JP2011201274A - Printing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a glossy image to a medium without using a clear ink.SOLUTION: The printing method includes a step S102 of preparing a white calendered paper, and a step S106 of applying a white ink to the calendered paper. A glossy image adjusted in glossiness is printed to the calendered paper by lowering the glossiness of the calendered paper in a region applied with the white ink.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing method and a program.

  2. Related Art Inkjet printing apparatuses that perform printing on a medium (paper, cloth, OHP paper, etc.) by discharging ink from a head in which a large number of nozzles are arranged are known. As such a printing apparatus, a line printer that moves a medium with respect to a fixed head, a serial printer that repeats an operation of moving the head to eject ink and an operation of conveying the medium alternately are known. Yes. As a method for ejecting ink from the head, a piezoelectric method using a piezoelectric element such as a piezo element, a thermal method using a heater that generates bubbles, and the like are known.

  In addition, an ink called a colorless and transparent clear ink is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The clear ink is used mainly for the purpose of improving the gloss of printed matter.

JP 2003-266912 A

Conventionally, in order to obtain printed matter with adjusted glossiness, it has been necessary to prepare a printer capable of ejecting clear ink. For this reason, with a printer that cannot eject clear ink, a printed matter with adjusted glossiness cannot be obtained.
An object of this invention is to obtain the printed matter which adjusted glossiness, without using clear ink.

  A main invention for achieving the above object includes a step of preparing white glossy paper and a step of applying white ink to the glossy paper, and the glossy paper is coated in the region where the white ink is applied. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing method characterized in that a glossy image with adjusted glossiness is printed on the glossy paper by reducing the glossiness.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of an overall configuration of a line printer 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an overall configuration of a printer. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement of a plurality of heads on the lower surface of the first white head group. FIG. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the surface printing mode. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the reverse printing mode. It is explanatory drawing of the original image which set the glossiness. It is a flowchart of a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a caution screen. It is explanatory drawing of a white image. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram of a viewpoint when viewing a printed matter. FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram of a print image when viewed from above. FIG. 9C is an explanatory diagram of a printed image when viewed from an angle at which light from the light source reflects. It is explanatory drawing of the original image of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a white image and a color image. FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram when the print image of the second embodiment is viewed from above. FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram of a printed image according to the second embodiment when viewed from an angle at which light from the light source reflects. It is a flowchart of the printing process of 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the flow of a color image process. It is explanatory drawing of a glossy color image layer and a non-glossy color image layer. FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram when the print image of the third embodiment is viewed from above. FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram of a printed image according to the third embodiment when viewed from an angle at which light from the light source reflects.

  At least the following matters will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  The method includes a step of preparing white glossy paper and a step of applying white ink to the glossy paper, and the glossiness is adjusted by reducing the glossiness of the glossy paper in the area where the white ink is applied. The printing method is characterized by printing the gloss image on the glossy paper. According to such a printing method, it is possible to obtain a printed matter with adjusted glossiness without using clear ink.

  Further comprising the step of setting the gloss image to be printed, and the step of setting the gradation value of the pixels constituting the white image based on the gradation value of the pixels constituting the gloss image. In the step of applying the white ink to the paper, it is preferable that the white ink is applied to the glossy paper based on the gradation values of the pixels constituting the white image. Thereby, the gloss image as set can be printed on the medium.

  It is desirable to further include a step of applying color ink to the glossy paper coated with white ink to print a color image. Thereby, a color printed matter with adjusted glossiness can be obtained.

  A step of dividing the color image into a plurality of colors based on the glossy image, and a step of obtaining a color image in a common color space by applying a corresponding profile to each of the divided color images. And combining a plurality of color images on the common color space, and the color ink is preferably applied to the glossy paper based on the combined color images. Thereby, the difference in the color by the presence or absence of white ink can be suppressed.

  In accordance with the gradation value of the glossy image, it is desirable that the amount of white ink in a region to which white ink is applied increases or decreases and the number of color images to be divided increases or decreases. Thereby, the difference in the color by the presence or absence of white ink can be suppressed.

