JP4702113B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that receives print data including gradation information of each color and executes printing based on the print data, and particularly includes print data having different amounts of information of gradation information for each color. The present invention also relates to a printer that can execute printing.

  In recent years, color printers capable of printing using a plurality of colors have become widespread, and among these, printers of a type that eject several colors of ink from a head are widely used. In such a printer, print processing is executed based on print data transmitted from a host device such as a personal computer. The print data includes information indicating the density gradation of each color, and the printer responds to the information. Ink ejection is performed to achieve a desired expression.

  Recently, in order to further improve the printing expression in such a printer, conventionally four inks of K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) have been used. , K, C1 (cyan), C2 (light cyan), M1 (magenta), M2 (light magenta), and Y ink are proposed (for example, Patent Document 1 below).

In addition, it is possible to discharge ink droplets having different sizes so as to improve the print quality by expressing the density of each color in multiple gradations (for example, Patent Document 2 below).
Japanese Patent No. 3593877 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-1824

  In such a trend of improving print quality, it is expected that a technique for changing the gradation expression of density for each color will be further desired in the future. The above-described method of using two types of inks having different densities for the predetermined color has to prepare many types of inks, and there is a problem that it is troublesome for the user such as handling when the ink runs out.

  Therefore, when it is desired to change the gradation expression for each color while using one ink of the same color, the expression of the gradation information included in the print data described above is changed for each color, and the ink corresponding to each gradation information is used. It is conceivable to adopt a droplet discharge method. In this case, for example, the density gradation for K and Y is expressed by 2-bit data, and the density gradation for C and M is expressed by 4-bit data.

  In this way, when printing is performed by inputting print data having the same color and using one ink but having different information amount of gradation information for each color, particularly with such print data and gradation information having the same information amount of all colors. In the case where print data is mixed, no specific proposal has been made so far regarding the transfer timing to the print unit after receiving the data.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a printer that receives print data including gradation information of each color and executes printing based on the print data, and print data having different amounts of gradation information for each color. It is to provide a printer or the like that can execute printing even if it is included.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer that executes printing based on gradation data representing density gradation of each ink color for each ink color for each predetermined printing range. Means for inputting and storing the gradation data for each of the ink colors and for each predetermined unit data when the gradation data having different amounts of information expressing one pixel can be included; At least the gradation data of any information amount of any ink color is input to the predetermined printing range by dividing it into a plurality of times, and the predetermined printing is applied to the input / storage means. Each time the gradation data for a range is stored, the transfer means for transferring the stored gradation data, and the transferred gradation data are received and printed based on the received gradation data Execute the process A printing unit, and when the unit data is newly input by the input / storage unit, the transfer unit stores at least the gradation data stored in the input / storage unit and not yet transferred. The transfer is performed when the ink color is the same as the ink color of the input unit data and the information amount is different from the information amount of the input unit data. It is.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer that executes printing based on gradation data representing a density gradation of each ink color, wherein all the gradation data has a density of one pixel. The first mode data, which is the first data expressing the gradation with N bits, and the first data and the second data expressing the density gradation of one pixel with M bits larger than N bits are for each ink color. Means for inputting and storing data mixed for each predetermined print range for each ink color and for each predetermined unit data, and at least the second mode data As for the two-tone data, the input / storage means for dividing and inputting the predetermined print range in a plurality of times, and the input / storage means each time the gradation data for the predetermined print range is stored. The floor stored in Transfer means for transferring data; and printing means for receiving the transferred gradation data and executing print processing based on the received gradation data, wherein the transfer means is the input / storage means When the unit data is newly input by the above, at least in the gradation data stored in the input / storage means and not yet transferred, the mode of the data is the mode of the input unit data. The transfer is executed when there are different gradation data.

  Further, in the above invention, according to one aspect, when the unit data is newly input by the input / storage means, the transfer means is stored at least in the input / storage means and has not yet been transferred. In gradation data, the ink color is the same as the ink color of the input unit data, and the gradation of the type of the first data or the second data is different from the type of the input unit data. When there is data, the transfer is executed.

  Furthermore, in the above invention, the preferable aspect is that the input gradation data includes at least the ink color of the gradation data and the type of the first data or the second data for each unit data. It is characterized in that information that can be identified is attached.

