JP2021030653A - Method for determining recording condition, and recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate the selection of a recording condition for proper OL processing.SOLUTION: Provided is a method for determining a recording condition according to a recording apparatus which performs recording by using main scanning for discharging dots from nozzles to a recording medium while moving a recording head in the main scanning direction, and sub-scanning for conveying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. The method includes: a patch recording step for recording a patch at several positions differing in the sub-scanning direction according to the OL processing of several kinds with different recording conditions; a selection receiving step for receiving a selection of a patch from among the multiple recorded patches; and a determination step for determining a recording condition of the OL processing corresponding to the patch related to the received selection, as a recording condition of the OL processing for regular recording. In the patch recording step, the multiple patches are recorded at a shorter interval in the sub-scanning direction than an interval in the sub-scanning direction of an OL region to be recorded according to OL processing of practical recording.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a method for determining recording conditions by a recording device and a recording device.

An inkjet printer that forms an image on a recording medium by ejecting a liquid onto the recording medium is known. Further, in an inkjet printer, a configuration in which bands are partially overlapped at a boundary between bands, which is an image formed on a recording medium by moving the head in a moving direction intersecting the transport direction of the recording medium. Is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). The process of recording so that the bands partially overlap each other is also called an overlap process. By performing the overlap treatment, it is possible to prevent white streaks from being generated along the moving direction of the head at the boundary.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-144415

If the image quality such as density differs between the area recorded by the overlap processing on the recording medium and the area recorded without applying the overlap processing, the difference in image quality between these areas may cause density unevenness in the recorded image. It is visually recognized as a misalignment of the pattern. Therefore, it is necessary to use an appropriate overlap process that makes such a difference in image quality inconspicuous. However, it is not easy for the user to select appropriate recording conditions for overlap processing that suppress the difference in image quality.

A main scan that ejects liquid dots from the nozzles to the recording medium while moving a recording head having a plurality of nozzles in the main scanning direction, and a sub-scan that conveys the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction. This is a method of determining recording conditions by a recording device that records on the recording medium, and a patch is applied by an overlap process in which the main scans are repeated a plurality of times on a part of the recording medium. In the step of recording on the recording medium, a patch recording step of recording the patch at a plurality of different positions in the sub-scanning direction by a plurality of types of overlap processing having different recording conditions, and a plurality of recorded patches. A selection acceptance step of accepting a patch selection from among the above, and a determination step of determining the recording condition of the overlap processing corresponding to the patch related to the accepted selection as the recording condition of the overlap processing of the main recording. In addition, in the patch recording step, a plurality of the patches are recorded at intervals in the sub-scanning direction that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the overlap regions recorded by the overlap processing of the main recording.

A block diagram showing a simple device configuration. The figure which shows the relationship between the recording head which has a nozzle array, and a recording medium. A flowchart showing a method of determining recording conditions. The figure for demonstrating the test record including OL processing. The figure which shows the example of the dot distribution mask. The figure which shows the structure of the nozzle array. The figure which shows the example of the UI screen. The figure for demonstrating the test record of 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to each figure. Each figure is merely an example for explaining the present embodiment. Since each figure is an example, the ratios may not be accurate, they may not be consistent with each other, or some parts may be omitted.

1. 1. Schematic description of the device:
FIG. 1 simply shows the configuration of the recording device 10 according to the present embodiment. The recording device 10 may be described as a liquid ejection device, a printing device, a printer, or the like. The recording device 10 executes the "method for determining recording conditions". The recording device 10 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 13, an operation receiving unit 14, a recording head 15, a transport unit 16, a carriage 20, and the like. The control unit 11 includes one or more ICs having a CPU 11a, a ROM 11b, a RAM 11c, etc. as a processor, another non-volatile memory, and the like.

In the control unit 11, the processor, that is, the CPU 11a controls each part of the recording device 10 by executing arithmetic processing according to a program stored in the ROM 11b or other memory or the like using the RAM 11c or the like as a work area. .. The control unit 11 executes processing according to the firmware 12, which is a kind of program, for example. The processor is not limited to one CPU, and may be configured to perform processing by a plurality of CPUs or a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the CPU and the hardware circuit cooperate with each other. It may be configured to perform the processing.

The display unit 13 is a means for displaying visual information, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 13 may be configured to include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display. The operation receiving unit 14 is a means for receiving an operation by the user, and is realized by, for example, a physical button, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. Of course, the touch panel may be realized as one function of the display unit 13. The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 can be referred to as an operation panel of the recording device 10. Further, the display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 may be a part of the recording device 10 or may be a peripheral device externally attached to the recording device 10.

The transport unit 16 is a mechanism for transporting the recording medium. As is known, the transport unit 16 includes a roller for transporting the recording medium from upstream to downstream in the transport direction, a motor for rotating the roller, and the like. As the recording medium, a medium made of paper, cloth, or other material is used. A recording device 10 that uses a cloth as a recording medium can be called a printing printer. The upstream and downstream in the transport direction are simply referred to as upstream and downstream.

The recording head 15 discharges a liquid by an inkjet method to perform recording. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the recording head 15 includes a plurality of nozzles 17 capable of ejecting liquid, and ejects liquid from each nozzle 17 to the recording medium 30 conveyed by the conveying unit 16. The liquid refers to all liquids that can be used for recording on the recording medium 30. Hereinafter, the liquid is referred to as ink. The ink droplets ejected by the nozzle 17 are called dots. However, in the following description, the expression "dot" is appropriately used even in the image processing by the control unit 11 before the dots are ejected by the nozzle 17. The control unit 11 controls the application of a drive voltage to a drive element (not shown) individually provided by each nozzle 17 according to dot data that defines dot on / off, so that dots are ejected or ejected from the nozzle 17. I don't.

FIG. 2 shows a recording head 15 having a plurality of nozzle rows. Further, FIG. 2 simply shows the relationship between the recording head 15 and the recording medium 30. The recording head 15 may be described as a liquid discharge head, a print head, a print head, or the like. The recording head 15 is mounted on a carriage 20 that can move in a predetermined direction D1 and a direction D2 that is opposite to the direction D1, and moves together with the carriage 20. That is, the control unit 11 moves the recording head 15 in the direction D1 or the direction D2 by controlling the drive of the carriage motor that gives power for the movement to the carriage 20. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the description is simplified by assuming that the carriage motor is also a part of the carriage 20.