  A program for realizing a function of applying white ink to glossy paper in a printing apparatus, wherein a glossy image with adjusted glossiness is obtained by reducing the glossiness of the glossy paper in a region where the white ink is applied. A program for printing on the glossy paper is also clarified. According to such a program, it is possible to cause the printing apparatus to create a printed matter with adjusted glossiness without using clear ink.

=== Printer configuration ===
<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the overall configuration of the line printer 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of the printer 1. Hereinafter, the basic configuration of the printer of this embodiment will be described.

  A printer driver is installed in the computer 110. The computer 110 in which the printer driver is installed becomes a print control device for controlling the printer 1. The printer driver receives image data from the application program, converts it into print data in a format that can be interpreted by the printer 1, and outputs the print data to the printer.

  The line printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a transport unit 20, a head unit 40, a sensor group 50, and a controller 60. The printer 1 that has received print data from the computer 110 that is an external device controls each unit (the transport unit 20 and the head unit 40) by the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the received print data and prints on paper (medium). The situation in the printer 1 is monitored by a sensor group 50, and the sensor group 50 outputs a detection result to the controller 60. The controller 60 controls each unit based on the detection result output from the sensor group 50.

  The transport unit 20 is for transporting a medium (for example, paper S) in the transport direction. The transport unit 20 includes a transport motor (not shown), an upstream roller 22A and a downstream roller 22B, and a belt 24. When a conveyance motor (not shown) rotates, the upstream roller 22A and the downstream roller 22B rotate, and the belt 24 rotates. The fed paper S is conveyed by the belt 24 while facing the head. The paper S that has passed through the printing area is discharged to the outside by the belt 24. The paper S being conveyed is electrostatically attracted or vacuum attracted to the belt 24.

  The head unit 40 is for ejecting ink onto the paper S. The head unit 40 includes four head groups 41 that discharge color ink. These four head groups 41 eject cyan ink (C), magenta ink (M), yellow ink (Y), and black ink (K), respectively. A first white head group 42 that discharges white ink is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the four head groups 41 that discharge color ink. A second white head group for ejecting white ink is also provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the four head groups 41 for ejecting color ink. Each head group (41, 42, 43) can form dots for the paper width at a time.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement of a plurality of heads on the lower surface of the first white head group 42. As shown in the figure, the first white head group 42 has a plurality of heads 421. The plurality of heads are arranged in a staggered pattern along the paper width direction. Each head 421 is formed with a nozzle row. The nozzle row is composed of a plurality of nozzles (for example, 360 nozzles) that eject ink. The plurality of nozzles constituting the nozzle row are arranged at a constant nozzle pitch in the paper width direction. With such a configuration, the first white head group 42 can form dots corresponding to the paper width at a time.
Although the configuration of the first white head group 42 has been described here, the configurations of the other head groups (41, 43) are the same.

  The sensor group 50 includes a rotary encoder (not shown), a paper detection sensor, and the like. A rotary encoder (not shown) detects the amount of rotation of the upstream roller 22A and the downstream roller 22B. Based on the detection result of the rotary encoder, the transport amount of the paper S can be detected. A paper detection sensor (not shown) detects the position of the leading edge of the paper being fed. The position of the paper S in the transport direction can also be detected by detecting the transport amount of the paper S after the paper detection sensor detects the paper with a rotary encoder.

  The controller 60 is a control unit (control unit) for controlling the printer. The controller 60 controls each unit according to a program stored in the memory 61.

=== Normal usage of white head group (front printing mode and back printing mode) ===
When a color image is simply printed on a transparent medium, the periphery of the color image is seen through, so that the visibility of the color image is deteriorated. Specifically, when characters are printed on a transparent film, the characters are difficult to see. Therefore, a white image is formed on the background of the color image.

