EP1575779A1 - Colour ink-jet printing method with optimized number of deposited droplets and corresponding printer - Google Patents

Colour ink-jet printing method with optimized number of deposited droplets and corresponding printer

Info

Publication number
EP1575779A1
EP1575779A1 EP03782520A EP03782520A EP1575779A1 EP 1575779 A1 EP1575779 A1 EP 1575779A1 EP 03782520 A EP03782520 A EP 03782520A EP 03782520 A EP03782520 A EP 03782520A EP 1575779 A1 EP1575779 A1 EP 1575779A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
color
equivalent
drops
superimposed
ink
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP03782520A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1575779B1 (en
Inventor
Philippe Sarra-Bournet
Jean-Paul Marietti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thales DIS France SA
Original Assignee
Gemplus Card International SA
Gemplus SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gemplus Card International SA, Gemplus SA filed Critical Gemplus Card International SA
Publication of EP1575779A1 publication Critical patent/EP1575779A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1575779B1 publication Critical patent/EP1575779B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/205—Ink jet for printing a discrete number of tones
    • B41J2/2056—Ink jet for printing a discrete number of tones by ink density change
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2107—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by the ink properties

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to color inkjet printing using an inkjet printer comprising a plurality of cartridges each containing an ink to be projected in the form of drops on a printing medium.
  • inkjet printers include four cartridges each containing a basic or primary color, namely yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
  • printers To increase the final rendering of the image, particularly in photography, certain printers also include additional cartridges containing inks of so-called “light” primary color such as light magenta, light cyan and light black.
  • the present invention provides a solution to these problems.
  • It relates to a method of printing a color inkjet printer of the type comprising at least four ink cartridges each containing a base color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and at least one additional cartridge containing an ink of a so-called light base color, and in which a print order is received containing information relating to the color requested and / or the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required to obtain the color requested in a pixel considered from a chosen printing medium.
  • the method comprises an optimization mode in which the color applied and / or the number and the color of the drops to be superimposed required to obtain the color requested at said pixel with an equivalent color and / or a number and a number of equivalent droplets to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and applies to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each print order received.
  • the number of drops to be superimposed equivalent is less than the number of drops to be superimposed required, preferably less than or equal to four or three drops of ink of different color when the printer is equipped at least six ink cartridges.
  • the optimization mode comprises several levels of correspondence.
  • the present invention also relates to a color inkjet printer capable of implementing the method according to the invention, said printer being of the type comprising at least four cartridges each containing a basic color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and an additional cartridge containing a so-called light base color ink, and processing means capable of processing a print order comprising information relating to color requested and / or the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color in a given pixel of a chosen printing medium.
  • the processing means are able to match the requested color and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color at the level of said pixel with an equivalent color and / or a number and a color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed making it possible to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and to apply to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and the color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each print order received.
  • correspondence is established according to a law or a predetermined correspondence table.
  • the present invention also relates to software intended to control a color inkjet printer of the type comprising at least four cartridges each containing a basic color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and an additional cartridge containing a so-called light base color ink, said software comprising instruction codes capable of processing a print order comprising information relating to the color requested and / or to the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color in a given pixel of a chosen print medium.
  • the software instruction codes are able to match the requested color and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color on the level of said pixel with an equivalent color and / or an equivalent number and color of the drops to be superimposed making it possible to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and to apply to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each print order received.
  • FIG. 2 shows the stack of three drops of different colors having substantially the same rendering as the stack of Figure 1 according to the optimization method according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 schematically represents a curve illustrating a color reproduced by the stack of the six drops of FIG. 1 and a color reproduced by the stack of three drops of FIG. 2 according to the method according to the invention
  • FIG. 4 shows a correspondence table according to the invention between the color requested and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to reproduce several colors chosen in a pixel considered on the one hand and an equivalent color and / or an equivalent number and color of the drops to be superimposed allowing a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering to be obtained in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye on the other hand, and
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a printer capable of implementing the steps of the optimization method according to the invention.
  • a color inkjet printer comprises four cartridges each containing a color chosen from the four basic colors: yellow J, magenta M, cyan C and black K.
  • a stack E6 of six drops of ink of different colors (here yellow J, light magenta Mclair, black K, cyan C and magenta M) is produced in a given pixel of a support given from a seven-cartridge printer.
  • Such an E6 stack has a color rendering with a wavelength of the order of 560 nm (FIG. 3).
  • a stack E3 (FIG. 2) of three drops of ink of different colors (here magenta M, cyan C and black K) has a color rendering of a length of wave substantially equivalent, here of the order of 550 nm to that of the stack E6, and that the spectral shift between the two color renditions (here of the order of 10 nm) does not affect, or very little, the sensory response of the human eye.