One of the directions D1 and D2 may be referred to as a positive direction or an outward path direction of the main scan, and the other of the directions D1 and D2 may be referred to as a negative direction or a return path direction of the main scan. The directions D1 and D2 are also collectively referred to as the main scanning direction. The transport unit 16 transports the recording medium 30 in the direction D3 that intersects the directions D1 and D2. The direction D3 is also referred to as a sub-scanning direction or a transport direction. The term "intersection" as used herein means orthogonality, but may include not only strict orthogonality but also an error to the extent that it occurs due to actual component mounting accuracy and the like.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a nozzle surface 19 through which the nozzle 17 in the recording head 15 opens. FIG. 2 shows an example of arranging a plurality of nozzle rows on the nozzle surface 19. The recording head 15 includes nozzle rows for each ink color in a configuration in which ink of each color is supplied from a liquid holding means (not shown) called an ink cartridge, an ink tank, or the like mounted on the recording device 10 and discharged from the nozzle 17. .. The nozzle row is a plurality of nozzles 17 having a constant nozzle pitch, which is an interval between the nozzles 17 along the direction D3, and is composed of a plurality of nozzles 17 for ejecting ink of the same color. The recording head 15 ejects inks of a plurality of colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K).

In the example of FIG. 2, the recording head 15 has a nozzle row 18c with a plurality of nozzles 17 for ejecting C ink, a nozzle row 18 m with a plurality of nozzles 17 for ejecting M ink, and a nozzle with a plurality of nozzles 17 for ejecting Y ink. A row 18y, a nozzle row 18k with a plurality of nozzles 17 for ejecting K ink is provided. Further, in the recording head 15, a plurality of nozzle rows 18c, 18m, 18y, 18k are arranged along the directions D1 and D2, and are arranged at the same position in the direction D3. In the example of FIG. 2, the longitudinal directions of the plurality of nozzle rows 18c, 18m, 18y, and 18k are parallel to the direction D3, but the longitudinal direction of the nozzle rows may be inclined with respect to the direction D3. The longitudinal direction of the nozzle row is also called the nozzle row direction. The number of nozzle rows that the recording head 15 has for each ink color may be two or more rows per color instead of one row per color as shown in FIG. The color of the ink ejected by the recording head 15 is not limited to CMYK.

The recording device 10 discharges dots from the nozzle 17 to the recording medium 30 while moving the recording head 15 in the main scanning direction, and conveys the recording medium 30 in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. Recording on the recording medium 30 is realized by alternately repeating "sub-scanning". The main scan is also called a path.

The configurations described so far may be realized not only by one independent device but also by an information processing device and a printer that are communicatively connected to each other. The information processing device is, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a server, or a device having the same processing capacity as those. That is, the recording device 10 may be realized by an information processing device as a recording control device including the control unit 11 and the like, and a printer including the recording head 15, the carriage 20, the transport unit 16, and the like.

2. Test record:
FIG. 3 shows a method of determining the recording condition executed by the control unit 11 according to the firmware 12 by a flowchart. The flowchart of FIG. 3 is started when the user instructs the recording device 10 to execute one "test recording" through the operation receiving unit 14. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, steps S100 to S130 correspond to one test record. One test recording corresponds to one recording job executed by the recording device 10. The recording job may be called a print job. The test recording is a recording process executed prior to "main recording", which is another recording job for recording a recorded image arbitrarily designated by the user as an image to be recorded on the recording medium 30. The test recording is a recording process necessary for determining the optimum overlap process adopted in this recording. The overlap process is a process in which a plurality of main scans are repeated on a part of the recording medium 30. Hereinafter, the overlap is abbreviated as "OL".

In step S100, the control unit 11 acquires the recorded data which is the image data expressing the test image used for the test recording. The recorded data is, for example, RGB data in a bitmap format in which each pixel has a gradation value for each RGB (red, green, blue). Alternatively, the recorded data is bitmap-format CMYK data in which each pixel has a gradation value for each CMYK. The gradation value is represented by, for example, 256 gradations from 0 to 255. The recorded data is stored in advance in a storage medium such as a memory inside or outside the recording device 10 accessible to the recording device 10, and the control unit 11 acquires the recorded data from the storage destination of the recorded data.

The test image is, for example, a pattern image dedicated to test recording prepared in advance as suitable for evaluation of a plurality of patches recorded by a plurality of types of OL processing having different recording conditions.
Alternatively, the test image may be a recorded image represented by the recorded data designated for this recording. In the following, it is assumed that the recorded data for the main recording is specified by the operation of the operation receiving unit 14 of the user prior to step S100. Then, in step S100, the control unit 11 acquires the recorded data designated for the main recording as the recorded data for the test recording.

In step S110, the control unit 11 performs halftone processing on the recorded data. The specific method of halftone processing is not particularly limited, and for example, a dither method or an error diffusion method can be adopted. By halftone processing, the gradation value for each CMYK color of each pixel of the recorded data becomes information that defines dot ejection (dot on) or non-ejection (dot off) for each ink color that can be ejected by the recording head 15. Will be converted. The recorded data after the halftone processing is called dot data. When the recorded data acquired in step S100 is data having a color system or format different from CMYK data, such as RGB data, the control unit 11 performs color conversion processing or format conversion on the recorded data as necessary. After processing to obtain CMYK data, halftone processing may be executed.

As described above, the dot data is data that defines dot-on or dot-off for each pixel and each ink color. However, the dot data may be data that defines dot-off or dot-on of any size of dots of a plurality of sizes. Each nozzle 17 can, for example, eject three types of dots having relatively different sizes per drop. Of these three types of dots, the dot with the smallest size is called a small dot, the dot with the next smallest size after the small dot is called a medium dot, and the dot with the largest size is called a large dot. In such a situation, the dot data may be data that defines any of dot-off, small dot-on, medium dot-on, and large dot-on for each pixel and each ink color.

In step S120, the control unit 11 associates a plurality of "patches" in the test image with the recording conditions of the OL process. The patch is a part of the image area constituting the test image, and is an image area recorded by the OL process. However, the result of the patch recorded on the recording medium 30 will also be referred to as a patch for convenience.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a test record including an OL process by the recording device 10. Reference numeral 40 indicates the recorded data acquired in step S100. The individual rectangles that make up the recorded data 40 represent each pixel. FIG. 4 also shows the correspondence between the recorded data 40 and the directions D1, D2, and D3. The OL process described with reference to FIG. 4 is referred to as a "test OL process".

