JP5729423B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing technique in which an image layer representing an image and a special glossy layer that is a layer different from the image layer are superimposed on a print medium.

  Conventionally, a method is known in which an undercoat layer is first formed on a print medium, and printing is further performed on the undercoat layer (for example, Patent Document 1 below). Such a method can be used for various printing methods, for example, when reproducing metallic colors of various tones. In order to reproduce the metallic color, for example, a metallic ink layer may be formed on a printing medium, and color ink may be superimposed on the layer to be printed.

Special Table 2002-530229

  However, in order to perform such metallic color printing in an ink jet printer, the print head may include a nozzle for discharging metallic ink in addition to a nozzle for discharging color ink for forming an image. This is necessary and causes a high cost of the printing apparatus. In particular, such a printing apparatus is expensive for a user who does not frequently perform the printing of the metallic color. This problem is not limited to metallic ink color printing, and is a common problem when printing is performed with an image layer representing an image and a layer different from the image layer superimposed on a print medium.

  In light of the above-described problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to suitably perform printing in which a plurality of layers of ink or the like are superimposed while suppressing an increase in the cost of the printing apparatus.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.
One embodiment of the present invention is a printing apparatus that forms an image layer representing an image and a special gloss layer that is a layer different from the image layer on a print medium,
First connection means connectable to a basic color ink storage container for storing three primary color inks that perform color expression by combination;
Second connection means connectable to a special color ink storage container that stores special color ink that is ink other than the three primary colors;
A receiving means for receiving the type of ink that can be used for printing;
A nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged along a predetermined direction is arranged in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the nozzles are arranged in the nozzle row, and at least one of the spot color nozzle rows that discharge the spot color ink in the nozzle row. A print head arranged as an end spot color nozzle row on at least one of the end portions of the nozzle row in the arrangement direction;
Acquiring image data, and ejecting the three primary color inks and / or the special color ink from the nozzle row onto the print medium while moving the print head relative to the print medium in accordance with the image data. Printing means for printing
With
Of the second connecting means, the connecting means capable of supplying ink to at least the end special color nozzle row is a special glossy material that contains a special glossy material forming the special glossy layer instead of the special color ink storage container. Can be connected to the containment vessel,
The image data includes information for designating a special gloss layer area in which the special gloss layer is formed in a print image;
When the special glossy material container is connected to the second connection unit and the receiving unit receives the special glossy material as usable ink, the printing unit is configured to specify the image data specified in the image data. A printing apparatus that forms the image layer on an upper layer of the special gloss layer while discharging the special gloss material from the end special color nozzle row to form the special gloss layer in the special gloss layer area. .

Application Example 1 A printing apparatus that forms an image layer representing an image and a special gloss layer that is different from the image layer on a print medium,
First connection means connectable to a basic color ink storage container for storing three primary color inks that perform color expression by combination;
Second connection means connectable to a special color ink storage container that stores special color ink that is ink other than the three primary colors;
A receiving means for receiving the type of ink that can be used for printing;
A nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged along a predetermined direction is arranged in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the nozzles are arranged in the nozzle row, and at least one of the spot color nozzle rows that discharge the spot color ink in the nozzle row. A print head arranged as an end spot color nozzle row on at least one of the end portions of the nozzle row in the arrangement direction;
Printing means for performing printing by ejecting the three primary color inks and / or the special color inks from the nozzle rows onto the print medium while moving the print head relative to the print medium;
Of the second connecting means, the connecting means capable of supplying ink to at least the end special color nozzle row is a special glossy material that contains a special glossy material forming the special glossy layer instead of the special color ink storage container. Can be connected to the containment vessel,
When the special glossy material container is connected to the second connection unit and the receiving unit receives the special glossy material as usable ink, the printing unit receives the end special color nozzle row from the end special color nozzle row. A printing apparatus for forming the special gloss layer by discharging a special gloss material.

  The printing apparatus having such a configuration can discharge the special glossy material from the end spot color nozzle row arranged at at least one of the end portions in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row instead of the spot color ink. Since the end special color nozzle row is arranged at the end in the arrangement direction, the special glossy material comes before any of the three primary color inks and the special color inks depending on the direction of relative movement between the print head and the print medium. It will be discharged later or after either. That is, printing can be performed on the print medium by superimposing the special gloss layer and the image layer, or the image layer and the special gloss layer in this order. Further, since the special glossy material is ejected using the special color nozzle row, the print head does not need to be provided with a nozzle row dedicated to the special glossy material, which is economical.

