JP2005088580A - Image forming method, image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain high color reproducibility of ink over a long period of time when the ink of a special color (e.g. red) with excellent color development properties is used in addition to inks of three primary colors of subtractive color mixture. <P>SOLUTION: At least either (e.g. yellow ink) of the inks of two, between which a red hue angle is sandwiched, of the three primary colors is imparted in a superposed state to an area wherein the red ink is imparted onto a recording medium. Thus, since the yellow ink with good weatherability is also imparted in a superposed state to an area on the recording medium, where only the red ink with lower weatherability is to be originally imparted, the weatherability can be enhanced while the color development properties are maintained in a high level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus using a subtractive mixed primary color recording agent (for example, ink) and a special color recording agent having a hue different from these, and more specifically, excellent in color reproducibility and The present invention relates to an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a program for forming an image having excellent weather resistance.

  With the recent spread of information processing devices such as word processors, personal computers, and facsimiles, recording devices as image forming terminals for recording information such as text and images on recording media have been rapidly developed and spread. There are various types of recording apparatuses, and among them, a system that forms text and images by applying a recording agent to a recording medium is common. Among them, an ink jet recording apparatus that records on a recording medium such as paper, cloth, plastic sheet, OHP sheet by ejecting ink as a recording agent from an ejection port is a low noise non-impact recording method. It has excellent features such as being capable of high-density and high-speed recording operations, being easily compatible with color recording, and being inexpensive, and is now the mainstream of personal-use recording devices. It has become.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, basically, yellow, magenta and cyan inks, which are the three primary colors of printing, are used to perform color reproduction by subtractive color mixing. That is, for example, it is possible to form an orange or red region by mixing yellow and magenta, a green region by mixing yellow and cyan, and a blue or violet region by mixing magenta and cyan. Further, while using black ink in addition to the three primary color inks, the black component K is extracted from the data Y, M, and C of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and is replaced with black. Some perform UCR processing that removes the Y color component to improve contrast or to stably reproduce neutral colors. In these cases, the three color components of R, G, and B of the input image data are converted into data Y, M, and C of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan, or further, data K of black, so that the recording agent for each color Image formation is performed by (ink).

  In addition, with the rapid spread of color ink jet recording apparatuses in recent years, further improvement in image quality has been demanded. In particular, there is a demand for a vivid output image in which a color region that can be reproduced by a recording apparatus is expanded. In contrast, color areas that can be reproduced with one of the three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are reproduced by improving the color development characteristics and color density of the color material of each recording agent (ink). It is possible to expand the area. However, in the red, green, and blue areas formed with two or more recording agents, particularly in the highly saturated color areas, only three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, or four colors including black are used. Since there is a limit to the color area that can be reproduced, more vivid color reproduction becomes difficult.

  In expanding the color reproduction area, Patent Document 1 discloses a high-saturation color other than the three primary colors of subtractive colors, that is, red (orange) in addition to the four basic color recording agents of yellow, magenta, cyan and black. A method of forming an image by adding three color recording agents of green and blue (violet) as special color recording agents is disclosed. In addition to the four basic color recording materials of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, Patent Document 2 discloses two colors of light cyan and light magenta, which have relatively low colorant densities relative to cyan and magenta, respectively. A method of forming an image by adding recording agents of two colors, orange and green, as additional recording agents of special colors is disclosed. In any of these, by using high-saturation special colors, it is intended to reproduce vivid colors that could not be reproduced with only four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

JP-A-6-57654 JP 2001-138552 A JP 2002-069348 A International Publication No. 00/43451 Pamphlet

  However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the weather resistance of an image formed using a special color recording agent is not studied at all. For this reason, there is a problem that even if an image having excellent color developability can be formed by expanding the color reproduction range using a special color recording agent, the color developability of the image cannot be maintained for a long time. That is, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an image having excellent color reproducibility, which is the greatest advantage of adopting a special color, cannot be maintained for a long period of time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and when a special color recording agent having excellent color developability is used, the high color reproducibility can be maintained over a long period of time. An object is to provide an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and a program.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to the first embodiment uses a recording agent having basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent having a special color having a hue different from that of the basic color on a recording medium. An image forming method for forming an image, comprising:
At least one basic color recording agent having better weather resistance than the special color recording agent is applied to an area on the recording medium to which the special color recording agent is applied.

The present invention according to the second embodiment is expressed by a combination of cyan, magenta and yellow basic colors and a combination of two of the three basic colors in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a special color recording agent showing a hue angle within a color reproduction region,
When forming an image including a color within the color reproduction region expressed by the combination of the two colors, the recording material of the special color and the recording of at least one basic color having better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color It is characterized by using an agent.

The present invention according to a third aspect is an image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent of a special color having a hue different from the basic color. There,
Generating pixel data corresponding to one pixel expressed using the recording material of the special color;
The pixel data generating step includes data corresponding to the spot color recording agent and data corresponding to at least one basic color recording agent having better weather resistance than the spot color recording agent. The pixel data is generated.

The present invention according to the fourth aspect is expressed by a combination of cyan, magenta and yellow basic colors and a combination of two of the three basic colors in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a special color recording agent showing a hue angle within a color reproduction region,
Converting RGB data corresponding to one pixel into pixel data corresponding to a recording agent used for the image formation, and outputting the pixel data;
In the output step, when outputting pixel data corresponding to the color in the color reproduction region expressed by the combination of the two colors, the data corresponding to the spot color recording agent and the weather resistance than the spot color recording agent are output. The pixel data is output so as to include at least one data corresponding to the recording material of the basic color.

The present invention according to a fifth aspect is an image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent of a special color having a hue different from the basic color. There,
Converting multi-value RGB data into multi-value data corresponding to the recording agent used for the image formation;
A step of applying the recording agent to the recording medium based on binary data obtained by performing predetermined image processing on multi-value data corresponding to the recording agent,
In the conversion step, the multi-value RGB data is converted into multi-value data corresponding to the spot color recording agent even when the color represented by the RGB data before conversion can be reproduced only by the spot color recording agent. And multi-value data corresponding to at least one recording material of the basic color, which has better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color.

The present invention according to a sixth aspect includes mounting means for mounting means capable of providing a recording material of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording material of a special color having a hue different from the basic color. Equipment,
An image is formed on the recording medium by any one of the image forming methods described above.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is used when an image is formed on a recording medium using a recording agent having basic colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow and a recording agent having a special color having a hue different from that of the basic color. A program for causing a computer to generate data,
Including a code for executing a step of generating pixel data corresponding to one pixel expressed using the spot color recording agent, wherein the pixel data generation step includes data corresponding to the spot color recording agent; The pixel data is generated so as to include data corresponding to at least one recording material of the basic color, which has better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color.

The eighth aspect of the present invention is expressed by a combination of cyan, magenta, and yellow basic colors and a combination of two of the three basic colors in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space. A program for causing a computer to generate data used when forming an image on a recording medium using a recording material of a special color that indicates a hue angle within a color reproduction region,
RGB code corresponding to one pixel is converted into pixel data corresponding to the recording material used for the image formation, and includes a code for executing a step of outputting the pixel data, and the output step includes the two colors When outputting pixel data corresponding to colors in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of the above, data corresponding to the recording material of the special color and at least one of the basics having better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color The pixel data including the data corresponding to the color recording agent is output.

The ninth aspect of the present invention is used when an image is formed on a recording medium using a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent of a special color having a hue different from the basic color. A program for causing a computer to generate data,
A code for executing a step of converting multi-value RGB data into multi-value data corresponding to the recording material used for the image formation, wherein the conversion step displays the color represented by the RGB data before conversion; Even if it is reproducible only with a spot color recording agent, the multi-value RGB data, multi-value data corresponding to the spot color recording agent, and better weather resistance than the spot color recording agent, at least Conversion to multi-value data corresponding to one basic color recording agent is performed.

In this specification, “special color” refers to a color different from the hues of yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are basic color recording agents, in a broad sense. Further, in a narrow sense, in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, a color reproduction area expressed on a recording medium by a combination of any two of the basic color recording agents of magenta, yellow, and cyan. It means a color that can express at least one of higher brightness and saturation and exhibits a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of any two recording agents.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use the above-mentioned “spot color” recording agent in a narrow sense, but it is also possible to use a “spot color” recording agent in a broad sense.