In FIG. 4, by describing a part range of the nozzle row 18 along the transport direction D3 on the left side of the recorded data 40, the correspondence between each pixel constituting the recorded data 40 and each nozzle 17 constituting the nozzle row 18 is described. The relationship is also shown. The nozzle row 18 may be understood as any one of the nozzle rows 18c, 18m, 18y, 18k, or a collective representation of the nozzle rows 18c, 18m, 18y, 18k. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, nozzle numbers # m, # m + 1, # m + 2 ... # N are added in order to each nozzle 17 included in the nozzle row 18 from the downstream to the upstream.

Let N be the number of nozzles 17 constituting the nozzle row 18 corresponding to one ink color along the transport direction D3. M, n, and N representing the nozzle numbers are all natural numbers, and the relationship of m <n <N holds. That is, FIG. 4 shows the nozzles 17 having nozzle numbers # m to # n, which are a part of the N nozzles 17 having nozzle numbers # 1 to # N constituting the nozzle row 18. .. Nozzle 17 of nozzle numbers # m to # n is a nozzle range used for test recording, and this is referred to as a “test nozzle range”. On the other hand, the nozzle range used for this recording is the entire range of nozzle numbers # 1 to # N of the nozzle row 18, or a range in which the number of nozzles is somewhat smaller than the total range, and the number of nozzles is larger than the test nozzle range. ..

The reference numeral P1 described in parentheses together with the reference numeral “18” of the nozzle train 18 represents the first main scan P1 for recording the recorded data 40. Similarly, the reference numeral P2 represents the second main scan P2 for recording the recorded data 40, the reference numeral P3 represents the third main scan P3 for recording the recorded data 40, and the reference numeral P4 represents the recording. It represents the fourth main scan P4 for recording the data 40. That is, FIG. 4 shows how the nozzle row 18 is shifted along the transport direction D3 and described at a plurality of locations, so that a plurality of main scans are executed in order to record the recorded data 40. The main scan for recording the recorded data 40 in the test recording is repeated the fifth, sixth, and so on after the main scan P4.

Of course, the recording head 15 having the nozzle row 18 does not actually move upstream, and the transport unit 16 transports the recording medium 30 downstream by a predetermined distance between the main scans, so that FIG. 4 shows. The relative positional relationship between the nozzle row 18 and the recorded data 40 at the time of each of the main scans P1, P2, P3, and P4 shown is realized. According to the example of FIG. 4, the main scans P1, P2, P3, and P4 of each time are deviated from each other along the transport direction D3 by a distance of 12 times the nozzle pitch. That is, in the example of FIG. 4, the recording medium 30 is conveyed by a distance 12 times the nozzle pitch by one sub-scan between the main scan and the main scan. The transport distance of one sub-scan according to the example of FIG. 4 is called a “test transport distance” and is represented by the reference numeral FD1. According to such a sub-scanning, a part of the recording medium 30 recorded by the three nozzles 17 having nozzle numbers # n-2 to # n in the main scanning P1 has the nozzle numbers # m to # m in the main scanning P2. Recorded by three nozzles 17 of # m + 2.

The three nozzles 17 having nozzle numbers # n-2 to # n are referred to as "upstream OL nozzles" in the sense that they are located upstream of the nozzles 17 used for recording and are used for OL processing. Further, the three nozzles 17 having nozzle numbers # m to # m + 2 are referred to as "downstream OL nozzles" in the sense that they are located downstream of the nozzles 17 used for recording and are used for OL processing. However, the upstream OL nozzle and the downstream OL nozzle in FIG. 4 are OL nozzles for test OL processing. Of course, the configuration in which three continuous nozzles 17 along the transport direction D3 are used as a group of OL nozzles is only an example. Each nozzle 17 that does not correspond to an OL nozzle is referred to as a "non-OL nozzle". According to the example of FIG. 4, a part of the recording medium 30 recorded by the upstream OL nozzle in the main scan P2 is recorded by the downstream OL nozzle in the main scan P3 and recorded by the upstream OL nozzle in the main scan P3. A part of the recording medium 30 is recorded by the downstream OL nozzle in the main scan P4.

The area recorded in one main scan is called a band. Of the recorded data 40, the area recorded by the main scan P1 is called the first band 41. Similarly, of the recorded data 40, the area recorded by the main scan P2 is called the second band 42, the area recorded by the main scan P3 is called the third band 43, and the area recorded by the main scan P4 is called the third band 43. It is called the fourth band 44. The area where the band overlaps is the OL area recorded by the OL process. In the present embodiment, the OL area recorded by the test OL process is referred to as a “patch”. For convenience, in the recorded data 40, the area where the first band 41 and the second band 42 overlap is called the first patch 45, and the area where the second band 42 and the third band 43 overlap is called the second patch 46. The region where the third band 43 and the fourth band 44 overlap is called the third patch 47. As can be seen from FIG. 4, in the test OL process, the first patch 45 is an image recorded by the upstream OL nozzle in the main scan P1 and the downstream OL nozzle in the main scan P2. Similarly, the second patch 46 is an image recorded by the upstream OL nozzle in the main scan P2 and the downstream OL nozzle in the main scan P3, and the third patch 47 is in the upstream OL nozzle and the main scan P4 in the main scan P3. It is an image recorded by a downstream OL nozzle.

Of the bands recorded by each main scan, the area to which the OL processing is not applied is called a non-OL area. In FIG. 4, in order to make it easy to distinguish the areas, the non-OL areas of the recorded data 40 are decorated with fine black dots, and each patch is decorated with diagonal lines. These decorations are not the contents of the test image represented by the recorded data 40. Further, in FIG. 4, each nozzle 17 corresponding to the OL nozzle in each main scan is painted in gray to make it easy to understand. Each nozzle 17 indicated by a white circle in FIG. 4 is a non-OL nozzle in the main scan at that time.