  In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides a host device that transmits gradation data representing the density gradation of each ink color, and a printer that executes printing based on the gradation data. In the printing system provided, the host device can generate the gradation data having a different amount of information representing one pixel for each predetermined printing range for an arbitrary ink color, and the gradation data is generated for each ink color. In addition, for each predetermined unit data, the data is transmitted to the printer, and at least the gradation data of any information amount of any ink color is transmitted divided into a plurality of times for the predetermined print range. A printer driver, wherein the printer inputs and stores the transmitted gradation data, and the input / storage unit stores the level corresponding to the predetermined print range. A transfer unit that transfers the stored gradation data every time data is stored, and a printing unit that receives the transferred gradation data and executes a printing process based on the received gradation data When the unit data is newly input by the input / storage means, the transfer means of the printer includes at least the gradation data stored in the input / storage means and not yet transferred. The transfer is performed when the ink color is the same as the ink color of the input unit data and the information amount is different from the information amount of the input unit data. It is.

  Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer and a printing system to which the present invention is applied. The printer 3 shown in FIG. 1 is a printer according to this embodiment that executes printing based on print data transmitted from the host computer 2. The printer 3 includes A-mode print data that expresses the density gradation of one pixel as 2-bit gradation data for all of K (black), Y (yellow), C (cyan), and M (magenta). For K, Y and Y, the density gradation of one pixel is expressed by 2-bit gradation data, and for C and M, B-mode printing data is expressed by expressing the density gradation of one pixel by 4-bit gradation data. When C and M gradation data are mixed and received for a predetermined print range by being divided into two times, at least the timing to transfer the received gradation data to the printing unit 35 is received and transferred. Transfer is performed based on the fact that the received data and the received data are in different modes, and printing is appropriately performed for print data in which the A mode and the B mode are mixed. .

  A printing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 2 and a printer 3 as shown in FIG. The host computer 2 is composed of a personal computer, for example, and includes a printer driver 21 for the printer 3. The printer driver 21 includes a driver program installed from a recording medium or downloaded from a predetermined site via the Internet, and a control device that executes processing according to the program.

  The printer driver 21 is a part that receives a print request issued from an application such as document creation software, generates print data to be sent to the printer 3, and transmits the print data to the printer 3 to make a print request. More specifically, the rasterization process for converting color image data from the application into image data in dot units, the color conversion process for converting the image data into ink color data used in the printer 3, and the converted data, A halftone process for generating data for expressing density in a certain area depending on the presence or absence of ink in dot units is executed, and print data including gradation data of each color for each pixel obtained as a result is printed on the printer 3. Send to.

  In this embodiment, both the A-mode print data and the B-mode print data described above are generated, and switching between these modes can be performed on a pass-by-pass basis. In other words, in the present embodiment, print data in the same mode is generated in at least one pass.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining data generated by the printer driver 21. The printer 3 according to the present embodiment described later is a so-called ink jet printer, and as shown in FIG. 2A, it is almost the same as the sheet moving direction (sub-scanning direction, direction B in the figure). The head that ejects ink moves in a direction that goes straight (main scanning direction, direction A in the figure). The print data generated by the printer driver 21 for one line printed by one scan (one pass) of the head is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C.

  FIG. 2B shows A-mode print data. As shown in the figure, the print data is composed of gradation data (for two bits) of each pixel and a header for each color. The gradation data is data for one pass (line), and in the A mode, all color gradations are expressed by 2 bits, and therefore, data for one column of each color.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2C shows B-mode print data. In this case, K and Y whose gradation is expressed by 2 bits are one column of data and are expressed by 4 bits. C and M are two columns of data. In each of C and M, the lower two bits of the four bits are stored in the upper column, and the upper two bits are stored in the lower column.

  Each header includes information indicating the color of the gradation data following the header and the number of bits of the gradation data. For example, if “K” is indicated in the header, it means K 2-bit gradation data, and if “VCL” is indicated, the lower 2 bits of C 4-bit gradation data are included. In addition, “VMH” means that the upper 2 bits of the M 4-bit gradation data. Therefore, if “V” is added before the color as header information, it is possible to determine that the data is B-mode data.