  In the present invention, ink is suitably used as the recording agent, but recording agents other than ink (for example, toner) can also be used.

  According to the present invention, since the spot color ink having inferior weather resistance and at least one other color ink having better weather resistance than the spot color ink are recorded on top of each other, the color developability of the spot color is maintained at a high level. However, weather resistance can be improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Print system overview)
In the following, as an application target of the present invention, an ink jet printing system using seven basic colors, cyan, magenta, yellow red, green, blue and black, is exemplified.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system which is an example of an application target of the present invention. The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment performs printing with the above seven colors of ink, and for this purpose, a recording head that discharges these seven colors of ink is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system of this embodiment includes a recording apparatus as an image forming apparatus and a personal computer (PC) as a host apparatus.

  There are applications and printer drivers as programs that operate in the operating system of the host device. The application J0001 executes processing for creating image data to be printed by the printer. This image data or data before editing or the like can be taken into a PC via various media. The PC according to the present embodiment can capture, for example, JPEG image data captured by a digital camera using a CF card. Also, for example, TIFF format image data read by a scanner or image data stored in a CD-ROM can be captured. Furthermore, data on the web can be taken in via the Internet. These captured data are displayed on the monitor of the PC and edited, processed, etc. via the application J0001, and for example, sRGB standard image data R, G, B are created. Then, the image data is transferred to the printer driver in response to a printing instruction.

  The printer driver of this embodiment has a pre-stage process J0002, a post-stage process J0003, a γ correction J0004, a halftoning J0005, and a print data creation J0006 as the processes. The pre-stage process J0002 performs color gamut mapping. The pre-stage processing J0002 of the present embodiment is a three-dimensional LUT that contains the relationship of mapping the color gamut reproduced by the image data R, G, B of the sRGB standard into the color gamut reproduced by the printer of the printing system. Using this, interpolation conversion is also used to perform data conversion for converting 8-bit image data R, G, B into data R, G, B in the printer color gamut. The post-processing J0003 is based on the data R, G, and B on which the above color gamut is mapped, and corresponds to a combination of inks that reproduce the color represented by this data, that is, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, red, green, and blue. The obtained color separation data Y, M, C, K, R, G and B are processed. In the present embodiment, this process is performed by using a three-dimensional LUT together with an interpolation operation as in the previous process. The γ correction J0004 performs gradation value conversion for each color data of the color separation data obtained by the post-processing J0003. Specifically, by using a one-dimensional LUT corresponding to the gradation characteristics of each color ink of the printer used in this system, conversion is performed so that the color separation data is linearly associated with the gradation characteristics of the printer. . Halftoning J0005 performs quantization that converts 8-bit color separation data Y, M, C, K, R, G, and B into 4-bit data. In the present embodiment, 256-bit 8-bit data is converted to 9-gradation 4-bit data using an error diffusion method. This 4-bit data is data serving as an index for indicating an arrangement pattern in the dot arrangement patterning process in the printing apparatus. Finally, print data is created by adding print control information to the print image data containing the 4-bit index data by print data creation processing J0006. Note that the processing of the application and printer driver described above is performed by the CPU according to these programs. At this time, the program is read from the ROM or hard disk and used, and the RAM is used as a work area when executing the processing.

  The recording apparatus performs dot arrangement patterning processing J0007 and mask data conversion processing J0008 regarding data processing. The dot arrangement patterning process J0007 performs dot arrangement for each pixel corresponding to an actual print image according to a dot arrangement pattern corresponding to nine gradation 4-bit index data (gradation value information) as print image data. . In this way, by assigning a dot arrangement pattern corresponding to the gradation value of each pixel expressed by 4-bit data of 9 gradations, dots are turned on / off in each of a plurality of areas in the pixel. Are defined, and ejection data of “1” or “0” is arranged for each area in one pixel. That is, this dot arrangement patterning process is a binarization process that converts 4-bit data into 1-bit data. The 1-bit ejection data obtained in this way is subjected to a mask process by a mask data conversion process J0008. That is, the ejection data for each scan for completing the recording of the scanning region of the predetermined width by the recording head by a plurality of scans is generated by processing using a mask corresponding to each scanning. The ejection data Y, M, C, K, R, G, and B for each scan are sent to the head drive circuit J0009 at an appropriate timing, whereby the recording head J0010 is driven and the respective inks according to the ejection data. Is discharged. Note that the above-described dot arrangement patterning process and mask data conversion process in the printing apparatus are executed under the control of the CPU constituting the control unit of the printing apparatus using a dedicated hardware circuit for them. Note that these processes may be performed by the CPU according to a program, and the above processes may be executed by, for example, a printer driver in a PC, and the form of these processes is not limited in applying the present invention. Is clear from the following explanation.

The printer of the present embodiment described above uses red, green, and blue as the special colors. Here, the special color refers to a color indicating a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by two mixed colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are basic color inks. Use a secondary color that can realize a color with higher saturation and lightness than the color of the same hue. That is, in the present embodiment, the “spot color” is a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of two arbitrary inks of magenta, yellow, and cyan basic color inks in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space. And a color that can express higher saturation and lightness than a color reproduction region expressed on a recording medium by a combination of two inks.

  In particular, the special color ink red of the present embodiment makes it possible to reproduce higher saturation and lightness than a color space in which input image data R, G, B of sRGB standard such as a monitor can be reproduced. .

  In this specification, the ink that is a recording agent is expressed in katakana notation such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and the color or its data, and the hue is one uppercase letter such as C, M, Y, K, or the like. It shall be expressed in combination with one lowercase letter. That is, C is cyan or its data or hue, M is magenta or its data or hue, Y is yellow or its data or hue, K is black or its data or hue, and R is red. Alternatively, the data or hue thereof, G represents the green color or data or hue thereof, and B represents blue or the data or hue thereof.

  Further, in this specification, “pixel” is a minimum unit that can express gradation, and is a target of image processing of multi-bit multi-value data (processing such as the preceding stage, the latter stage, γ correction, and halftoning). Is the smallest unit. A dot arrangement pattern composed of m × n (for example, 4 × 2) squares is associated with one pixel, and each square in the one pixel is defined as an area. This “area” is a minimum unit in which dot on / off is defined. In this connection, the “image data” in the above-mentioned pre-stage processing, post-stage processing, and γ correction represents a set of pixels to be processed, and each pixel has an 8-bit gradation value as the content in this embodiment. It is data to be. “Pixel data” referred to as halftoning represents the pixel data itself to be processed, and in the halftoning of the present embodiment, there are four pieces of pixel data containing the above 8-bit gradation value (256 gradations). It is converted into pixel data (index data) containing bit gradation values (9 gradations).

(Outline of image formation)
In the image forming method of the present invention, the chromatic inks of the basic colors cyan, magenta, and yellow, and the special color ink that is at least one chromatic ink having a different hue from these are used, and the ink droplets are converted into image data. Accordingly, when image formation is performed by applying the ink on the recording medium, ink having better weather resistance than that of the special color ink is superimposed on the area to which the special color ink is applied on the recording medium. It is characterized in that the processing is performed. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a recorded matter with high image durability in which high color reproducibility unique to the special color ink is maintained for a long period of time.

  In this embodiment, in the post-processing J0003, 8-bit RGB data is converted into 8-bit color separation data CMYKRGB (CMYKRGB data corresponding to ink colors). At this time, for pixels to which special color ink is applied. The conversion is performed so that the basic color ink having good weather resistance is also applied. Specifically, in the subsequent processing, the RGB data is converted into CMYKRGB data corresponding to the ink color by using a three-dimensional LUT and interpolation calculation in which the RGB data and the CMYKRGB data corresponding to the ink color are associated one-to-one. Even if only the special color ink is sufficient to reproduce the color represented by the RGB data before the conversion, it is not converted only to the special color ink data, but the special color ink data and at least one basic The three-dimensional LUT is configured in advance so as to be converted into color ink data. In other words, when the 8-bit RGB data is converted and the 8-bit CMYKRGB data is output, when the special color ink data is output, not only the special color ink data but also the basic color ink data. The three-dimensional LUT and the interpolation calculation in the post-stage processing J0003 are configured so that at least one of the data is output together. Therefore, even if the color gamut can be expressed only with the spot color ink, the color gamut is not recorded with the spot color ink alone, but is recorded with at least one basic color having good weather resistance. .