In the recorded data 40, each pixel row constituting the non-OL region is recorded by one non-OL nozzle in one main scan. The pixel row is a region in which pixels are continuously arranged in parallel with the directions D1 and D2, and is also called a raster line. Of the recorded data 40, each raster line constituting the patch is recorded by a total of two nozzles 17 in which one raster line is divided into two main scans. For example, in the raster line located most downstream in the first patch 45, each pixel is divided into a nozzle 17 having a nozzle number # n-2 in the main scanning P1 and a nozzle 17 having a nozzle number # m in the main scanning P2 for recording. Will be done. Of course, an OL process in which one raster line is divided into three or more main scans and recorded is conceivable, but in the present embodiment, an OL process in which one raster line is divided into two main scans and recorded is assumed. Continue the explanation.

In step S120, the control unit 11 within the recorded data 40 based on the test transfer distance FD1, the number of nozzles 17 constituting the test nozzle range, and the positions and numbers of the upstream and downstream OL nozzles within the test nozzle range. The OL area of, that is, the patch is specified. The control unit 11 associates each specified patch with different recording conditions of the OL process on a one-to-one basis. Specific examples of recording conditions that are different for each patch in the test OL process will be described in each of the following examples.

In step S130, the control unit 11 sequentially outputs the dot data converted from the recorded data in step S110 to the recording head 15 in a group unit corresponding to each main scan of the test recording. Further, the control unit 11 outputs various commands necessary for controlling the main scan and the sub scan together with the dot data to the recording head 15, the transport unit 16, and the carriage motor for moving the carriage 20. The commands include, for example, a command for instructing the transport unit 16 of the transport distance of the recording medium 30 by one sub-scanning, a command for controlling the movement of the carriage 20, and a command for instructing the transport unit 16 of the recording medium 30 to be used. , Etc. are included. These commands are also commands for specifically realizing OL processing under different recording conditions for each patch.

In the dot data output process, the control unit 11 allocates all the pixels in the non-OL region in the same band of the dot data to the same main scan and outputs the dot data. For example, all the pixels in the non-OL region in the first band 41 are assigned to and output to each non-OL nozzle in the test nozzle range in the main scan P1. On the other hand, of the dot data, the patch pixels are distributed by the control unit 11 to two main scans for recording the patch. For example, in the dot data of the first patch 45, some pixels of each raster line are distributed to each upstream OL nozzle of the main scan P1 and output, and the remaining pixels of each raster line are distributed to each downstream OL of the main scan P2. It is distributed to the nozzle and output. Distribution of the patch pixels to each main scan is performed using the dot distribution mask 50.

FIG. 5 illustrates the dot distribution mask 50. The dot distribution mask 50 is a mask in which pixels storing values of "0" or "1" are arranged vertically and horizontally. The control unit 11 superimposes the dot distribution mask 50 on the OL region in the dot data in the dot data output processing. When the dot distribution mask 50 is superimposed on the OL region in the dot data, the pixels of the dot distribution mask 50 and the pixels in the OL region overlap one-to-one. The control unit 11 distributes the pixels in the OL region at the position overlapping with "0" in the dot distribution mask 50 to the preceding main scan, and the pixels at the position overlapping with "1" in the dot distribution mask 50 are rearward. Allocate to the liner scan.

The preceding main scan is the main scan executed first of the two main scans for recording the OL area, and the trailing main scan is the two main scans for recording the OL area. This is the main scan that will be performed later. Focusing on the first patch 45, of the main scan P1 and the main scan P2 for recording the first patch 45, the main scan P1 corresponds to the leading main scan and the main scan P2 corresponds to the trailing main scan. Similarly, focusing on the second patch 46, the main scan P2 corresponds to the leading main scan and the main scan P3 corresponds to the trailing main scan. Focusing on the third patch 47, the main scan P3 corresponds to the leading main scan, and the main scan P4 corresponds to the trailing main scan.

In the dot distribution mask 50, the ratio of "0" in the pixel row is higher in the downstream pixel row, and conversely, the ratio of "1" in the pixel row is higher in the upstream pixel row. According to the characteristics of the dot distribution mask 50, among the pixels in the OL region, the pixels at the position close to the non-OL region of the band recorded by the preceding main scan are distributed to the preceding main scanning at a high ratio, and are followed. Pixels at positions close to the non-OL region of the band recorded by the main scan are distributed to the subsequent main scan at a high ratio.

As a result of the dot data and command output processing in step S130, the main scan and the sub scan are repeatedly executed, and the test image represented by the recorded data acquired in step S100 is recorded based on the dot data and instructed by the command. Recorded on medium 30. In this case, of course, each patch of the dot data is recorded by the OL process. Such test recording is a step of recording a patch on a recording medium 30 by an OL process, and is a patch recording step of recording a patch at a plurality of different positions in a sub-scanning direction by a plurality of types of OL processes having different recording conditions. Includes.

The transport unit 16 feeds and transports the recording medium 30 instructed by the command from the upstream of the transport path. Prior to step S100, it is assumed that the type of the recording medium 30 for the main recording is specified by the operation of the operation reception unit 14 of the user. Then, in step S130, the control unit 11 outputs a command indicating the type of the designated recording medium 30 as a kind of the command. As a result, the same type of recording medium 30 as the recording medium 30 designated by the user as used for the main recording is used for the test recording.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the nozzle row 18. In FIG. 2, each nozzle row 18c, 18m, 18y, 18k corresponding to each ink of CMYK is represented by a very simple and small number of nozzles, but the aspect shown in FIG. 6 is the actual state of the nozzle row 18. Close to. In the example of FIG. 6, the nozzle row 18 is composed of a plurality of nozzle tips 60. Each nozzle tip 60 has the same configuration as each other, and each has a fixed number of nozzles 17 formed at a constant nozzle pitch. That is, by connecting the plurality of nozzle tips 60, a nozzle row 18 is formed by N nozzles 17 having a constant nozzle pitch along the transport direction D3.

Also in FIG. 6, nozzle numbers are added corresponding to each nozzle 17 for ease of understanding. The most downstream nozzle 17 of the most downstream nozzle tip 60 is the nozzle 17 of nozzle number # 1, and the most upstream nozzle 17 of the most upstream nozzle tip 60 is the nozzle 17 of nozzle number # N. A part of the nozzle row 18 shown in FIG. 4, that is, the test nozzle range corresponds to, for example, one of a plurality of nozzle tips 60. In the example of FIG. 6, since the second nozzle tip 60 from the downstream has the nozzles 17 having nozzle numbers # m to # n among the plurality of nozzle tips 60, the second nozzle tip 60 from the downstream is tested. Corresponds to the nozzle range.

