JP5397775B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a FAX capable of forming a glossy image.

  Conventionally, as this type of image forming apparatus, an apparatus that forms a color toner image by developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor using a plurality of colors of toner is known. The image formed by this image forming apparatus reproduces the color due to the adhesion of a powder color material called toner, but at the same time, the gloss also changes. The “gloss” here is specular gloss defined in Non-Patent Document 1, and in this specification, “60-degree gloss” is representative as a representative. Generally, the gloss increases as the toner adhesion amount increases. On the other hand, the toner adhesion amount on the image changes depending on the location in the image for the purpose of reproducing the color. Therefore, generally, the gloss of the solid portion of the image is high, and the gloss of the halftone portion is low. As a result, unintended gloss unevenness occurs and the image quality deteriorates.

  In Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in order to prevent the uneven gloss, the toner of the fifth color is used in addition to the four color toners of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). An image forming apparatus using colorless and transparent clear toner is disclosed. According to this image forming apparatus, the clear toner is adhered so that the total adhesion amount of the four color toners of Y, M, C, and K and the clear toner becomes constant, so that the reproduction color of the color toner is independent. It is possible to make the gloss in the image constant.

  However, in the image forming apparatuses of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the gloss of the image surface can be made uniform by means of attaching the clear toner, but there is a limit to the gloss range that can be expressed. It was impossible to express high gloss.

  In Patent Document 3, a color toner image formed on a recording medium is melted by being sandwiched and heated by a belt having a mirror-finished surface, and then the color toner image on the recording medium is sandwiched by a belt. A fixing device and an image forming apparatus for fixing the belt so that the belt is peeled off from the toner image after the toner is cooled down and the temperature is low are disclosed. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an image having extremely high gloss and photographic gloss by transferring the mirror surface shape of the belt to the toner side. Hereinafter, the principle of fixing in which the toner image sandwiched between the belts is heated and cooled and the belt is peeled off is referred to as a “cooling peeling principle”.

  The image forming apparatus that increases the gloss of an image by using the cooling and peeling principle as disclosed in Patent Document 3 cannot solve the following two problems.

  The first is a problem related to the glossy reproduction range. In the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 3, high glossiness of a solid portion can be reproduced by clear toner independently of color reproduction. Further, by providing a fixing device based on the cooling and peeling principle, higher photographic gloss can be realized. However, the lower gloss is limited, and a low gloss image cannot be realized.

  A recorded image with a high gloss on the surface of the image is used for a photograph of an expensive product because it has a high-class feeling. However, an image mainly composed of characters and charts has a drawback that it is difficult to read due to the surrounding lighting and the like being transferred. In such an image, a low-gloss recorded image is preferred. Therefore, realization of a low gloss image is also strongly desired.