  Such print data is generated by the printer driver 21 and transmitted to the printer 3. At this time, transmission is sequentially performed in units of gradation data for one pass for each color, but the C mode and M data in the B mode are transmitted twice, divided into upper and lower levels.

  Next, as described above, the printer 3 is a printing apparatus that constitutes the printing system 1, and is an inkjet printer that receives print data from the host computer 2 and executes printing based on the data.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 3 includes an I / F unit 31, an analysis unit 32, a data storage unit 33, a data transfer unit 34, a printing unit 35, and the like.

  The I / F unit 31 is a part that receives the print data transmitted from the host computer 2. The analysis unit 32 is a part that interprets the received print data and issues various instructions to control each unit of the printer 3 based on the interpretation. In particular, the above-described header attached to each gradation data for one pass of each color is interpreted to determine whether the gradation data is 2-bit data or 4-bit data. Then, an instruction to switch the processing contents is issued to the printing unit 35 according to the result. The analysis unit 32 can be composed of a ROM that stores a program for instructing various processing contents and a CPU that executes processing according to the program.

  Next, the data storage unit 33 is a data buffer for storing gradation data of each color of the received print data. The data storage unit 33 is provided with six memories having a capacity capable of storing data for one pass (line) of a color expressing a gradation with 2-bit data. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the memory. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the six memories are prepared for data of each color. FIG. 3A shows a case in which A mode data is stored, and a memory for each color is allocated to unit data transmitted from the host computer 2 for all colors (331, 332, 333, 335). ). FIG. 3B shows a case where B-mode data is stored, one for K and Y (331, 332), and two for C and M, respectively. (333 and 334, 335 and 336). The VCL memory 333 stores the lower 2 bits of C data represented by 4 bits, and the VCH memory 334 stores the upper 2 bits. Similarly, the VML memory 335 and the VMH memory 336 store the lower 2 bits and the upper 2 bits of M data represented by 4 bits, respectively. Thus, the data storage unit 33 in the present embodiment is provided with six memories each having a capacity of 2 bits × n. The memories 331 to 336 can be composed of RAM.

  Next, the data transfer unit 34 is a part that transfers the gradation data of each color stored in the data storage unit 33 to the printing unit 35. Specifically, the transfer of the stored data is started when the storage of the gradation data for one pass in the data storage unit 33 is completed. In the printer 3, as described above, the A mode data and the B mode data are mixed, and not all color data exists in each path. The determination that the storage (reception) of the gradation data has been completed is performed based on a predetermined rule. This transfer start timing determination process by the data transfer unit 34 is a major feature of the printer 3, and the specific contents will be described later. The data transfer unit 34 may be configured by a ROM that stores a program for instructing processing contents and a CPU that executes processing according to the program, or may be configured by an ASIC.

  The printing unit 35 is a part that performs printing processing by ejecting ink onto the printing medium based on the gradation data transferred from the data transfer unit 34. Although not shown, the printing unit 35 includes a portion that generates a drive pulse signal according to the gradation data, a plurality of nozzles prepared for each color that ejects ink based on the drive pulse signal, and the nozzle. In the case where the head unit and the like that move in the main scanning direction are provided and are configured in the same manner as in the case of a conventional inkjet printer, but the processing until the drive pulse signal is generated is 2-bit gradation data And 4 bit gradation data are characterized in that they are implemented in different modes.

  Regarding the processing up to the generation of the drive pulse signal, specifically, first, pulse selection data is generated according to the gradation data. This is data for selecting a waveform to be actually applied from a plurality of waveforms of basic signals prepared in advance. Then, by selecting a waveform based on the pulse selection data, a driving pulse signal suitable for the gradation data is generated.

  For example, when the gradation data is expressed by 2 bits, four types of density gradations can be expressed. For example, any one of no dots, small dots, medium dots, and large dots according to the gradation data. In this case, the pulse selection data is generated so that a drive pulse signal is generated so that appropriate ink discharge is performed according to the gradation data. Further, when the gradation data is expressed by 4 bits, naturally, it is possible to represent five or more kinds of density gradations, so that finer dot separation is performed, and the pulse selection data corresponding thereto And further, a drive pulse signal is generated.