In the test record, the nozzles 17 outside the test nozzle range are unused nozzles. The control unit 11 does not output the dot data to the unused nozzles in the dot data output process in step S130. Unused nozzles do not eject dots.

Reference numeral 170 in FIG. 6 indicates an upstream OL nozzle used for the OL processing of this recording. Further, reference numeral 171 indicates a downstream OL nozzle used for the OL processing of this recording. In this record, for example, the three upstream nozzles 17 in the most upstream nozzle tip 60 are designated as the upstream OL nozzle 170, and the three downstream nozzles 17 in the most downstream nozzle tip 60 are designated as the downstream OL nozzle 171. And. In this recording, recording is performed using all or almost all the nozzles 17 of the nozzle row 18. In this recording, the area recorded by the upstream OL nozzle 170 and the downstream OL nozzle 171 divided into two main scans of the recorded image is the OL area.

Reference numeral FD0 in FIG. 6 indicates the transport distance of the recording medium 30 by one sub-scanning in this recording. That is, in this recording, the control unit 11 once records the area on the recording medium 30 recorded by the upstream OL nozzle 170 in one main scan so that the area on the recording medium 30 is recorded by the downstream OL nozzle 171 in the next main scan. The recording medium 30 is transported downstream by the transport distance FD0 by the sub-scanning of. As is clear from FIG. 6, FD1 <FD0. In the recording process for executing the OL process, the transport distance by one sub-scan means the generation interval of the OL region in the sub-scan direction D3.

Therefore, in the patch recording step included in the test recording, the control unit 11 records a plurality of patches at intervals in the sub-scanning direction D3 that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction D3 of the OL region recorded by the OL processing of this recording. Will be done. Comparing the test recording and the main recording, when the same one page is recorded on the recording medium 30, the number of main scans is larger and the number of OL regions is larger in the test recording.

3. 3. First Example:
The recording conditions of the OL process can be different for each patch due to the difference in the interval time, which is the time between the main scans. The interval time can be defined as, for example, the time from the end of the preceding main scan to the start of the trailing main scan.

The interval time is a drying time for drying the dots ejected to the recording medium 30 by the preceding main scanning before the subsequent main scanning is performed. The interval time is set to be longer than the time required for one sub-scan executed by the transport unit 16 in this recording. The difference in the drying time appears as a difference in the image quality of the OL region recorded by the OL processing.

In the first embodiment, the control unit 11 associates a different interval time with each patch in step S120. The control unit 11 associates the first patch 45 with the first interval time, associates the second patch 46 with the second interval time, and associates the third patch 47 with the third interval time. For example, the first interval time <the second interval time <the third interval time.

Then, in step S130, the control unit 11 outputs commands for instructing the carriage motor and the recording head 15 of the different interval times associated with each patch as one of the above-mentioned various commands. As a result, the carriage motor and the recording head 15 that have received the command from the control unit 11 have the timing at which the interval time associated with the patch has elapsed after the end of the preceding main scan for recording the band including the patch. Then, the next main scan is started by starting the movement of the carriage 20 and the driving of the recording head 15.

4. Second Example:
The recording conditions of the OL process can be made different for each patch due to the difference in the moving speed of the recording head 15 due to the main scanning. The moving speed of the recording head 15 is synonymous with the moving speed of the carriage 20. The difference in the moving speed of the recording head 15 appears as a difference in the image quality of the OL region recorded by the OL processing.

In the second embodiment, the control unit 11 sets the moving speed of the carriage 20 for each of the plurality of main scans for recording the recorded data 40 in step S120. At this time, the control unit 11 sets a moving speed different from that of the other main scanning for at least a part of the main scanning, so that the combination of the moving speed of the preceding main scanning and the moving speed of the succeeding main scanning is set for each patch. To be different. In other words, in step S120 of the second embodiment, the control unit 11 associates each patch with a different combination of the moving speed of the leading main scan and the moving speed of the trailing main scan.

For example, the control unit 11 sets the first movement speed for the main scan P1, sets the first movement speed for the main scan P2, sets the second movement speed for the main scan P3, and sets the main movement speed. The second moving speed is set for scanning P4. It is assumed that the first movement speed <the second movement speed. In this case, the first patch 45 in the recorded data 40 is recorded by the main scan P1 having the first moving speed and the main scanning P2 having the same first moving speed. Further, the second patch 46 is recorded by the main scan P2 having the first moving speed and the main scanning P3 having the second moving speed faster than the first moving speed. Further, the third patch 47 is recorded by the main scan P3 having the second moving speed and the main scan P4 having the same second moving speed.

In step S130, the control unit 11 outputs a command for instructing the carriage motor and the recording head 15 of the moving speed of the carriage 20 set for each main scan as one of the above-mentioned various commands. As a result, the carriage motor and the recording head 15 that have received the command from the control unit 11 execute each main scan at the moving speed set for the main scan. The recording head 15 changes the setting of the driving time of the nozzle 17 required for recording one pixel, in other words, the driving frequency of the nozzle 17 per unit time, according to the moving speed of the carriage 20. This makes it possible to record dots at a predetermined resolution in the main scanning direction in each main scanning period regardless of the moving speed of the carriage 20.

5. Other Examples:
The recording conditions for the OL process can be different for each patch due to the difference in the dot distribution mask 50. In step S120, the control unit 11 associates the dot distribution masks 50, which have different arrangements and ratios of “0” and “1”, for each patch. Then, in step S130, the distribution of each pixel constituting the patch into the preceding main scanning and the succeeding main scanning may be executed with reference to the dot distribution mask 50 associated with the patch. In addition, the control unit 11 performs OL processing by changing the dot size used for recording for each patch and changing the drive voltage applied to the drive element of each nozzle 17 for dot ejection. Recording conditions can be made different for each patch. Of course, if the control unit 11 differs for each patch in two or more types of specific items of the recording conditions of these OL processes, such as the interval time, the moving speed of the recording head 15, the dot distribution mask 50, and the like. You may then run a single test record that records multiple patches.

