A processor of a printing device automatically raster image processes print data in a print job to produce a first, relatively low resolution, bitmap for printing the print job with the printer's main colors and one or more optional colors. The processor automatically compares the extended gamut of the lower-resolution first bitmap and the main color gamut of the printing engine to identify image quality improvement pixels of the extended gamut that are outside the main color gamut. The processor automatically either raster image processes the print data with the main colors and one of the optional colors, or raster image processes the print data with only the main colors, based on whether the number of image quality improvement pixels of the extended gamut that are outside the main color gamut exceeds a pixel quantity threshold, to produce a second, relatively higher resolution, bitmap.

A method and system for generating drawing orders are provided. The method involves receiving print data including data representing a plurality of drawing objects including at least a first drawing object and a second drawing object. The first drawing object and the second drawing object are each of one of predetermined object types and meet a predetermined condition. The method further involves (i) rendering the first drawing object to a first plurality of scanlines, (ii) rendering the second drawing object to a second plurality of scanlines, and (iii) generating, at the same time, a drawing order list for the first and second drawing objects based on the first and second plurality of scanlines.

A drawing data generation apparatus includes a first intermediate data generation section that generates first intermediate data from formation image data in which a formation image is indicated as a cluster of drawing components, a second intermediate data generation section that generates, from the first intermediate data, second intermediate data indicating drawing content of each line-shaped region of the formation image, and a drawing data generation section that generates, from the second intermediate data, drawing data indicating drawing content of each line-shaped region in a row of pixel data. The second intermediate data generation section selects, based on the first intermediate data, either a first scheme of arranging an overlap of the drawing components and generating the second intermediate data from the cluster of drawing components or a second scheme of expressing and integrating the drawing components as a cluster of the pixels and generating the second intermediate data.

Embodiments described herein provide for the reuse of some locations in a hash table of color conversions during processing of a print job, while preventing the reuse of other locations. If a determination is made that the hash table is to be re-initialized, then the locations in the hash table that are marked as non-persistent are marked as saved to allow them to be reused, while the locations in the hash table that are marked as persistent are prevented from being reused. During processing of the print job subsequent to re-initialization of the hash table, if a color in the print job does not have a color conversion, then a location in the hash table is identified that is marked as saved. If the location stores the color conversion for the color, then the non-persistent mark is restored for the location to bypass performing a color conversion for the color.

According to one embodiment, a control unit of a printing system determines a printing region on an object to be printed being conveyed by a conveyance machine, the printing region being provided to be printed any write information therein as printing information, determines whether or not the printing information having a specified character size can be printed in the printing region, and performs adjustment of a printing format of the printing information, the adjustment including at least changing the character size, so that the printing information can be printed in the printing region when determining that the printing information cannot be printed in the printing region. A printing unit prints the printing information having the adjusted printing format in the printing region of the object to be printed according to a timing at which the printing region of the object to be printed being conveyed by the conveyance machine passes through the printing unit.

Certain examples described herein relate to color spaces. In some cases, data representing a set of color values is obtained. Each color value has, for each of first, second and third axes defining a three-dimensional color space, a respective coordinate value. In some cases, for each of the set of color values, the coordinate value for the first and/or second axis is transformed dependent on the coordinate value for the third axis, to generate data representing a transformed set of color values. A set of output color values in an output color space is derived using the generated data. Output data associating the set of output color values in the output color space with a set of further color values in a further color space is generated.

A printing device includes a printing unit, a buffer, and a control unit. The control unit reads out data from the buffer as target data. When the read-out target data is a character code, the control unit determines whether the target data is a character code associated with a plurality of character forms or not. When the target data is the character code associated with the plurality of character forms, the control unit prefetches data stored in the buffer after the target data, as prefetched data, before printing the target data, and determines whether the prefetched data is a predetermined code or not. When the prefetched data is the predetermined code, the control unit selects a character form indicated by the predetermined code as a target character form and causes the printing unit to print a character represented by the target data, in the selected target character form.

In a case where image data for which brief spot color matching has been performed is stored by a BOX function, it is not possible to output the image data in correct color on a condition that the image data is transmitted to another device as it is. In a case where image data is stored by the BOX function, in a printer driver that generates PDL data therefor, a color matching method of type accompanied by the brief spot color matching is not allowed to be set.

An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit and a processor. A font file includes type face data and serif data. When a sans-serif font is selected, the processor generates sans-serif character data on the basis of the type face data. When a serif font selected, the processor generates sans-serif character data, generates serif image data, and adds generated the serif image data to generated the sans-serif character data to generate serif character data.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions. The instructions instruct a computer to perform processes including an acquisition step and a color chart creation step. The acquisition step includes acquiring a specified color. The color chart creation step includes creating a color chart in which a plurality of color patches are arranged. The color patches are based on the specified color acquired by the acquisition step and have a color within a color gamut that is based on print settings of a printer. The color chart creation step includes creating a first color chart and a second color chart. The first color chart is the color chart based on first print settings of the printer. The second color chart is the color chart based on second print settings of the printer different from the first print settings.