  • the applicant has established a match table or table TAB (FIG. 4) between several requested colors and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to reproduce said requested colors in a pixel considered of an equivalent art and colors and / or numbers and colors of the drops to be superimposed equivalent making it possible to obtain a rendering of color appreciably equivalent and satisfactory in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye on the other hand.
  • TAB match table or table
  • the requested color CD5 is assigned the requested stack ED5 formed by:
  • the requested color CD5 and / or the ED5 stack are replaced by the equivalent color CE5 and / or the equivalent stack EE5 formed by - a drop d 'Xx color ink,
  • the method according to the invention thus makes it possible to obtain a reduction G5 of three drops of ink.
  • the TAB law or correspondence table is established beforehand before executing the ink deposition optimization mode.
  • the optimization mode can also include several levels of correspondence, for example fine, coarse or normal. Each level is assigned a threshold whose value corresponds to a spectral shift (expressed in nm) between the requested color and the equivalent color. For example, the spectral shift corresponding to the coarse level is greater than 20 nm while the spectral shift of the fine level is less than 10 nm.
  • the Applicant has obtained a saving of about 25% on the amount of ink used to print logos on smart cards with a volume of a drop of the order of 18 picoliter and an average volume per side of around 60 microliter with the optimization method according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 there is shown the implementation of the optimization process in a color inkjet printer such as that sold by the company EPSON under the reference Stylus series PHOTO 850, 890, 950.
  • the color inkjet printer 1 comprises for example six to eight cartridges 2 of which four cartridges each contain a color chosen from the four basic colors: yellow J, magenta M, cyan C and black K and of which two, three or four cartridges contain light inks chosen from Mclair light magenta, Cclair light cyan and Kclair light black.
  • a controller or pilot 3 of the printer 1 receives a print order 4 comprising information relating to the requested color CC and / or to the number and color of the ink drops G to be superimposed to reproduce a color chosen at a determined location, called pixel Pi, on a chosen printing medium 5.
  • order 4 comes from an image processor (not shown) of RIP type for “Raster Image processor” residing in a remote computer (not shown) containing the digital image to be printed.
  • the RIP processor resides in printer 1.
  • the controller 3 consults, via the link 6, a memory 7 containing a table TAB or law of correspondence between the requested color and / or the number and the color of the drops to be superimposed required ED to reproduce at least one color chosen in a pixel considered on the one hand and an equivalent color CE and / or a number and a color of the drops to be superimposed equivalent EE allowing a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering to be obtained in accordance with the sensory response of the eye human on the other hand.
  • a memory 7 containing a table TAB or law of correspondence between the requested color and / or the number and the color of the drops to be superimposed required ED to reproduce at least one color chosen in a pixel considered on the one hand and an equivalent color CE and / or a number and a color of the drops to be superimposed equivalent EE allowing a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering to be obtained in accordance with the sensory response of the eye human on the other hand.
  • the correspondence is established by software, the instruction codes of which are executed by the controller 3 or another microprocessor (not shown).
  • the software instruction codes are contained in a storage medium (not shown).
  • the controller 3 requests the print head (not shown) containing the ink cartridges 2 according to the equivalent color CE and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed equivalent EE thus determined for each color requested CD and / or for each stack requested ED.
  • the printhead thus stressed brings the ink from the ink cartridges 2 to the nozzles (not shown) of the printhead of the printer in order to be expelled in the form of drops G in accordance with the color CE equivalent and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed EE equivalents thus determined.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Color Image Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)

Abstract

The invention concerns a colour ink-jet printer comprising at least four ink cartridges (2) containing each one basic colour selected among yellow (J), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) and at least one additional cartridge containing a so-called basic pale colour ink, and processing means (3, 7) adapted to receive a printing order (4) containing data concerning the requested colour (CD) and/or the number and the colour of the ink droplets (ED) to be deposited on one another at a specific location called pixel (Pi) of a selected printing substrate. The processing means (3, 7) include an optimizing mode capable of matching the requested colour (CD) and/or the required number and colour of droplets to be superimposed (ED) to obtain a selected colour in a given pixel (Pi) with an equivalent colour (CE) and/or an equivalent number and/or a colour of droplets to be superimposed to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory colour rendering (CE) in conformity with the human eye sensory response, and of applying to the printer (1) the equivalent colour (CE) and/or the equivalent number and colour of droplets to be superimposed (EE) thus determined for each printing order received.