  There are “front printing mode” and “back printing mode” as printing modes for printing a color image and a white image as a background image on a transparent medium. FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram of the surface printing mode. FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram of the reverse printing mode. Here, the white image is illustrated in black (in the following description, the white image may be illustrated in black).

  The front printing mode is a printing mode for viewing a color image from the direction of the printing surface of the medium (the arrow direction in FIG. 4A). In the front printing mode, the first white head group 42 on the upstream side in the transport direction is used. The controller 60 ejects white ink from the first white head group 42 while transporting the medium S in the transport direction, and forms a white image as a background image on the medium S. Then, the controller 60 discharges the color ink from the head group 41 while further transporting the medium S, and forms a color image on the white image.

  The reverse printing mode is a printing mode for viewing a color image through a transparent medium from a direction opposite to the printing surface of the medium (the arrow direction in FIG. 4B). In the reverse printing mode, the second white head group 43 on the downstream side in the transport direction is used. The controller 60 discharges color ink from the head group 41 while transporting the medium S in the transport direction, and forms a color image on the medium S. Note that in the reverse printing mode, a color image is seen through the transparent medium, so that a mirror image is printed from the direction of the printing surface. Then, the controller 60 ejects white ink from the second white head group 43 while further transporting the medium S, and forms a white image as a background image on the color image.

  The printer 1 of the present embodiment includes the head groups (42, 43) that discharge white ink on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction of the head group 41 that discharges color ink. "And" back printing mode "can be realized.

=== Glossy paper and white ink ===
The glossy paper described below is “Photo Paper <Glossy>” manufactured by EPSON. The printing surface of this glossy paper is white.
Normally, it is not assumed that white ink is applied to white glossy paper. This is because when a color image is difficult to see (for example, when forming a color image on a transparent medium), a white image is formed as a background image. This is because it is not necessary to form a white image because it can be visually recognized. However, in this embodiment described later, white ink is applied to white glossy paper.

  The glossiness of this glossy paper is 42.4 (measuring condition: 60 °, gloss meter PG-1M manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd.). However, when white ink is applied to this glossy paper, the glossiness of the area where the white ink is applied becomes 3.2 (measurement condition: 60 °, gloss meter PG-1M manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd.). For this reason, the glossiness is high in the area where the white ink is not applied to the glossy paper, but the glossiness is low in the area where the white ink is applied to the glossy paper.

As the white ink, the white ink having the composition shown in Table 1 can be used. The unit of the numerical values described in Table 1 is% by weight. As the hollow resin particles shown in Table 1, “SX8782 (D)” manufactured by JSR Corporation is used. In Table 1, “BYK-348” is a polysiloxane surfactant manufactured by Big Chemie Japan Co., Ltd. The average particle size of the hollow resin particles is 1.0 μm.

  However, glossy paper and white ink that can be used in the present embodiment are not limited thereto. For example, a white ink containing a metal oxide (for example, a commercially available product “NanoTek® Slurry” (manufactured by CI Kasei Co., Ltd., titanium dioxide having an average particle diameter of 36 nm) instead of the hollow resin particles may be used. In short, any glossy paper / white ink may be used as long as the area where the white ink is applied to the glossy paper exhibits lower gloss than the area where the white ink is not applied.

By the way, the glossiness of glossy paper also decreases when color ink is applied to glossy paper. However, the change in the glossiness is greater when white ink is applied to glossy paper than when color ink is applied to glossy paper. One reason for this is considered to be that the hollow resin particles (average 1.0 μm) of the white ink having the above composition are relatively large.
Further, due to such properties, the glossiness of the region where the white ink having the above composition is applied to the glossy paper is lower than that of the region where the color ink is applied to the glossy paper. Further, the area where the color ink is further applied on the area where the white ink is applied to the glossy paper has a lower gloss than the area where only the color ink is applied without applying the white ink.

=== First Embodiment ===
<About the original image>
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an original image with glossiness set. The printing method of the present embodiment will be described using this original image as a printing target.

