A makeup fluid is added to an ink liquid of an inkjet printer to reduce the viscosity of the ink liquid, the makeup fluid including a fluorescent color material in a solvent. An inkjet printer apparatus employing a makeup fluid is provided with a makeup fluid tank to which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are attached, and detects the presence or absence of the makeup fluid by irradiating ultraviolet light from the light-emitting element, causing visible light to be emitted from the fluorescent color material in the makeup fluid, and detecting the visible light with the light-receiving element.

A makeup fluid is added to an ink liquid of an inkjet printer to reduce the viscosity of the ink liquid, the makeup fluid including a fluorescent color material in a solvent. An inkjet printer apparatus employing a makeup fluid is provided with a makeup fluid tank to which a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are attached, and detects the presence or absence of the makeup fluid by irradiating ultraviolet light from the light-emitting element, causing visible light to be emitted from the fluorescent color material in the makeup fluid, and detecting the visible light with the light-receiving element.

An ink jet recording method including the steps of a first recording step for applying a first ink to a recording medium and a second recording step for applying a second ink to the recording medium so as to overlap at least a region provided with the first ink, wherein the first ink is an aqueous ink containing silver particles, the second ink is an aqueous ink containing a dye, a time difference between applications of the first ink and the second ink to the recording medium is 1 sec or more to 7,200 sec or less, and the dye is a predetermined dye.

An ink jet recording method including the steps of a first recording step for applying a first ink to a recording medium and a second recording step for applying a second ink to the recording medium so as to overlap at least a region provided with the first ink, wherein the first ink is an aqueous ink containing silver particles, the second ink is an aqueous ink containing a dye, a time difference between applications of the first ink and the second ink to the recording medium is 1 sec or more to 7,200 sec or less, and the dye is a predetermined dye.

A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a storage device for storing instructions for performing a matching protocol, and one or more data processors configured to execute the instructions to, receive, by one or more data processors, target image data of a target coating, the target image data generated by an electronic imaging device, and apply the target image data to a matching protocol to generate application instructions. The system further includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured expel the coating composition based on the application instructions.

A system for applying a coating composition to a substrate utilizing a high transfer efficiency applicator is provided herein. The system includes a storage device for storing instructions for performing a matching protocol, and one or more data processors configured to execute the instructions to, receive, by one or more data processors, target image data of a target coating, the target image data generated by an electronic imaging device, and apply the target image data to a matching protocol to generate application instructions. The system further includes a high transfer efficiency applicator defining a nozzle orifice. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the coating composition through the nozzle orifice to the substrate to form a coating layer. The high transfer efficiency applicator is configured expel the coating composition based on the application instructions.

An ink set according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first ink and a second ink, the ink set described above is used for an ink jet recording apparatus which includes a recording head having at least one first ejection port which ejects the first ink and at least one second ejection port which ejects the second ink; and a cap which collectively caps the first ejection port and the second ejection port, the first ink contains water and a self-dispersible pigment, and the second ink contains water, a water-soluble dye, and a pigment dispersant.

An ink set according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first ink and a second ink, the ink set described above is used for an ink jet recording apparatus which includes a recording head having at least one first ejection port which ejects the first ink and at least one second ejection port which ejects the second ink; and a cap which collectively caps the first ejection port and the second ejection port, the first ink contains water and a self-dispersible pigment, and the second ink contains water, a water-soluble dye, and a pigment dispersant.

An aqueous ink for ink jet includes a coloring material, a solvent, and a surfactant having an HLB value of 9.0 or less. The solvent includes a solvent A having a solubility in water at 20 C. of 5.00 g/100 g-H.sub.2O or less and a solvent B other than the solvent A. The solvent A includes an alcohol having a vapor pressure at 20 C. of 0.5 mmHg or less and a surface tension of 30.0 mN/m or more. The content of the alcohol in the aqueous ink is 0.7 or more times the solubility in water at 20 C. in an equal amount to the aqueous ink. The solvent B has a partition coefficient (P.sub.B) satisfying the following equation (1).
1.44 Log P.sub.A0.1x3.4Log P.sub.B0.6(1)

An aqueous ink for ink jet includes a coloring material, a solvent, and a surfactant having an HLB value of 9.0 or less. The solvent includes a solvent A having a solubility in water at 20 C. of 5.00 g/100 g-H.sub.2O or less and a solvent B other than the solvent A. The solvent A includes an alcohol having a vapor pressure at 20 C. of 0.5 mmHg or less and a surface tension of 30.0 mN/m or more. The content of the alcohol in the aqueous ink is 0.7 or more times the solubility in water at 20 C. in an equal amount to the aqueous ink. The solvent B has a partition coefficient (P.sub.B) satisfying the following equation (1).
1.44 Log P.sub.A0.1x3.4Log P.sub.B0.6(1)