JP2000307864A - Information processor, recorder, information processing method and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor, a recorder, an information processing method and a recording method, capable of realizing to make a recorded image high quality by deciding the correction value of image data with simple visual observation without using special devices. SOLUTION: Plural test patterns are recorded (step S2) on the basis of image data corrected by a partially different correction value α, a test pattern that looks smoothest from among the test patterns is selected visually, a number corresponding to it is inputted (step S3), and a γ-table corresponding to the number is updated as the γ-table for image data correction (step S4).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a recording apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording method for correcting image data. According to the present invention, various types of recording heads each including a plurality of recording elements can be used as a recording head used for recording an image, and in particular, an inkjet recording head in which a plurality of ink ejection units are arranged. Alternatively, a thermal transfer recording head in which a plurality of thermal elements are arranged can be suitably used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, as a recording system, for example, a thermal transfer system in which ink of an ink ribbon is transferred to a recording medium such as paper by thermal energy, and a flying droplet is made to adhere to a recording medium such as paper. An ink jet recording system for performing recording is known.

[0003] Among them, the ink jet recording method is widely used in printers and copiers because of low noise, low running cost, downsizing of the apparatus and easy realization of colorization. A recording apparatus using such an ink jet recording method generally uses a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are integrated and arranged in order to improve the recording speed. The recording element includes, for example, a nozzle for discharging ink and an ink discharge port.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus, in the case of a serial scan system in which the recording head scans in the main scanning direction, one of the factors of image quality deterioration is recording unevenness (hereinafter, referred to as stripes) appearing in the main scanning direction. , "Sujimura"). The stripes often appear periodically, in which case they are very noticeable. For example, in a so-called multi-nozzle type recording head provided with a plurality of ink ejection ports, in order to eject ink from each ejection port, a heating heater (electrical heater) located in an ink flow path communicating with each ejection port is used. In the case of using the heat generated by the heat converter, the following causes of unevenness can be cited. That is, variations in the ejection amount and ejection direction of the ink due to variations in the size of the heating heater and the ejection openings in the nozzle unit, and the conveyance amount (paper feed amount) of the recording medium and recording in the case of the serial scan method. The deviation from the width, the difference in the change in the density of the ink caused by the deviation in the recording time, the movement of the ink on the recording medium, and the like cause the occurrence of the stripe unevenness.

Hitherto, various methods have been proposed for eliminating such unevenness and improving image quality.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-31949 discloses that in a serial scan system, when a recording head repeatedly scans in the main scanning direction to record an image for each line, the recording for each line is performed. A method is described in which streaks are not generated at seam portions of regions. That is, the lowermost end of the preceding one-row recording area and the uppermost end of the next one-row recording area are overlapped with each other, and the joint between the two recording areas is scanned twice by the recording head. To complete the image.

[0007] As a conventionally known method of improving image quality, there is a divided printing method (multi-pass printing method) for completing printing in one printing area on a printing medium by performing a plurality of scans of a printing head. ). Such a divided recording method is effective in eliminating the occurrence of line unevenness. However, in order to achieve the full effect,
The number of scans of the print head for one print area, that is, the number of divisions has to be increased, and the throughput may be reduced accordingly.

In any of these conventional methods, the print area completed each time the print head scans one time becomes small, resulting in a decrease in throughput.

As another method for suppressing the occurrence of line unevenness without using the divided recording method, see, for example,
There is a head jading method as described in JP-A-69545. In this method, first, a test pattern for determining a preset correction value is recorded on a recording medium using a recording head, and the recording density of the recorded test pattern is read by a scanner.
After appropriately correcting the position of the read image, the density of the image is assigned to a raster corresponding to each nozzle of the recording head. The change in the recording density is caused by a shift in the ink discharge amount or the ink discharge direction for each nozzle, or bleeding of the ink on the recording medium. Next, a correction value of the recording density corresponding to each nozzle is determined from the density data assigned to each raster. Then, based on the correction value, the gamma table for each nozzle is changed or the drive table for each nozzle is changed to change the ink ejection amount and the like. By such a correction, a raster recorded densely in a state without correction is corrected so as to be thin, and a raster recorded thinly in a state without correction is corrected so as to be darkened. Thus, the unevenness of the recording density is reduced.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As in the above conventional example,
In order to read the test pattern recorded on the recording medium, an input device such as a scanner and a detection device such as a density sensor are required.

[0011] However, not all users necessarily have input devices such as scanners. Further, after recording the test pattern, it is troublesome to read it using a scanner or the like, and a function for calculating a correction value of the recording density from the read data of the test pattern is also required. Furthermore, in the recording device,
In the case where a scanner or a density sensor for reading a test pattern is provided, there is a possibility that the size of the entire apparatus is increased and the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems and to realize a high-quality recorded image by determining a correction value of image data by simple visual observation without using a special device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus, a recording apparatus, an information processing method, and a recording method that can be performed.

[0013]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus for correcting image data input to a recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium. Data output means for outputting a plurality of test pattern image data corrected using different correction values as test pattern image data to be recorded, and recording based on each of the plurality of test pattern image data. According to the selected test pattern selected as the smoothest pattern from the plurality of test patterns, a correction value similar to the selected test pattern is used as a correction value of the image data input to the recording apparatus. Correction value setting means for setting.

A recording apparatus according to the present invention is a recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium based on image data, wherein a plurality of test patterns corrected using different correction values are recorded on the recording medium. And a correction value similar to the selected test pattern according to the selected test pattern selected as the smoothest pattern from the plurality of recorded test patterns. Correction value setting means for setting as a correction value for recording data.