  Furthermore, in the case of expressing not only the color reproduction region that can be expressed only with the special color ink but also the color of the color reproduction region expressed by two basic colors sandwiching the hue angle of the special color ink among the three basic colors, It is preferable to use a special color recording agent in combination with at least one basic color recording agent having better weather resistance than the special color recording agent. That is, using a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow, and a recording agent of a special color showing a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of any two of these three basic colors In forming an image, when forming an image including a color in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of any two colors described above, a spot color recording agent and a weather resistance better than the spot color recording agent, It is preferable to use at least one basic color recording agent.

Here, an example of processing when the weather resistance of red ink, which is a special color, is inferior in the configuration of the print system will be described.
When using a red ink having relatively poor weather resistance, processing is performed so that a yellow ink and / or a magenta ink having better weather resistance than the red ink is applied to a pixel to which the red ink is applied. Specifically, as described above, in the post-processing J0003, when converting 8-bit RGB data and outputting 8-bit CMYKRGB data, only red ink is used to reproduce the color represented by the RGB data before conversion. Even in the case where it is sufficient, not only R data but also Y data and / or M data are output in addition to R data. As a result, even if the color gamut can be expressed only with red ink having relatively poor weather resistance, the color gamut is not recorded with only red ink, but yellow ink and / or magenta ink with good weather resistance are used. Since recording is performed in combination, it is possible to improve the weather resistance of the image in the area where the red ink is used.

  Here, an example of the output result of the post-processing when the area where the red ink is used is reproduced is shown. FIG. 13 shows an example of color reproduction of an R hue line from white (W) to red (R). The horizontal axis is the value of 8-bit RGB data. Here, from (W) indicated by (R, G, B) = (255, 255, 255), (R, G, B) = ( The range up to red (R) indicated by 255, 0, 0) is shown. On the other hand, the vertical axis represents the value of 8-bit CMYKRGB data corresponding to the output result of the subsequent processing, and here, R data, Y data, and M data are output. The output values are 256 levels from 0 to 255, and the larger the output value, the greater the amount of ink applied to one pixel.

  As apparent from FIG. 13, when the R hue line is reproduced, not only R data but also Y data and M data are output. Thereby, since the R hue is reproduced by using the red ink having poor weather resistance and the yellow and magenta ink having good weather resistance, the weather resistance of the region showing the R hue can be improved.

  In this example, as the density level increases, the amount of red ink used increases, and the ratio of the amount of yellow and magenta ink used to the amount of red ink used decreases. That is, the ratio of the yellow and magenta ink ejection amounts to the red ink ejection amount is set higher on the low saturation (low density) side than on the high saturation (high density) side. By setting such a ratio, yellow and magenta inks with good weather resistance are used on the low chroma (low density) side, where deterioration of weather resistance is likely to occur. Therefore, low chroma (low density) ) Side weather resistance can be made sufficient. In addition to this, on the high saturation (high density) side, the usage ratio of yellow and magenta inks is reduced, and the percentage of pixels that are present alone is increased, so that the characteristics of the let ink exhibiting high color development can be fully utilized. Can do. Note that the example shown in FIG. 13 is merely a preferable example, and the subsequent processing in the present invention is not limited to this example.

  In the above description, the special color ink and the basic color ink having good weather resistance are described as being overlapped (overlapped). However, the superimposition is the basic color ink having good weather resistance at the dot position of the special color ink. In addition to the state in which the dots are completely overlapped, a state in which some of the dots overlap is also included.

FIG. 2 illustrates a case where one pixel corresponds to a 2 × 4 area, and special color ink dots and basic color ink dots are formed in the one pixel. FIG. 4A shows a state in which basic color ink dots are completely superimposed on a spot color ink dot formation area, and FIG. 5B shows a basic color ink dot formed in a spot color ink dot non-formation area. (C) is a state in which basic color ink dots are not formed in an area, and basic color dots are present in an adjacent area. It is in a state. In any of these cases, even if the dot of the spot color ink is attacked by light such as ultraviolet rays or atmospheric gas, the color change of the entire image after the fading test is small because the ink having good weather resistance remains. Thus, it is possible to improve image storage stability. In addition, although the mechanism for improving weather resistance is not clear, since the ink with good weather resistance and the spot color ink exist in the same area, the color material of the ink with good weather resistance absorbs light and gas and the color of the spot color ink It is considered that the amount of light attacking the material and the amount of gas are relatively reduced. Accordingly, it is presumed that the color material deterioration of the special color ink is suppressed and the weather resistance is improved.
The ink having good weather resistance that overlaps with the special color ink may be applied to the recording medium before the special color ink or after the special color ink. In other words, the ink having good weather resistance may overlap with the spot color ink on the recording medium, or the spot color ink may overlap with the ink having good weather resistance. In any form, it is possible to improve the weather resistance of the pixel to which the special color ink is applied.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is not always necessary to overlay ink having good weather resistance on all pixels to which the special color ink is applied, and weather resistance is applied to at least a part of all the pixels to which the special color ink is applied. It suffices if the inks with good properties overlap.

  For example, even when pixel data including spot color data and basic color data is output in the subsequent process J0003, after the subsequent halftoning J0005, the spot color ink and the basic color ink do not overlap in the same pixel. Sometimes. This is because when the error diffusion process is performed for each color in the halftoning J0005, the density level of the target pixel, the density level of the surrounding pixels, and the error added to the target pixel differ for each color. Therefore, even if pixel data including spot color data and basic color data is output in the subsequent processing, either the spot color ink or the basic color ink may not be applied to the pixel. Even in the case of pixels, it is possible that the basic color ink is not applied. However, in addition to the pixels to which only the special color ink is applied, there are a large number of pixels to which both the special color ink and the basic color ink are applied. On the other hand, both the special color ink and the basic color ink are applied, and the weather resistance in the macro area is improved. In this embodiment, such a form is also included.

  Moreover, even if it is a pixel to which special color ink is applied, a form in which a pixel that does not overlap with ink having good weather resistance may intentionally exist. In other words, the post-processing J0003 may be configured so that, among all the pixels to which the special color ink is applied, a pixel on which the ink having good weather resistance is superimposed and a pixel on which the ink having good weather resistance is not superimposed are generated.

  In short, in the present embodiment, it is only necessary to improve the weather resistance in a macro area corresponding to several to several tens of pixels. For that purpose, the special color ink and the basic color ink are used in such a macro area. As long as both are given. That is, it is only necessary that the ink having good weather resistance overlaps at least some of the pixels to which the special color ink is applied. If the ink with good weather resistance overlaps a part of all pixels to which the special color ink is applied in this way, even if the dot of the special color ink is attacked by light such as ultraviolet rays or gas in the atmosphere, When ink having good weather resistance remains, the color change of the entire image after the fading test is reduced, and the image storage stability can be improved.

  Next, a method for more effectively improving the weather resistance of the special color ink will be described using the results of Examples (FIGS. 3 and 4) described later as an example. FIG. 3 shows a case where a special color ink (in this example, a red hue ink is used) is used alone (solid line), and a yellow ink having better weather resistance than the special color ink is superimposed (overprinted) on the special color ink. 2 shows the relationship between the recording duty of special color ink and the weather resistance. In this case, the smaller the ΔE (color difference) in the figure, the better the weather resistance. Also, as a method of overprinting, a pattern (thin broken line) for applying yellow ink so as to be the same amount as the amount of special color ink applied, and the application ratio of yellow ink to special color ink according to the recording duty of the special color ink are set. This is done for a pattern (thick broken line) changed in stages. FIG. 4 is a graph of the recording duty of the special color ink in each pattern and the application ratio (Y duty / special color duty) of the yellow ink to the special color ink.

  As shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the spot color ink alone is particularly inferior in weather resistance at the low duty portion. On the other hand, as described above, it is understood that the weather resistance is improved in any pattern by overprinting the ink having good weather resistance with respect to the special color ink. Furthermore, by increasing the application ratio of the ink with good weather resistance to the special color ink in the low duty portion than in the high duty portion, the balance of the weather resistance can be improved more effectively, and the ink having good weather resistance in the high duty portion. Can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to further increase the amount of spot color ink applied at the high duty section, thereby further improving the high color developability and reducing the driving amount because the amount of ink applied can be suppressed at the high duty section where the amount of ink used is large. Is possible.