6. Patch selection and determination of recording conditions:
The continuation of the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described.
The control unit 11 accepts a patch selection from the plurality of recorded patches (step S140). Step S140 corresponds to the selection reception process.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a user interface (UI) screen 70 for accepting patch selection. After the test recording, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 13 to display the UI screen 70. On the UI screen 70, a message to the effect that a patch with good image quality should be selected and a test image 71 are displayed. The test image 71 is an image represented by the recorded data acquired in step S100, and is the result of drawing the recorded data 40 on the display unit 13 according to the example of FIG. Further, the control unit 11 displays a plurality of frames indicating an area corresponding to each patch in the test image 71 of the UI screen 70 so that the user can easily recognize each patch, and identifies each patch. The code or character string for this may be displayed.

In the example of FIG. 7, in the test image 71, six frames indicating the six patches and symbols A, B, C, D, E, and F indicating these six patches are displayed. .. Referring to the example of FIG. 4, patch A corresponds to the first patch 45, patch B corresponds to the second patch 46, and patch C corresponds to the third patch 47. Patches D, E, and F correspond to each patch recorded by a plurality of main scans after the main scan P4 in the test recording. Of course, the number of patches recorded at different positions along the transport direction D3 by one test recording is not limited to six.

The user visually recognizes the recording result of the test image on the recording medium 30 output by the recording device 10, selects the patch with the best image quality, and selects the selected patch in the UI screen 70. Do through 14. As an operation of selecting the patch having the best image quality in the recording result, the user clicks or touches the display of one patch in the test image 71 corresponding to the patch, for example. A patch with good image quality is a patch in which there is little difference in image quality such as a density difference or a pattern shift from a non-patch area, that is, a non-OL area. The UI screen 70 may be any UI screen for accepting an operation for the user to select a desired patch from the result of the test recording, and the design is not limited to the mode shown in FIG. 7.

In step S150, the control unit 11 determines the recording condition of the OL processing corresponding to the patch related to the selection attached in step S140 as the recording condition of the OL processing of the main recording. Step S150 corresponds to the determination step. For example, in step S140, it is assumed that the control unit 11 has accepted the selection of the patch B in the test image 71 of the UI screen 70. In this case, the control unit 11 determines the recording condition of the OL processing associated with the patch B, that is, the second patch 46 in step S120 as the recording condition of the OL processing adopted for the main recording, and stores the determined recording condition. To do. That is, in step S120, the interval time, the moving speed of the recording head 15, the dot distribution mask 50, and the like associated with the second patch 46 are stored as recording conditions for the OL process.

Of the various items of the recording conditions of the OL processing, the predetermined default settings are automatically adopted in both the test recording and the main recording for the items that are not different for each patch in the test recording. For example, the default setting of the interval time is the second interval time, the default setting of the moving speed of the recording head 15 is the first moving speed, and the default setting of the dot distribution mask 50 is the dot distribution mask shown in FIG. It is 50. If the control unit 11 has stored the recording conditions of the OL processing determined based on the test records of the past times, the control unit 11 records the OL processing determined based on the current test record with respect to the recording conditions. The condition may be overwritten. This completes the flowchart of FIG.

When the control unit 11 executes the main recording, that is, a normal recording other than the test recording, in response to an instruction from the user, the control unit 11 adopts the recording conditions of the OL processing stored at that time for the main recording. Record the recorded image based on the recorded data of. As described above, in this recording, the control unit 11 uses the upstream OL nozzle 170 and the downstream OL nozzle 171 for the OL processing, and adopts the transport distance FD0 in the sub-scan between the main scan and the main scan for recording. The medium 30 is conveyed. As a result, the user can obtain a good recording result with little or no difference in image quality between the non-OL region and the OL region as the recording result of this recording.

7. Second embodiment of test recording:
The test record described so far with reference to FIG. 4 and the like is referred to as a first embodiment.
Next, the test record according to the second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment will be described which is different from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the test nozzle range used for the test recording is one place in the nozzle row 18, but in the second embodiment, the test nozzle range is a plurality of nozzle ranges separated in the nozzle row 18. And. That is, in the patch recording step in the second embodiment, the control unit 11 performs OL processing by using a plurality of first nozzles in the first nozzle group included in the nozzle row 18, and the first nozzle group in the sub-scanning direction D3. The OL process is performed by using a plurality of second nozzles in the second nozzle group included in the nozzle row 18 with nozzle groups at different positions from the above.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the test record according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a partial range of the nozzle row 18. Further, in FIG. 8, similarly to FIG. 4, by shifting the nozzle row 18 along the transport direction D3 and describing it at a plurality of locations, the main scans P1, P2, and P3 are performed a plurality of times in order to record the recorded data 40. ... is shown to be executed. However, in FIG. 8, the recorded data 40 is omitted. The transport distance of the recording medium 30 by one sub-scan between the main scan and the main scan in the test recording is the test transport distance FD1 as described above.

The long rectangle indicated by reference numeral 601 is one of a plurality of nozzle tips 60 constituting the nozzle row 18. Similarly, the long rectangle indicated by reference numeral 602 is one different from the nozzle tip 601 of the plurality of nozzle tips 60 constituting the nozzle row 18. The nozzle tip 601 and the nozzle tip 602 are in a positional relationship with one or more other nozzle tips 60 sandwiched between them in the transport direction D3, and the nozzle tip 601 is downstream.

Each of the nozzle tips 601, 602 corresponds to the test nozzle range in the second embodiment. For example, each of the nozzles 17 included in the nozzle tip 601 is the first nozzle, and the entire plurality of nozzles 17 included in the nozzle tip 601 correspond to the first nozzle group. Similarly, each of the nozzles 17 included in the nozzle tip 602 is a second nozzle, and the entire plurality of nozzles 17 included in the nozzle tip 602 correspond to the second nozzle group. In FIG. 8, unlike FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, circles indicating individual nozzles 17 are not shown, and the drawings are simplified. Further, in FIG. 8, the nozzle tips 60 other than the nozzle tips 601, 602 are omitted.

The area painted in gray at the upstream end portion in the nozzle tip 601 indicates the first upstream OL nozzle range 17g1 in which the upstream OL nozzles for the test OL processing are arranged. Further, the range painted in gray at the downstream end portion in the nozzle tip 601 indicates the first downstream OL nozzle range 17g2 in which the downstream OL nozzles for the test OL processing are arranged. Similarly, the area painted in gray at the upstream end in the nozzle tip 602 indicates the second upstream OL nozzle range 17g3 in which the upstream OL nozzles for the test OL processing are arranged. The area painted in gray at the downstream end in the nozzle tip 602 indicates the second downstream OL nozzle range 17g4 in which the downstream OL nozzles for the test OL processing are arranged.