  The original image has a glossy image layer. In the glossy image layer, a glossy image in which the user sets glossiness on the application software is drawn. This glossy image is composed of pixels that show glossiness in multiple gradations. However, in the following description, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the glossiness indicated by the pixels on the glossy image has two types of gradation value 255 (maximum gloss) or gradation value 0 (no gloss). In the glossy image in the figure, the area set to the maximum gloss is shown in black. That is, in this glossy image, the pixels constituting the image ABC are high glossy pixels.

Such an original image is drawn by the user with application software.
When the user instructs printing of the original image on the application, the printer driver is read, and the original image data is transferred from the application software to the printer driver.

<Print processing>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the first embodiment.

  First, the printer driver determines whether the original image to be printed has a gloss image (S101). Here, since there is a glossy image in the glossy image layer of the original image, this determination is YES.

  Next, the printer driver displays a warning screen for setting glossy paper on the display (S102). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a caution screen. The user is prompted by this caution screen and sets glossy paper in the printer 1. Thereby, the printer 1 can print on glossy paper.

  Next, the printer driver creates a white image based on the gloss image of the original image (S103). FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a white image. A white image created by the printer driver is set in the white image layer. This white image is composed of pixels that indicate the density of white in multiple gradations. In the white image in the figure, a region having a high white density is shown in black.

When creating a white image from a glossy image, the printer driver converts pixels with high glossiness to pixels with a light white density. Conversely, the printer driver converts pixels with low glossiness into pixels with a high white density.
Here, the printer driver converts a pixel having a gradation value of 255 (maximum glossy pixel) on the glossy image into a pixel having a gradation value of 0 (no white density, lightest white density) on the white image. Further, the printer driver converts a pixel having a gradation value of 0 (non-glossy pixel) on the glossy image into a pixel having a gradation value of 255 (the darkest white density) on the white image. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the white image is an image in which the image ABC is configured by pixels having no white density, and the periphery thereof is completely filled with pixels having a high white density.

  Note that the outer frame of the white image in the white image layer is set to be slightly wider than the medium S in order to perform borderless printing on the medium S. However, the outer frame of the white image may be narrower than the medium S if borderless printing is not performed.

  Next, the printer driver performs a color conversion process (S104) and a halftone process (S105) as in normal printing (NO in S101).

  The color conversion process is a process of converting an RGB color space image (color image layer image) into an image in the CMYK color space, which is the same color space as the ink color. However, in the first embodiment, since there is no color image layer image, this process is not performed. Note that since the white image is an image in the same color space as the ink color (white ink), color conversion processing is not necessary.

  Halftone processing is processing for converting an image with 256 gradations into an image with 4 gradations, which is a gradation that can be formed by a printer. In the halftone process, a dither method, a γ correction, an error diffusion method, or the like is used. The image after halftone processing is composed of pixels indicating the dot formation status (large dots, medium dots, small dots, no dots). Note that it is also possible to convert to an image composed of pixels of two gradations indicating the presence or absence of dots by halftone processing.

Next, the printer driver transmits print data to the printer 1 (S106). As a result, the printer 1 ejects ink from each nozzle of each head in accordance with the gradation value of each pixel constituting the image after the halftone process, thereby forming dots at each pixel on the medium.
Here, the printer 1 ejects white ink from each nozzle of the first white head group 42 in accordance with the image after the halftone process of the white image in FIG. 8, and in the region of the image ABC configured by pixels having no white density. Does not form dots but forms dots so as to fill the periphery of the image ABC. Thereby, the white ink is not applied to the area of the image ABC, and the white ink is applied to the surrounding area. In this way, a white image is printed on the glossy paper.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram of a viewpoint when viewing a printed matter.
FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram of a print image when viewed from above. In the first embodiment, since a white image is formed with white ink on white glossy paper, the printed image is hardly visible when the printed material is viewed from above.
FIG. 9C is an explanatory diagram of a printed image when viewed from an angle at which light from the light source reflects. When the printed material is viewed from such an angle, the image ABC is shined and visually recognized. This is because the glossiness is high in the area where the white ink is not applied to the glossy paper (image ABC area), but the glossiness is low in the area where the white ink is applied (here, the area around the image ABC). is there.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to print a gloss image with adjusted glossiness by using white ink without using clear ink.

