone number of the colored ink.   
   
   
       14 . A printing apparatus for printing by forming dot on a print medium, the printing apparatus comprising:
 a print unit capable of forming dots on the print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material;   a color converter configured to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a tone-decreasing unit configured to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the tone-decreasing unit is configured to generate transparent dot data, using a tone-decreasing process method requiring shorter time for execution thereof than a tone-decreasing process method used to generate at least a portion of the colored dot data.   
   
   
       15 . A computer program product for causing a computer to generate print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, wherein, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:   a first program for causing the computer to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a second program for causing the computer to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the first program includes a program for causing the computer to generate transparent dot data by a process configured such that size of first processing-targeted pixels is larger than size of second processing-targeted pixels, the first processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the transparent dot data generating process, the second processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the colored dot data generating process.   
   
   
       16 . A computer program product for causing a computer to generate print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, wherein, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:
 a first program for causing the computer to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and 
 a second program for causing the computer to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion, 
 wherein the first program includes a program for causing the computer to generate the multi-tone data such that tone number of the quality-enhancing ink is smaller than tone number of the colored ink. 
   
   
   
       17 . A computer program product for causing a computer to generate print data to be supplied to a print unit to print, the print unit forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material, wherein, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   a computer program stored on the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising:   a first program for causing the computer to convert pixel values representing a color in each pixel of the image data into multi-tone data of each ink, the multi-tone data of each ink being for expressing the color with the at least one colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit; and   a second program for causing the computer to generate dot data representing a dot formation state of a colored dot formed with the at least one colored ink and a transparent dot formed with the quality-enhancing ink in each pixel, according to the multi-tone data of the each ink generated by the color conversion,   wherein the first program includes a program for causing the computer to generate transparent dot data, using a tone-decreasing process method requiring shorter time for execution thereof than a tone-decreasing process method used to generate at least a portion of the colored dot data.