In the test recording according to the second embodiment, the first upstream OL nozzle range 17g1 and the first downstream OL nozzle range 17g2 are used by executing the main scanning P1, the sub-scanning, and the main scanning P2. One patch is recorded by the use of the second upstream OL nozzle range 17g3 and the second downstream OL nozzle range 17g4. Similarly, by executing the main scan P2, the sub-scan, and the main scan P3, one patch is recorded by using the first upstream OL nozzle range 17g1 and the first downstream OL nozzle range 17g2, and one patch is recorded. One patch is recorded by using the second upstream OL nozzle range 17g3 and the second downstream OL nozzle range 17g4.

In step S120, the control unit 11 determines the test transport distance FD1, the position of the nozzle tips 601, 602 as a plurality of test nozzle ranges in each nozzle row 18, the number of nozzles 17 in each test nozzle range, and each test nozzle. The OL region or patch in the recorded data 40 is identified based on the position and number of upstream and downstream OL nozzles within the range. Then, the control unit 11 associates each specified patch with different recording conditions of the OL process on a one-to-one basis, and then proceeds to step S130. In the second embodiment, the control unit 11 can associate each patch having a different combination of the preceding main scanning and the succeeding main scanning for recording with different interval times and moving speeds of the recording head 15. Is. Further, in the second embodiment, the control unit 11 can make the dot distribution mask 50, the dot size to be used, and at least a part of the drive voltage different for each patch.

According to the test recording according to the second embodiment, as a matter of course, a plurality of patches are recorded at intervals in the sub-scanning direction D3 that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction D3 of the OL region recorded in this recording. Then, each of these plurality of patches is recorded by OL processing under different recording conditions.

In this embodiment, the recording head 15 may be configured to execute bidirectional recording in which the main scan in the outward direction and the main scan in the return direction are combined, or the main scan is performed in only one of the directions. It may be configured to perform unidirectional recording.

8. Summary:
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the main scan for ejecting liquid dots from the nozzles 17 to the recording medium 30 while moving the recording head 15 having a plurality of nozzles 17 in the main scan direction, and the main scan for the recording medium 30. The method of determining the recording conditions by the recording device 10 that performs recording on the recording medium 30 by the sub-scanning that conveys the sub-scanning in the sub-scanning direction that intersects the direction includes a plurality of main scans for a part of the recording medium 30. It is a step of recording a patch on a recording medium 30 by an OL process executed in layers, and is recorded as a patch recording step of recording a patch at a plurality of different positions in a sub-scanning direction by a plurality of types of OL processes having different recording conditions. It includes a selection acceptance step of accepting a patch selection from a plurality of patches, and a determination step of determining the recording condition of the OL processing corresponding to the patch related to the accepted selection as the recording condition of the OL processing of the main recording. .. Then, in the patch recording step, a plurality of patches are recorded at intervals in the sub-scanning direction that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the OL region recorded by the OL processing of this recording.

According to the above configuration, as a result of the patch recording step, a plurality of patches by a plurality of types of OL processing having different recording conditions are recorded on the recording medium 30 at intervals narrower than the intervals between the OL regions recorded by the OL processing of the main recording. Is recorded side by side in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the user can easily compare the plurality of recorded patches, select a patch having good image quality, and let the recording device 10 determine the appropriate OL processing recording conditions to be adopted for the main recording. Further, by increasing the frequency of occurrence in the sub-scanning direction of the patch, which is the OL region, as compared with the main recording, the amount of the recording medium 30 consumed for testing a plurality of types of OL processing having different recording conditions can be saved. Can be done. In addition, since it is possible to test multiple types of OL processing with different recording conditions in one recording job, the user can perform a job as a test record before deciding an appropriate OL processing to be adopted for this recording. It is not necessary for the recording device 10 to repeatedly execute the execution.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in the patch recording step, the transport distance (test transport distance FD1) of the recording medium 30 by the sub-scan between the preceding main scan and the trailing main scan is recorded by the sub-scan in this recording. By making it shorter than the transport distance of the medium 30 (transport distance FD0), a plurality of patches are recorded at intervals in the sub-scanning direction that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the OL region recorded in this recording.
According to the above configuration, by adopting a transport distance shorter than the transport distance used for the sub-scanning of the main recording in the patch recording step, many patches are recorded on the recording medium 30, and a plurality of types of OL processing can be performed. The amount of recording medium 30 consumed for testing can be saved.

The recording head has a nozzle row 18 in which a plurality of nozzles 17 are arranged. Then, according to the present embodiment, in the patch recording step, the OL process by using a plurality of first nozzles in the first nozzle group included in the nozzle row 18 and the position different from that of the first nozzle group in the sub-scanning direction. Due to the OL processing by using a plurality of second nozzles in the second nozzle group included in the nozzle row 18 in the nozzle group, the sub-scanning direction shorter than the interval in the sub-scanning direction of the OL region recorded in this recording. Multiple patches may be recorded at intervals of.
According to the above configuration, the first nozzle in the first nozzle group and the second nozzle in the second nozzle group are used for recording different patches at the same timing. Therefore, it is possible to more efficiently record a plurality of patches arranged in the sub-scanning direction.

The contents of the recorded image by this recording are various, for example, a photographic picture, a line picture, a filled picture, and the color usage is relatively light or dark. Then, due to such a difference in the contents of the recorded image, an appropriate OL processing method also differs. From this point of view, in one of the present embodiments, in the patch recording step, the patch is recorded based on the recording data designated for the main recording.
According to the above configuration, in the patch recording process, the patch is recorded based on the same recording data as the recording data used for the main recording. Therefore, the appropriate OL processing recording conditions to be adopted for the main recording are set by the user. It can be decided according to the selection.