=== Second Embodiment ===
<About the original image>
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an original image according to the second embodiment.
The original image of the second embodiment has not only a glossy image layer but also a color image layer. A color image set by the user on the application software is drawn on the color image layer. This color image is composed of pixels of 256 gradations in the RGB color space. Here, for simplicity of explanation, the color image in the figure is shown with a uniform density. The gloss image of the gloss image layer is the same as that in the first embodiment.

<Print processing>
The printing process of the second embodiment is the same flow as that of FIG. 6 of the first embodiment.
First, the printer driver determines whether the original image to be printed has a gloss image (S101). Here, since there is a glossy image in the glossy image layer of the original image, this determination is YES.

  Next, the printer driver displays a warning screen for setting glossy paper on the display (S102). The user is prompted by this caution screen and sets glossy paper in the printer 1.

  Next, the printer driver creates a white image based on the gloss image of the original image (S103). FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a white image and a color image. A white image created by the printer driver is set in the white image layer. This white image is composed of pixels that indicate the density of white in multiple gradations. In the white image in the figure, a region having a high white density is shown in black.

  When the original image includes a color image, the white image layer is set below the color image layer. Thereby, the surface printing mode is selected at the time of printing, a white image is formed on the medium, and a color image is formed thereon.

  Next, the printer driver performs color conversion processing (S104) in the same manner as normal printing (NO in S101). In this embodiment, there is a color image in the RGB color space in the color image layer, and this color image is converted into a color image in the CMYK color space by color conversion processing. The white image in the white image layer remains as it is.

  Next, the printer driver performs halftone processing on the 256-gradation image after the color conversion processing (S105). Here, halftone processing is performed on a 256-tone white image, and halftone processing is also performed on a 256-tone CMYK color space color image.

  Next, the printer driver transmits print data to the printer 1 (S106). As a result, the printer 1 ejects ink from each nozzle of each head in accordance with the gradation value of each pixel constituting the image after the halftone process, thereby forming dots at each pixel on the medium.

  Here, the printer 1 ejects white ink from each nozzle of the first white head group 42 in accordance with the image after the halftone processing of the white image in FIG. 11, and in the area of the image ABC configured by pixels having no white density. Does not form dots, forms dots so as to fill the periphery of the image ABC, and prints a white image on glossy paper. Furthermore, the printer 1 ejects color ink from each nozzle of the head group 41 in accordance with the image after the halftone processing of the color image in FIG. 11 to form a color image on the white image. That is, the white image and color image in FIG. 11 are printed on the medium.

  By applying the white ink before the color ink, the white ink is easily fixed on the glossy paper, and the change in glossiness due to the presence or absence of the white ink can be increased. However, it is also possible to print a color image on glossy paper and print a white image thereon. In this case, the second white head group 43 is used for printing a white image.

FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram when the print image of the second embodiment is viewed from above. As will be described later, although there is a slight difference in the color of the color image depending on the presence or absence of white ink, when the printed material is viewed from above, the glossy image is hardly visible.
FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram of a printed image according to the second embodiment when viewed from an angle at which light from the light source reflects. When the printed material is viewed from such an angle, the image ABC is shined and visually recognized. This is because the glossiness is high in the area where only the color ink is applied without applying the white ink on the glossy paper (the area of the image ABC), but the area where the color ink is further applied after applying the white ink (here, This is because the glossiness is low in the area around the image ABC.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, by using the white ink without using the clear ink, it is possible to obtain a color printed matter with adjusted glossiness.

=== Third Embodiment ===
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12A, there is a slight difference in the color of the color image depending on the presence or absence of white ink. In contrast, in the third embodiment, this color difference is suppressed.
The original image of the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment as shown in FIG.