  The second problem is related to gloss adjustment at each location in the glossy image. When the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 3 gives photographic gloss, the entire image becomes photographic gloss, and it is impossible to make the gloss low or high gloss according to the location in the image. In an actual image, the photographic image and the character chart image are often mixed in the image. In that case, it is desirable to set the glossiness individually. In addition, in the case of an image including a metal object as a subject, a metal texture can be obtained by making only the metal portion higher gloss than the surroundings. Also in this case, a technique for changing the glossiness of a part of an image is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object thereof is to reproduce a wide range of glossiness from low gloss to high gloss independently of color reproduction, and in any region on an image, It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reproducing an arbitrary gloss specified within a wide range of gloss reproduction.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a color toner image forming means for forming a color toner image on a recording medium using at least one of a plurality of colored toners having different colors, and the color toner. First colorless and transparent toner image forming means for forming a first colorless and transparent toner image using colorless and transparent toner on the image, and fixing the color toner image and the first colorless and transparent toner image on the recording medium An image forming apparatus comprising: a first fixing unit configured to increase glossiness of the entire image on the recording medium fixed by the first fixing unit; and the high glossing unit. A second colorless and transparent toner image forming means for forming a second colorless and transparent toner image using a colorless and transparent toner on the glossy image, and a second colorless and transparent toner image on the recording medium. Second to settle And wearing means, it is characterized in that comprises a.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the high-gloss processing by the high-glossing unit is switched between a process for performing the high-gloss process and a process for not performing the high-gloss process. Switching between the process of forming the second colorless transparent toner image by the colorless transparent toner image forming unit and the fixing by the second fixing unit and the process of forming the second colorless transparent toner image and not performing the fixing Means.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, image information comprising pixel information of the color toner image formed on the recording medium using at least one of the plurality of colored toners. On the other hand, the gloss information adding means for adding the gloss information for each pixel, the gloss realizing means determining means for determining the gloss realizing means for each pixel based on the gloss information, and the gloss realizing means determining means A plurality of types of gloss realizing means that can be determined by the gloss realizing means determining means are formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming means. After the first colorless and transparent toner image is formed on the color toner image by the first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit, and the image on the recording medium is fixed. Gloss realizing means A for making the entire image on the recording medium high gloss by the high gloss means, and the first colorless on the color toner image formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming means. Gloss realization means B for forming the first colorless and transparent toner image in an overlapping manner by the transparent toner image forming means, and fixing the image on the recording medium by the first fixing means, and the recording by the color toner image forming means. A first colorless and transparent toner image of a type different from that of the gloss realizing means B is formed on the color toner image formed on the medium by the first colorless and transparent toner image forming means. After the color toner image formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming unit is fixed by the fixing unit, the gloss realizing unit C that fixes the image by the fixing unit, And a glossy realizing means D for forming the second colorless and transparent toner image by the two colorless and transparent toner image forming means, and fixing the image on the recording medium by the second fixing means. It is what.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, when the gloss realizing means is not determined by the gloss realizing means determining means, the control means performs color toner by the color toner image forming means. After the image on the recording medium on which the image has been formed is fixed by the fixing unit, control is performed such that none of the plurality of types of gloss realizing units is executed.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the colorless and transparent toner image forming means of the gloss realizing means A and B includes the layer thickness of the color toner image and the colorless and transparent toner image. It is characterized in that it is formed so that the total value of the layer thicknesses becomes a certain constant value.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the colorless and transparent toner image forming means of the gloss realizing means C is a dot-like colorless and transparent having a certain wavelength and a certain amplitude. A toner image is formed.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, the clear toner image forming unit of the gloss realizing unit D forms a toner image having a certain layer thickness. It is what.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the gloss realizing means determining means is a gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in an image of one page of the recording medium. The gloss realizing means is determined so that the image of one page is formed by the gloss realizing means A and D when there is a pixel of gloss information higher than the degree. .
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the gloss realizing means determining means is a gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in an image of one page of the recording medium. When there is no pixel of gloss information higher than the degree of gloss and there is a pixel of gloss information lower than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing means C, an image is formed by the gloss realizing means B, C, and D. Thus, the gloss realizing means is determined.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the third to seventh aspects, the gloss realizing means determining means is a gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in an image of one page of the recording medium. When there is no gloss information pixel higher than the gloss level and there is no gloss information pixel lower than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing means C, an image is formed by the gloss realizing means B and C. The gloss realizing means is determined.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the gloss information adding unit uses an at least one of the plurality of colored toners and the colorless and transparent toner to form an image formed on the recording medium. Gloss information is added to the image information consisting of pixel information for each pixel, and the gloss realizing means determining means determines the pixel based on the gloss information and image information consisting of pixel information of the colorless and transparent toner. It is characterized in that the gloss realizing means is determined for each.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, when the gloss realizing means is not determined by the gloss realizing means determining means, the control means performs color toner by the color toner image forming means. After the image on the recording medium on which the first colorless and transparent toner image has been formed by the first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit is fixed by the fixing unit, the plurality of types of gloss realizing units It is characterized by controlling so that neither is performed.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, the control means has pixels of gloss information higher than the glossiness that can be realized by the glossy realizing means B in the image of one page of the recording medium. Is present, the image on the recording medium on which the color toner image is formed by the color toner image forming unit is fixed by the first fixing unit, and the overall glossiness of the image is increased by the high gloss unit. The second colorless and transparent toner image is formed on the image on the recording medium by the second colorless and transparent toner image forming unit, and the second fixing unit is used for fixing. It is characterized by controlling.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to form a color toner image on which a predetermined color reproduction is realized on a recording medium using at least one of a plurality of colored toners having different colors. A first colorless and transparent toner image is formed on the color toner image using a colorless and transparent toner, and the color toner image and the first colorless and transparent toner image on the recording medium are fixed. An image can be formed on a recording medium. Thereafter, the gloss of the entire image on the recording medium is uniformly increased to a high gloss, and then a colorless and transparent toner is adhered to an arbitrary portion to be reduced in gloss to form a second colorless and transparent toner image. By fixing the portion of the colorless and transparent toner image so as to have a low gloss, an arbitrary region of the image on which the predetermined color reproduction has been performed can be made low gloss. Further, by adjusting the area ratio of the second colorless and transparent toner image, continuous glossiness from low gloss to high gloss can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce a wide range of glossiness from low gloss to high gloss independently of color reproduction, and reproduce any gloss specified within the range of gloss reproduction in a wide range on an image. There is an excellent effect that it becomes possible.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a printer engine of the color image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a breakdown of gloss information Gs input to gloss realizing means determining means of the color image forming apparatus. The flowchart which shows an example of the determination process of the glossiness execution means in the glossiness realization means determination means. Explanatory drawing which shows the specific processing content of the gloss | luminance realization means with respect to step 403-405 of FIG. The graph which shows the implementation probability of each gloss | luminance realization means with respect to each in the case of steps 403-405 of FIG. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing of the image for demonstrating the principle when processing by the gloss | Realization means A and B implement | achieves glossiness. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing of the image for demonstrating the principle when processing by the gloss | luminance implement | achievement means C implement | achieves glossiness. (A) And (b) is sectional drawing of the image for demonstrating the principle when processing by the gloss | luminance implement | achievement means D implement | achieves glossiness. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. Explanatory drawing which shows the specific processing content of the gloss | luminance realization means in the case of performing each of step 403-405 of FIG. 4 in the glossiness realization means determination process part of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating specific processing contents of a gloss realizing unit when steps 403 to 405 in FIG. 4 are executed in a color image forming apparatus according to another embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The color image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes a printer controller 101 that is a control unit that functions as a control unit, and a printer engine 102 that functions as an image forming unit as a toner image forming unit. The printer controller 101 includes an RIP (Raster Image Processing) unit 103 as an image data processing unit, a gloss information addition processing unit 104 as a gloss information addition unit, and a gloss realizing unit determination processing unit 105 as a gloss realizing unit determination unit. Is provided. The printer engine 102 is composed of toner of four colors (Y: yellow, M: magenta, C: cyan, K: black) on a recording medium such as transfer paper based on the binary image data received from the printer controller 101. A color image is formed. In the following description, four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are represented by symbols Y, M, C, and K, respectively, as necessary. The colorless transparent toner is represented by the symbol Clr as necessary.

  The RIP unit 103 uses a printer engine 102 to generate a color toner image (YMCK four color toner) for each pixel from document data (image information) described in a page description language (PDL) created by the user. Hereinafter, it is converted into a color image signal composed of tone image information (YMCK tone image data) of YMCK four-color toner for forming a “four-color toner image”. Here, the “pixel” is a size depending on the recording resolution of the printer engine 102. In the present embodiment, a case where the pixel density is 600 (pixels / inch) and the pixel size is 1/600 inch, that is, a rectangular region of about 42.3 μm in length and width will be described. The gradation image information of the YMCK four-color toner is information of 8 bits / pixel for each color of YMCK, and is digital information of 32 bits / pixel in total. The tone image information of these YMCK four-color toners is converted into a halftone dot, a line, an FM screen, or the like by a screening processing unit 106 as a generally known screening means, and is output to the printer engine 102.