The state of fixing and permeation of the ejected dots differs depending on the type and surface state of the recording medium 30. Therefore, the appropriate OL processing method differs depending on the type and surface condition of the recording medium 30. The surface state referred to here refers to the difference or presence / absence of surface treatment such as gluing performed in advance on the recording medium 30. From this point of view, in one of the present embodiments, in the patch recording step, the patch is recorded on the recording medium 30 designated for the main recording.
According to the above configuration, in the patch recording step, the patch is recorded on the same recording medium 30 as the recording medium 30 used for the main recording. Therefore, the appropriate OL processing recording conditions to be adopted for the main recording are set by the user. It can be decided according to the selection.
However, in the present embodiment, another recording medium 30 having a type and state similar to that of the recording medium 30 used for the main recording is used for the test recording because the recording medium 30 used for the main recording is expensive or the like. It is also possible to do.

By dividing each patch into a plurality of small areas along the main scanning direction, the control unit 11 can record more patches on the recording medium 30 in one recording job in the test recording. That is, a plurality of patches recorded separately in the sub-scanning direction are divided into a plurality of small areas along the main scanning direction, and each small area is used as a patch. In this case, the control unit 11 records the OL process by, for example, changing the dot distribution mask 50, the dot size used for recording, the drive voltage, and the like for each patch whose position is different in the main scanning direction. Make the conditions different. That is, in the patch recording step, the patch may be recorded at a plurality of different positions in the sub-scanning direction and at a plurality of different positions in the main scanning direction by a plurality of types of OL processing having different recording conditions. In one recording job, by arranging a plurality of patches to be recorded by OL processing having different recording conditions on the recording medium 30 in a two-dimensional manner, the consumption of the recording medium 30 can be saved and more patches can be selected. You can let the user select a patch with good image quality.

The present embodiment is not limited to a method for determining recording conditions, and provides a device that executes this method, a program (firmware 12) that realizes this method in cooperation with hardware, and a memory that stores the program.
The recording head 15 having a plurality of nozzles 17 is moved in the main scanning direction while ejecting liquid dots from the nozzles 17 to the recording medium 30, and the recording medium 30 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. The recording device 10 that performs recording on the recording medium 30 by the sub-scanning includes a control unit 11 that controls the main scanning and the sub-scanning. When the control unit 11 records a patch on the recording medium 30 by an OL process in which a plurality of main scans are repeatedly executed on a part of the recording medium 30, the control unit 11 subordinates the patch by a plurality of types of OL processes having different recording conditions. Patches are recorded at a plurality of different positions in the scanning direction, patch selection is accepted from the recorded patches, and the recording conditions of the OL processing corresponding to the patch related to the accepted selection are set in the OL processing of this recording. Determined as a recording condition. The control unit 11 records a plurality of patches at intervals in the sub-scanning direction that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the OL region recorded by the OL processing of this recording.

10 ... Recording device, 11 ... Control unit, 12 ... Firmware, 13 ... Display unit, 14 ... Operation reception unit, 15 ... Recording head, 16 ... Transport unit, 17 ... Nozzle, 18,18c, 18m, 18y, 18k ... Nozzle Row, 19 ... Nozzle surface, 20 ... Carriage, 30 ... Recording medium, 40 ... Recording data, 41 ... 1st band, 42 ... 2nd band, 43 ... 3rd band, 44 ... 4th band, 45 ... 1st patch , 46 ... 2nd patch, 47 ... 3rd patch, 50 ... Dot distribution mask, 60,601,602 ... Nozzle tip, 70 ... UI screen, 71 ... Test image

Claims (6)

A main scan that ejects liquid dots from the nozzles to a recording medium while moving a recording head having a plurality of nozzles in the main scan direction, and a sub scan that conveys the recording medium in a sub scan direction that intersects the main scan direction. This is a method of determining recording conditions by a recording device that records on the recording medium.
A step of recording a patch on the recording medium by an overlap process in which the main scans are repeated a plurality of times on a part of the recording medium, and the overlap process is performed by a plurality of types having different recording conditions. A patch recording step of recording the patch at a plurality of different positions in the sub-scanning direction,
A selection acceptance process that accepts patch selection from the plurality of recorded patches, and
A determination step of determining the recording condition of the overlap processing corresponding to the patch related to the accepted selection as the recording condition of the overlap processing of the main recording is provided.
The patch recording step is characterized in that a plurality of the patches are recorded at intervals in the sub-scanning direction that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the overlap regions recorded by the overlap processing of the main recording. How to determine the recording conditions to be recorded. In the patch recording step, the transport distance of the recording medium by the sub-scan between the preceding main scan, which is the main scan to be executed first, and the trailing main scan, which is the subsequent main scan following the preceding main scan, is determined. By making it shorter than the transport distance of the recording medium by the sub-scanning in the main recording, the interval in the sub-scanning direction is shorter than the interval in the sub-scanning direction of the overlap region recorded in the main recording. The method for determining recording conditions according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the patches are recorded. The recording head has a nozzle array in which a plurality of the nozzles are arranged.
In the patch recording step, the overlap processing by using a plurality of first nozzles in the first nozzle group included in the nozzle row and the nozzle group at a position different from that of the first nozzle group in the sub-scanning direction. Due to the overlap processing by using a plurality of second nozzles in the second nozzle group included in the nozzle row, the overlap region recorded in this recording is shorter than the interval in the sub-scanning direction. The method for determining recording conditions according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the patches are recorded at intervals in the sub-scanning direction. The method for determining recording conditions according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the patch recording step, the patch is recorded based on the recording data designated for the main recording. The method for determining recording conditions according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the patch recording step, the patch is recorded on a recording medium designated for the main recording. A main scan that ejects liquid dots from the nozzles to a recording medium while moving a recording head having a plurality of nozzles in the main scan direction, and a sub scan that conveys the recording medium in a sub scan direction that intersects the main scan direction. It is a recording device that records on the recording medium by
A control unit for controlling the main scan and the sub scan is provided.
The control unit
When a patch is recorded on the recording medium by an overlap process in which the main scans are repeatedly executed a plurality of times on a part of the recording medium, the secondary is performed by a plurality of types of overlap processes having different recording conditions. The patch is recorded at a plurality of different positions in the scanning direction, and the patch is recorded.
Accepts patch selection from multiple recorded patches,
The recording condition of the overlap processing corresponding to the patch related to the accepted selection is determined as the recording condition of the overlap processing of the main recording.
The control unit records a plurality of the patches at intervals in the sub-scanning direction that are shorter than the intervals in the sub-scanning direction of the overlap regions recorded by the overlap processing of the main recording. Recording device.