An information processing method according to the present invention is an information processing method for correcting image data input to a recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium, wherein the recording apparatus records a test pattern. As the image data for, output a plurality of test pattern image data corrected using different correction values, from among the plurality of test patterns recorded based on each of the plurality of test pattern image data, A correction value similar to the selected test pattern is set as a correction value of the image data input to the printing apparatus in accordance with the selected test pattern selected as the pattern that looks the smoothest.

The recording method according to the present invention is a recording method for recording an image on a recording medium based on image data,
On the recording medium, a plurality of test patterns corrected using different correction values are recorded, and among the recorded plurality of test patterns, according to a selected test pattern selected as a pattern that looks the smoothest. Then, a correction value similar to the selected test pattern is set as a correction value for recording the image data.

According to the present invention, a correction value of image data can be determined by simple visual observation without using a special device such as a scanner or a density sensor.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the basic configuration of a recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be described.

(Basic Configuration) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image processing system to which the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, a host device 201 has C
PU 201A, memory 201B, external storage unit 201C,
An interface 201E between the input unit 201D and the recording device 202 is provided. The CPU 201A executes a program stored in the memory 201B to realize color processing and quantization processing described later. These programs are read from the external storage unit 201C,
Alternatively, it is supplied from an external device. The host device 201
It is connected to the printing apparatus 202 via the interface 201E, and transmits image data subjected to color processing to the printing apparatus 202. The recording device 202 records an image based on the image data.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a configuration example of the recording apparatus 202. The recording device 202 of this example is an application example as an ink jet recording device.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording sheet as a recording medium such as paper or a plastic film, and a plurality of recording sheets are stacked on a cassette or the like and supplied one by one by a paper feed roller (not shown). The supplied recording sheet 1 is transported in the direction of arrow A by the first transport roller pair 3 and the second transport roller pair 4. The transport roller pairs 3 and 4 are driven by individual stepping motors (not shown). Reference numeral 5 denotes an ink jet recording head that discharges ink to record an image on the recording sheet 1. In the case of the present example, in order to record a color image, the recording heads 5 include a recording head 5K for discharging black ink (K), a recording head 5C for discharging cyan ink (C), and a recording head 5C for discharging magenta ink (M). Recording head 5
A recording head 5Y for discharging M and yellow ink (Y) is provided. Hereinafter, these recording heads 5K, 5C,
5M and 5Y are also collectively referred to as a recording head 5. The recording head 5 discharges ink supplied from an ink cartridge (not shown) from an ink discharge port based on an image signal. The recording head 5 and the ink cartridge are mounted on a carriage 6, and the carriage 6 has pulleys 8a,
The belt 7 stretched between 8b is connected. A carriage motor 23 is connected to the pulley 8a,
The carriage 6 reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the guide shaft 9 by the driving force of the carriage motor 23.

When recording an image, the recording head 5 performs main scanning in the direction of arrow B together with the carriage 6 and discharges ink from its ink discharge ports in response to an image signal, thereby forming one line on the recording sheet 1. Record the minute image. Thereafter, the recording sheet 1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the conveying roller pairs 3 and 4 by the recording width of the one line. By repeating such main scanning of the recording head 5 and conveyance of the recording head 1, an image is sequentially recorded on the recording sheet 1 by one line. Further, the recording head 5 is returned to the home position as necessary, and
This eliminates clogging of the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the recording head 5, that is, a front view of a surface directly facing the recording sheet 1. In this case,
Each of the recording heads 5K, 5C, 5M, and 5Y has 64
The nozzles are configured to be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrow B. 5a is an ink discharge port in each nozzle. The recording head 5 of this example is provided with a heater (an electrothermal converter) in each of the ink flow paths corresponding to each of the ink discharge ports 5a, and drives the heater to generate heat so that the ink in the ink flow path is discharged. By foaming, ink droplets are ejected from the ink ejection port 5a corresponding to the heater.

FIG. 4 shows a case where image data to be input to the recording device 202 is generated by the host device 201.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a configuration for a host device to process image data. In the case of this example, image data of 8 bits each for each color of R, G, B, that is, image data of 256 gradations of each color is converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), Y
(Yellow), K (black) 1 for each ink color
Output as bit image data.

That is, R, G. 8 for each color of B
The bit-by-bit image data is first processed by the color conversion processing unit 210.
Is converted into 8-bit data for each of C, M, Y, and K ink colors by a three-dimensional lookup table (LUT). Such processing is performed by the input system R
This is a color conversion process for converting the colors of the GB system into the CMYK colors of the output system. The input data from the input system includes three primary colors (RG
B) in many cases. On the other hand, when a color is expressed by reflection of light in an output system such as a printer, a color material of three primary colors (CYM) of subtractive color mixture is used. Therefore, such a color conversion process is required. The three-dimensional LUT used for this color conversion processing holds data discretely, and the data held between the three-dimensional LUTs is obtained by complementation processing. Since the complementary processing is a known technique, the description is omitted here.

C, M, and C that have been subjected to such color conversion processing
The 8-bit data for each of the Y and K ink colors is stored in a one-dimensional lookup table (LU
By T), output γ correction is performed. On a recording medium, the relationship between the number of dots per unit area and output characteristics such as reflection density is not often a linear relationship. Therefore, by performing output γ correction, C,
An 8-bit input level for each of M, Y, and K ink colors;
The relationship with the output characteristics of each of the C, M, Y, and K inks is guaranteed to be a linear relationship. The one-dimensional LUT as the output γ correction table is provided with a number corresponding to all the nozzles in each of the recording heads 5K, 5C, 5M, and 5Y, and is changed by a correction value of density unevenness described later. In this way, the input data of 8 bits for each color of RGB is converted into 8-bit data of each ink color of C, M, Y, and K in the printing apparatus 202.