<Print processing>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of print processing according to the third embodiment. The processing of S201 to S203 of the third embodiment is the same as S101 to S103 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

  After S203, the printer driver separates the color image into a glossy color image and a non-glossy color image based on the glossy image (S204). FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the flow of color image processing. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a glossy color image layer and a non-glossy color image layer.

  The printer driver extracts pixels located in a glossy area on the glossy image from the pixels constituting the color image (see FIG. 10), and configures the glossy color image with the glossy color image layer for the extracted pixels. Pixel. Here, pixels located in the area of the glossy image ABC are extracted from the pixels constituting the color image, and the extracted pixels constitute the glossy color image.

  In addition, the printer driver extracts pixels located in a non-glossy region on the glossy image from the pixels constituting the color image, and forms the non-glossy color image with the non-glossy color image layer for the extracted pixels. Let it be a pixel. Here, pixels located in an area around the image ABC of the glossy image (area other than the image ABC) are extracted from the pixels constituting the color image, and the extracted pixels constitute the non-glossy color image. .

  Next, the printer driver applies a gloss profile (ICC profile) to the gloss color image and converts it to a color image in a common color space. Further, the printer driver applies a non-gloss profile (ICC profile) to the non-gloss color image and converts it to a color image on a common color space (S205).

  Note that the gloss profile and the non-gloss profile are prepared in advance in the printer driver. The gloss profile is created by forming a color patch pattern on glossy paper and measuring the color patch pattern. On the other hand, the non-gloss profile is created by applying a white ink to glossy paper, forming a color patch pattern, and measuring the color patch pattern. The change in the color tone of the color image caused by the presence or absence of white ink is suppressed by applying a profile (ICC profile).

  Next, the printer driver combines the glossy color image and the non-glossy color image (S206). Since both the glossy color image and the non-glossy color image are in the common color space by profile conversion and there is no positional relationship overlapping with the two images, the printer driver may combine the two images as they are. As a result, there is one color image.

  Note that the processing of S207 to S209 of the third embodiment is the same as S104 to S106 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram when the print image of the third embodiment is viewed from above. In the third embodiment, when the printed material is viewed from above, the glossy image is hardly visible. In the second embodiment described above, there is a difference in color of the color image depending on the presence or absence of white ink (see FIG. 12A), but in the third embodiment, there is almost no difference in color due to the presence or absence of white ink.
FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram of a printed image according to the third embodiment when viewed from an angle at which light from the light source reflects. When the printed material is viewed from such an angle, the image ABC is shined and visually recognized. This is because the glossiness is high in the area where only the color ink is applied without applying the white ink on the glossy paper (the area of the image ABC), but the area where the color ink is further applied after applying the white ink (here, This is because the glossiness is low in the area around the image ABC.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, by using the white ink without using the clear ink, it is possible to obtain a color printed matter with adjusted glossiness. Further, according to the third embodiment, there is almost no difference in color depending on the presence or absence of white ink.

  In the above description, the color image is shown with a uniform density, but an image such as a photograph can be freely set as a color image. If a glossy image such as a company logo mark appears when the viewing angle of glossy paper on which a photograph is printed is changed, the user's intention is raised and the advertising effect is enhanced. If the glossy image indicates an original document, it is difficult to copy the glossy image, so that a copy prevention effect and a counterfeit prevention effect can be obtained.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiments are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

<About line printers>
The above-described printer 1 is a so-called line printer, in which a medium is conveyed to a fixed head, and a dot row is formed on the medium along the conveyance direction. However, the printer 1 is not limited to a line printer. For example, a printer having a head mounted on a carriage movable in the main scanning direction, which ejects ink from the moving head to form a dot row along the main scanning direction, and transports the medium It may be a printer (so-called serial printer) that alternately repeats the carrying operation.

  In the case of such a serial printer, it is possible to form dot rows at an interval narrower than the nozzle pitch. That is, the printing resolution can be made higher than the nozzle pitch. For this reason, the resolution of the above-described image data is not the same resolution as the nozzle pitch, but may be a resolution higher than the nozzle pitch.