Description

PROCEDE D'IMPRESSION A JET D'ENCRE COULEUR A OPTIMISATION DU NOMBRE DE GOUTTES DEPOSEES ET IMPRIMANTE CORRESPONDANTE COLOR INK JET PRINTING METHOD WITH OPTIMIZATION OF THE NUMBER OF DROPS DROPPED AND CORRESPONDING PRINTER
La présente invention concerne l'impression à jet d'encre couleur à l'aide d'une imprimante jet d'encre comprenant une pluralité de cartouches contenant chacune une encre à projeter sous la forme de gouttes sur un support d'impression.The present invention relates to color inkjet printing using an inkjet printer comprising a plurality of cartridges each containing an ink to be projected in the form of drops on a printing medium.
Elle trouve une application générale dans l'optimisation de l'impression jet d'encre couleur en vue de diminuer l'épaisseur du dépôt d'encre en un emplacement déterminé dit pixel et de réduire d'autant la consommation d'encre et cela sans affecter la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain.It finds general application in the optimization of color inkjet printing with a view to reducing the thickness of the ink deposit at a determined location called a pixel and thereby reducing ink consumption even without affect the sensory response of the human eye.
D'une manière générale, les imprimantes à jet d'encre comprennent quatre cartouches contenant chacune une couleur de base ou primaire, à savoir jaune, magenta, cyan et noire.Generally speaking, inkjet printers include four cartridges each containing a basic or primary color, namely yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
Pour augmenter le rendu final de l'image, notamment en photographie, certaines imprimantes comprennent en outre des cartouches supplémentaires contenant des encres de couleur primaire dite « claire » telles que magenta claire, cyan claire et noire claire.To increase the final rendering of the image, particularly in photography, certain printers also include additional cartridges containing inks of so-called “light” primary color such as light magenta, light cyan and light black.
L'utilisation d'une imprimante équipée de sept cartouches contenant chacune l'une de ces sept couleurs permet de résoudre le manque de résolution de la technologie jet d'encre.Using a printer equipped with seven cartridges, each containing one of these seven colors, resolves the lack of resolution of inkjet technology.
Toutefois, u ne telle utilisation des sept couleurs engendre d es problèmes d e sur-épaisseur des gouttes d'encre susceptibles d'être superposées en un pixel ainsi qu'une consommation d'encre élevée.However, such use of the seven colors gives rise to problems of excess thickness of the ink drops capable of being superimposed on a pixel as well as high ink consumption.
La présente invention apporte une solution à ces problèmes.The present invention provides a solution to these problems.
Elle porte sur un procédé d'impression d'une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur du type comprenant au moins quatre cartouches d'encre contenant chacune une couleur de base choisie parmi le jaune, le magenta, le cyan et le noir et au moins une cartouche supplémentaire contenant une encre d'une couleur de base dite claire, et dans lequel on reçoit un ordre d'impression contenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre à superposer requis pour obtenir la couleur demandée en un pixel considéré d'un support d'impression choisi.It relates to a method of printing a color inkjet printer of the type comprising at least four ink cartridges each containing a base color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and at least one additional cartridge containing an ink of a so-called light base color, and in which a print order is received containing information relating to the color requested and / or the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required to obtain the color requested in a pixel considered from a chosen printing medium.
Selon une définition générale de l'invention, le procédé comprend un mode d'optimisation d ans l equel o n fait correspondre l a couleur d emandée et/ou l e nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis pour obtenir la couleur demandée au niveau dudit pixel avec une couleur équivalente et/ou un nombre et u ne c ouleur d es g outtes à s uperposer é quivalents p ermettant d'obtenir u n rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l 'œil h umain, et on applique à l 'imprimante l a couleur équivalente et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents ainsi déterminés pour chaque ordre d'impression reçu.According to a general definition of the invention, the method comprises an optimization mode in which the color applied and / or the number and the color of the drops to be superimposed required to obtain the color requested at said pixel with an equivalent color and / or a number and a number of equivalent droplets to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and applies to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each print order received.
Ainsi, grâce au procédé selon l'invention, il est possible, sans altérer le rendu de l'impression pour l'œil humain, de réduire la quantité de gouttes superposées et de réduire ainsi l'épaisseur et la quantité d'encre déposée en un pixel déterminé.Thus, thanks to the method according to the invention, it is possible, without altering the rendering of the impression for the human eye, to reduce the quantity of superimposed drops and thus reduce the thickness and the quantity of ink deposited in a determined pixel.
Selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, le nombre de gouttes à superposer équivalent est inférieur au nombre de gouttes à superposer requis, de préférence inférieur ou égal à quatre ou trois gouttes d'encre de couleur différentes lorsque l'imprimante est équipée d'au moins six cartouches d'encre.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the number of drops to be superimposed equivalent is less than the number of drops to be superimposed required, preferably less than or equal to four or three drops of ink of different color when the printer is equipped at least six ink cartridges.