  The gloss information addition processing unit 104 generates gloss information Gs for each pixel based on the tone image information (input pixel information) of the YMCK four-color toner output from the RIP unit 103, and the tone image information of the YMCK four-color toner. Append to The gloss information Gs added in this embodiment is digital information of 8 bits / pixel, which is the same as the gradation image information of the YMCK 4-color toner. Therefore, although the numerical values that can be stored are integers from 0 to 255, the gloss in this embodiment is basically a 60-degree gloss defined in JIS of Non-Patent Document 1, and gloss information Gs is, for example, 0-100. It is assumed that it is an integer up to. Note that the detailed range of the numerical value of the gloss information Gs is restricted by the printer engine 102 as will be described later. The method of determining the gloss information Gs is determined mainly by the designer while looking at the original image of YMCK, but can be described as a special color treatment by the page description language. In general, techniques such as making a photographic image portion highly glossy, making a character chart portion low gloss, and making a metal portion or a wet portion highly glossy are taken.

  The gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 determines a gloss realizing means described later for each pixel based on the gloss information Gs. Then, the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 determines the first clear toner image information (hereinafter simply referred to as “clear toner image information”) Clr, the second clear toner image information Clr2, the first clear toner image information according to the determined gloss realizing means. 1 contact / separation information (hereinafter simply referred to as “contact / separation information”) SW and second contact / separation information SW 2 are output to the printer engine 102. Details will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the printer engine 102. The gradation image information (color toner image information YMCK) of YMCK four-color toner of each pixel is input to a color toner image forming apparatus 201 as a color toner image forming unit. As this color toner image forming apparatus 201, for example, a known electrophotographic color toner image forming apparatus can be used. The printer engine 102 forms a CMYK toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 207 based on the color toner image information YMCK.

  Further, the printer engine 102 according to the present embodiment includes a clear toner image forming apparatus 202 as a first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit upstream (on the left side in the drawing) of the color toner image forming apparatus 201. By this clear toner image forming apparatus 202, based on the clear toner image information Clr, a first clear toner image (hereinafter simply referred to as “clear toner image”) as a first colorless and transparent toner image is referred to as an intermediate transfer belt 207. Formed on top. Accordingly, on the paper as the recording medium on the paper path 208 toward the left in the figure, a color toner image that is a color toner image is first formed from the paper surface upward, and a clear toner image is formed thereon. The These clear toner image and color toner image are fixed on a sheet by a fixing device 203 as fixing means, and a recorded image is completed.

  Since the color toner image forming apparatus 201, the clear toner image forming apparatus 202, and the fixing apparatus 203 are substantially the same as the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, some of them (the developing unit and the photosensitive drum, and Only the fixing unit) is schematically shown in the figure. However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is directly transferred to the paper. However, in the color image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the toner images of each color are once transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 207, and thereafter In this configuration, the image is transferred to a sheet at a time. Accordingly, the transfer order of the toner images of each color onto the paper is reversed from that on the transfer belt 207. Therefore, in this embodiment, the clear toner image forming apparatus 202 is positioned on the uppermost stream on the transfer belt 207.

  The color image forming apparatus of the present embodiment further includes a high gloss device 204 as a glossing means using the cooling and peeling principle immediately after the fixing device 203, and the entire glossy image is formed by the high gloss device 204. High gloss. Since this high gloss device 204 is the same as the conventional device disclosed in Patent Document 3, only a part thereof is schematically shown in the drawing. However, in the present embodiment, a well-known contact / separation mechanism 209 (not shown) is incorporated, and the sheet sandwiching the sheet is separated by the contact / separation information SW so that the sheet passes without being affected by the high gloss device 204. It can be done. The contact / separation mechanism 209 functions as means for contacting / separating a roll that sandwiches a sheet so as to switch between high gloss processing performed by the high gloss device 204 and processing not performing the high gloss processing.

  In addition, the color image forming apparatus of this embodiment includes a second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 as a second colorless and transparent toner image forming unit immediately after the high glossing apparatus 204. The second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 transfers the second clear toner image as the second colorless and transparent toner image onto the paper on the paper path 208 based on the second clear toner image information Clr2. Finally, the second fixing device 206 as the second fixing unit fixes the second clear toner image on the sheet, and the whole process is completed.

  Since the second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 and the second fixing apparatus 206 are substantially the same as the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, some of them are schematically shown in the drawing. However, in this embodiment, since the clear toner is a single color only, the transfer belt 207 is not required, and the structure is such that the transfer from the photosensitive drum directly to the sheet is performed as in Patent Document 2. Further, in the present embodiment, a known second contact / separation mechanism 210 (not shown) is incorporated, and a roll that sandwiches the sheet is separated by the contact / separation information SW2, and the sheet is separated from the second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 and the second. 2 It can pass without being affected by the fixing device 206. The second contact / separation mechanism 210 performs processing for forming a second clear toner image by the second clear toner image forming device 205 and fixing by the second fixing device 206, and forming and fixing the second clear toner image. It functions as a means for contacting and separating the rolls that sandwich the sheet so as to switch between the processes that do not.