<About white ink>
In the above embodiment, “white” is not limited to white in the strict sense that is the surface color of an object that reflects 100% of all wavelengths of visible light. , Including a color called white. “White” means, for example, (1) Color measurement mode: Spot color measurement, Light source: D50, Backing: Black, Print medium: Measured with transparent film, using x-rite colorimeter eye-one Pro If it is colored, the label in the Lab system is on the a * b * plane within the circumference of the radius 20 and inside thereof, and L * is in the hue range represented by 70 or more, or (2) Minolta When using the colorimeter CM2022 manufactured by the company with color measurement in the measurement mode D502 ° field of view, SCF mode, and white background, the label in the Lab system is on the circumference of the radius 20 and inside it on the a * b * plane. , And L * is in the hue range represented by 70 or more, or (3) the color of the ink used as the background of the image as described in JP-A-2004-306591, as the background If it is used, it is not limited to pure white.

<About glossy images>
Although there are two types of gradation values of the pixels constituting the glossy image, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to make the glossy image 256 levels.

  In this case, the printer driver may convert the gradation value of the pixel on the glossy image into the gradation value of the pixel on the white image using a predetermined function. For example, assuming that the gradation value of the pixel of the glossy image is CL and the gradation value of the pixel of the white image is W, the pixel value of the white image is calculated from the gradation value of the pixel on the glossy image based on W = 255−CL. It is better to calculate the tone value of.

  In order to realize the third embodiment when the glossy image has 256 gradations, it is preferable to prepare 256 types of profiles in advance. Then, based on the gradation value of the glossy image, the color image is separated into 256 layers, a profile corresponding to the image of each layer is applied, and then the 256 images are combined. As described above, not only the amount of white ink in the white image is increased or decreased in accordance with the increase or decrease in the gradation value of the glossy image, but also the number of color image divisions or the number of profiles may be increased or decreased. However, the number of profiles to be prepared may be reduced, and instead, a color image in the common color space may be calculated while performing complement processing.

<About borderless printing>
In the above-described embodiment, borderless printing is performed, but bordered printing may be performed. However, when a white image is printed with a border, the glossiness of the edge of the medium is improved, and the printed image is surrounded by a frame with a high glossiness.

1 printer (line printer), 20 transport unit,
40 head units, 41 head groups,
42 1st white head group, 43 2nd white head group,
421 heads,
50 sensor groups, 60 controllers, 61 memories,
110 computer

Claims (6)

Preparing a white glossy paper,
Applying white ink to the glossy paper,
A printing method, comprising: printing a glossy image with an adjusted glossiness on the glossy paper by reducing the glossiness of the glossy paper in an area where the white ink is applied. The printing method according to claim 1, comprising:
Setting the gloss image to be printed;
Setting a gradation value of a pixel constituting a white image based on a gradation value of a pixel constituting the gloss image;
Further comprising
The printing method, wherein, in the step of applying white ink to the glossy paper, the white ink is applied to the glossy paper based on a gradation value of a pixel constituting the white image. The printing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
A printing method further comprising a step of printing a color image by applying color ink to the glossy paper coated with white ink. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein
Dividing the color image into a plurality based on the glossy image;
Obtaining each color image in a common color space by applying a corresponding profile to each of the color images divided into a plurality of parts,
Combining a plurality of color images on the common color space;
Further comprising
A printing method, wherein the color ink is applied to the glossy paper based on the combined color image. The printing method according to claim 4, wherein
A printing method, wherein the amount of white ink in a region to which white ink is applied increases and decreases, and the number of color images to be divided increases or decreases according to the gradation value of the glossy image. A program for causing a printing device to perform a function of applying white ink to glossy paper,
A program characterized in that a gloss image with adjusted glossiness is printed on the glossy paper by lowering the glossiness of the glossy paper in an area where the white ink is applied.

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