De préférence, le mode d'optimisation comprend plusieurs niveaux de correspondance.Preferably, the optimization mode comprises several levels of correspondence.
La présente invention a également pour objet une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur apte à mettre en œuvre le procédé selon l'invention, ladite imprimante étant du type comprenant au moins quatre cartouches contenant chacune une couleur de base choisie parmi le jaune, le magenta, le cyan et le noir et une cartouche supplémentaire contenant une encre de couleur de base dite claire, et des moyens de traitement aptes à traiter un ordre d'impression comprenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre à superposer requis pour obtenir la couleur demandée en un pixel considéré d'un support d'impression choisi.The present invention also relates to a color inkjet printer capable of implementing the method according to the invention, said printer being of the type comprising at least four cartridges each containing a basic color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and an additional cartridge containing a so-called light base color ink, and processing means capable of processing a print order comprising information relating to color requested and / or the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color in a given pixel of a chosen printing medium.
Selon u ne autre caractéristique d e l 'invention, l es moyens de traitement sont aptes à faire correspondre la couleur demandée et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis pour obtenir la couleur demandée au niveau dudit pixel avec une couleur équivalente et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l 'œil h umain, et à appliquer a l 'imprimante l a couleur équivalente et/ou l e nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents ainsi déterminés pour chaque ordre d'impression reçu.According to another characteristic of the invention, the processing means are able to match the requested color and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color at the level of said pixel with an equivalent color and / or a number and a color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed making it possible to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and to apply to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and the color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each print order received.
En pratique, la correspondance est établie selon une loi ou une table de correspondance préétablie.In practice, correspondence is established according to a law or a predetermined correspondence table.
La présente invention a encore pour objet un logiciel destiné à piloter une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur du type comprenant au moins quatre cartouches contenant chacune une couleur de base choisie parmi le jaune, le magenta, le cyan et le noir et une cartouche supplémentaire contenant une encre de couleur de base dite claire, ledit logiciel comprenant des codes d'instruction aptes à traiter un ordre d'impression comprenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre à superposer requis pour obtenir la couleur demandée en un pixel considéré d'un support d'impression choisi.The present invention also relates to software intended to control a color inkjet printer of the type comprising at least four cartridges each containing a basic color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and an additional cartridge containing a so-called light base color ink, said software comprising instruction codes capable of processing a print order comprising information relating to the color requested and / or to the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color in a given pixel of a chosen print medium.
Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, les codes d'instruction du logiciel sont aptes à faire correspondre la couleur demandée et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis pour obtenir la couleur demandée au niveau dudit pixel avec une couleur équivalente et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l 'œil h umain, et à appliquer a l 'imprimante l a couleur équivalente et/ou l e nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents ainsi déterminés pour chaque ordre d'impression reçu.According to another characteristic of the invention, the software instruction codes are able to match the requested color and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to obtain the requested color on the level of said pixel with an equivalent color and / or an equivalent number and color of the drops to be superimposed making it possible to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and to apply to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each print order received.
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront à la lumière de la description détaillée ci-après et des dessins dans lesquels : - la figure 1 représente l'empilement de six gouttes de couleurs différentes sans le procédé d'optimisation selon l'invention,Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the detailed description below and of the drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows the stacking of six drops of different colors without the optimization process according to the invention,
- la figure 2 représente l'empilement de trois gouttes de couleurs différentes ayant sensiblement le même rendu que l'empilement de la figure 1 selon le procédé d'optimisation selon l'invention ; - la figure 3 représente schématiquement u ne courbe illustrant une couleur reproduite par l'empilement des six gouttes de la figure 1 et une couleur reproduite par l'empilement de trois gouttes de la figure 2 selon le procédé selon l'invention,- Figure 2 shows the stack of three drops of different colors having substantially the same rendering as the stack of Figure 1 according to the optimization method according to the invention; FIG. 3 schematically represents a curve illustrating a color reproduced by the stack of the six drops of FIG. 1 and a color reproduced by the stack of three drops of FIG. 2 according to the method according to the invention,
- la figure 4 représente une table de correspondance selon l'invention entre la couleur demandée et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis pour reproduire plusieurs couleurs choisies en un pixel considéré d'une part et une couleur équivalente et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain d'autre part, et- Figure 4 shows a correspondence table according to the invention between the color requested and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to reproduce several colors chosen in a pixel considered on the one hand and an equivalent color and / or an equivalent number and color of the drops to be superimposed allowing a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering to be obtained in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye on the other hand, and
- la figure 5 est une vue schématique représentant une imprimante apte à mettre en œuvre les étapes du procédé d'optimisation selon l'invention.- Figure 5 is a schematic view showing a printer capable of implementing the steps of the optimization method according to the invention.