Application Example 2 In the printing apparatus according to Application Example 1, the end spot color nozzle rows are arranged at both ends of the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows in the print head, and the printing unit corresponds to the direction of relative movement of the print head. A printing apparatus that forms a special gloss layer by discharging a special gloss material from either one of the end special color nozzle arrays arranged at both ends.

  The printing apparatus having such a configuration discharges the special glossy material from any one of the end spot color nozzle rows arranged at both ends in the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows in the print head. Therefore, the special gloss material, the three primary color inks, and the special color inks are discharged. The discharge order can be changed. In other words, the special gloss layer and the image layer can be superimposed and printed in a desired order. Further, when such a printing apparatus is a serial type printing apparatus, if the edge special color nozzle row that discharges the special glossy material is switched according to the relative movement direction of the print head, the ink can be detected in any of the relative movement directions. Also by bi-directional printing that discharges etc., the image layer and the special gloss layer can be superimposed and printed in a predetermined order.

Application Example 3 The printing apparatus according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, wherein the basic color ink storage container, the special color ink storage container, and the special glossy material storage container include storage means for storing the type of ink to be stored; A communication unit that communicates with the printing apparatus, and the reception unit receives and receives a signal representing the type of ink from the storage container connected to the first connection unit or the second connection unit via the communication unit. The printing device to perform.
The printing apparatus having such a configuration is easy to operate because it receives a signal from the connected storage container and receives the type of usable ink, that is, the type of ink stored in the connected storage container.

[Application Example 4] The printing apparatus according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3, wherein the edge special color nozzle row is a nozzle row that discharges special color inks other than black ink.
Since special color inks other than black ink are generally less frequently used than black ink, a printing apparatus having such a configuration has a special glossy material container connected to at least a part of the second connection means. However, the influence on the image quality of the image layer can be reduced.

Application Example 5 The printing apparatus according to Application Example 4, wherein the end spot color nozzle row is a nozzle row that discharges light ink in which the density of the coloring components of the three primary color inks is reduced.
The printing apparatus having such a configuration can be applied to a printing apparatus using light ink, and has high versatility.
The above-described printing apparatus can also be applied to the special gloss material of Application Example 6 or Application Example 7.
[Application Example 6] The printing apparatus according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 5, wherein the special glossy material is an ink whose optical characteristics of ink printed on the surface of the print medium have a reflection angle dependency.
Application Example 7 The printing apparatus according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 6, wherein the special gloss material is an ink containing a pigment that expresses a metallic feeling.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of a computer 100 as a print control apparatus. 2 is a configuration diagram of a printer 200. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the print head 250. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a printing process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ink change in a printing process, and the condition of printing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ink change as a modification, and the condition of printing. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step S430 in the printing process as a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the condition of the ink change and bidirectional | two-way printing as a modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detail of the print head 250b as a modification, and the condition of an ink change. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detail of the print head 250c as a modification, and the condition of an ink change.

A. Printing system overview:
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment includes a computer 100 serving as a print control apparatus, a printer 200 that actually prints an image under the control of the computer 100, and the like. The printing system 10 functions as a printing device in a broad sense as a whole.

  The printer 200 of the present embodiment includes cyan ink C, magenta ink M, yellow ink Y, black ink K, light cyan ink Lc, and light magenta ink Lm as color inks. However, metallic ink S can be provided instead of these inks. In the present application, the term “color ink” includes black ink. In this embodiment, the color ink is a dye ink, but the type thereof is not particularly limited, and may be a pigment ink, for example. In this embodiment, among the color inks, cyan ink C, magenta ink M, and yellow ink Y that perform color expression by subtractive color mixing are also referred to as “three primary color inks”, and ink other than the three primary color inks, that is, black ink. K, light cyan ink Lc, and light magenta ink Lm are also referred to as “spot color ink”.

  The metallic ink is an ink in which a printed material exhibits a metallic feeling. As such a metallic ink, for example, an oil-based ink composition containing a metallic pigment that exhibits a metallic feeling, an organic solvent, and a resin can be used. . In order to produce a visually metallic texture effectively, the above-mentioned metal pigment is preferably tabular grains, the major axis on the plane of the tabular grains is X, the minor axis is Y, When the thickness is Z, the 50% average particle diameter R50 of the equivalent circle diameter determined from the area of the XY plane of the tabular grains is 0.5 to 3 μm, and the condition of R50 / Z> 5 is satisfied. It is preferable. Such a metal pigment can be formed of, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or can be formed by crushing a metal vapor-deposited film. The concentration of the metal pigment contained in the metallic ink can be set to 0.1 to 10.0% by weight, for example. Of course, the metallic ink is not limited to such a composition, and any other composition can be adopted as long as it is a composition that produces a metallic feeling.