  The printing unit 35 according to the present embodiment is characterized by being able to cope with both the case where the gradation data is 2 bits and the case where the gradation data is 4 bits. Switching between these two processes is performed by the analysis unit described above. This is performed based on an instruction from 32.

  As described above, the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment having the configuration as described above can cope with printing using print data in which the information amount of gradation information differs for each color. The processing procedure will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the printing process by the printing system 1.

  First, when a print instruction operation is performed by the user on the host computer 2 side, the printer driver 21 receives a print request from the application for which the instruction operation is performed, generates print data corresponding to the request, and generates the print job. Data is transmitted to the printer 3 (step S1). Specifically, as described above, rasterization processing, color conversion processing, halftone processing, and the like are executed, and the gradation data and its header as shown in (b) and / or (c) of FIG. Generate print data including. Then, the data for each color is sequentially transmitted for each pass. At this time, the data is transmitted in units of 2 bits × n. However, in the B mode print data, the C and M data are transmitted twice in the upper and lower order.

  When data transmission to the printer 3 is performed in this way, the printer 3 side receives the print data transmitted sequentially via the I / F unit 31, and the analysis unit 32 analyzes the received data ( Step S2). Specifically, as described above, the analysis unit 32 interprets the header information included in the print data and issues an instruction to each unit of the printer 3. In particular, the received gradation data is 2-bit data. Or the 4-bit data is determined from the information in the header, and if there is a change in the gradation data and the number of bits received last time, the data is processed to the printing unit 35 when this data is processed. Instruct to switch.

  Next, the gradation data of the received print data is sent to the data storage unit 33 described above and stored in the corresponding memory (331 to 336) (step S3). As described above, since the print data is sequentially sent in units of 2 bits × n for each pass, the received gradation data of each color is sequentially stored in the memory for each color shown in FIG. At that time, since the C and M data in the B mode are transmitted separately as described above, they are stored in the upper bit memory and the lower bit memory, respectively.

  When data storage is performed in this way and all the gradation data for one pass is stored in the data storage unit 33, the data transfer unit 34 sequentially reads the stored gradation data and transfers it to the printing unit 35. (Step S4). As described above, the determination of the transfer timing is characteristic and will be specifically described below.

  First, regardless of the mode of the print data to be transmitted, when all the color data in that mode are received and stored, it is determined that the reception of the path is completed and the transfer timing is reached. In other words, in the case of the A mode, transfer is started when data of all 2 bits × n units of K, Y, C, and M are received and stored in the memories 331, 332, 333, and 335. . Similarly, in the case of the B mode, when all the data of 2 bits × n units of K, Y, C upper, C lower, M upper, and M lower are received and stored in the memories 331 to 336. To start the transfer.

  However, since all color data does not always exist in each pass, a further criterion is provided. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining such a criterion. In FIG. 5, the left column indicates the color of data that has been received and stored in the memory of the data storage unit 33, but does not indicate all the colors in which the data is stored. Means that the color data is included in the data. Further, in FIG. 5, the upper column indicates the color of data of 2 bits × n units received at that time. As described above, in the case of the B mode, C and M are separately shown because the upper bits and the lower bits are received separately.

  The table of FIG. 5 shows the timing of transfer in the case of the relationship between “already input (received) color” and “input (received) data” in a circle, triangle, or square mark. It shows that it should be judged. In the top row, when the above unit data of “K” is input (received) when “K” is present in “Already input color”, the already stored data is transferred. The unit data “K” should be stored in the predetermined memory 331. That is, since there cannot be two K unit data in the same path, it is determined that the next path data has been received at this point, in other words, the data reception is completed for the stored data path. Judge that As for K, since the gradation data is represented by one unit data for each pass in both the A mode and the B mode, the print data mode may be changed at this time. It may not be done.

  Further, in the table of FIG. 5, in the second row, first, when “C” is present in “color already input” and the unit data of “C” is input (received), the same applies. This indicates that the transfer timing should be determined. In the case of C, if the print data is in the B mode, it is received as C upper (VCH) or C lower (VCL). Therefore, in the above case, the path is switched, but the mode is not changed. .

