A first dot pattern printed according to a result of quantization performed on a multi-valued grayscale value by using a first threshold matrix and a second dot pattern printed according to a result of quantization performed on multi-valued grayscale value by using a second threshold matrix are printed on a print medium in an overlapping manner. In order to generate the threshold matrices, a first initial pattern being a dot pattern corresponding to a first grayscale value and a second initial pattern being a dot pattern corresponding to a second grayscale value lower than the first grayscale value are generated for pixel regions of the first and second threshold matrices. Then, thresholds of the first and second threshold matrices are set such that dot patterns having continuity with the first and second initial patterns are obtained at grayscale values between the first and second grayscale values.

A method of printing an image using a printing system including at least first and second overlapping printhead segments, the method includes the steps of: feeding media past the printhead segments along a media feed direction; determining an extent of wander of the media in a direction perpendicular to the media feed direction; selecting a stitching method based on the determined extent of wander; and printing the image using the first and second printhead segments. The printing step includes stitching the first and second printhead segments using the selected stitching method.

A recording apparatus includes a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row, and a control unit configured to control ejection of liquid, the control unit is configured to cause the nozzle row to perform scan of ejecting the liquid while moving, and when recording a first pattern including a first overlapping region and a first normal region by controlling the first nozzle row and recording a second pattern including a second overlapping region and a second normal region by controlling the second nozzle row, the first overlapping region is formed at a position overlapping the second normal region as viewed in a longitudinal direction, the first overlapping region being an overlapping region where a raster line is formed by performing the scan m times, the first normal region being where the raster line is formed by performing the scan n times, n being smaller than m.

There is provided a printer including: a printing part which is provided with: a conveyor configured to convey a medium in a conveying direction, a printing head having a plurality of nozzles from which an ink of a specified color is discharged and of which positions in the conveying direction are mutually different, the printing head being configured to discharge the ink from the plurality of nozzles to the medium so as to form dots in the medium, and a facing member configured to be capable of facing a print surface of the medium on an upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the plurality of nozzles of the printing head; and a controller.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a recording device and a recording controller. The recording controller alternately performs a main scanning control and a sub-scanning control. The main scanning control controls discharging liquid while moving the recording device and a recording medium relative to each other in a main scanning direction. The sub-scanning control controls the recording device to discharge the liquid from at least two recording elements of the recording device, in accordance with at least two times of the main scanning control performed at positions on the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. The recording device discharges the liquid, within a range in the sub-scanning direction corresponding to a position of the recording head. The recording controller performs the main scanning control for discharging the liquid based on discharge order mask patterns different from each other in a plurality of regions in the main scanning direction.

A printing apparatus includes: a conveying roller which conveys a print medium in a conveying direction; a line head having first and second nozzle rows arranged in the conveying direction; and a controller. Each of the first and second nozzle rows includes nozzles aligned along a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The nozzles are configured to discharge liquid, and the nozzles in the first nozzle row and the nozzles in the second nozzle row are shifted in the width direction. The first nozzle row has: first nozzles forming a group; and second nozzles forming a group adjacently in the width direction to the group of first nozzles in the first nozzle row. The second nozzle row has: first nozzles forming a group; and second nozzles forming a group adjacently in the width direction to the group of first nozzles in the second nozzle row.

A method of operating a printer distributes inkjet operations from frequently used inkjets to lesser used inkjets. The redistribution of the inkjet operations helps reduce the number of inkjets exhibiting cross-process direction error so printhead maintenance operations, such as purging, occur less frequently.

Example implementations provide a controller for controlling printing of a printer, the controller comprising: an input interface for accessing an image to be printed; an image processor to identify at least one selected feature within the image; and circuitry: a. to control printing of said at least one selected feature using a respective print operation; and b. to control printing of said image, other said at least one selected feature, using a further respective print operation; c. said respective print operation being different to said further respective print operation.

In some examples, a system receives image data for printing by a printer, and for a given colorant of a plurality of colorants to be used to print an image based on the image data, selects a plurality of different types of masks to use when dispensing printing fluid drops of the given colorant when printing the image. The system generates control data for printing the image using the selected plurality of different types of masks.

A liquid jetting apparatus includes a recording head unit including nozzles; a moving mechanism configured to alternately perform a scanning operation of moving the recording head unit in a scanning direction while causing the recording head unit to discharge a liquid and a sub-scanning movement operation of moving the recording head unit or the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction without causing the recording head unit to discharge the liquid; a gradation setting unit configured to set gradation on portions of image data corresponding to setting regions at ends of the recording head unit; an irregular pattern setting unit configured to set an irregular pattern on the image data to randomize a dot ratio indicating the number of dots per unit area; and a head discharge drive unit configured to cause the nozzles to discharge the liquid based on the image data.