  In this example, the composition of the metallic ink S is 1.5% by weight of an aluminum pigment, 20% by weight of glycerin, 40% by weight of triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and 0.1% by weight of BYK-UV3500 (manufactured by Big Chemie Japan Co., Ltd.). It was.

  A predetermined operating system is installed in the computer 100, and the application program 20 operates under this operating system. A video driver 22 and a printer driver 24 are incorporated in the operating system. The application program 20 inputs image data ORG from the digital camera 120 through the peripheral device interface 108, for example. Then, the application program 20 displays an image represented by the image data ORG on the display 114 via the video driver 22. The application program 20 outputs the image data ORG to the printer 200 via the printer driver 24. Image data ORG input from the digital camera 120 by the application program 20 is data composed of three color components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B).

  The application program 20 according to the present embodiment has a metallic color area (hereinafter referred to as “color area”) for an arbitrary area in the image data ORG, in addition to an area composed of R, G, B color components (hereinafter referred to as “color area”). (Hereinafter referred to as “metallic area”). The metallic area and the color area may overlap each other. That is, each area may be designated so that a color image is formed on a metallic color as a background color.

  Inside the printer driver 24, a color conversion module 42, a halftone module 44, and a print control module 46 are provided.

  The color conversion module 42, in accordance with a color conversion table LUT prepared in advance, for the color region in the image data ORG, color components (cyan (C), magenta (that can be expressed by the printer 200) for the color components R, G, B thereof. M), yellow (Y), black (K), light cyan (Lc), and light magenta (Lm).

  The halftone module 44 performs a halftone process in which the gradation of the image data color-converted by the color conversion module 42 is represented by dot distribution. In the present embodiment, a known systematic dither method is used as the halftone process. As the halftone process, an error diffusion method, a density pattern method, and other halftone techniques can be used in addition to the systematic dither method.

  The print control module 46 rearranges the data arrangement of the halftone-processed image data in the order to be transferred to the printer 200, and outputs the print data to the printer 200 as well as various print start commands and print end commands. Is output to the printer 200 to control the printer 200. Further, the print control module 46 performs dot formation with metallic ink in the metallic area designated by the application program 20.

B. Device configuration:
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a computer 100 as a print control apparatus. The computer 100 is a well-known computer configured by connecting a ROM 104, a RAM 106, and the like with a bus 116 around a CPU 102.

  The computer 100 includes a disk controller 109 for reading data such as the flexible disk 124 and the compact disk 126, a peripheral device interface 108 for exchanging data with peripheral devices, and a video interface 112 for driving the display 114. It is connected. A printer 200 and a hard disk 118 are connected to the peripheral device interface 108. Further, if the digital camera 120 or the color scanner 122 is connected to the peripheral device interface 108, it is possible to perform image processing on an image captured by the digital camera 120 or the color scanner 122. If the network interface card 110 is installed, the computer 100 can be connected to the communication line 300 to obtain data stored in the storage device 310 connected to the communication line. When the computer 100 obtains image data to be printed, the printer driver 24 controls the printer 200 to print the image data.

  Next, the configuration of the printer 200 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 200 is mounted on the carriage 240, a mechanism for transporting the print medium P by the paper feed motor 235, a mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 240 in the axial direction of the platen 236 by the carriage motor 230. A mechanism for driving the print head 250 to discharge ink and forming dots, and a control circuit 260 that controls the exchange of signals with the paper feed motor 235, the carriage motor 230, the print head 250, and the operation panel 266. ing.

  The mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 240 in the axial direction of the platen 236 is an endless drive between the carriage motor 230 and a slide shaft 233 that is installed in parallel with the platen 236 axis and slidably holds the carriage 240. A pulley 232 for stretching the belt 231 and a position detection sensor 234 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 240 are included.