Since the recording apparatus 202 of this embodiment is a binary recording apparatus that records an image by discharging or non-discharging ink, 8-bit data for each of C, M, Y, and K ink colors is binary. C, M, Y, K
Are quantized to 1-bit data of each ink color. As a quantization method, a known error diffusion method, a dither method, or the like is used.

Next, an embodiment of density unevenness correction will be described, including a method of detecting a density unevenness correction value.

(First Embodiment of Density Unevenness Correction) FIG. 5
9 is a flowchart for explaining a method for detecting a correction value for uneven density in this example and a method for correcting uneven density. First, the mode is shifted to the density unevenness correction mode by the user's mode selection from a UI (user interface) screen of a printer driver (not shown) (step S).
1). When the command to shift to the correction mode is input, the recording device 202 records a preset correction value detection test pattern on the recording sheet 1 (step S2). This test pattern is a test pattern for detecting a correction value of the density unevenness. The test pattern is the same as the normal print mode, that is, the feed amount of the print sheet 1 and the drive parameters of the print head 5 are different from those in the normal print mode. It is recorded in a similar manner. The test pattern is recorded in a plurality of patches reflecting the output γ table, as described later. The output γ table is set in advance corresponding to a plurality of correction values. Hereinafter, the plurality of patch-like test patterns are also referred to as “patches”.

Thereafter, the user visually judges the plurality of recorded patches, selects a patch which looks smooth without density unevenness, and displays the patch number assigned to the selected patch on the UI screen of the driver. (Step S3). Thereafter, the output γ table corresponding to the selected patch number is determined and updated (step S4).
Recording of patches and selection of the optimal patch number
The process is sequentially performed for each of the M, Y, and K ink colors. The selected patch number may be different for each of the C, M, Y, and K ink colors. Through the above processing, the detection and update of the correction value for the uneven density are completed (step S5).

The update of the output γ table may be a specification for changing the address information of the table to be used. Alternatively, a method in which an active output γ table is copied and used in a predetermined memory area, and the output γ table is updated by copying the newly selected output γ table to the memory area. It may be. How to update the output γ table is not limited at all.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a test pattern, which is printed by a single-pass printing method in which printing on one printing area is completed by one scan of the print head 5. The test pattern includes five uniform patches obtained by correcting the same original image data with different correction values, and patch numbers 1 to 5 associated with the respective patches. The length of the patch in the sub-scanning direction (the length in the vertical direction in FIG. 6) is at least about three scans of the recording head 5,
In other words, the length is preferably such that the joint portion of the recording area for each row is at least two or more. The patches of the respective inks of CMYK have the same pattern. Further, the recording density of the patch is not particularly defined. However, when the recording density of the patch is low, the number of dots is small and unevenness is not conspicuous, and when the patch density is high, the recording density is saturated and the unevenness is not conspicuous. It is desirable to use a halftone. In the case of this example, a patch having a density of 100 gradation levels at 225 gradation levels was used.
The image data of each patch is corrected in advance by a correction value described later, and the R
It is stored in a format such as a bitmap in the OM or the like.

FIGS. 7 (a), (b), (c), (d),
(E) shows the patches (hereinafter, “patch 1”, “patch 2”,
"Patch 3", "Patch 4", "Patch 5")
Is an explanatory diagram of correction values used for the recording head 5, and the horizontal axis represents the nozzle numbers (1 to 6) of 64 nozzles in the recording head 5.
4), the vertical axis is the correction value α. The image data of the patch is
The correction is performed in raster units using a γ curve obtained by multiplying a preset default γ curve by α at each gradation level. In the case of this example, correction values different from those of the other rasters are set for the rasters corresponding to the nozzle numbers 1 to 4 and 61 to 64, that is, for each of the four rasters at the upper and lower ends corresponding to the joint portion of the recording area for each row. α is determined.

That is, the correction value α of patch 1 (see FIG. 7)
(A)) for nozzle numbers 1 to 5
A value that gradually decreases to 1.0, 1.0 for nozzle numbers 5 to 60, and 1.0 to nozzle numbers 60 to 64
The value is gradually increased to 1.2. The correction value α of patch 2 (see FIG. 7B) is a value that gradually decreases to 1.1 to 1.0 for nozzle numbers 1 to 5, and nozzle numbers 5 to 6
The value gradually increases to 1.0 for 0 and 1.0 to 1.1 for nozzle numbers 60 to 64. The correction value α for patch 3 (see FIG. 7C) is
64 is set to 1.0. Patch 4 correction value α
(See FIG. 7D) is a value that gradually increases from 0.9 to 1.0 for nozzle numbers 1 to 5, nozzle numbers 5 to 60
For the nozzle numbers 60 to 64, and gradually decreases to 1.0 to 0.8 for the nozzle numbers 60 to 64. The correction value α of the patch 5 (see FIG. 7E)
For nozzle numbers 5 to 60, and gradually decreases to 1.0 to 0.8 for nozzle numbers 60 to 64. Value.