La présente invention s'adapte à tout procédé d'impression à jet d'encre couleur. En pratique, une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur comprend quatre cartouches contenant chacune une couleur choisie parmi les quatre couleurs de base : jaune J , magenta M , cyan C et noire K.The present invention is suitable for any color inkjet printing process. In practice, a color inkjet printer comprises four cartridges each containing a color chosen from the four basic colors: yellow J, magenta M, cyan C and black K.
Pour augmenter le rendu final de l'image, il est connu d'associer à ces quatre cartouches d'encre de couleurs de base, des cartouches supplémentaires contenant des e ncres de couleur claire telles que le magenta clair Mclair, le cyan clair Cclair et le noir clair Kclair.To increase the final rendering of the image, it is known to combine with these four ink cartridges of basic colors, additional cartridges containing inks of light color such as light magenta Mclair, light cyan Cclair and light black Kclair.
Par exemple, en référence à la figure 1 , un empilement E6 de six gouttes d'encre de couleurs différentes (ici jaune J, magenta clair Mclair, noire K, cyan C et magenta M) est réalisé en un pixel donné d'un support d'impression donné à partir d'une imprimante à sept cartouches.For example, with reference to FIG. 1, a stack E6 of six drops of ink of different colors (here yellow J, light magenta Mclair, black K, cyan C and magenta M) is produced in a given pixel of a support given from a seven-cartridge printer.
Un tel empilement E6 a un rendu de couleur d'une longueur d'onde de l'ordre de 560 nm (figure 3).Such an E6 stack has a color rendering with a wavelength of the order of 560 nm (FIG. 3).
D'une façon surprenante, le Demandeur a constaté qu'un empilement E3 (figure 2) de trois gouttes d'encre de couleurs différentes (ici magenta M, cyan C et noire K) a un rendu de couleur d'une longueur d'onde sensiblement équivalente, ici de l'ordre de 550 nm à celui de l'empilement E6, et que le décalage spectrale entre les deux rendus de couleur (ici de l'ordre de 10 nm) n'affecte pas, ou très peu, la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain.Surprisingly, the Applicant has found that a stack E3 (FIG. 2) of three drops of ink of different colors (here magenta M, cyan C and black K) has a color rendering of a length of wave substantially equivalent, here of the order of 550 nm to that of the stack E6, and that the spectral shift between the two color renditions (here of the order of 10 nm) does not affect, or very little, the sensory response of the human eye.
A partir de cette constatation (bien évidemment réalisées dans des conditions d'impression, d'environnement et de température généralement semblables) le demandeur a établi une l oi ou table TAB de correspondance (figure 4 ) e ntre plusieurs couleurs demandées et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis pour reproduire lesdites couleurs demandées en un pixel considéré d'une p art et des couleurs équivalentes et/ou des nombres et d es couleurs des gouttes à superposer équivalents permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain d'autre part. Par exemple, à la couleur demandée CD5, est attribuée l'empilement demandé ED5 formé par :On the basis of this observation (obviously carried out under generally similar printing, environmental and temperature conditions) the applicant has established a match table or table TAB (FIG. 4) between several requested colors and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required to reproduce said requested colors in a pixel considered of an equivalent art and colors and / or numbers and colors of the drops to be superimposed equivalent making it possible to obtain a rendering of color appreciably equivalent and satisfactory in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye on the other hand. For example, the requested color CD5 is assigned the requested stack ED5 formed by:
- une goutte d'encre de couleur Xx choisie parmi les sept cartouches, - une goutte d'encre noire K,- a drop of ink of color Xx chosen from among the seven cartridges, - a drop of black ink K,
- une goutte d'encre noire claire Kclair,- a drop of Kclair clear black ink,
- une goutte d'encre cyan C,- a drop of cyan ink C,
- une goutte d'encre cyan clair Cclair,- a drop of light cyan Cclair ink,
- une goutte d'encre magenta M, et - une goutte d'encre magenta clair Mclair- a drop of magenta ink M, and - a drop of light magenta ink Mclair
Selon l'invention, sans affecter de façon sensible la réponse de l'œil humain, la couleur demandée CD5 et/ou l'empilement ED5 sont remplacés par la couleur équivalente CE5 et/ou l'empilement équivalent EE5 formé par - une goutte d'encre de couleur Xx,According to the invention, without appreciably affecting the response of the human eye, the requested color CD5 and / or the ED5 stack are replaced by the equivalent color CE5 and / or the equivalent stack EE5 formed by - a drop d 'Xx color ink,
- une goutte d'encre de couleur noire K,- a drop of black ink K,
- une goutte d'encre de couleur magenta M, et- a drop of ink of magenta color M, and
- une goutte de couleur cyan C.- a drop of cyan color C.