Next, the gloss realization means determination processing unit 105 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the breakdown of the gloss information Gs input to the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105. As described above, the gloss information Gs added for each pixel is basically 60 degree gloss defined in JIS of Non-Patent Document 1, and is an integer value from 0 to 100, for example. On the other hand, in this embodiment, four types of gloss realizing means A, B, C, and D are prepared. In FIG. 3, Gs-a is the highest gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means A, Gs-b is the highest gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B, Gs-c is the lowest gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means C, and Gloss realizing means A. Is defined as Gs-d. Accordingly, the gloss range that can be realized by the color image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is a range from Gs-d to Gs-a. Therefore, the setting range of the gloss information Gs is also set to a range from Gs-d to Gs-a. Here, for the sake of convenience, when the gloss information Gs is set to 0, no gloss realization means is implemented, and a normal CMYK four-color image is output as it is. Further, the range from Gs-b to Gs-a (Gs-b <Gs ≦ Gs-a) is the glossy region A, and the range from Gs-c to Gs-b (Gs-c ≦ Gs ≦ Gs-b). Glossy region B, a range from Gs-d to Gs-c (Gs-d <Gs ≦ Gs-c) is defined as glossy region C.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the gloss realizing means determination process in the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105. First, it is determined whether or not there is a pixel whose gloss information Gs is in the gloss area A in one page of the image to be recorded on the paper (step 401). Here, when it is determined that there is no pixel in which the gloss information Gs is in the gloss area A (No in step 401), the pixels in which the gloss information Gs is in the gloss area C are further included in one page of the image. Is determined (step 402). Here, if it is determined that there is a pixel whose gloss information Gs is in the gloss area C (Yes in step 402), it is determined to process using the gloss realization means B, C, and D ( Step 403). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no pixel whose gloss information Gs is in the gloss area C (No in Step 402), it is determined to process using the gloss realization means B and C (Step 404). ).
If it is determined in step 401 that there is a pixel whose gloss information Gs is in the gloss area A (Yes in step 401), it is determined to process using the gloss realization means A and D. (Step 405).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing specific processing contents of the gloss realizing means for steps 403 to 405 in FIG. For each processing content, the probability (%) of executing each gloss realizing means for the corresponding pixel, clear toner image information Clr, second clear toner image information Clr2, contact / separation information SW, and contact / separation information SW2 are determined. Such information is output to the printer engine 102.

  In the case of step 405 in FIG. 4 described above, first, the probability Pa (%) of executing the gloss realizing means A on the corresponding pixel and the probability Pd (%) of executing the gloss realizing means D are the gloss information Gs. And a later-described graph or table. Next, for the gloss realizing means A, inversion information is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 0 (%) (second clear toner image is not formed) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. The Further, for the gloss realizing means D, 0 (%) (not forming a clear toner image) is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 100 (%) (solid first) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. 2 clear toner image is formed). In the contact / separation information SW and the second setting information SW2, both “contact” are set. However, when the probability Pd = 0%, “separation” is set in the second contact / separation information SW2, and when the probability Pa = 0%, “separation” is set in the contact / separation information SW.

  In the case of step 404 in FIG. 4 described above, first, the probability Pb (%) of executing the gloss realizing means B for the corresponding pixel, the probability Pc (%) of executing the gloss realizing means C, and the gloss realizing means D are determined. The probability Pd (%) of execution is determined based on the gloss information Gs and a graph or table described later. Next, for the gloss realizing means B, the inversion information is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 0 (%) (the second clear toner image is not formed) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. The Further, for the gloss realizing means C, a halftone dot, which will be described later, is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 0 (%) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. Further, for the gloss realizing means D, 0 (%) (not forming a clear toner image) is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 100 (%) (solid clear) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. A toner image is formed). “Separation” is set in the contact / separation information SW, and “contact” is set in the second contact / separation information SW2. However, when the probability Pd = 0%, the second contact / separation information SW2 is set to “separation”.

  In the case of step 403 in FIG. 4 described above, first, the probability Pb (%) of executing the gloss realizing means B on the corresponding pixel and the probability Pc (%) of executing the gloss realizing means C are the gloss information Gs. And a later-described graph or table. Next, for the gloss realizing means B, the inversion information is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 0 (%) (the second clear toner image is not formed) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. The Further, with respect to the gloss realizing means C, a halftone dot described later is set in the clear toner image information Clr, and 0 (%) (second clear toner image is not formed) is set in the second clear toner image information Clr2. Is done. “Separation” is set in both of the contact / separation information SW and the second contact / separation information SW2.

  In all cases shown in FIG. 5, when the gloss information Gs = 0, the clear toner is not attached to the image as described above, so that both the clear toner image information Clr and the second clear toner image information are 0. (%) Is set.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing the execution probabilities of the respective gloss realizing means for the cases of Steps 403 to 405 in FIG. 4 described above. In each graph, the horizontal axis indicates the gloss information Gs, and the vertical axis indicates the execution probability of each gloss realizing means.

  In the above-described step 405 in FIG. 4, when gloss information Gs = Gs−a, Pa = 100%, and all the pixels become the gloss realizing means A. Further, when the gloss information Gs = Gs−d, Pd = 100%, and all the pixels become the gloss realizing means D. When the gloss information Gs is Gs−a> Gs, both the gloss realizing means A and D are implemented, and the probabilities are Pa and Pd, respectively. Specifically, this can be realized by the same method as the halftone dot forming method by the conventional dither method. For example, an appropriate dither matrix Dij having elements from 0 to 100 is created, and the probability Pa and Dij of the target pixel are compared. Here, when Pa> Dij, gloss realization means A is executed, and when Pa> Dij is not true, gloss realization means D is executed.

  When the gloss information Gs = Gs−b, Gs−c, and Gs−d in step 404 of FIG. 4 described above, Pb = 100%, Pc = 100%, and Pd = 100%, respectively. Gloss realization means B, C or D. When the gloss information Gs is Gs−b ≧ Gs ≧ Gs−c, both the gloss realizing means B and C are implemented, and the probabilities are Pb and Pc, respectively. Further, when the gloss information Gs is Gs−c> Gs ≧ Gs−d, both the gloss realizing means C and D are implemented, and the probabilities are Pc and Pd, respectively. Specifically, these can also be realized by the conventional dither method as described above.