FIG. 8 shows that the correction value α is 0.8, 0.9,.
The γ curves at 0, 1.1, and 1.2 are shown. When the correction value α is 1.0, “no correction” is given, and a default γ curve is obtained. Further, for example, when the correction value α = 0.8, the recording density is lower by 20% than when no correction is performed, and when the correction value α = 1.1, the recording density is higher by 10% than when the correction is not performed. Become.

The original image data of a patch has the same density for all rasters. This original image data is shown in FIG.
By performing correction based on the correction values α of (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), in the patch 1,
The density of a joint portion (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a "joint portion") of the recording area for each row is increased by a maximum of 20%.
Similarly, in the patch 2, the density of the joint portion is increased by a maximum of 10%. In the patch 3, the density of the joint portion is not corrected, and becomes the same as the density of the other recording area. Conversely, in patch 4, the density at the joint is reduced by up to 10%, and in patch 5, the density at the joint is reduced by up to 20%.

As described above, in this example, the γ curve is changed only for each of the four rasters at the upper and lower ends located at the joint portion, and the correction value α is set to 1.0 for the remaining 56 rasters. Use a curve. This is effective in the case where the density unevenness occurs only at the joint of the recording area for each line in the serial scan recording method. Such a correction is also effective for a case where the paper feed amount is shifted from the recording pitch, as described later, or for density unevenness caused by physical properties such as ink permeability.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show the change in the recording density caused by the difference between the paper feed amount of the recording sheet 1 and the recording pitch of the recording head 5, and the correction value α selected correspondingly. It is explanatory drawing of a relationship. In these figures, after the first scanning of the recording head 5, the recording sheet 1
Is fed once, and then the recording head 5 scans for the second time.

FIGS. 9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c) are explanatory diagrams in the case where the paper feed amount and the recording pitch are matched. 5A shows the positional relationship of the print head 5 during the first and second scans, FIG. 5B shows the print density when a uniform pattern image is printed, and FIG. 5C shows the print density. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α for correcting unevenness. Since the paper feed amount and the recording pitch match as shown in FIG. 7A, density unevenness does not occur as shown in FIG. Therefore, the correction value α for all rasters is α = as shown in FIG.
As 1.0, a default γ curve is used.

When the above-described patches 1 to 5 having different correction values α are recorded in the recording apparatus 202 in which the paper feed amount and the recording pitch match as shown in FIG. 9A,
Patch 3 using γ curve without correction for all rasters
Looks the smoothest. Therefore, in this case, by selecting the patch 3 by the user, the correction value α for the recording device 202 may be set as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b) and 10 (c) are explanatory diagrams when the paper feed amount is relatively smaller than the recording pitch. If the paper feed amount is relatively smaller than the recording pitch as shown in FIG. 7A, the joints of the recording areas at the time of the first and second scans overlap, and as shown in FIG. In addition, the density of the joint portion becomes higher than that of the other portions, so that a so-called "black streak" occurs. In order to eliminate such black streaks, the raster correction value α corresponding to the joint portion may be set smaller than 1.0 as shown in FIG. For a raster corresponding to a portion other than the joint portion, a default γ curve is used with α = 1.0.

Also, as shown in FIG. 10A, in the recording apparatus 202 in which the paper feed amount is relatively smaller than the recording pitch, when the above-described patches 1 to 5 having different correction values α are recorded, a joint is formed. The correction value α of the corresponding raster is set to 1.
Patches 4 or 5, which are 0.9 or 0.8 smaller than 0, look the smoothest. Therefore, in this case,
In response to the user selecting the patch 4 or 5, the correction value α for the recording device 202 is set as shown in FIG.
(C), that is, the correction value α of the patch 4 or 5
(See FIGS. 7A and 7B).

FIGS. 11 (a), 11 (b) and 11 (c) are explanatory diagrams when the paper feed amount is relatively larger than the recording pitch. When the paper feed amount is relatively larger than the recording pitch as shown in FIG. 6A, the joint of the recording area at the time of the first and second scans is separated, and FIG.
As described above, the density of the joint portion is lower than that of the other portions, and a so-called "white streak" occurs. In order to eliminate such white streaks, as shown in FIG.
The raster correction value α corresponding to the joint portion may be set to be larger than 1.0. For a raster corresponding to a portion other than the joint portion, a default γ curve is used with α = 1.0.

Further, in the recording apparatus 202 in which the paper feed amount is relatively larger than the recording pitch as shown in FIG. The correction value α of the corresponding raster is set to 1.
Patches 1 or 2 that are greater than 0 and 1.2 or 1.1 look the smoothest. Therefore, in this case,
In response to the user selecting patch 1 or 2, the correction value α for the recording device 202 is changed as shown in FIG.
(C), that is, the correction value α of the patch 1 or 2
(See FIGS. 7A and 7B).

In the present embodiment, the correction value α is set by focusing only on the density unevenness near the joint. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a system in which the correction values α are determined in advance to a plurality of types in order to correct the density unevenness in a portion other than the connection portion. The present invention can also be applied to a multi-pass print mode. In this case, the test pattern may be recorded and the correction value may be selected according to the recording mode such as the single pass or the multi-pass described above. For example, in a two-pass print mode in which one print area is printed by two scans of the print head 5, a test pattern may be printed in the two-pass print mode. Further, in the case of this example, the image data for the test pattern is set in advance and stored in the ROM or the like. However, it is not limited to this. For example, various different patches may be recorded by applying at least partially different corrections to image data relating to patches of a preset density. Alternatively, various patches may be recorded by cutting out a part of an image to be actually recorded by the user and at least partially changing a correction value for the image data.