  Further, due to the relationship between the color material density applied to the recording medium and the weather resistance, the weather resistance decreases particularly in the region where the color material density applied with the special color ink is 0.2 mg or less per square inch (reference value). There is a tendency, and the weather resistance can be effectively improved by applying ink having good weather resistance to this region. In this case, it is preferable to add 0.05 mg or more per square inch (reference value) as the colorant density of the ink having good weather resistance because the weather resistance can be improved more effectively. The “color material density” referred to here indicates the mass per unit area (square inch) of a colorant such as a dye or pigment contained in the recording agent.

In addition, in order to more effectively improve the weather resistance of the entire image, the basic color ink having excellent weather resistance applied to the same image area together with the special color ink has the characteristics shown by the following formula in relation to the special color ink. It is preferable to have.
ΔE2 / ΔE1 ≦ 0.8
ΔE1: Color difference before and after the color fading test of the special color ink ΔE2: Color difference before and after the color fading test of the ink having good weather resistance (here, yellow ink) applied to the same image area together with the special color ink

In addition, as weather resistance said here, the thing with respect to the light fading by ultraviolet light etc. and the thing with respect to gas degradation fading by gas components, such as ozone in air | atmosphere, are mention | raise | lifted. Therefore, in this fading test, for example, for light fading, a xenon lamp is used, and the exposure is performed for 30 hours under the conditions of an internal temperature of 50 ° C., a relative humidity of 70%, and an irradiation energy of 0.39 W / m ² at 340 nm. A test for irradiation is given. As for gas deterioration, a test in which exposure is performed for 2 hours under an ozone atmosphere of 40 ° C., 55% relative humidity, and 3 ppm in the tank can be cited. In either case, a uniform solid pattern having an ink application amount per unit area of 3.6 ± 1.2 mg / inch ² is formed on the recording medium, and left to dry in an indoor dark place for 48 hours or more. By performing the above fading test and measuring the color development characteristics before and after the test using the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color system, ΔE1 and ΔE2 can be obtained.

  In order to output pixel data including red ink data (R data) and yellow ink data (Y data) in the post-processing J0003, for example, a thin broken line in FIG. In this way, the data processing of the pixel is performed so that the same amount of yellow ink as that of the special color ink is applied, or the application ratio is set according to the recording duty of the special color ink as shown by the thick broken line in the figure. A table for data processing of the pixel may be prepared and used so that the yellow ink is applied step by step.

  Incidentally, in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above, the yellow ink is described as an example of the basic color ink having good weather resistance for use with the special color ink of the red hue. However, instead of the yellow ink, the red ink is used instead of the yellow ink. Magenta ink having better weather resistance than ink may be used. In view of the fact that red has a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a mixed color of yellow and magenta, it is considered that it is often preferable to use both in terms of color reproducibility. When both yellow ink and magenta ink are used in combination, it is preferable to use a table for obtaining an output result as shown in FIG.

  Further, if the light magenta ink having a relatively low colorant density than magenta is used, light magenta ink having better weather resistance than red ink may be used alone or in combination with other inks such as yellow. It may be applied to the red ink. For example, when light magenta ink, yellow ink, and magenta ink are used in combination with red ink, the R hue line from white (W) to red (R) is configured as shown in FIG. May be. The horizontal and vertical axes in FIG. 14 are the same as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, when the R hue line is reproduced, not only R data but also Lm data (light magenta data), Y data, and M data are output. According to this, since the R hue is reproduced by using red ink having poor weather resistance and light magenta, yellow and magenta ink having good weather resistance, the weather resistance of the region showing the R hue is improved. Can be made. Further, in this example, since yellow and light magenta inks with little graininess are used in the low density area (highlight area), the dot granularity in the low density area (highlight area) where graininess is noticeable is high. It can also be suppressed.

  Furthermore, the above is not only red but also other special colors such as green, blue, violet, etc. If there is a problem with these weather resistances, cyan, magenta, Needless to say, ink such as yellow can also be used. For example, if green ink with relatively poor weather resistance is used, even if the area can be expressed only with the green ink, the area is not recorded with only the green ink, but the ink has better weather resistance than green. Are preferably used in combination, and it is particularly preferable that cyan ink and yellow ink, which have better weather resistance than green, be overlapped with green ink for recording. Also, if blue ink with relatively poor weather resistance is used, even if it is an area that can be expressed only with blue ink, the area is not recorded with only blue ink, but ink with better weather resistance than blue. Are preferably used in combination, and it is particularly preferable to superimpose cyan ink and magenta ink, which have better weather resistance than blue, on the blue ink.

  Note that the ink having good weather resistance that overlaps with the special color ink may be applied to the recording medium before the special color ink, or may be applied after the special color ink. In other words, the ink having good weather resistance may overlap with the spot color ink on the recording medium, or the spot color ink may overlap with the ink having good weather resistance. In any form, it is possible to improve the weather resistance of the image of the region to which the special color ink is applied.

(Schematic configuration of the mechanism of the image forming apparatus)
A schematic configuration of a mechanism unit of an ink jet recording apparatus used as an image forming apparatus in the present embodiment will be described. The main body of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a paper feed unit, a paper transport unit, a carriage unit, a paper discharge unit, a cleaning unit, and an exterior unit that protects them and has design properties from the role of each mechanism. The outline of these will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus applied in this embodiment. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the internal mechanism of the recording apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the upper right portion, and FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the recording apparatus main body. is there.

  When paper feeding is performed in the recording apparatus applied in the present embodiment, first, only a predetermined number of recording media in the paper feeding unit including the paper feeding tray M2060 is transferred to the nip part constituted by the paper feeding roller M2080 and the separation roller M2041. Sent. The sent recording medium is separated at the nip portion, and only the uppermost recording medium is conveyed to the sheet conveying portion. The recording medium sent to the paper transport unit is guided by the pinch roller holder M3000 and the paper guide flapper M3030, and is sent to the roller pair of the transport roller M3060 and the pinch roller M3070. A roller pair composed of a conveyance roller M3060 and a pinch roller M3070 is rotated by driving of the LF motor E0002, and the recording medium is conveyed on the platen M3040 by this rotation.

  The carriage unit has a carriage M4000 for mounting the recording head H1001, and the carriage M4000 is supported by a guide shaft M4020 and a guide rail M1011. The guide shaft M4020 is attached to the chassis M1010 and guides and supports the carriage M4000 to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction. The carriage M4000 is driven via a timing belt M4041 by a carriage motor E0001 attached to the chassis M1010. Further, a flexible cable E0012 (not shown) for transmitting a drive signal from the electric board E0014 to the recording head H1001 is connected to the carriage M4000. When an image is formed on a recording medium in such a configuration, a pair of rollers including a conveyance roller M3060 and a pinch roller M3070 conveys and positions the recording medium in the conveyance direction (column direction). Further, with respect to the scanning direction (raster direction), the carriage M4000 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by the carriage motor E0001, and the recording head H1001 (FIG. 8) is arranged at a target image forming position. The positioned recording head H1001 ejects ink to the recording medium in accordance with a signal from the electric substrate E0014. Although a detailed configuration of the recording head H1001 will be described later, in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, a recording medium is scanned by the carriage M4000 while recording is performed by the recording head H1001, and a recording medium is conveyed by the conveying roller M3060. An image is formed on a recording medium by alternately repeating sub-scanning.

  In the present embodiment, it may be a bidirectional recording mode in which ink is ejected during main scanning in both the forward direction and the backward direction, or one main scanning in the forward direction and the backward direction. One-way recording may be performed in which ink is ejected only at times. When bidirectional recording is performed using the recording head shown in FIG. 10, the first portion where the ink having good weather resistance overlaps with the spot color ink and the second portion where the spot color ink overlaps with the ink having good weather resistance. Part will be mixed on the recording medium, and when performing unidirectional recording, only the first part or only the second part will be present on the recording medium, In any form, the effect of improving weather resistance can be obtained. The present invention includes both forms.

  The recording medium on which the image has been finally formed is sandwiched between nips of the first paper discharge roller M3110 and the spur M3120 at the paper discharge unit, conveyed, and discharged to the paper discharge tray M3160.

  In the cleaning unit, for the purpose of cleaning the recording head H1001 before and after image recording, if the pump M5000 is operated with the cap M5010 in close contact with the ink discharge port of the recording head H1001, it is unnecessary from the recording head H1001. Ink or the like is sucked. Further, by sucking the ink remaining in the cap M5010 with the cap M5010 opened, consideration is given to preventing the remaining ink from sticking and the subsequent adverse effects.