  When the gloss information Gs = Gs−b and Gs−c in step 403 of FIG. 4 described above, Pb = 100% and Pc = 100%, respectively, and the same gloss realizing means B or C is obtained for all pixels. . When the gloss information Gs is Gs−b ≧ Gs ≧ Gs−c, both the gloss realizing means B and C are implemented, and the probabilities are Pb and Pc, respectively. Specifically, this can also be realized by the conventional dither method as described above.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of images for explaining the principle when the gloss is realized by the gloss realizing means A and B. FIG. FIG. 7A shows a conventional YMCK four-color image recorded only by the color toner image forming apparatus 201 for comparison. As illustrated, a YMCK four-color toner layer (color toner image) 702 is formed on a recording sheet 701. Since the amount of YMCK4 toner adhesion varies from pixel to pixel, the surface of the image is uneven at a height of about 15 μm at maximum, and the gloss varies depending on the location. FIG. 7B shows the case where the processing is performed by the gloss realizing means A and B. When the clear toner image information Clr is “inverted” in FIG. 5, the clear toner image forming apparatus 202 is used for recording. Images are shown. The target height 703 of the toner layer indicated by the horizontal dotted line in FIG. 7A is the target height of the toner layer when the total toner adhesion amount is constant, and is, for example, 10 μm. According to the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an inversion signal of the YMCK four-color toner total signal is generated and used as a clear toner image signal. As a result, a recorded image including a clear toner layer (clear toner image) 704 as shown in FIG. 7B is formed. When the target height 703 of the toner layer is increased, the smoothness of the image surface increases, but when the toner layer thickness is greater than a certain thickness, the glossiness with respect to the thickness is saturated. Therefore, even if the target height 703 of the toner layer is actually lowered to some extent, it is possible to stably express the saturated glossiness Gs-b, which has a solid glossiness. In the gloss realization means B, since the high gloss device 204, the second clear toner image forming device 205, and the second fixing device 206 are unnecessary thereafter, the contact / separation information SW and the second contact / separation information SW2 are “separated”. The image is passed through and output as it is. Thus, the gloss realizing means B can realize a stable gloss level Gs-b. The gloss Gs-b depends on the toner, the high gloss device 204, and the paper to be used, but is generally about 60 ≧ Gs−b ≧ 20 (60-degree gloss).

  On the other hand, in the gloss realization means A, the contact / separation information SW is set to “contact”, and an image including the YMCK four-color toner layer 702 and the clear toner layer 704 is further passed through the high gloss device 204, whereby the entire image is displayed. Is made even more glossy. In the gloss realization means A, since the second clear toner image forming device 205 and the second fixing device 206 are unnecessary thereafter, the contact / separation information SW2 is set to “separation”, and the image passes through and is output as it is. .

  Since the principle of the gloss realization means A is described in Patent Document 3, it will not be described in detail here, but as a result, a gloss much higher than the glossiness Gs-b by the gloss realization means B is realized. The gloss Gs-a is generally about 100 ≧ Gs−b ≧ 80 (60-degree gloss), although it depends on the toner, the high gloss device 204, and the paper to be used.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of images for explaining the principle when processing is performed by the gloss realizing means C to realize gloss. FIG. 8A shows a conventional YMCK four-color image recorded only by the color toner image forming apparatus 201 for comparison. As illustrated, a YMCK four-color toner layer 702 is formed on the recording paper 701. FIG. 8B shows a case where processing is performed by the gloss realization means C, and an image recorded using the clear toner image forming means 202 when the clear toner image information Clr is “halftone” in FIG. Is shown. As shown in the figure, a halftone dot 801 made of clear toner is formed on the YMCK four-color toner layer 702. As a result, it is possible to reduce the gloss of the solid image portion having a particularly high gloss and the gloss of the background portion when the paper is highly glossy. The method for forming the halftone dot 801 is the same as the conventional halftone dot forming method for color toner. However, since it is necessary to increase the amplitude of unevenness due to halftone dots in order to greatly reduce gloss, the halftone dot area ratio is 30 to 50%, and the number of halftone dots is 50 to 100 lines / inch, which is lower than the normal number of lines. The hit is appropriate. In the gloss realization means C, since the high gloss device 204, the second clear toner image forming device 205, and the second fixing device 206 are unnecessary thereafter, the contact / separation information SW and the second contact / separation information SW2 are “separated”. The image is passed through and output as it is.

  The glossiness Gs-c realized by the glossiness realizing means C also depends on the toner, the high glossiness device 204, and the paper to be used, but is generally about 30 (60 ° glossiness) lower than the glossiness Gs-b. Is possible.

  FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views of images for explaining the principle when processing is performed by the gloss realizing means D to realize gloss. FIG. 9A shows a conventional YMCK four-color image recorded only by the color toner image forming apparatus 201 for comparison. As illustrated, a YMCK four-color toner layer 702 is formed on a recording sheet 701. FIG. 9B shows a cross section of an image that has been processed by the gloss realizing means D to realize gloss. As shown in FIG. 5, the gloss realizing means D does not require the clear toner image forming device 202 and the high gloss device 204, so the clear toner image information Clr is set to 0%, and the contact / separation information SW is “ “Separated” is set, and the image is conveyed to the second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 as it is. The contact / separation information SW2 is set to “contact”, and the second clear toner image information Clr2 is set to 100%, that is, a solid image. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, the YMCK four-color toner layer 702 is displayed. A clear toner solid image 901 is formed on the upper portion of the image by the second clear toner image forming apparatus 205. Furthermore, by fixing at a temperature lower than the normal fixing temperature by the second fixing device 206, fine irregularities remain on the surface of the clear toner layer 901, and thereby the gloss is remarkably lowered. The glossiness Gs-d realized by the gloss realization means D depends on the fixing conditions, temperature, speed, and pressure, but generally can be practically realized up to about Gs-d = 10 (60 ° gloss).