Le procédé selon l'invention permet ainsi d'obtenir une réduction G5 de trois gouttes d'encre.The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to obtain a reduction G5 of three drops of ink.
Bien évidemment d'autres correspondances peuvent être établies entre les couleurs demandées et les couleurs équivalentes ainsi qu'entre le nombre et la couleur des gouttes requis et le nombre et la couleur des gouttes équivalents.Obviously other correspondences can be established between the colors requested and the equivalent colors as well as between the number and the color of the drops required and the number and the color of the equivalent drops.
En pratique, la loi ou table de correspondance TAB est établie au préalable avant d'exécuter le mode d'optimisation du dépôt d'encre.In practice, the TAB law or correspondence table is established beforehand before executing the ink deposition optimization mode.
Le mode d'optimisation peut comprendre aussi plusieurs niveaux de correspondance, par exemple fin, grossier ou normal. A chaque niveau est attribué un seuil dont la valeur correspond à un décalage spectral (exprimé en nm) entre la couleur demandée et la couleur équivalente. Par exemple, le décalage spectral correspondant au niveau grossier est supérieur à 20 nm tandis que le décalage spectral du niveau fin est inférieur à 10 nm.The optimization mode can also include several levels of correspondence, for example fine, coarse or normal. Each level is assigned a threshold whose value corresponds to a spectral shift (expressed in nm) between the requested color and the equivalent color. For example, the spectral shift corresponding to the coarse level is greater than 20 nm while the spectral shift of the fine level is less than 10 nm.
La Demanderesse a obtenu une économie de l'ordre de 25 % sur la quantité d'encre employée pour imprimer des logos sur des cartes à puce avec un volume d'une goutte de l'ordre de 18 picolitre et un volume moyen par face de l'ordre de 60 microlitre avec le procédé d'optimisation selon l'invention.The Applicant has obtained a saving of about 25% on the amount of ink used to print logos on smart cards with a volume of a drop of the order of 18 picoliter and an average volume per side of around 60 microliter with the optimization method according to the invention.
En référence à la figure 5, on a représenté la mise en œuvre du procédé d'optimisation dans une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur telle que celle vendue par la société EPSON sous la référence Stylus série PHOTO 850, 890 ,950.Referring to Figure 5, there is shown the implementation of the optimization process in a color inkjet printer such as that sold by the company EPSON under the reference Stylus series PHOTO 850, 890, 950.
L'imprimante à jet d'encre couleur 1 comprend par exemple six à huit cartouches 2 dont quatre cartouches contiennent chacune une couleur choisie parmi les quatre couleurs de base : jaune J , magenta M , cyan C et noire K et dont deux, trois ou quatre cartouches contiennent des encres de couleur claire choisies parmi le magenta clair Mclair, le cyan clair Cclair et le noire claire Kclair.The color inkjet printer 1 comprises for example six to eight cartridges 2 of which four cartridges each contain a color chosen from the four basic colors: yellow J, magenta M, cyan C and black K and of which two, three or four cartridges contain light inks chosen from Mclair light magenta, Cclair light cyan and Kclair light black.
De façon classique, un contrôleur ou pilote 3 de l'imprimante 1 reçoit un ordre d'impression 4 comprenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée CC et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre G à superposer pour reproduire une couleur choisie à un emplacement déterminé, dit pixel Pi, sur un support d'impression 5 choisi.Conventionally, a controller or pilot 3 of the printer 1 receives a print order 4 comprising information relating to the requested color CC and / or to the number and color of the ink drops G to be superimposed to reproduce a color chosen at a determined location, called pixel Pi, on a chosen printing medium 5.
Par exemple, l'ordre 4 émane d'un processeur d'image (non représenté) de type RIP pour « Raster Image processor » résidant dans un ordinateur distant (non représenté) contenant l'image numérique à imprimer. En variante, le processeur RIP réside dans l'imprimante 1.For example, order 4 comes from an image processor (not shown) of RIP type for “Raster Image processor” residing in a remote computer (not shown) containing the digital image to be printed. As a variant, the RIP processor resides in printer 1.
Le contrôleur 3 consulte, via la liaison 6, une mémoire 7 contenant une table TAB ou loi de correspondance entre la couleur demandée et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis ED pour reproduire au moins une couleur choisie en un pixel considéré d'une part et une couleur équivalente CE et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents EE permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain d'autre part.The controller 3 consults, via the link 6, a memory 7 containing a table TAB or law of correspondence between the requested color and / or the number and the color of the drops to be superimposed required ED to reproduce at least one color chosen in a pixel considered on the one hand and an equivalent color CE and / or a number and a color of the drops to be superimposed equivalent EE allowing a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering to be obtained in accordance with the sensory response of the eye human on the other hand.