(Recording head configuration)
The configuration of the head cartridge H1000 applied in the present embodiment will be described below. The head cartridge H1000 in this embodiment has a recording head H1001, means for mounting the ink tank H1900, and means for supplying ink from the ink tank H1900 to the recording head, and is detachable from the carriage M4000. Mounted on.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the ink tank H1900 is attached to the head cartridge H1000 applied in the present embodiment. The recording apparatus of this embodiment forms an image with seven colors of ink of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, red, green, and blue, and the ink tank H1900 is also prepared for seven colors independently. . As shown in the figure, each is detachable from the head cartridge H1000. The ink tank H1900 can be attached and detached while the head cartridge H1000 is mounted on the carriage M4000.

  FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the head cartridge H1000. In the figure, a head cartridge H1000 includes a first recording element substrate H1100 and a second recording element substrate H1101, a first plate H1200, a second plate H1400, an electric wiring substrate H1300, a tank holder H1500, and a flow path forming member H1600. , Filter H1700, seal rubber H1800, and the like.

  The first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101 are Si substrates, and a plurality of recording elements (nozzles) for ejecting ink are formed on one side thereof by photolithography. Electric wiring such as Al for supplying electric power to each recording element is formed by a film forming technique, and a plurality of ink flow paths corresponding to individual recording elements are also formed by a photolithography technique. Further, an ink supply port for supplying ink to the plurality of ink flow paths is formed to open on the back surface.

  FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view for explaining the configuration of the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101. H2000 to H2600 are printing element rows (hereinafter also referred to as nozzle rows) corresponding to different ink colors. The first printing element substrate H1100 has a nozzle row H2000 supplied with cyan ink and a supply of magenta ink. The nozzle row for two colors is configured, that is, the nozzle row H2100 to be supplied and the nozzle row H2200 to which yellow ink is supplied. The second recording element substrate H1101 includes a nozzle row H2300 to which black ink is supplied, a nozzle row H2400 to which red ink is supplied, a nozzle row H2500 to which green ink is supplied, and a nozzle row H2600 to which blue ink is supplied. No. 4 nozzle rows are configured.

Each nozzle row is composed of 768 nozzles arranged at an interval of 1200 dpi (dot / inch; reference value) in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and ejects approximately 2 picoliters of ink droplets. The opening area at each nozzle outlet is set to approximately 100 square μm ² . The first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101 are bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200. Here, the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101 are attached to the first recording element substrate H1100. An ink supply port H1201 for supplying ink is formed.

  Further, a second plate H1400 having an opening is bonded and fixed to the first plate H1200. The second plate H1400 is composed of the electric wiring substrate H1300, the first recording element substrate H1100, and the second plate H1400. The electric wiring substrate H1300 is held so that the recording element substrate H1101 is electrically connected.

  The electrical wiring substrate H1300 applies an electrical signal for ejecting ink from each nozzle formed on the first recording element substrate H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101, and the first recording element substrate Electrical wiring corresponding to the H1100 and the second recording element substrate H1101, and an external signal input terminal H1301 for receiving an electrical signal from the recording apparatus main body located at the end of the electrical wiring. The external signal input terminal H1301 is positioned and fixed on the back side of the tank holder H1500.

  On the other hand, in a tank holder H1500 that holds the ink tank H1900, a flow path forming member H1600 is fixed by, for example, ultrasonic welding to form an ink flow path H1501 that communicates from the ink tank H1900 to the first plate H1200.

  A filter H1700 is provided at the ink tank side end of the ink flow path H1501 that engages with the ink tank H1900, and can prevent dust from entering from the outside. Further, a seal rubber H1800 is attached to the engaging portion with the ink tank H1900 so that ink can be prevented from evaporating from the engaging portion.

  Further, as described above, the tank holder portion composed of the tank holder H1500, the flow path forming member H1600, the filter H1700, and the seal rubber H1800, the first recording element substrate H1100, the second recording element substrate H1101, and the first plate. The head cartridge H1000 is configured by bonding the recording head unit H1001 including the H1200, the electric wiring substrate H1300, and the second plate H1400 by bonding or the like.

  In addition, as an ink discharge method of the recording head, for example, an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for causing film boiling to the ink in accordance with an electric signal as energy used for discharging the ink (Recording element) may be used. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it corresponds to a sheet or liquid flow path in which liquid (ink) is held. By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to the electrothermal transducer arranged in a manner, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, This is effective because film boiling occurs on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to the drive signal on a one-to-one basis can be formed. By the growth and contraction of the bubbles, liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection opening to form at least one droplet. If this drive signal is in the form of a pulse, it is more preferable because bubbles can be grown and contracted promptly and appropriately, and liquid (ink) discharge having particularly excellent response can be achieved.

  Further, as a form of a recording head by another ejection method, a nozzle forming substrate having a plurality of nozzles, a pressure generating element made of a piezoelectric material and a conductive material arranged opposite to the nozzles, and a periphery of the pressure generating element An on-demand ink jet recording head that includes ink satisfying the above requirements, displaces a pressure generating element by an applied voltage, and ejects a small droplet of ink from a nozzle.

  Further, the ink jet recording apparatus is not limited to the one in which the head and the ink tank are separated as described above, and may be one in which they are integrated so as not to be separated. In addition, the ink tank is integrated with the head so as to be separable or non-separable and mounted on the carriage, and is provided at a fixed portion of the apparatus so that ink is supplied to the recording head via an ink supply member, for example, a tube. The thing of the form to supply may be sufficient. Further, when the ink tank is provided with a configuration for applying a preferable negative pressure to the recording head, a configuration in which an absorber is disposed in the ink storage portion of the ink tank, or a flexible ink storage bag and the same A form having a spring portion that applies a biasing force in the direction of expanding the internal volume can be employed.

  In addition to the serial recording method as described above, the recording apparatus may take the form of a line printer in which recording elements are aligned over a range corresponding to the entire width of the recording medium.

(ink)
Examples of basic colors that can be preferably applied to the embodiment of the present invention are yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks, and special colors of red, green, and blue inks. These inks contain a color material as an essential constituent element.

  The color material of the ink used in the present invention may be a known color material such as a commonly used dye or pigment, or a newly synthesized color material, within the scope of the present invention. Can be appropriately selected and used.

  In the present embodiment, a dye or a pigment can be used as a color material used for the ink of the basic color (the three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan plus black). Among these, dyes can be suitably used because they are excellent in reproducing colors with high brightness. Similarly, dyes or pigments can also be used as color materials for inks of special colors (red, green and blue). Among these, dyes can be suitably used because they are excellent in reproducing colors with high brightness.

  In particular, the ink that the adhering ink penetrates into the recording medium (the dye-based ink tends to be stronger) than the ink that the colorant aggregates on the surface of the recording medium (the pigment-based ink tends to be more likely). It is strongly preferred to use. In the former, incident light is mostly reflected by the uppermost ink layer deposited later, whereas in the latter, incident light is reflected by each color ink layer formed inside the recording medium. This is because the effect of appealing can be expected. In addition, when ink droplets are applied to glossy media such as glossy paper and glossy film that are frequently used for photo output, the color material is fixed in the ink receiving layer, and the surface state of the printed and non-printed parts of the medium surface. Is maintained, the glossiness is not lost, and an image having a high texture comparable to a silver salt photograph can be formed.

  As a more preferable form, it is preferable to use dyes, particularly acid dyes and direct dyes, as coloring materials for the basic colors yellow, magenta and cyan in the present invention. In particular, acid dyes and direct dyes produce good color on various recording media such as plain paper or special media having a coated layer or ink receiving layer on the surface, such as glossy paper, coated paper, and glossy film. Therefore, it can be suitably used in the present invention.

Further, as the special color ink, it is preferable to use an ink that can express a color having a higher brightness than a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of basic colors. This is preferable because it is possible to effectively express an impacted image formation in which the color gamut is expanded by adding a special color. For example, if red ink is used as the special color ink, the lightness expressed in the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space is higher than the color reproduction area expressed on the recording medium by the combination of yellow ink and magenta ink. It is preferable to use a red ink that can be used and exhibits a hue angle within the color reproduction region. Further, it is more preferable that the color expressed on the recording medium with the red ink, which is the special color ink, is a color having higher saturation than the color reproduction region.