  As described above, according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 9, gloss reproduction can be performed continuously over a wide range from low gloss to high gloss independently of color reproduction of an image, and gloss information Gs is set for each pixel. Since it can be set, an arbitrary gloss can be reproduced in an arbitrary area on the image.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color image forming apparatus according to another embodiment. 10 that are the same as those in the color image forming apparatus in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.
The color image forming apparatus of FIG. 10 includes an RIP unit 1003 different from the RIP unit 103 of FIG. The RIP unit 1003 generates clear toner image information Clr3 in addition to the gradation image information of YMCK four-color toner for each pixel. Unlike the gloss information Gs, the clear toner image information Clr3 is special purpose information using clear toner, such as a watermark image, a watermark image, and a texture image, which is not related to the gloss control of the image. The clear toner image information Clr3 is also the same 8-bit / pixel digital information as the YMCK image information, and is basically the same information as the YMCK image information, and is information for controlling the adhesion amount of the clear toner. The clear toner image information Clr3 is converted into a halftone dot, a line, an FM screen, or the like by the above-described screening processing unit 106, becomes clear toner image information Clr4, and is input to the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 1005. The gloss realizing means determination processing unit 1005 performs processing by the gloss realizing means in the same manner as in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing specific processing contents of the gloss realizing means when the steps 403 to 405 of FIG. 4 are executed in the gloss realizing means determining processing unit 1005 of FIG. What is different from FIG. 5 described above is the process at the bottom in the drawing. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, in the case of the pixel with the gloss information Gs = 0, the clear toner is not attached in any of the steps 403 to 405 of FIG. 4, so the clear toner image information Clr and the second clear toner image Both information Clr2 was set to 0 (%). On the other hand, in the glossy realization means determination processing unit 1005 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the clear toner image information Clr4 is input, and the clear toner image information Clr4 is set as the clear toner image information Clr (Clr = Clr4). Output to the engine 102.

  As described above, according to the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11, the image of the clear toner image information Clr3 is recorded in the image portion (the pixel of the gloss information Gs = 0) where the image gloss is not controlled. The image information Clr3 and the gloss information Gs for gloss control can be compatible, and an image with higher added value can be recorded.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing specific processing contents of the gloss realizing means when steps 403 to 405 in FIG. 4 are executed in a color image forming apparatus according to still another embodiment. Note that the schematic configuration of the color image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

  10 and 11, in the case of the gloss realizing means A and D corresponding to step 405 in FIG. 4 and the pixel of the gloss information Gs = 0, the clear toner image formed by the clear toner image forming apparatus 202 is used. An image of information Clr (clear toner image information Clr3) passes through the high gloss device 204, and may become an unintended image. In particular, when the clear toner image information Clr3 has a texture that places importance on the unevenness of the screen, the unevenness may be lost when passing through the high gloss device 204. In addition, when the clear toner image information Clr3 is a watermark image that emphasizes light and shade, the gradation of the image may be lost when passing through the high gloss device 204.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 12, in the gloss realizing means corresponding to step 405 of FIG. 4 described above, the contact / separation information SW with respect to the high gloss device 204 is “contact”. Processing is executed. In this case, in the case of an image portion where the image gloss is not controlled (pixels with gloss information Gs = 0), as shown in FIG. 12, the clear toner image information is set to Clr = 0 (%), and the second clear toner is set. The image information is set to Clr2 = Clr4 instead of Clr2 = 0. The other gloss realizing means for steps 403 and 404 in FIG. 4 described above operate in the same manner as in FIG.

