A negotiable instrument such as a check includes a unique microprint identifier that allows for authentication while preventing unauthorized reproduction and alternation. A printing system generates the identifier after receiving a customer order for printing a plurality of negotiable instruments, to allow inclusion of information that is specific to the customer order and/or the printing process. In various embodiments, the identifier is unique to each or each subset of the plurality of negotiable instruments and facilitates authentication of each of the negotiable instruments when needed.

An image processing apparatus includes an image processing part that creates bitmap data based on print data input from outside, a density correction part that performs pre-determined density correction such that a density of a print image, which is formed on a print medium, is maintained within a regulated range, and a determination part that determines whether or not it is necessary to re-create the bitmap data based on the print data according to a comparison result between a first density value which is created at a timing when the bitmap data is created and a second density value which is created at a timing when the density correction is performed by the density correction part. Wherein the image processing part re-creates the bitmap data based on the print data when the determination part determines that it is necessary to re-create the bitmap data, and does not re-create the bitmap data when the determination part determines that it is not necessary to re-create the bitmap data.

A method for evaluating a print quality of a printed document that is printed by a printer is provided. The printer comprises a pre-print image scanner, a post-print image scanner, and a printhead disposed between the pre-print image scanner and the post-print image scanner. The method comprises generating a pre-printing image of a print media, generating the printed document, generating a post-printing image of the printed document, generating a validation image by comparing the post-printing image with the pre-printing image, and comparing the validation image with the source image.

An information processing apparatus generates a signal value for forming an image of an object as a recording layer on a recording medium. The apparatus inputs a characteristic of specular reflection light, a characteristic of internal diffuse reflection light, and a characteristic of surficial diffuse reflection light. Then, the apparatus derives, based on the characteristic of the internal diffuse reflection light, a first signal value for a first recording layer to be formed on the recording medium, and derives, based on the characteristic of the specular reflection light and the characteristic of the surficial diffuse reflection light, a second signal value for a second recording layer different from the first recording layer to be formed on the recording medium.

Examples include a method comprising preparing nominal firing data of a print job for a first printhead die and for a second printhead die of a page wide array printer. The first printhead die is located downstream from the second printhead die along a media path of the printer, the printhead dies being offset along the media path by an offset distance. The methods comprises starting printing by applying the nominal firing data to the printhead dies; receiving a print job interruption request during printing of the print job; and in response to receiving the job interruption request, modifying the nominal firing data to obtain modified firing data for interrupting printing using the first printhead die while continuing printing using the second printhead die during a specific time period after the first printhead die interrupted the printing, the specific time corresponding to the offset distance.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of combining a group element so that a color intended by a user is output ultimately even in the case where flattening is performed on the way of the processing performed on the group.

An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a plurality of PDL processing units configured to execute analysis processing corresponding to a type of PDL data; an operation unit configured to accept a user's instruction for implementing a specific printing function; and a control unit configured to control execution of printing processing based on the user's instruction accepted by the operation unit. The control unit starts, in accordance with the acceptance of the user's instruction by the operation unit, reserving work memory to be used for the analysis processing by a PDL processing unit, among the plurality of PDL processing units, which corresponds to PDL data included in a print job associated with the user's instruction.

In a pixel of a part where two objects are superimposed, pixel values of the objects are compared to thereby set an attribute of the pixel to an attribute of one of the objects.

A black figure specification part of a data processing apparatus specifies a black figure from among a plurality of figures in original image data that represents each figure in a vector format. When the overprint attribute of the black figure is ON, a data processing part adds a new black figure whose overprint attribute is OFF and that indicates a figure central portion of the black figure excluding an outer edge portion of a predetermined width from the edge, to the original image data. When the black figure overlaps with another figure that includes a color other than black, the density of the other color in the area where the figure central portion and the other figure overlap each other is zero in raster data for image recording. This increases the darkness of color of the black figure and reduces the appearance of white streaks around the black figure.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing an article. The apparatus includes a data providing device adapted to provide article-specific printing data for the article from product data of the article, and to provide machine-specific printing data for the article in dependence on a printing machine to be used for the printing process. The apparatus also includes a control device adapted to merge the article-specific printing data and the machine-specific printing data, and to control the printing machine for printing the article based thereon.