  In the carriage 240, color ink ink cartridges 242 containing cyan ink C, magenta ink M, yellow ink Y, black ink K, light cyan ink Lc, and light magenta ink Lm as color inks, respectively. ˜247 are mounted. Six types of nozzle rows 252 to 257 corresponding to the above-described color inks are formed on the print head 250 below the carriage 240. When these ink cartridges 242 to 247 are mounted on the carriage 240 from above, ink can be supplied from each cartridge to the nozzle rows 252 to 257. The ink cartridges 242 to 247 of the present embodiment include IC chips that store the type of ink stored therein, and when the ink cartridges 242 to 247 are mounted on the carriage 240, the respective IC chips and control circuits are provided. 260 is electrically connected (not shown). The above-mentioned nozzle rows 255 to 257 are the special color nozzle rows of the claims, the nozzle rows 256 and 257 are the end special color nozzle rows of the claims, and the carriage 240 is the first connection means and the second of the claims. It corresponds to each connection means. The first connection means and the second connection means of the claims may be individually configured, but may be integrally configured as in the present embodiment.

  The control circuit 260 of the printer 200 is configured by connecting a CPU, ROM, RAM, PIF (peripheral device interface) and the like to each other via a bus, and controls the operations of the carriage motor 230 and the paper feed motor 235. The main scanning operation and the sub scanning operation of the carriage 240 are controlled. When print data output from the computer 100 is received via the PIF, each color is supplied by supplying a drive signal corresponding to the print data to the print head 250 in accordance with the movement of the carriage 240 in the main scanning or sub scanning. It is possible to drive the head. The control circuit 260 corresponds to the printing unit in the claims and also functions as a receiving unit.

  The printer 200 having the above hardware configuration drives the carriage motor 230 to reciprocate the print head 250 (nozzle rows 252 to 257 for each color) in the main scanning direction with respect to the print medium P. By driving the paper feed motor 235, the print medium P is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The control circuit 260 performs printing by driving the nozzles at an appropriate timing based on the print data in accordance with the movement of the carriage 240 reciprocally (main scanning) or the movement of paper feeding of the printing medium (sub scanning). Ink dots of appropriate colors are formed at appropriate positions on the medium P. In this way, the printer 200 can print a color image on the print medium P. In the above-described configuration, each color ink is stored in a detachable cartridge mounted on the printer 200. However, the ink is stored in an ink storage tank configured separately from the printer 200, and the storage tank. And the printer 200 may be connected. Alternatively, the three primary color inks may be stored in a storage container that is configured integrally with the printer 200 so as not to be removable.

  Note that the printer 200 of the present embodiment has a basic setting of unidirectional printing capable of high-quality printing by ejecting ink only in the forward path of the reciprocation of the print head 250 in the main scanning direction. Further, the printer 200 can use an opaque print medium such as plain paper or coated paper as a print medium P, or a transparent print medium such as an OHP film.

C. Print head details:
Details of the print head 250 described above are shown in FIG. This figure schematically shows the bottom surface of the print head 250 (the surface facing the print medium P). As illustrated, the print head 250 includes nozzle rows 252 to 257 in which a plurality of nozzles are formed side by side in the sub-scanning direction. In this embodiment, each nozzle row is formed of 180 nozzles. These nozzle rows 252 to 257 correspond to the ink colors of the cartridges mounted on the carriage 240, and are respectively cyan ink C, magenta ink M, yellow ink Y, black ink K, light cyan ink Lc, and light magenta ink Lm. Is discharged. In this embodiment, the nozzle row corresponding to each ink color is configured by arranging the nozzles in one row, but the arrangement of the nozzles in one nozzle row is not particularly limited. A plurality of rows of nozzles may be arranged in a staggered pattern.

  Further, as illustrated, in the print head 250, the nozzle row 256 corresponding to the light cyan ink Lc among the nozzle rows 255 to 257 that discharge the special color ink is located at one end of the nozzle rows 252 to 257 in the arrangement direction. Has been placed. Further, the nozzle row 257 corresponding to the light magenta ink Lm is arranged on the other end of the nozzle rows 252 to 257 in the arrangement direction. In these nozzle rows 256 and 257, the ink cartridges 246 and 247 containing the light cyan ink Lc and the light magenta ink Lm attached to the carriage 240 are removed from the carriage 240, and an ink cartridge containing the metallic ink S is attached instead. For example, the metallic ink S can be discharged. Hereinafter, such replacement of the ink cartridge is also referred to as ink change.