  According to the embodiment of FIG. 12, in the case of the image part (pixel with gloss information Gs = 0) in which the image gloss is not controlled in step 405 of FIG. 4 described above, the clear toner image is downstream of the high gloss device 204. Therefore, the high-gloss device 204 is not affected by the second clear toner image forming device 205. For this reason, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the unevenness of the screen and the density of the image of the clear toner image information Clr3, and an image with higher added value can be recorded.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiments, the color toner image forming apparatus 201 as the color toner image forming unit realizes predetermined color reproduction using at least one of a plurality of colored toners having different colors. A color toner image as an image can be formed on a recording sheet as a recording medium. Then, the clear toner image forming apparatus 202 as the first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit forms a first clear toner image on the color toner image of the recording paper using the clear toner as the colorless and transparent toner, A color toner image and a first clear toner image on a recording sheet are fixed by a fixing device 203 as a first fixing unit. Thereby, a glossy color image can be formed on the recording paper. Thereafter, after the gloss of the entire color image on the recording paper is uniformly increased to a high gloss by the high gloss device 204 as the high gloss means, the second clear toner image is formed as the second colorless and transparent toner image forming means. A device 205 forms a second clear toner image as a second colorless transparent toner image by attaching a clear toner to an arbitrary portion to be reduced in glossiness, and a second fixing device 206 as a second fixing means. By fixing the portion of the second clear toner image so as to have low gloss, an arbitrary area of the image on which the predetermined color reproduction has been performed can be made low gloss. Further, by adjusting the area ratio of the second clear toner image, continuous glossiness from low gloss to high gloss can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce a wide range of glossiness from low gloss to high gloss independently of color reproduction, and reproduce any gloss specified within the range of gloss reproduction in a wide range on an image. It becomes possible.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the contact / separation mechanism as means for contacting / separating the rolls that sandwich the paper so as to switch between the process of performing the high gloss process by the high gloss device 204 and the process of not performing the high gloss process. 209 and a process for forming the second clear toner image by the second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 and fixing by the second fixing apparatus 206 and a process for not forming and fixing the second clear toner image. And a second contact / separation mechanism 210 as means for contacting / separating a roll that sandwiches the paper. When these contact / separation mechanisms 209 and 210 can form an image without using the high gloss device 204, the second clear toner image forming device 205, or the second fixing device 206, the image does not pass through these devices. Thus, it is possible to prevent parts from being consumed and image quality deterioration.
Further, according to the above embodiment, the gloss information addition processing unit 104 as the gloss information addition unit converts the image information including the pixel information of the color toner image formed on the recording paper using at least one of the plurality of colored toners. On the other hand, gloss information is added to each pixel, and a gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 as a gloss realizing means determining means selects from a plurality of types of gloss realizing means A to D for each pixel based on the gloss information. decide. Then, the printer controller 101 as the control unit performs control so that the gloss realizing unit determined by the gloss realizing unit determination processing unit 105 is executed. In this way, by selecting and executing an appropriate gloss realizing means based on the gloss information for each pixel, continuous glossiness from low gloss to high gloss can be realized in an arbitrary region.
Further, according to the above embodiment, when the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 does not determine the gloss realizing means by the printer controller 101 as the control means, the recording in which the color toner image forming apparatus 201 forms a color toner image. After the image on the paper is fixed by the fixing device 203, control is performed so that none of the plural types of gloss realizing means A to D is executed. This control further expands the range of gloss that can be achieved.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, as the gloss realizing means determined for each pixel, the value obtained by adding the layer thickness of the color toner image and the layer thickness of the clear toner image by the clear toner image forming apparatus 202 becomes a certain constant value. As described above, by including the gloss realizing means A and B for forming the clear toner image, the surface of the image becomes smooth, so that a high gloss image can be realized.
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as the gloss realizing means determined for each pixel, the clear toner image forming apparatus 202 includes the gloss realizing means C that forms a halftone dot clear toner image having a certain wavelength and a certain amplitude. Accordingly, moderate irregularities are formed on the image surface, and the surface reflected light is scattered according to the irregularities, so that low gloss according to the gloss information for each pixel can be realized.
In addition, according to the above embodiment, the gloss fixing means for determining each pixel includes the gloss realizing means D for forming a toner image having a certain layer thickness as the clear toner image forming apparatus 202, whereby the second fixing device. Thus, it becomes easy to create a low gloss surface on a toner image having a constant layer thickness, and a reduction in gloss can be achieved.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 includes a pixel of gloss information higher than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in the image of one page of the recording paper, The gloss realizing means is determined so that the image of the page is formed by the gloss realizing means A and D. In this case, even if the gloss of the entire image is uniformly increased to a high gloss by the high gloss device 204, the second clear toner image forming device 205 causes the second clear toner to adhere to the portion where low gloss is desired. The second fixing device 206 can fix the second clear toner so as to have a low gloss. Therefore, any area can be made low gloss.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 does not include a pixel of gloss information higher than the glossiness that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in the image of one page of the recording paper, and the gloss. When there is a pixel of gloss information lower than the glossiness that can be realized by the realization means C, the glossiness realization means is determined so that an image is formed by the glossiness realization means B, C, and D. In this case, the processing by the high gloss device 204 is not performed on an image that does not have the high gloss portion required by the high gloss device 204, and thus the page cost can be reduced.
Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 does not include a pixel of gloss information higher than the glossiness that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in the image of one page of the recording paper, and the gloss. When there is no pixel of gloss information lower than the glossiness that can be realized by the realization means C, the glossiness realization means is determined so that an image is formed by the glossiness realization means B and C. In this case, the high-gloss device is used for an image without the high-gloss portion that the high-gloss device 204 requires and the low-gloss portion that the second clear toner image forming device 205 and the second fixing device 206 need. 204, the processing by the second clear toner image forming apparatus 205 and the second fixing apparatus 206 is not performed, so that the page cost can be reduced.
Further, according to the embodiment, the gloss information addition processing unit 104 performs pixel-by-pixel processing on image information including pixel information of an image formed on a recording sheet using at least one of a plurality of colored toners and a clear toner. The gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 determines the gloss realizing means for each pixel based on the gloss information and the clear image information Clr3 including the pixel information of the clear toner. In this case, the gloss realizing means can be determined based on both the clear toner image information Clr3 and the gloss information Gs for gloss control, and an image with added value by the clear toner layer based on the clear toner image information Clr3. And the gloss can be controlled.
Further, according to the above embodiment, when the gloss realizing means determination processing unit 105 does not determine the gloss realizing means by the printer controller 101 as the control means, the color toner image forming apparatus 201 forms a color toner image and clears it. After the image on the recording paper on which the clear toner image is formed by the toner image forming apparatus 202 is fixed by the fixing apparatus 203, control is performed so that none of the plurality of types of gloss realizing means A to D is executed. As a result of this control, a clear toner image based on the clear toner image information Clr3 is recorded in an image portion where the image gloss is not controlled (pixels with gloss information Gs = 0), and the clear toner image information Clr3 and the gloss control are recorded. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a balance with the gloss information Gs for recording, and it is possible to record an image with higher added value.
Further, according to the above embodiment, when there is a pixel of gloss information higher than the glossiness that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in the image of one page of the recording paper by the printer controller 101 as the control means, the color toner The image on the recording sheet on which the color toner image is formed by the image forming apparatus 201 is fixed by the fixing apparatus 203 and subjected to processing for increasing the overall glossiness of the image by the high glossing apparatus 204, and then the image on the recording sheet is processed. Further, the second clear toner image forming device 205 controls the second clear toner image to be formed and the second fixing device 206 to perform fixing. By this control, a clear toner image corresponding to the clear toner image information Clr4 generated based on the clear toner image information Clr3 is formed by the second clear toner image forming device 205 on the downstream side of the high gloss device 204. Therefore, it is not affected by the high gloss device 204. For this reason, it becomes possible to faithfully reproduce the unevenness of the surface of the clear toner image and the density of the image corresponding to the clear toner image information Clr4, and it becomes possible to record an image with higher added value.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Printer controller 102 Printer engine 103 RIP part 104 Gloss information addition process part 105 Gloss realization means determination process part 106 Screening process part 201 Color toner image formation apparatus 202 Clear toner image formation apparatus 203 Fixing apparatus 204 High glossiness apparatus 205 2nd clear Toner image forming device 206 Second fixing device 207 Intermediate transfer belt 208 Paper path 209 Contact / separation mechanism 210 Second contact / separation mechanism 701 Recording paper 702 YMCK four-color toner layer (color toner image)
703 Toner layer target height 704 Clear toner layer (clear toner image)
801 Halftone dot by clear toner 901 Clear toner solid image 1003 RIP unit 1005 Gloss realization means determination processing unit