In this example, the user selects a test pattern and a correction value from the UI screen of the printer driver. However, such a function may be provided on the recording device 202 side. Further, when the recording device 202 is shipped from the factory, the correction value may be determined in advance by recording a patch by the recording device 202 and written in the ROM or the like of the recording device 202. In this case, the user connects the recording device 202 to the host device 2.
01, the host device 201 can use the correction value written in the ROM on the recording device 202 side. In any case, it suffices if a plurality of patches having a uniform pattern are recorded using a plurality of correction value tables, and a patch that looks the smoothest can be visually selected from among the plurality of patches.

(Second Embodiment of Density Unevenness Correction) In the above-described first embodiment, patches (see FIG. 7) having the same combination of correction values are recorded for all CMYK ink colors, and those patches are recorded. The correction value for uneven density was determined by selecting the patch number that looked the smoothest from among them. In the present embodiment, the correction value for uneven density is changed for each of the CMYK ink colors.

Generally, in the case of the ink jet recording system,
The appearance of density unevenness differs for each ink color. this is,
It depends on the physical properties of the recording ink, the color appearance, the structure of the recording head, and the like. Hereinafter, the relationship between ink and uneven density will be described.

[Relationship between Ink and Uneven Density] In the ink jet recording system, it is general to control the recording quality of an image on a recording medium by changing physical properties such as ink permeability. When ink with high permeability is used, images without bleeding between colors can be recorded, but a feathering phenomenon in which ink moves along fibers such as paper as a recording medium occurs, resulting in sharp recording. The quality cannot be obtained. Conversely, when low-permeability ink is used, a sharp image can be obtained,
Since the ink penetrates into the recording medium slowly, it mixes with the ink of another color adjacent to the recording medium, and bleeding between colors occurs. For this reason, for example, a black ink with low permeability is selected to sharply print black characters, and a highly permeable ink is selected as a color ink other than black to eliminate bleeding of a color image. Often. Among the unevenness and streaks generated in the recorded image, the streaks caused by the movement of the ink at the joints and the unevenness caused by the recording time being shifted by the print head scanning time at the joints are the physical properties such as ink permeability. Related to If the ink permeability, surface tension, viscosity, and the like are different, the behavior such as the movement of the ink in the recorded image changes, so that the streak appearance at the joint may also change.

Furthermore, the appearance of streaks and unevenness differs depending on the ink color. For example, yellow has high lightness, and its change from its density is hard to be recognized, and accordingly, streaks and unevenness are hard to see. For this reason, it is often not necessary to correct the recording image using the Y ink more strictly than the other color inks.

In the case of the recording head 5 configured as shown in FIG. 3, the KCMY recording heads 5K, 5C, 5M, 5
Since each of Y is configured as an individual printhead, the density unevenness caused by the configuration of the printhead is KCMY.
Does not change significantly for each ink color. However, as shown in FIG.
Ink ejection ports 5a-K, 5a- for each ink color of KCMY
In the case where C, 5a-M, and 5a-Y are formed, variations in the sizes of the respective ejection ports due to the method of manufacturing the recording head 5 and distortion generated when the recording head 5 is formed are greatly affected. I do. For example, density unevenness may occur due to factors such as the amount of ink ejected from nozzles located at both ends of the recording head 5 being larger than that of the nozzles at the center. In this case, the distribution of the density unevenness for each ink color is determined by the position of the recording head 5 where the ejection port for ejecting each ink is located. Others
Depending on the type of ink, the method of manufacturing the recording head for each ink color may be changed in order to change the power for discharging the ink or change the discharge amount. In that case, the recording heads 5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y as shown in FIG.
Also, the density unevenness may change for each ink color. As a method of changing the power at which ink is discharged, for example, when discharging ink using heat generated by a heater (electrothermal converter), there is a method of changing the pulse width of a drive pulse of the heater.

For the above reasons, in a recording system in which the appearance, appearance, and strength of streaks and unevenness change for each ink color, a test pattern for determining a correction value corresponding to each ink color is prepared. There is a need. Hereinafter, a specific example of a patch as a test pattern that meets such a request will be described.

[Regarding Test Pattern] FIG. 13 shows an example of a test pattern recorded on the recording sheet 1. The recording sheet 1 may be for recording a test pattern. The patches corresponding to each of the K, C, and M inks are five types arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. 13, and are associated with patch numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. There were three types of patches corresponding to the Y ink because uneven density was difficult to see. Hereinafter, patch numbers 1, 2, 2,
3, 4, and 5 are also referred to as “K patch 1”, “K patch 2”, “K patch 3”, “K patch 4”, and “K patch 5”.
The same applies to other CMY patches.

FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17 each show K
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α used for a patch, a C patch, an M patch, and a Y patch.

As shown in FIG. 14, the K patches 1 to 4 have correction values α of 1.2 to 1.4 in order to correct all the four rasters at both ends corresponding to the joint portion in the direction of increasing the density. It is set in the range of 0. This is an example of a case where a streak is always occurring as a white streak. The correction value α used for the C patches 1 to 5 is set in the range of 1.2 to 0.8 as in the case of the patches 1 to 5 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7) as shown in FIG. Have been. The correction value α used for the M patches 1 to 5 is set in a range of 1.1 to 0.9 narrower than that of the C patch. This is because, in the case of the present example, an ink having less streaks than the C ink is used as the M ink. Y patch 1
3, the correction value α is set to 1.2 to 1.2 as shown in FIG.
It is set in the range of 0.8. For the Y ink,
As described above, since the brightness is high and the density unevenness is difficult to see, even if many patches are recorded using the correction value α having a small difference, the difference cannot be recognized. Therefore, the number of Y patches was reduced to three.