En variante, la correspondance est établie par un logiciel dont les codes d'instructions sont exécutés par le contrôleur 3 ou un autre microprocesseur (non représenté). Les codes d'instructions d u logiciel sont contenus dans un support de mémorisation (non représenté).As a variant, the correspondence is established by software, the instruction codes of which are executed by the controller 3 or another microprocessor (not shown). The software instruction codes are contained in a storage medium (not shown).
Le contrôleur 3 sollicite la tête d'impression (non représentée) contenant les cartouches d'encre 2 selon la couleur équivalente CE et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents EE ainsi déterminés pour chaque couleur demandée CD et/ou pour chaque empilement demandé ED.The controller 3 requests the print head (not shown) containing the ink cartridges 2 according to the equivalent color CE and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed equivalent EE thus determined for each color requested CD and / or for each stack requested ED.
La tête d'impression ainsi sollicitée amène l'encre des cartouches d'encre 2 vers les buses (non représentées) de la tête d'impression de l'imprimante en vue d'être expulsées sous la forme de gouttes G conformément à la couleur équivalente CE et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents EE ainsi déterminés. The printhead thus stressed brings the ink from the ink cartridges 2 to the nozzles (not shown) of the printhead of the printer in order to be expelled in the form of drops G in accordance with the color CE equivalent and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed EE equivalents thus determined.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Procédé d'impression d'une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur (1) du type comprenant au moins q uatre cartouches d'encre (2) contenant chacune une couleur de base choisie parmi le jaune (J), le magenta (M), le cyan (C) et le noir (K) et au moins une cartouche supplémentaire contenant une encre d'une couleur de base dite claire, et dans lequel on reçoit un ordre d'impression (4) contenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée (CD) et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre (ED) à déposer les unes sur les autres à un emplacement déterminé dit pixel (Pi) d'un support d'impression choisi (5), caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un mode d'optimisation dans lequel, selon une correspondance préétablie, on fait correspondre la couleur demandée (CD) et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis (ED) pour obtenir une couleur choisie en un pixel considéré (Pi) avec une couleur équivalente (CE) et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents (EE) permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur s ensiblement équivalent et s atisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain, et en ce qu'on applique à l'imprimante (1) la couleur équivalente (CE) et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents (EE) ainsi déterminés pour chaque ordre d'impression reçu.1. Method for printing a color inkjet printer (1) of the type comprising at least four ink cartridges (2) each containing a basic color chosen from yellow (J), magenta ( M), cyan (C) and black (K) and at least one additional cartridge containing an ink of a basic color called clear, and in which one receives a print order (4) containing information relating to the requested color (CD) and / or the number and color of the ink drops (ED) to be deposited on each other at a determined location called pixel (Pi) of a chosen printing medium (5) , characterized in that it further comprises an optimization mode in which, according to a pre-established correspondence, the requested color (CD) and / or the number and the color of the drops to be superimposed required (ED) are made to obtain a color chosen in a pixel considered (Pi) with an equivalent color (CE) and / or a number and a color of the flavors equivalent overlays (EE) to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and in that the equivalent color is applied to the printer (1) CE) and / or the number and color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed (EE) thus determined for each print order received.
2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les couleurs utilisées appartiennent au groupe formé par le jaune (J), magenta (M), cyan (C), noire (K), magenta clair (Mclair), cyan clair (Cclair), et noire claire (Kclair), caractérisé en ce que le nombre de gouttes à superposer équivalent (EE) est inférieur au nombre de gouttes à superposer requis (ED). 2. Method according to claim 1, in which the colors used belong to the group formed by yellow (J), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light magenta (Mclair), light cyan (Cclair) , and light black (Kclair), characterized in that the number of drops to be superimposed equivalent (EE) is less than the number of drops to be superimposed required (ED).
3. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'imprimante (1) comprend six à huit cartouches d'encre, caractérisé en ce que le nombre de gouttes à superposer équivalent est inférieur ou égal à trois ou quatre.3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the printer (1) comprises six to eight ink cartridges, characterized in that the number of equivalent drops to be superimposed is less than or equal to three or four.
4. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le mode d'optimisation comprend plusieurs niveaux de correspondance.4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the optimization mode comprises several levels of correspondence.