  Furthermore, in the second line, when “C (upper bit)” or “C (lower bit)” unit data is input (received) when “C” is present in “already input color”. Indicates that the transfer timing should be determined. That is, since the mode of the data already received is the A mode and the mode of the data received this time is the B mode, it is the same mode in the same path, so it is determined that the path has been switched and the transfer is performed. Start.

  Further, in the table of FIG. 5, in the third row, first, when “C (upper bit)” is present in “already input color”, unit data of “C (upper bit)” is input (received). If it is, it indicates that the transfer timing should be determined. This means that two consecutive paths are expressed in the B mode, and the paths are switched at this point, and therefore transfer is performed.

  Further, in the third line, when “C (upper bit)” is present in “already input color” and “C” unit data is input (received), it should be determined as the transfer timing. It is shown that. That is, since the mode of the data already received is the B mode and the mode of the data received this time is the A mode, it is the same mode in the same path, so it is determined that the path has been switched, and the transfer is performed. Start.

  In the table of FIG. 5, the same applies to the fourth and subsequent rows. The circle in the table indicates the case where the same color and the same type of data as the data already received and stored are received, and the triangle indicates the same color as the data already received and stored. Indicates a case where data in a different mode is received stored in the same memory, and the square mark is stored in a different memory in the same color as the data already received and stored, and data in a different mode is received. Shows the case.

  As described above, in the data transfer unit 34 of the printer 3, the transfer start determination is transmitted from the host computer 2 in addition to the determination criterion that all the color data in the mode is received and stored. Received in the unit of 2 bits × n for one pass, which is a unit received and the same kind of data as the data that has been stored and not yet transferred (circled in FIG. 5), and the above When receiving data in the same color and different mode with data that is stored and not yet transferred in units of reception, in other words, when receiving data that is represented by the same color and with different number of bits Judgment criteria for transferring to (a triangle mark and a square mark in FIG. 5) are prepared.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of transfer timing based on such a determination criterion. In the table shown in FIG. 6, the numbers in parentheses indicate the order of received (input) data in each case. First, in case 1 shown in FIG. 6, in the above transmission unit, first, K data is received, and then C, M, and Y data are received in order, and Y data is received. At this point, all the data in the A mode is ready and the data reception of the path is completed, so the data transfer up to the received Y is started according to one of the above criteria.

  Case 2 shows a case where all data is received in the B mode as well, and at the time of receiving M (lower bit) data that completes reception of all 6 unit data ((6) in the figure). The transfer up to this data is started.

  Case 3 is a case where K data is received twice, and when the K data is received again for the fifth time, transfer to the fourth received data is started, and the fifth received K data is received. Data is stored in a predetermined memory 331. This is based on the reference when the same type of data is received.

  Case 4 is a case where C data is received fourth after C data is received second, and at this time, transfer to the third received data is started, The C (upper bit) data received in the step S <b> 3 is stored in a predetermined memory 334. This is based on the standard when data of the same color and different modes are received.

  Thereafter, in cases 5, 6, and 7 as well, the transfer is performed at the time of the underlined number in the figure based on the standard when data of the same color and different modes are received.

  Based on the criteria described above, the transfer start timing is determined, and data is sequentially transferred from the data transfer unit 34 to the printing unit 35.

  As described above, the transferred data is transferred to the printing unit 35 and processed to generate the drive pulse signal. However, when the transferred gradation data to be processed is 2-bit data ( In step S5, the processing is performed in the above-described 2-bit processing mode, and a driving pulse signal for 2-bit data is generated (step S6). On the other hand, when the gradation data to be processed is 4-bit data (No in step S5), the processing is performed in the above-described 4-bit processing mode, and a drive pulse signal for 4-bit data is generated. (Step S7). Whether or not the gradation data is 2-bit data is determined by the analysis unit 32 as described above, and the printing unit 35 can switch the processing mode according to the instruction from the analysis unit 32. That's fine. If the gradation data is 4-bit data, that is, if it is C or M color data, the data transferred from the lower bit memory and the upper bit memory are transferred. The data is combined into 4 bits by the printing unit 35, and then the drive pulse signal is generated.