FIG. 11 illustrates the lightness (L ^* ) and color of the color formed by mixing the red, yellow, and magenta, which are the colors of the special color ink, and the color expressed by the positive film in order to explain this condition. It is the figure which showed typically the relationship with degree (c ^* ; c ^* = (a ^{* 2} + b ^{* 2} ) < ^{1/2 >} ). As described above, by using an ink capable of expressing a color with high brightness, the vividness of the color in the orange or red region is increased, and the transparency and stereoscopic effect of the recorded image can be expressed. On the other hand, if the lightness is low, even if the saturation of the orange or red region is widened, only a recorded image lacking in vividness and lacking in contrast and stereoscopic effect can be obtained, and an image comparable to the target positive film Is difficult to output. The above conditions are the same for the relationship between yellow ink, cyan ink, and green ink, and the relationship between magenta ink, cyan ink, and blue ink.

  In the present embodiment using yellow, magenta, cyan, black, red, green and blue inks, specific examples of the color materials of these basic color inks and special color inks include the following, which meet the above conditions: Can be selected.

Cyan coloring material C.I. I. Direct blue: 1, 15, 22, 25, 41, 76, 77, 80, 86, 90, 98, 106, 108, 120, 158, 163, 168, 199, 226, 307
C. I. Acid Blue: 1, 7, 9, 15, 22, 23, 25, 29, 40, 43, 59, 62, 74, 78, 80, 90, 100, 102, 104, 112, 117, 127, 138, 158 161, 203, 204, 221, 244
Yellow color material C.I. I. Direct yellow: 8, 11, 12, 27, 28, 33, 39, 44, 50, 58, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 98, 100, 110, 132, 173
C. I. Acid Yellow: 1, 3, 7, 11, 17, 23, 25, 29, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 76, 98, 99
Magenta color material C.I. I. Direct Red: 2, 4, 9, 11, 20, 23, 24, 31, 39, 46, 62, 75, 79, 80, 83, 89, 95, 197, 201, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226 227, 228, 229, 230
C. I. Acid Red: 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 18, 26, 27, 32, 35, 42, 51, 52, 80, 83, 87, 89, 92, 106, 114, 115, 133, 134, 145 158, 198, 249, 265, 289
C. I. Food Red: 87, 92, 94
C. I. Direct violet 107
In addition, compounds having a structure described in Patent Document 3 can also be used.

Black color material C.I. I. Direct black: 17, 19, 22, 31, 32, 51, 62, 71, 74, 112, 113, 154, 168, 195
C. I. Acid Black: 2, 48, 51, 52, 110, 115, 156
C. I. Food black 1, 2
Carbon black In addition, compounds having the structure described in Patent Document 4 can also be used.

Red color material C.I. I. Acid Orange 7, 10, 33, 56, 67, 74, 88, 94, 116, 142
C. I. Acid Red 111, 114, 266, 374
C. I. Direct Orange 26, 29, 34, 39, 57, 102, 118
C. I. Food yellow 3
C. I. Reactive Orange 1, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 29, 30, 84
C. I. Disperse Orange 1, 3, 11, 13, 20, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 47, 55, 56
Alternatively, a material obtained by appropriately mixing the yellow color material and the magenta color material can be used.

Green color material C.I. I. Acid Green 5, 6, 9, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21, 25, 28, 81, 84
C. I. Direct green 26, 59, 67
C. I. Food Green 3
C. I. Reactive Green 5, 6, 12, 19, 21
C. I. Disperse Green 6, 9
Alternatively, a material obtained by appropriately mixing the yellow color material and the cyan color material can be used.

Blue color material C.I. I. Acid Blue 62, 80, 83, 90, 104, 112, 113, 142, 203, 204, 221, 244
C. I. Reactive Blue 49
C. I. Pigment Blue 15: 6
C. I. Acid Violet 19, 48, 49, 54, 129
C. I. Direct violet 9, 35, 47, 51, 66, 93, 95, 99
C. I. Reactive violet 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 22, 34, 36
C. I. Disperse violet 1, 4, 8, 23, 26, 28, 31, 33, 35, 38, 48, 56
Alternatively, a material obtained by appropriately mixing the magenta color material and the cyan color material can be used.

  The content of the color material contained in the ink is preferably 0.1 to 15% by mass with respect to the total mass of the ink. In addition, the color materials to be contained in the ink can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more as described above. As for the color material used for the special color ink, a single color material, a mixture of two or more color materials having similar hues, or a mixture of color materials having yellow, magenta and cyan hues, etc. It can select suitably and use within the scope of the present invention.

  If necessary, for example, in inks used in personal-use inkjet recording apparatuses, water as a carrier component, water-soluble organic solvents and humectants, surfactants, pH adjustments to prevent drying from the viewpoint of reliability Agents, preservatives and the like.

  The water-soluble organic solvent is not particularly limited as long as it exhibits water solubility, and alcohol, polyhydric alcohol, polyglycol, glycol ether, nitrogen-containing polar solvent, sulfur-containing polar solvent, ureas, saccharides, and these Any derivative or the like that is generally used as a solvent for ink-jet inks can be used without problems. These solvents are used for maintaining the moisture retention of the ink, improving the solubility and dispersibility of the coloring material, and penetrating the ink into the recording paper. These solvents can be used alone or in combination.

  In general, the content of the water-soluble organic solvent is preferably in the range of 1 to 50% by mass, more preferably in the range of 3 to 40% by mass with respect to the entire ink. Further, the content of water in the ink is preferably in the range of 30 to 95% by mass in order to maintain good dye solubility and ink ejection stability.

  Surfactants include anionic surfactants such as fatty acid salts, higher alcohol sulfates, liquid fatty oil sulfates, alkylaryl sulfonates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkyl esters. There are nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkyl esters, acetylene alcohol, and acetylene glycol, and one or more of these can be appropriately selected and used. Among the above-mentioned, acetylene alcohols and acetylene glycols can be preferably used in order to exhibit an effect excellent in permeability to plain paper. The amount used varies depending on the type of the surfactant, but is preferably 0.01 to 5% by mass with respect to the total amount of the ink. At this time, the surface tension of the ink at 25 ° C. is preferably 10 mN / m (dyn / cm) or more, more preferably 20 mN / m or more, and the surface tension of the activator is 60 mN / m or less. It is preferable to determine the amount to be added. This is because, in the ink jet recording system used in the present invention, it is possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of printing misalignment (deviation of the landing point of ink droplets) due to wetting of the nozzle tip.

  The ink is preferably adjusted to have a desired viscosity and pH in order to obtain good ejection characteristics in an ink jet recording apparatus.

(recoding media)
The recording medium that can be used in the present invention is generally used as a special medium having a coating layer or an ink receiving layer on its surface, such as plain paper, glossy paper, coated paper, or glossy film. A recording medium can be used. Among these, a special medium having a hydrophilic porous particle layer, a porous polymer layer, etc. on a substrate is an example of a recording medium that can provide an image with higher vividness, contrast, and transparency. it can.

  In more detail, an example of a special medium as a recording medium used in the present invention will be described in detail. A coloring material such as a dye or a pigment is adsorbed on fine particles forming a hydrophilic porous structure in the ink receiving layer, and at least this adsorbed This is a recording medium on which an image is formed by a color material, and is particularly suitable when an ink jet method is used. Such a recording medium is preferably a so-called absorption type in which ink is absorbed by a gap formed in an ink receiving layer on a support.

  The absorption type ink receiving layer is constituted as a hydrophilic porous layer mainly composed of fine particles and containing a binder and other additives as required. Examples of the fine particles include inorganic pigments such as silica, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, kaolin, alumina or alumina hydrate, diatomaceous earth, titanium oxide, hydrotalcite, zinc oxide, urea formalin resin, ethylene resin. And organic pigments such as styrene resins, and one or more of these are used.

  Examples of suitable binders include water-soluble polymers and latex. For example, polyvinyl alcohol or a modified product thereof, starch or a modified product thereof, gelatin or a modified product thereof, gum arabic, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, SBR latex, NBR latex, methylmethacrylate-butadiene copolymer Polymer latex, functional group-modified polymer latex, vinyl copolymer latex such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, maleic anhydride or its copolymer, acrylate copolymer, etc. Accordingly, two or more types can be used in combination. In addition, additives can also be used. For example, a dispersant, a thickener, a pH adjuster, a lubricant, a fluidity modifier, a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, a mold release agent, a fluorescence enhancer, if necessary. Whitening agents, ultraviolet absorbers, antioxidants and the like are used.