D. Printing process:
A metallic color printing process executed by the computer 100 by the operation of the printer driver 24 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the printing process in this embodiment. In this embodiment, this process is started when the user changes the light cyan ink Lc to the metallic ink S and then operates the computer 100 to give a print execution instruction. When the printing process is started, the computer 100 first receives usable ink types (step S400). Specifically, the computer 100 periodically sends signals to the IC chips included in the ink cartridges 242 to 247. Upon receiving the signal, the IC chip responds to the computer 100 with a signal indicating the type of ink recorded in the storage area. The computer 100 interprets this response signal and receives the types of ink cartridges 242 to 247 mounted on the carriage 240, that is, the types of usable ink. In the present embodiment, metallic ink S, cyan ink C, magenta ink M, yellow ink Y, black ink K, and light magenta ink Lm are accepted as usable inks. The acceptance of usable ink is not limited to the above-described method. For example, the user operates the computer 100 to input the type of ink cartridge mounted on the carriage 240, and the computer 100 accepts it. Other configurations may be used.

  When the usable ink is received, the computer 100 inputs image data in which the metallic area and the color area are designated from the application program 20 by the printer driver 24 (step S410).

  When the image data is input, the computer 100 converts the RGB format image data into the CMYKLcLm format image data for the color area in the image data (step S420). Note that this conversion is performed using the color conversion table LUT corresponding to the type of usable ink received in step S400 from among the plurality of stored color conversion tables LUT. When the image data in the CMYKLcLm format is obtained, the computer 100 performs halftone processing using the halftone module 44 and generates data that can be transferred to the printer 200 (step S430).

  Following the halftone process, the computer 100 controls the printer 200 to print the metallic area using the metallic ink S, and at the same time, print the color area subjected to the halftone process using the color ink (step S440). Note that the print medium P1 used in the present embodiment is an opaque print medium. In this embodiment, the computer 100 performs unidirectional printing by ejecting ink only in the forward path of the reciprocation of the print head 250 in the main scanning direction.

  Step S440 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The scanning direction of the print head 250 illustrated in FIG. 6A is the forward movement of the reciprocating movement in the main scanning direction, that is, the scanning direction in which ink is ejected. As shown in the drawing, in the print head 250 of this embodiment, the nozzle row 256 arranged at the end on the scanning direction leading side for ejecting ink has been changed from light cyan ink Lc to metallic ink S in advance. The metallic ink S is discharged. Here, at a predetermined printing position on the print medium P1, first, the nozzle row 256 that discharges the metallic ink S reaches before the other nozzle rows, and the metallic ink S is discharged before the color ink. . Thereafter, as the print head 250 moves, the nozzle rows 252 to 255 and 257 reach the predetermined positions, and the color ink is ejected.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the printed matter printed in this manner is such that the metallic ink layer MR in which dots are formed by the metallic ink S is positioned on the print medium P1, and is superimposed on the color ink layer MR. The color ink layer CR in which dots are formed by ink is positioned. Such a printed matter is observed as a metallic color when viewed from the color ink layer CR side toward the printing medium P1.

  As described above, in the printing system 10 of the present invention, the nozzle row 256 of the light cyan ink Lc, which is the special color ink, is located at the end in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row of the print head 250 and at the head side in the scanning direction for ejecting ink. Is arranged. Accordingly, if the ink change from the light cyan ink Lc to the metallic ink S is performed, the metallic ink layer MR and the color ink layer CR can be superimposed and printed on the printing medium P1 in this order.

  Further, since the nozzle row that is diverted as the nozzle row that discharges the metallic ink S is a nozzle row that corresponds to the special color ink, even if the ink color corresponding to the diversion nozzle is not used, the three primary color inks are used. It is possible to perform a certain color expression. In particular, when printing a metallic color by superimposing the color ink layer CR and the metallic ink layer MR, the brightness of the image generally decreases as compared with the case where the color ink layer CR is printed alone. As in this embodiment, if the light ink in which the coloring components (in this case, the dye) of the three primary inks are diluted is changed to the metallic ink S, the effect of reducing the image quality due to the reduction in the type of color ink used for printing is effective. Can be suppressed. Further, since the nozzle row 256 originally uses the one corresponding to the light cyan ink Lc for the metallic ink S, the print head 250 does not need to have a nozzle row dedicated to the metallic ink S, and is economical.