  When the drive pulse signal is generated in this way, the signal is applied at a predetermined timing, and ink is ejected from the nozzles of each color (step S8). This ink discharge is sequentially performed along with the movement of the head portion, and a printing process on a printing medium is performed.

  The processing as described above is repeatedly performed, and the requested print job is executed.

  As described above, in the printer 3 according to this embodiment, A-mode data transmitted once for each color and B-mode data transmitted twice for C and M are mixed. Even in this case, data transfer to the printing unit 35 after data reception is performed at an appropriate timing based on the above-described determination criteria, and A mode and B mode mixed printing can be realized. Therefore, color reproduction in both modes is possible with one model, and ink gradation expression can be diversified.

  In addition, when generating the print data on the host computer 2 side, if an end code indicating the end of the data of each pass is added, the printer 3 side determines the transfer timing to the print unit 35 based on the end code. Recently, printer drivers provided by third vendors are often used, and there is a risk of relying solely on the end code. The determination method according to the embodiment is effective from the viewpoint of fail-safe.

  In the above embodiment, the print data in which the 2-bit gradation data and the 4-bit gradation data are mixed in the B mode has been described. However, the information amount of 2-bit and 4-bit is an example. Thus, the specific information amount may be different. For example, the B mode may be used in which K and Y are each represented by 2-bit gradation data, and C and M are each represented by 3-bit gradation data.

  In the above embodiment, the print data after halftone processing is transmitted from the host computer 2 side. However, the print data may be generated on the printer 3 side. For example, data before being rasterized is received from the host computer 2 side, and the above-described rasterization processing, color conversion processing, and halftone processing are performed on the printer 3 side to generate print data including the gradation data. You may make it do. Even in this case, the subsequent processing can be similarly performed.

  The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a printer and a printing system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining data generated by a printer driver. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a memory of a data storage unit 33. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a printing process procedure performed by the printing system 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the judgment criterion of a data transfer timing. It is a figure for demonstrating the example which concerns on transfer timing.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system, 2 Host computer, 3 Printer, 21 Printer driver, 31 I / F part (input / storage means), 32 Analysis part (input / storage means), 33 Data storage part (input / storage means), 34 Data Transfer unit (transfer unit), 35 printing unit (printing unit), 331 to 336 memory

Claims (2)

A printer that executes printing based on gradation data representing the density gradation of each ink color,
All ink colors have a first mode represented by the gradation data of the first data representing the density gradation of one pixel by N bits, an ink color represented by the gradation data of the first data , and one pixel. When the second mode in which the ink color represented by the gradation data of the second data representing the density gradation of M by M bits larger than N bits is mixed for each predetermined printing range ,
For the predetermined printing range, the gradation data is input for each ink color and for each unit data having the same size as the gradation data of each ink color represented by the first data in the predetermined printing range. Input / storage means for dividing and inputting the gradation data of the ink color represented by the second data by dividing the predetermined print range into a plurality of times;
A transfer means for transferring the stored gradation data each time the gradation data for the predetermined printing range is stored in the input / storage means;
Printing means for receiving the transferred gradation data and executing a printing process based on the received gradation data;
When the unit data is newly input by the input / storage unit, the transfer unit at least,
In the gradation data stored in the input / storage means and not yet transferred, when there is gradation data whose mode of the data is different from the mode of the input unit data, and the input unit When the data is the first data, in the gradation data stored in the input / storage means and not yet transferred, the ink color is the same as the ink color of the input unit data, and If there is gradation data as the first data and the input unit data is the second data, the gradation data stored in the input / storage means and not yet transferred are ink color is the same as the ink color of the unit data which is the input, and the a second data, and, if the site after the division there is a gradation data is the same, executing the transfer ,
The input gradation data is attached with at least information for identifying the ink color of the gradation data and the type of the first data or the second data for each unit data. Printer. In claim 1 ,
When the unit data is newly input by the input / storage means, the transfer means inputs at least the ink color in the gradation data stored in the input / storage means and not yet transferred. The transfer is executed when there is gradation data that is the same as the ink color of the input unit data and the type of the first data or the second data is different from the type of the input unit data. Printer characterized by.

Images