The user records the test pattern shown in FIG. 13 in the recording device 202 in accordance with an instruction from the UI screen of the printer driver, and then selects the smoothest one of the K, C, M, and Y patches. Is visually determined. Then, the number of the determined patch is selected and input.

The number and shape of the patches are not limited to this example only, and an optimum combination may be set according to the physical properties of the ink, the form of the recording head, and the like. Also,
The patch is not limited to a patch obtained by partially correcting only a raster corresponding to a joint portion, and may be a patch obtained by partially correcting another raster. For example, a patch in which the raster corresponding to the central portion of the recording head 5 is partially corrected using the correction value α as shown in FIG. 18 may be recorded. The case of FIG. 18 is effective when a raster corresponding to the central portion of the recording head 5 tends to be recorded at a high density due to a problem in a method of manufacturing the recording head 5. That is, the recording head 5 is determined by the correction value α used for such a patch.
Is corrected so that the raster corresponding to the central portion of the image is recorded thinly, as a result, the density unevenness of the recorded image can be eliminated. Also, when using a plurality of inks of similar colors with different densities, or when ejecting the same ink from a plurality of recording heads, a patch for determining a correction value must be prepared for each type of ink or each recording head. Is desirable.

(Third Embodiment of Density Unevenness Correction) In the first and second embodiments described above, patches for correction value determination as test patterns are patches having the same original image data. The image data is corrected at all gradation levels using the correction values determined at the gradation levels.

However, there is a close relationship between the recording density and the appearance of streaks. That is, in a low-density recording area of a low gradation level where the number of dots formed is small, even if there is a variation in the ink ejection performance of the recording head, it is difficult to see as streaks due to the small number of dots. Moreover, since each dot is independently formed on the recording medium, there is no movement of ink due to interaction between inks, and no streaking occurs. On the other hand, in a high-density recording area of a high gradation level where dots are formed in most of the pixels, since the overlapping portions of the dots are large and the density is hardly increased, streaks and unevenness are rather inconspicuous. Therefore, in order to perform more effective correction at all gradation levels from the low-density recording area to the high-density recording area, a correction value is determined at a plurality of gradation levels, and the correction value is adapted to each recording area. It is desirable to use the corrected value.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a test pattern recorded on the recording sheet 1 from such a viewpoint. The recording sheet 1 may be for recording a test pattern. The patches corresponding to each ink of KCMY are
For determining the correction value of the low density recording area (K1, C1, M1, Y
1) and a correction value determination (K2, C2,
M2, Y2) and the correction value determination (K
3, C3, M3, and Y3).
The input gradation level of the K1, C1, M1, and Y1 patches is 43
/ 255 level (43 gray levels in the 255 gray levels), the input gray levels of the K2, C2, M2, and Y2 patches are 128/255 levels, and the input gray levels of the K3, C3, M3, and Y3 patches are 214 / 255 levels are set. Further, similarly to the above-described second embodiment, K
There are five types of patches for each CM arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. 19, and patches for Y are three types arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG.
The type has been set. Patch numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
And the correction value α used for the patch are the same as in the case of FIGS. 14 to 17 in the second embodiment described above. As described above, the patches for each ink color having different gradation levels are similarly set with respect to the correction value α. Hereinafter, five types of K1 patches of patch numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are referred to as “K1 patch 1”, “K1 patch 2”, “K1 patch 3”, “K1 patch 4”, and “K1 patch 5”. Say. The same applies to other patches.

The user prints the test pattern shown in FIG. 19 on the printing apparatus 202 in accordance with an instruction from the UI screen of the printer driver, and then prints K1 to K3, C1 to C3, and M1 to
Among the patches for each gradation level of M3, Y1 to Y3, the patch that looks smoothest is visually determined,
The number of the determined patch is selected and input. According to the patch number, the correction value α of the patch selected from the K1, C1, M1, and Y1 patches is used to obtain 0/255.
The image data in the ~ 85/255 gradation level area is corrected. Similarly, using the correction value α of the patch selected from the K2, C2, M2, and Y2 patches, 86/255 to 1
The image data in the 71/255 gradation level area is corrected, and K
172/255 to 255/255 using the correction value α of the patch selected from the 3, 3, C3, M3, and Y3 patches.
The image data in the gradation level area is corrected.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are specific explanatory diagrams of a raster corresponding to the first nozzle for discharging C ink, that is, a raster γ curve corresponding to a joint portion. In this example, the C1 patch 3 is selected from the C1 patches, the C2 patch 4 is selected from the C2 patches, and the C3 patch is selected.
This is an example of a case where the C3 patch 2 is selected from the patches. The correction value α in the C1 patch 3 is α = 1.0, similar to the C3 patch in FIG.
The C2 patch 4 is similar to the C patch 4 in FIG.
9, C3 patch 2 has α = the same as C patch 2 in FIG.
1.1. Therefore, the γ curve without correction of the middle dotted line in FIG. 20A is corrected as shown by the solid line in the same figure, and −10% correction is performed in the middle gradation level region and + 10% correction is performed in the high gradation level region. You. According to such correction, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 20A, "jumps" in which the gradation levels sharply change at the boundary portions of the respective gradation level regions occur. When such “jumps” occur, smooth gradation expression of an image cannot be performed. Therefore, in the case of the present example, smoothing is performed by taking a moving average of ± 5 gradation levels, and finally a smooth γ curve as shown in FIG. The method of smoothing is
This is not the only option.