E. Variation:
A modification of the above embodiment will be described.
E-1. Modification 1:
In the embodiment, the configuration in which the metallic ink layer MR and the color ink layer CR are formed in this order on the opaque print medium P1 to perform the printing of the metallic color has been described, but the formation order of each ink layer is reversed. There may be. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, when printing on the transparent print medium P2, the color ink layer CR and the metallic ink layer MR may be formed on the print medium P2 in this order. In this way, when the printed material is observed from the print medium P2 side toward the metallic ink layer MR side, it is observed as a metallic color.

  In such a case, since the formation order of the metallic ink layer MR and the color ink layer CR is reversed from that in the embodiment, it is the end portion in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row of the print head 250 and the end side in the scanning direction for ejecting ink. The metallic ink S may be ejected from the nozzle row. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the light magenta ink Lm, which is the special color ink corresponding to the nozzle row 257 on the tail side in the scanning direction, is changed to the metallic ink S, the color ink is printed on the print medium P1. The layer CR and the metallic ink layer MR can be superimposed and printed in this order.

E-2. Modification 2:
In the embodiment and the first modification, the configuration in which metallic color printing is performed by one-way printing has been illustrated, but the printer 200 may be configured to perform bidirectional printing. Specifically, for example, the light ink corresponding to the nozzle row 256 and the nozzle row 257 arranged at both ends in the arrangement direction of the nozzle row of the print head 250 may be changed to the metallic ink S.

  In such a case, in order to perform bidirectional printing, step S430 shown in FIG. 5 can be replaced with, for example, the process of FIG. Specifically, following the halftone process, the computer 100 determines whether the raster to be printed includes a metallic area (step S431). As a result, if it is not the metallic region (step S431: NO), among the nozzle rows 252 to 257 provided in the print head 250, only the nozzle rows 252 to 255 that discharge the color ink are used and the nozzle row that discharges the metallic ink S. 256 and 257 decide not to use (step S435).

  On the other hand, if the raster to be printed includes a metallic region (step S431: YES), in the computer 100, the scanning operation of the print head 250 to be performed from now is the forward operation of the reciprocating motion in the main scanning direction. Whether or not (step S432). As a result, if the operation is the forward operation (step S432: YES), the computer 100 causes the nozzle rows 252 to 255 for discharging the color ink and the nozzles for discharging the metallic ink S as shown in FIG. Of the rows 256 and 257, it is determined that the nozzle row 256 on the head side in the scanning direction of the print head 250 is used (the nozzle row 257 on the tail side in the scanning direction is not used) (step S433).

  On the other hand, if the scanning operation of the print head 250 to be performed is not the forward operation of the reciprocating motion in the main scanning direction, that is, if it is the backward operation (step S432: NO), the computer 100 performs FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, among the nozzle rows 252 to 255 for discharging the color ink and the nozzle row 257 on the head side in the scanning direction of the print head 250 among the nozzle rows 256 and 257 for discharging the metallic ink S are used. It is determined that the nozzle row 256 at the end in the scanning direction is not used (step S434).

  When the use nozzle row is determined, the computer 100 controls the printer 200 to perform printing by ejecting metallic ink or color ink from the use nozzle row determined in steps S433 to S435 while scanning the print head 250 once. It executes (step S436).

  When the print head 250b is scanned once, the computer 100 determines whether or not printing of all rasters is completed (step S437). As a result, if printing has not been completed (step S437: NO), the computer 100 returns the process to step S431, and continues the printing process for a raster that has not been printed. On the other hand, if it is determined that printing has been completed (step S437: YES), the computer 100 ends the printing process.

  Even if printing is performed in this manner, the metallic ink layer MR and the color ink layer CR can be formed in this order on the opaque print medium P1 to perform printing in the metallic color. Further, since the metallic ink S and the color ink can be ejected simultaneously on the same raster in one main scan, it is possible to suppress a decrease in printing speed. In the case where the formation order of the metallic ink layer MR and the color ink layer CR is reversed, the nozzle row 256 and the nozzle row 257 may be used and not used in each scanning direction.

E-3. Modification 3:
FIG. 10 shows details of a print head 250b as a third modification. The print head 250b differs from the print head 250 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in the arrangement of nozzle rows. Specifically, 257b and 255b corresponding to the special color ink are arranged between the nozzle row 256b arranged on the head side in the head scanning direction and the nozzle rows 252b to 255b corresponding to the three primary colors. Different from the example.