(Other)
In the embodiment described above, ink is taken as an example of a recording agent and an ink jet recording device is taken as an example of an image forming apparatus, but the recording agent usable in the present invention is limited to ink. The image forming apparatus usable in the present invention is not limited to the ink jet recording apparatus. For example, the recording agent may be toner, and the image forming apparatus may be a copying machine.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where seven inks of red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are used as the ink to be used has been mainly described. However, as described above, the ink to be used is this. The combination is not limited. For example, a form using colors other than the three colors of red, green, and blue as the special color ink may be used, or a form using only at least one of the three colors of red, green, and blue may be used. In addition, the inks other than the special color inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) are not limited to the above-described examples. For example, light cyan or light magenta may be used, and black is not used. It may be.
For example, when seven colors of cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, black, and red (special color) are used, the color gamut that can be expressed only by red ink is more weather resistant than red ink. It is preferable to record in combination with at least one of the three colors of good magenta, light magenta, and yellow and red ink. In particular, when three colors of magenta, light magenta, and yellow are used together, it is preferable to use a table that can obtain an output result as shown in FIG. In addition, when green is added to these seven colors, a color gamut that can be expressed only by green ink has at least one of three colors of cyan, light cyan, and yellow, which have better weather resistance than green ink, and green ink. It is preferable to record in combination.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the process for applying the special color ink and the basic color ink to the same pixel is performed at the stage of the post-stage process J0003 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at any stage from binarization processing to head driving, control is performed so that ink is ejected so that dots of basic color ink with good weather resistance are superimposed on each spot ink dot. It may be a thing. Specifically, the binary data (for example, binary R data) of the special color ink separately from the binary data (for example, binary Y data) of the basic color ink created through the post-processing J0003 and the halftoning J0005. There is a technique for creating binary data (for example, binary Y data) of basic color ink based on (data). According to this configuration, the basic color ink can be reliably applied to all the pixels to which the special color ink is applied, or the basic color ink is applied only to a part of the pixels to which the special color ink is applied. It can also be controlled.

  Furthermore, software or printer driver program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are supplied to a computer in a machine or system to which various devices including a recording apparatus are connected, and stored in the computer of the machine or system. A system that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments by operating various devices by program code is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In this case, the program code itself realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer by communication or storage medium are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, etc. are used in addition to a flexible disk and a CD-ROM. be able to.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code performs the actual processing. A case where the function of this embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the processing is also included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the present embodiment are realized by the processing.

  In addition, regardless of whether the print system is for personal use or business or industrial use, an image data supply device such as a computer, a scanner, or a digital camera, and an image output terminal are used. In addition to the above-described printing apparatus, for example, a copier in which a scanner and a printing apparatus are integrated, a facsimile apparatus in which a data transmission / reception apparatus and a printing apparatus are integrated, a word processor and an electronic typewriter having an integrated printing apparatus, A form such as a digital camera in which a printing apparatus is integrated may be used.

Hereinafter, although it demonstrates more concretely using an Example, this invention is not limited by the following Example, unless the summary is exceeded.
In the following description, “%” is based on mass unless otherwise specified.

(Example 1)
The dyes listed in Table 1 below were added in predetermined amounts in the table, components having the following composition were added, and water was mixed so that the total amount would be 100 parts, and then sufficiently stirred to dissolve. After that, pressure filtration was performed with a micro filter (manufactured by Fuji Film) having a pore size of 0.2 μm to prepare yellow as a basic color and red as a special color.

Yellow and red ink composition Glycerin 10 parts Diethylene glycol 10 parts Acetylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct (trade name: acetylenol EH; manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.)
1 part Dye Predetermined part Water remaining

The above yellow ink and special color ink, PR101 as a recording medium (manufactured by Canon Inc.), and as an image forming apparatus, an image is formed using a Canon PIXUS950i remodeling machine, an inkjet image forming apparatus, and the following evaluation is performed. Went. A Spectrolino manufactured by Gretag Macbeth was used to measure L ^* , a ^* , and b ^* of the image. The measurement conditions were as follows: observation light source: D50, observation field of view: 2 degrees, density: ANSI A, white standard: Abs, filter: No.

  In the example, so-called solid printing with 50% duty was performed using only the yellow ink and red ink of the ink set. Here, 100% duty indicates a case where 1 dot is applied to all at a resolution of 2400 dpi × 1200 dpi, and 50% duty corresponds to a case where 1 dot is applied at a resolution of 1200 dpi × 1200 dpi. In this embodiment, 2.5 ng is applied per dot, and when converted to the applied amount per unit area of 1 square inch at 50% duty, it is 3.6 mg.

  In addition, a patch pattern of 16 gradations was formed from 0 to 100% duty when the special color ink was used alone and when the special color ink was overlaid with yellow ink. At this time, in the gradation pattern in which yellow ink is overprinted, the yellow ink is applied to the special color ink according to the pattern applied with the yellow ink so as to be the same amount as the special color ink applied amount and the recording duty of the special color ink ( The pattern was obtained by changing the yellow duty / special color duty) in stages.

  In this case, image data including special color ink and yellow ink data corresponding to each output value in the same pixel is created in the post-processing J0003, and then image processing as described above (halfton processing, dot pattern) is performed. An output is performed by the above-described image forming apparatus through an arrangement process and the like.

  FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the recording ratios of yellow and spot color ink at the recording duty of each spot color ink performed in this embodiment. A patch pattern overlaid with a single color patch of each special color and yellow ink was left in an indoor dark place for 48 hours after printing, and a light fading test was performed under the following conditions.

Light fading test conditions A xenon weatherometer Ci4000 (manufactured by Atlas Co., Ltd.) equipped with S-Type borosilicate as an inner and outer filter, and the irradiation energy at a bath temperature of 50 ° C., a relative humidity of 70%, and 340 nm is 0.39 W / Exposure was performed for 30 hours under the condition of m ² . The recorded matter before and after the test was subjected to colorimetry by the above method, and the color difference ΔE (CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* ) was obtained.

  The ratio ΔE2 / ΔE1 between ΔE1 at 50% duty of the special color ink and ΔE2 at 50% duty of the yellow ink was 0.27. From this, it can be seen that the yellow ink is sufficiently superior in weather resistance than the special color ink.

  Further, FIG. 3 shows ΔE at each recording duty of the special color ink alone and the gradation pattern in which the yellow ink is overlaid on the special color ink.

  From the above results, it can be seen that the weather resistance is remarkably improved by overprinting the spot color ink with yellow ink having good weather resistance. Also, by gradually increasing the application ratio of the yellow ink with good weather resistance from the high duty part to the low duty part, the weather resistance is further improved, and the total ink use amount is reduced in the high duty part with a large recording application amount. You can see that

(Example 2)
Using the same ink, recording medium, image processing method, and image forming apparatus as in Example 1, a patch pattern of 16 gradations was recorded up to 0 to 100% duty of spot color ink alone and yellow ink superimposed on spot color ink. At this time, the gradation pattern in which yellow ink was overprinted was performed for a pattern in which the density of the color material applied to the special color ink was 0.05 mg per square inch (reference value). After each patch pattern was recorded, it was left in an indoor dark place for 48 hours, and a light fading test was performed under the same conditions as in Example 1.

  FIG. 12 shows the relationship between ΔE and the dye density of the special color ink applied to the recording medium in each pattern. From this result, even when the amount of the color material contained in the yellow ink having good weather resistance to the area where the special color ink is recorded is 0.05 mg per square inch, the effect of improving the weather resistance is clearly recognized. It is done.

(Example 3)
Next, the following cyan, magenta and black inks were added to the yellow ink and red ink of Example 1, and two types of full-color natural images “1. Scenery of sunset” and “2. Scenery of autumn leaves” were added. An image was formed. Image formation was performed using yellow, magenta, cyan, red and black. At this time, when the red ink data is included in the pixel data, the three-dimensional LUT and the interpolation calculation in the post-processing J0003 are configured so that at least the yellow ink data is included at the same time. In other words, in the subsequent process J0003, when converting 8-bit RGB data into 8-bit color separation data (CMYKR data), only red ink is sufficient to reproduce the color represented by the RGB data before conversion. However, instead of converting only to R data, it is converted to R data and Y data. In other words, when converting 8-bit RGB data and outputting 8-bit color separation data CMYKR, if the R data is output, the Y data is also output together. The LUT and the interpolation calculation are configured. Therefore, even if the color gamut can be expressed only with red ink, the color gamut is not recorded with only red ink, but is recorded with at least yellow having good weather resistance.