Further, the gradation level of the patch is not limited to the one in the present embodiment, and in order to perform more precise correction, the number of judgment gradations of the test pattern may be increased. Further, in the present embodiment, patches having the same gradation level are used for each of the CMYK ink colors, but the number of gradations and the gradation levels of the patches may be changed according to the ink colors. In any case, an optimal number of patches, a correction value, a correction mode, and the like can be selected according to the recording system.

(Other Embodiments) Image data processing is performed not only on the host device 201 (see FIG. 1) as an information processing device, but also on the recording device 202, as in the above-described embodiment. It may be. In that case, a processing unit as shown in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the image data is corrected using different γ correction values in order to correct the recording density of the image. However, the method of correcting the recording density of an image is not limited to this, and the driving signal of the recording apparatus may be changed. For example, the recording density may be changed by changing the pulse width or the like of the driving pulse of the recording head.

(Others) The present invention includes a means (for example, an electrothermal converter, a laser beam, or the like) for generating thermal energy as energy used for discharging ink, particularly in an ink jet recording system. An excellent effect is obtained in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a type in which the state of ink is changed by the thermal energy. This is because according to such a method, it is possible to achieve higher density and higher definition of recording.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
Although it can be applied to any type of continuous type, in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it can be applied to a sheet holding liquid (ink) or an electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the liquid path. By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and giving a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, and film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head. Liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal on a one-to-one basis.
This is effective because air bubbles inside can be formed. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble to form at least one droplet. When the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubble are performed immediately and appropriately, so that the ejection of liquid (ink) having particularly excellent responsiveness can be achieved, which is more preferable. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, if the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of the heat acting surface are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination configuration (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 and U.S. Pat. No. 44,558 which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of Japanese Patent No. 59600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-123670 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an aperture for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is provided. The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on JP-A-59-138461, which discloses a configuration corresponding to a discharge unit. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium on which a recording apparatus can record. Such a recording head may have a configuration that satisfies the length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as one integrally formed recording head.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type as described above, the recording head fixed to the apparatus main body or the electric connection with the apparatus main body or the ink from the apparatus main body is attached to the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be supplied or a cartridge-type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add ejection recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like as the configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned, the recording head is heated using capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer, another heating element or a combination thereof. Pre-heating means for performing the pre-heating and pre-discharging means for performing the discharging other than the recording can be used.

The types and the number of recording heads to be mounted are not limited to those provided only for one color ink, and for a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. A plurality may be provided. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, but may be any of integrally forming a printing head or a combination of a plurality of printing heads. The present invention is also very effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of the recording modes of full color by color mixture.

In addition, in the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, the ink jet method generally controls the temperature of the ink itself within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. Sometimes, the ink may be in a liquid state. In addition, in order to positively prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy by using the energy of the state change from the solid state of the ink to the liquid state, or to prevent the ink from evaporating, the ink is solidified in a standing state and heated. May be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or to start to solidify when reaching the recording medium. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, the ink
JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-7
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1260, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the sheet is opposed to the electrothermal converter in a state where it is held as a liquid or solid substance in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, the form of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to those used as image output terminals of information processing equipment such as computers, copying apparatuses combined with readers and the like, and facsimile apparatuses having a transmission / reception function. It may take a form.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device,
One device (eg, copier, facsimile machine) even if applied to a system composed of readers, printers, etc.
May be applied to a device consisting of:

Also, software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is installed in an apparatus or a computer in a system connected to the various devices so as to operate the various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment. The present invention also includes a program code supplied and executed by operating the various devices according to a stored program in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment. The program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code The stored storage medium constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer or another program code. Needless to say, the program code is included in the embodiment of the present invention even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with application software or the like.

Further, the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then stored in the function expansion board or the function storage unit based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where a provided CPU or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to a test pattern selected as a pattern which looks the smoothest from a plurality of recorded test patterns, the same correction as the selected test pattern is performed. By setting the value as the correction value of the image data, the correction value of the image data can be determined by simple visual observation without using a special device such as a scanner or a density sensor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing system to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a recording apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a recording head in the recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image processing unit in the printing apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a correction value determination method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a test pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α used for patches 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a correction value α and a gradation level.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are explanatory diagrams of the positional relationship of the recording head, the recording density, and the correction value α when the paper feed amount and the recording pitch match.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are explanatory diagrams of the positional relationship of the recording head, the recording density, and the correction value α when the paper feed amount is smaller than the recording pitch.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are explanatory diagrams of the positional relationship of the recording head, the recording density, and the correction value α when the paper feed amount is larger than the recording pitch.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of a recording head according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a test pattern according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows K patches 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α used for the correction.

FIG. 15 shows C patches 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α used for the correction.

FIG. 16 shows M patches 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α used for the correction.

17 is an explanatory diagram of a correction value α used for Y patches 1, 2, and 3 in FIG.