  When the metallic color is printed by the print head 250b as in the embodiment, the image to be printed in the metallic region is one that does not use the light magenta ink Lm and / or the black ink K at all or hardly uses it. If there is, or if printing is performed by performing such a conversion process in step S420, the landing will occur after the metallic ink S has landed on the print medium and before the ink of the three primary colors has landed on that location. Thus, it is possible to secure a time for drying the metallic ink S, and it is possible to suppress the mixing of the metallic ink S and the three primary color inks, thereby suppressing the deterioration of the image quality. Such an effect can be obtained regardless of the arrangement order of the nozzle rows by arranging the nozzle rows corresponding to the special color inks between the nozzle rows corresponding to the ink changes and the nozzle rows corresponding to the three primary colors.

E-4. Modification 4:
In the above-described embodiment and modification, the light cyan ink Lc and / or the light magenta ink Lm corresponding to the nozzle row arranged at the end of the nozzle row of the print head 250 is changed to the metallic ink S. Thus, the configuration for performing the printing of the metallic color has been shown, but the nozzle row arranged at the end of the print head 250 is not limited to the one corresponding to the light cyan ink Lc or the light magenta ink Lm, but other than the three primary colors. Any special color ink may be used. For example, a nozzle row corresponding to the black ink K may be arranged at the end, and the black ink K may be changed to the metallic ink S. Alternatively, if the printer 200 is configured to use special color inks such as blue ink, red ink, green ink, orange ink, and clear ink, nozzle rows corresponding to these special color inks are arranged at the end of the print head 250. However, these special color inks and metallic ink S may be changed.

E-5. Modification 5:
In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the metallic ink S layer and the color ink layer are formed on the print medium so as to be superimposed on each other, and the metallic color printing is exemplified. The present invention is not limited to the combination of the ink S layer and the color ink layer, and may be any one that superimposes an image layer representing an image and various special glossy layers. A special gloss material is an ink that exhibits a special gloss on the surface of a print medium that has undergone printing. In addition to a metallic ink that contains a pigment that expresses a metallic feeling, the optical properties of the ink printed on the surface of the print medium are reflected. The ink may have angle dependency and may have various appearances depending on the viewing angle. Specifically, as the ink, in addition to the metallic ink, a pearly ink containing a pigment that develops a pearly luster after fixing on the medium surface, a so-called lame sensation caused by irregular reflection after fixing on the medium surface. A laminar ink or a pigmented ink containing a pigment having fine irregularities so as to express a textured background can be used.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the special gloss material, and can be applied to a case where an image layer and an auxiliary layer that assists the image layer are overlapped. As the auxiliary layer, for example, a layer for assisting the expression of the image layer can be used. Here, “assisting the expression of the image layer” means to exhibit or change the color expression of the image layer. As an auxiliary material for forming the auxiliary layer, for example, the color expression of the image layer is exhibited. For example, white ink used as a base or various inks with concealment may be used.

  The auxiliary layer may be a layer that protects or hides the image layer, for example. As an auxiliary layer for protecting or concealing the image layer, an overcoat agent for protecting the image layer by preventing ink peeling or deterioration, or forming a layer of porous fine particles, etc. You may form with an undercoat agent etc. for improving fixability. Or you may form with an ink with small fixing power for creating a scratch card.

  As described above, when printing is performed with various layers and image layers superimposed, the order of forming the auxiliary layers and the image layers on the print medium is taken into consideration, as in the above-described embodiments and modifications. It is only necessary to determine which nozzle row to use among the nozzle rows corresponding to the auxiliary layers arranged at both ends of the print head 250. Further, the image layer is not limited to the color inks of a plurality of colors as in the embodiment, and may be, for example, a single color ink such as the black ink K.

E-6. Modification 6:
In the above-described embodiment, the printing process illustrated in FIG. 5 is performed in the printing system 10 (broadly defined printing apparatus) configured by the computer 100 and the printer 200. The CPU in the control circuit 260 of the printer 200 is A process equivalent to the printing process may be executed. In this way, image data can be input from a digital camera, various memory cards, and the like, and suitable printing can be performed by the printer 200 without using the computer 100.