5. Imprimante à jet d'encre couleur du type comprenant au moins quatre cartouches d'encre (2) contenant chacune une couleurde base choisie parmi le jaune (J), le magenta (M), le cyan (C) et le noir (K) et au moins une cartouche supplémentaire contenant une encre d'une couleur de base dite claire, et des moyens de traitement (3,7) aptes à recevoir un ordre d'impression (4) contenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée (CD) et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre (ED) à déposer les unes sur les autres à un emplacement déterminé dit pixel (Pi) d'un support d'impression choisi (5), caractérisée en ce que les moyens de traitement (3,7) comprennent un mode d'optimisation dans lequel ils sont aptes à faire correspondre la couleur demandée (CD) et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer requis (ED) pour obtenir une couleur choisie en un pixel considéré (Pi) avec une couleur équivalente (CE) et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents (EE) permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain, et à appliquer à l'imprimante (1) la couleur équivalente (CE) et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents (EE) ainsi déterminés pour chaque ordre d'impression reçu.5. Color inkjet printer of the type comprising at least four ink cartridges (2) each containing a basic color chosen from yellow (J), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black ( K) and at least one additional cartridge containing an ink of a so-called light base color, and processing means (3,7) capable of receiving a print order (4) containing information relating to the requested color ( CD) and / or the number and color of the ink drops (ED) to be deposited on each other at a determined location called pixel (Pi) of a chosen printing medium (5), characterized in that that the processing means (3,7) include an optimization mode in which they are able to match the requested color (CD) and / or the number and color of the drops to be superimposed required (ED) to obtain a color chosen in a pixel considered (Pi) with an equivalent color (CE) and / or a number and a color of the drops to su apply equivalents (EE) to obtain a substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and apply to the printer (1) the equivalent color (CE) and / or the number and the color of the equivalent droplets to be superimposed (EE) thus determined for each print order received.
6. Imprimante selon la revendication 5 , caractérisée e n ce que la correspondance estétablie selon une loi ou une table de correspondance (TAB) préétablie.6. Printer according to claim 5, characterized in that the correspondence is established according to a law or a predetermined correspondence table (TAB).
7. Logiciel destiné à piloter une imprimante à jet d'encre couleur(1) du type comprenant au moins quatre cartouches contenant chacune une couleur de base choisie parmi le jaune, le magenta, le cyan et le noir et une cartouche supplémentaire contenant une encre de couleur de base dite claire, ledit logiciel comprenant des codes d'instruction aptes à traiter un ordre d'impression comprenant des informations relatives à la couleur demandée (CD) et/ou au nombre et à la couleur des gouttes d'encre à superposer requis (ED) pour obtenir la couleur demandée en un pixel considéré d'un support d'impression choisi, caractérisé en ce que les codes d 'instruction du logiciel sont aptes à faire correspondre la couleurdemandée (CD) et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer requis (ED) pour obtenir la couleur demandée au niveau dudit pixel avec une couleur équivalente (CE) et/ou un nombre et une couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents (EE) permettant d'obtenir un rendu de couleur sensiblement équivalent et satisfaisant conformément à la réponse sensorielle de l'œil humain, et à appliquer à l'imprimante la couleur équivalente et/ou le nombre et la couleur des gouttes à superposer équivalents ainsi déterminés pour chaque ordre d'impression reçu.7. Software intended to control a color inkjet printer (1) of the type comprising at least four cartridges each containing a basic color chosen from yellow, magenta, cyan and black and an additional cartridge containing an ink said basic color, said software comprising instruction codes capable of processing a printing order comprising information relating to the requested color (CD) and / or to the number and color of the ink drops to be superimposed required (ED) to obtain the requested color in a pixel considered from a chosen print medium, characterized in that the software instruction codes are able to match the requested color (CD) and / or a number and a color of the drops to be superimposed required (ED) to obtain the requested color at the level of said pixel with an equivalent color (CE) and / or a number and a color of the drops to be superimposed equivalent (EE) making it possible to obtain u n substantially equivalent and satisfactory color rendering in accordance with the sensory response of the human eye, and applying to the printer the equivalent color and / or the number and color of the equivalent drops to be superimposed thus determined for each printing order received.
8. Support de mémorisation contenant les codes d'instructions du logiciel selon la revendication 7. 8. Storage medium containing the software instruction codes according to claim 7.
EP03782520A 2002-11-08 2003-11-06 Colour ink-jet printing method with optimized number of deposited droplets and corresponding printer Expired - Lifetime EP1575779B1 (en)

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FR0214057 2002-11-08
FR0214057A FR2846907B1 (en) 2002-11-08 2002-11-08 COLOR INK JET PRINTING METHOD WITH OPTIMIZATION OF THE NUMBER OF DROPS DEPOSITED AND CORRESPONDING PRINTER
PCT/FR2003/003314 WO2004043700A1 (en) 2002-11-08 2003-11-06 Colour ink-jet printing method with optimized number of deposited droplets and corresponding printer

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