FIG. 18 shows a correction value α used for the patch in FIG.
It is explanatory drawing of another example of.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a test pattern according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

20A is an explanatory diagram of an example of a γ curve corrected using the test pattern of FIG. 19, and FIG. 20B is an explanatory diagram of a result of performing a smoothing process on the γ curve.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording sheet (recording medium) 2 Ink ejection recovery device 3, 4 Conveyance roller pair 5 Recording head 5a Ink ejection opening 6 Carriage 7 Belt 8a, 8b Pulley 9 Guide shaft 23 Carriage motor 201 Host device 202 Recording device 210 Color conversion processing Unit 220 output gamma correction unit 230 binarization processing unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kentaro Yano 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masao Kato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within non-corporation (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Ono 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term within Canon Inc. (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AQ04 AQ05 AR01 AS02 AS11 KK04 KK13 KK18 KK22 KK25 KK32 2C262 AA02 AA03 AA10 AA16 AA18 AA24 AA26 AA27 AB05 AB07 AB15 AC03 AC07 AC19 BA10 BB03 BB33 BC13 BC17 EA03 EA10 FA05 FA13 GA09 GA29 GA45 5C051 AA02 CA02 CA04 DA03 DB02 DC02 DE02 DE03 EA01 EA02 FA01 5C077 LL19 MM27 MP08 NN19 PP08

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus for correcting image data input to a recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium, wherein the recording apparatus uses different test pattern image data for recording a test pattern. Data output means for outputting a plurality of test pattern image data corrected using the correction value, from among the plurality of test patterns recorded based on each of the plurality of test pattern image data,
Correction value setting means for setting a correction value similar to the selected test pattern as a correction value of the image data input to the printing apparatus in accordance with the selected test pattern selected as the pattern that looks the smoothest. An information processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data output unit outputs, as the plurality of test pattern image data, image data corrected by partially different correction values. . 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data output unit outputs, as the plurality of test pattern image data, image data having different gradation level ranges. 4. The recording apparatus is capable of recording an image of a plurality of colors, and the data output means outputs different image data for each recording color of the image as the plurality of test pattern image data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data output unit includes a storage unit that stores the plurality of test pattern image data. 6. The data output unit according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of test pattern image data output image data whose recording density has been corrected by different γ correction values. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The recording apparatus is capable of recording an image on the recording medium using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, and the correction value setting unit corresponds to each of the recording elements. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a correction value of the image data can be set. 8. A plurality of printing elements in the printing head are provided in a row, and the data output means corresponds to the printing elements positioned near an end of the row as the plurality of test pattern image data. Image data part
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein image data corrected by different correction values is output. 9. A plurality of printing elements in the printing head are provided in a row, and the data output means corresponds to the printing elements positioned near the center of the row as the plurality of test pattern image data. The image data part is
The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein image data corrected by different correction values is output. 10. The recording apparatus is capable of recording an image using a plurality of the recording heads, and the data output unit is configured to correspond to the plurality of test pattern image data for each of the plurality of recording heads. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information is output. 11. A recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium based on image data, wherein a plurality of test patterns corrected using different correction values are recorded on the recording medium. Recording control means for recording the image data with a correction value similar to the selected test pattern according to the selected test pattern selected as the smoothest pattern from the plurality of recorded test patterns. And a correction value setting means for setting the correction value. 12. The test pattern recording control means,
12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of test patterns are recorded based on a plurality of test pattern image data corrected by partially different correction values. 13. The test pattern recording control means,
13. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of test patterns are printed based on a plurality of test pattern image data having different gradation level ranges. 14. The test pattern recording control means,
14. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of test patterns are recorded based on a plurality of test pattern image data different for each recording color of an image. 15. The test pattern recording control means,
The recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a storage unit configured to store the plurality of test pattern image data. 16. The test pattern recording control means,
16. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of test patterns are recorded based on a plurality of test pattern image data whose recording densities have been corrected by different γ correction values. 17. The test pattern recording control means,
Based on the drive signals corrected by different correction values,
16. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of test patterns are recorded. 18. A recording head comprising a plurality of recording elements, capable of recording an image on the recording medium, wherein the correction value setting means corrects image data corresponding to each of the recording elements. 18. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a value can be set. 19. A printing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of printing elements in the printing head are provided in a row, and the test pattern printing control unit corrects the image data portions corresponding to the printing elements located near the end of the row by different correction values. 19. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of test patterns are recorded based on the plurality of test pattern image data corrected by the method. 20. A printing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of printing elements in the printing head are provided in a row, and the test pattern printing control unit uses different correction values for image data portions corresponding to the printing elements located near the center of the row. 19. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of test patterns are recorded based on the corrected plurality of test pattern image data. 21. An image recording method using a plurality of recording heads, wherein the test pattern recording control unit records a test pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of recording heads. 21. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 20. 22. A first moving means for relatively moving the recording head and the recording medium in a first direction, and a second direction intersecting the recording head and the recording medium in the first direction. 22. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a second moving unit that relatively moves the recording apparatus. 23. The recording apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said recording head is an ink jet recording head capable of discharging ink. 24. The recording apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the recording head has an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy as energy for discharging ink. 25. An information processing method for correcting image data input to a recording apparatus capable of recording an image on a recording medium, wherein the recording apparatus uses different test pattern image data for recording a test pattern. Outputting a plurality of test pattern image data corrected using the correction value, from among the plurality of test patterns recorded based on each of the plurality of test pattern image data,
An information processing method, wherein a correction value similar to the selected test pattern is set as a correction value of the image data input to the printing apparatus in accordance with a selected test pattern selected as a pattern that looks smoothest. . 26. A recording method for recording an image on a recording medium based on image data, wherein a plurality of test patterns corrected using different correction values are recorded on the recording medium. A correction value similar to the selected test pattern is set as a correction value for recording the image data in accordance with a selected test pattern selected as a pattern that looks the smoothest from the plurality of test patterns. Recording method characterized by the above-mentioned.