E-7. Modification 7:
In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the configuration of the serial type ink jet printer that performs printing by ejecting ink while the print head moves in the main scanning direction has been described. However, the present invention cannot move the print head. The present invention can also be applied to a line printer that performs printing in raster units using nozzles that are fixed to the print medium and arranged over the width of the print medium in a direction perpendicular to the print medium feed direction.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, in a print head 250c of a line printer having nozzle rows corresponding to each color arranged over the paper width, it is arranged at the end on the end side in the print medium feeding direction. If the nozzle row 257c corresponding to the special color ink (here, light magenta ink L) is arranged at the end of the nozzle row in the arrangement direction, the light magenta ink Lm and the metallic ink S are changed, and printing is executed. Good. Even in this case, the printing can be performed by superimposing the metallic ink layer MR and the color ink layer CR in this order on the printing medium. If the superposition order is reversed, a nozzle row corresponding to the special color ink is arranged at the end of the print head 250c in the print medium feeding direction, and the special color ink is changed to execute printing. That's fine.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment, Of course, in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can implement in a various aspect. For example, the present invention can be realized as a printing method, a program, and the like in addition to the configuration as a printing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing system 20 ... Application program 22 ... Video driver 24 ... Printer driver 42 ... Color conversion module 44 ... Halftone module 46 ... Print control module 100 ... Computer 102 ... CPU
104 ... ROM
106 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 108 ... Peripheral device interface 109 ... Disk controller 110 ... Network interface card 112 ... Video interface 114 ... Display 116 ... Bus 118 ... Hard disk 120 ... Digital camera 122 ... Color scanner 124 ... Flexible disk 126 ... Compact disk 200 ... Printer 230 ... Carriage motor 231 ... Driving belt 232 ... Pulley 233 ... Slide shaft 234 ... Position detection sensor 235 ... Paper feed motor 236 ... Platen 240 ... Carriage 242-247 ... Ink cartridges 250, 250b, 250c ... Print heads 252-257, 252b-257b, 252c to 257c ... Nozzle array 260 ... Control circuit 266 ... Operation panel 300 ... Communication line 310 ... Storage device O G: Image data LUT ... Color conversion table S ... Metallic ink C ... Cyan ink M ... Magenta ink Y ... Yellow ink K ... Black ink Lc ... Light cyan ink Lm ... Light magenta ink P, P1, P2 ... Printing medium MR ... Metallic ink Layer CR ... Color ink layer

Claims (7)

A printing apparatus that forms an image layer representing an image and a special gloss layer that is different from the image layer on a print medium,
First connection means connectable to a basic color ink storage container for storing three primary color inks that perform color expression by combination;
Second connection means connectable to a special color ink storage container that stores special color ink that is ink other than the three primary colors;
A receiving means for receiving the type of ink that can be used for printing;
A nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged along a predetermined direction is arranged in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the nozzles are arranged in the nozzle row, and at least one of the spot color nozzle rows that discharge the spot color ink in the nozzle row. A print head arranged as an end spot color nozzle row on at least one of the end portions of the nozzle row in the arrangement direction;
Acquiring image data, and ejecting the three primary color inks and / or the special color ink from the nozzle row onto the print medium while moving the print head relative to the print medium in accordance with the image data. Printing means for performing printing, and
Of the second connecting means, the connecting means capable of supplying ink to at least the end special color nozzle row is a special glossy material that contains a special glossy material forming the special glossy layer instead of the special color ink storage container. Can be connected to the containment vessel,
The image data includes information for designating a special gloss layer area in which the special gloss layer is formed in a print image;
When the special glossy material container is connected to the second connection unit and the receiving unit receives the special glossy material as usable ink, the printing unit is configured to specify the image data specified in the image data. the special glossy layer region, while forming the special glossy layer by discharging the special glossy material from the end spot nozzle array, the printing apparatus for forming the image layer on an upper layer of the special glossy layer. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The end spot color nozzle rows are arranged at both ends in the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows in the print head,
The printing means discharges the special gloss material from any one of the end special color nozzle rows arranged at both ends according to the direction of relative movement of the print head to form the special gloss layer. apparatus. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The basic color ink storage container, the special color ink storage container, and the special glossy material storage container include storage means for storing the type of ink to be stored, and communication means for communicating with the printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus is configured to receive the signal indicating the type of the ink via the communication unit from the storage container connected to the first connection unit or the second connection unit.   4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end spot color nozzle row is a nozzle row that discharges a spot color ink other than black ink. 5.   The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the end spot color nozzle row is a nozzle row that discharges light ink in which the concentration of the coloring component of the three primary color inks is thinned.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the special glossy material is an ink whose optical characteristics of ink printed on the surface of the print medium have a reflection angle dependency.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the special gloss material is an ink containing a pigment that exhibits a metallic feeling.

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