Japanese Patent No. 3146367 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-200551 JP 2007-163902 A

JIS Standard "Specular Glossiness-Measuring Method" (JIS Z 8741-1997)

Claims (13)

Color toner image forming means for forming a color toner image on a recording medium using at least one of a plurality of colored toners having different colors, and a first colorless colorless toner on the color toner image. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit that forms a transparent toner image; and a first fixing unit that fixes the color toner image and the first colorless and transparent toner image on the recording medium. ,
A high gloss means for increasing the overall gloss of the image on the recording medium fixed by the first fixing means;
Second colorless and transparent toner image forming means for forming a second colorless and transparent toner image using colorless and transparent toner on the image whose gloss has been increased by the high gloss means; and
Second fixing means for fixing the second colorless and transparent toner image on the recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
Means for switching between processing for performing the high gloss processing by the high gloss processing means and processing for not performing the high gloss processing;
Processing for forming the second colorless and transparent toner image by the second colorless and transparent toner image forming unit and fixing by the second fixing unit, and forming and fixing the second colorless and transparent toner image are not performed. Means for switching between processing;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Gloss information adding means for adding gloss information for each pixel to image information consisting of pixel information of the color toner image formed on the recording medium using at least one of the plurality of colored toners;
A gloss realizing means determining means for determining a gloss realizing means for each pixel based on the gloss information;
Control means for controlling to execute the gloss realizing means determined by the gloss realizing means determining means,
A plurality of types of gloss realizing means that can be determined by the gloss realizing means determining means are:
The first colorless and transparent toner image is superimposed on the color toner image formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming means, and the first colorless and transparent toner image is formed on the recording medium. Gloss realizing means A for making the entire image on the recording medium highly glossy by the high gloss means after fixing the image;
An image on the recording medium is formed by superimposing the first colorless and transparent toner image on the color toner image formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming unit and the first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit. Gloss realizing means B for fixing the image by the first fixing means;
On the color toner image formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming unit, the first colorless and transparent toner image of a different type from the gloss realizing unit B is superimposed by the first colorless and transparent toner image forming unit. Gloss realization means C for fixing the image on the recording medium by the fixing means;
After the color toner image formed on the recording medium by the color toner image forming unit is fixed by the fixing unit, the second colorless and transparent toner image is formed by overlapping the second colorless and transparent toner image forming unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a gloss realizing unit D that fixes the image on the recording medium by the second fixing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
When the gloss realizing means is not determined by the gloss realizing means determining means, the control means fixes the image on the recording medium on which the color toner image is formed by the color toner image forming means by the fixing means. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus is controlled so as not to execute any of the plurality of types of gloss realizing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
The colorless and transparent toner image forming means of the gloss realizing means A and B is formed so that a total value of the layer thickness of the color toner image and the layer thickness of the colorless and transparent toner image becomes a certain constant value. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that the colorless and transparent toner image forming means of the gloss realizing means C forms a dot-like colorless and transparent toner image having a certain wavelength and a certain amplitude. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6,
The clear toner image forming means of the gloss realizing means D forms a toner image having a certain layer thickness. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7,
The gloss realizing means determining means, when a pixel of gloss information higher than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B exists in the image of one page of the recording medium, the image of the one page is the gloss realizing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: determining the gloss realizing means so as to form an image by A and D. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7,
The gloss realizing means determining means has no gloss information pixel higher than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in an image of one page of the recording medium, and the gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means C. An image forming apparatus comprising: determining the gloss realizing means so that an image is formed by the gloss realizing means B, C and D when there is a pixel of gloss information lower than the predetermined degree. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7,
The gloss realizing means determining means has no gloss information pixel higher than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing means B in an image of one page of the recording medium, and the gloss that can be realized by the gloss realizing means C. The gloss forming means determines the gloss realizing means so that an image is formed by the gloss realizing means B and C when there is no gloss information pixel lower than the predetermined degree. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
The gloss information adding means adds gloss information for each pixel to image information composed of pixel information of an image formed on the recording medium using at least one of the plurality of colored toners and the colorless and transparent toner. And
The gloss forming unit determining unit determines a gloss realizing unit for each pixel based on the gloss information and image information including pixel information of the colorless and transparent toner. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11.
When the gloss realizing means is not determined by the gloss realizing means determining means, the control means forms a color toner image by the color toner image forming means, and the first colorless and transparent toner image forming means performs the first. An image forming apparatus, wherein after the image on the recording medium on which the colorless and transparent toner image is formed is fixed by the fixing unit, none of the plurality of kinds of gloss realizing units is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12.
The control unit forms a color toner image by the color toner image forming unit when a pixel of gloss information higher than the gloss level that can be realized by the gloss realizing unit B exists in an image of one page of the recording medium. After the image on the recording medium is fixed by the first fixing unit and the gloss of the image is increased by the high glossing unit, the second gloss is applied on the image on the recording medium. An image forming apparatus, wherein the second colorless and transparent toner image is formed by the colorless and transparent toner image forming unit, and the fixing is performed by the second fixing unit.

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