  The recording medium used for the image formation was PR101 (manufactured by Canon Inc.), and the image forming apparatus used was a Canon pixi 950i remodeling machine, which is an ink jet image forming apparatus. Each of the inks of the embodiments was mounted with yellow ink at the yellow ink tank position, magenta ink at the magenta ink tank position, cyan ink at the cyan ink tank position, special color ink at the photomagenta ink tank position, and black ink at the black ink tank position. .

Cyan ink glycerin 10%
Diethylene glycol 10%
Acetylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct (trade name: acetylenol EH; manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.)
1%
Direct Blue 199 3%
76% water
Magenta ink glycerin 10%
Diethylene glycol 10%
Acetylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct (trade name: acetylenol EH; manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.)
1%
The following example compound 3%
76% water
Exemplary compounds

Black ink glycerin 10%
Diethylene glycol 10%
Acetylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct (trade name: acetylenol EH; manufactured by Kawaken Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.)
1%
Food Black 2 3%
76% water

  In the image evaluation of Example 3, two types of output images were visually evaluated from the viewpoint of “brightness”. As comparison targets for evaluation, the same images were output in four colors of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black inks not including red ink in the ink set, and evaluation was performed using the output images as a reference. As a result, it was confirmed that the two types of output images of Example 3 were brighter than the four-color images to be compared, and an image excellent in terms of stereoscopic effect and transparency was obtained.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows three examples of the aspect by which the ink dot of a basic color with favorable weather resistance is overlaid on the ink dot of the special color inferior in weather resistance. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the recording duty of a special color ink, and a weather resistance when a special color ink is used independently, and the basic color ink whose weather resistance is better than a special color ink is superimposed on a special color ink. . FIG. 4 is a graph showing the recording duty of the special color ink in each pattern shown in FIG. 3 and the application ratio of the basic color ink to the special color ink. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mechanism unit of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where an ink tank is mounted on the head cartridge applied in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the head cartridge applied in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a recording element substrate in a head cartridge applied in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a relationship between brightness and saturation of a color formed by mixing red, yellow, and magenta, which are the colors of the special color ink, and a color expressed by a positive film. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the duty of the recording performed in the 3rd Example, and the dye density | concentration provided to the recording medium converted from the color material density | concentration of an ink. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the back | latter stage process in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the back | latter stage process in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

J0001 Application J0002 Pre-processing J0003 Post-processing J0004 γ correction J0005 Halftoning J0006 Print data creation processing J0007 Dot arrangement patterning processing J0008 Mask data conversion processing J0009 Head drive circuit J0010 Recording head M2041 Separation roller M2080 Paper feed roller M3000 Pinch roller Holder M3040 Platen M3060 Transport roller M3070 Pinch roller M3110 Paper discharge roller M3120 Spur M3160 Paper discharge tray M4000 Carriage M5000 Pump M5010 Cap E0002 LF motor E0014 Main substrate H1000 Head cartridge H1001 Recording head H1100 First recording element substrate H1101 Substrate H120 0 First plate H1201 Ink supply port H1300 Electrical wiring board H1301 External signal input terminal H1400 Second plate H1500 Tank holder H1501 Ink channel H1600 Channel forming member H1700 Filter H1800 Seal rubber H1900 Ink tank H2000 Cyan nozzle example H2100 Magenta nozzle row H2200 Yellow nozzle row H2300 Black nozzle row H2400 Red nozzle row H2500 Green nozzle row H2600 Blue nozzle row

Claims (13)

An image forming method of forming an image on a recording medium using a recording agent of cyan, magenta and yellow basic colors and a recording agent of a special color having a hue different from the basic color,
An image forming method comprising applying at least one basic color recording agent having better weather resistance than the special color recording agent to an area on the recording medium to which the special color recording agent is applied. . ^Indicate a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of two of the three basic colors in a CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space with a cyan, magenta and yellow basic color recording agent. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a special color recording agent,
When forming an image including a color within the color reproduction region expressed by the combination of the two colors, the recording material of the special color and the recording of at least one basic color having better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color And an image forming method. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent of a special color having a hue different from the basic color,
Generating pixel data corresponding to one pixel expressed using the recording material of the special color;
The pixel data generating step includes data corresponding to the spot color recording agent and data corresponding to at least one basic color recording agent having better weather resistance than the spot color recording agent. An image forming method, wherein the pixel data is generated. ^Indicate a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of two of the three basic colors in a CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space with a cyan, magenta and yellow basic color recording agent. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a special color recording agent,
Converting RGB data corresponding to one pixel into pixel data corresponding to a recording agent used for the image formation, and outputting the pixel data;
In the output step, when outputting pixel data corresponding to the color in the color reproduction region expressed by the combination of the two colors, the data corresponding to the spot color recording agent and the weather resistance than the spot color recording agent are output. An image forming method comprising: outputting the pixel data including data corresponding to at least one basic color recording agent. An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium using a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent of a special color having a hue different from the basic color,
Converting multi-value RGB data into multi-value data corresponding to the recording agent used for the image formation;
A step of applying the recording agent to the recording medium based on binary data obtained by performing predetermined image processing on multi-value data corresponding to the recording agent,
In the conversion step, the multi-value RGB data is converted into multi-value data corresponding to the spot color recording agent even when the color represented by the RGB data before conversion can be reproduced only by the spot color recording agent. And an image forming method characterized in that the image data is converted into multi-value data corresponding to at least one recording material of the basic color, which has better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color.   6. The ink according to claim 1, wherein the at least one basic color ink is at least one of two color recording agents sandwiching the hue angle of the special color among the three basic colors. Image forming method.   As the density level increases, the usage amount of the spot color recording agent increases and the ratio of the usage amount of the at least one basic color ink to the usage amount of the spot color recording agent decreases. The image forming method according to claim 1.   When the color differences before and after a predetermined fading test with respect to a recorded matter obtained by forming a predetermined image using each of the special color recording agent and the at least one basic color recording agent are ΔE1 and ΔE2, respectively, ΔE2 / ΔE1 The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein ≦ 0.8. In the CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space, the special color recording agent can express a higher brightness than a color reproduction region expressed on a recording medium by a combination of two of the three basic colors. The image forming method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the image forming method is a color recording agent exhibiting a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of the two colors. An apparatus provided with mounting means for mounting means capable of providing a recording agent of basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording material of a special color having a hue different from the basic color,
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on the recording medium by the image forming method according to claim 1. A program for causing a computer to generate data to be used when an image is formed on a recording medium using a recording agent having basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent having a special color having a hue different from that of the basic color. Because
Including a code for executing a step of generating pixel data corresponding to one pixel expressed using the spot color recording agent, wherein the pixel data generation step includes data corresponding to the spot color recording agent; A program for generating the pixel data including data corresponding to at least one basic color recording agent having better weather resistance than the special color recording agent. ^Indicate a hue angle in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of two of the three basic colors in a CIE-L ^* a ^* b ^* color space with a cyan, magenta and yellow basic color recording agent. A program for causing a computer to generate data used when an image is formed on a recording medium using a special color recording agent,
RGB code corresponding to one pixel is converted into pixel data corresponding to the recording material used for the image formation, and includes a code for executing a step of outputting the pixel data, and the output step includes the two colors When outputting pixel data corresponding to colors in a color reproduction region expressed by a combination of the above, data corresponding to the recording material of the special color and at least one of the basics having better weather resistance than the recording material of the special color A program for outputting the pixel data including data corresponding to a color recording agent. A program for causing a computer to generate data to be used when an image is formed on a recording medium using a recording agent having basic colors of cyan, magenta and yellow and a recording agent having a special color having a hue different from that of the basic color. Because
A code for executing a step of converting multi-value RGB data into multi-value data corresponding to the recording material used for the image formation, wherein the conversion step displays the color represented by the RGB data before conversion; Even if it is reproducible only with a spot color recording agent, the multi-value RGB data, multi-value data corresponding to the spot color recording agent, and better weather resistance than the spot color recording agent, at least A program for converting into multi-value data corresponding to one basic color recording agent.

Images