An image processing apparatus of the present embodiment generates image data representing an image which reproduces anisotropy. The image processing apparatus of the present embodiment has a receiving unit configured to receive an input of image data having anisotropy information and a generating unit configured to generate a signal corresponding to a printing material based on the anisotropy information. The generating unit generates an ejection signal so that a first area and a second area have different smoothnesses, the first area being formed by the printing material adjacently ejected in a first direction, the second area being formed by the printing material adjacently ejected in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction.

An image processing apparatus of the present embodiment generates image data representing an image which reproduces anisotropy. The image processing apparatus of the present embodiment has a receiving unit configured to receive an input of image data having anisotropy information and a generating unit configured to generate a signal corresponding to a printing material based on the anisotropy information. The generating unit generates an ejection signal so that a first area and a second area have different smoothnesses, the first area being formed by the printing material adjacently ejected in a first direction, the second area being formed by the printing material adjacently ejected in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction.

An image processing apparatus provides image processing which realizes a representation of a low gloss while preventing a decrease in a density range of an image to be formed which can be represented on a recording medium. The image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data representing an image, a first determination unit configured to determine, based on the image data, a first recording amount for use in recording by arranging the colored ink side by side on the recording medium and a second recording amount for use in recording by stacking the colored ink in discrete positions on the recording medium, and an output unit configured to output layout data indicating a layout of the colored ink on the recording medium, based on the first recording amount and the second recording amount.

A method for printing an image on a substrate is provided. The method includes: providing image template data; analyzing the image template data by identifying image components; printing the image using the image template data using a printing procedure based on printing parameters with a printer operating using printer configuration parameters; capturing the printed image; providing captured image data of the captured image; analyzing the captured image data. The analyzing including determining the region of interest within the captured image data based on definition parameters, identifying an image component and an image metric for the region of interest, relating the image metric to the image component, relating the identified image component to the identified image component of the region of interest, selecting parameters based on the image metric and/or the image component, and computing an actual correction parameter based on an optimization computing procedure using the image metric.

A geographically remote computing device transmits an image to a central computing device. The geographically remote computing device also communicates specifications of a substrate or substrates to be imaged to the central computing device. The central computing device selects a geographically remote fulfillment printer. A local, but geographically diverse distribution system is available according to the invention. The central computing device chooses the geographically remote fulfillment printer as a function of factors such as the selected image and substrate, printer capabilities, and the consumer's location. Image quality and consistency is maintained by the central computer selecting an appropriate geographically remote computing device and providing printer the appropriate instructions, rather than the instructions for printing being determined locally at the printer.

A geographically remote computing device transmits an image to a central computing device. The geographically remote computing device also communicates specifications of a substrate or substrates to be imaged to the central computing device. The central computing device selects a geographically remote fulfillment printer. A local, but geographically diverse distribution system is available according to the invention. The central computing device chooses the geographically remote fulfillment printer as a function of factors such as the selected image and substrate, printer capabilities, and the consumer's location. Image quality and consistency is maintained by the central computer selecting an appropriate geographically remote computing device and providing printer the appropriate instructions, rather than the instructions for printing being determined locally at the printer.

A method of gloss correction in a process of printing a three-dimensional object, wherein a print head is moved in two directions parallel to a substrate to slicewise apply material building the object up to a height as defined in a height map, comprising the steps of: deriving, from the height map, a normal map which assigns to any point of the object surface a normal vector that is normal to the surface of the object; segmenting the surface points into at least two regions in which the normal vectors of points in the region fulfill a predefined similarity criterion that is related to a surface gloss of the object; for each region, estimating an expected surface gloss value of the object; calculating a gloss correction map based on a difference between the estimated surface gloss values for said at least two regions; and applying to the object a surface treatment in accordance with the gloss correction map.

Provided is an ink image matter generating method for selecting a fluorescent ink by performing (a) a process of color-measuring a target color which is a target of color reproduction on a medium and the medium on which an inkjet color ink for color reproduction of the target color is printed; (b) a process of calculating a difference between a colorimetric value of the target color and a colorimetric value of the medium on which the color ink is printed; and (c) a process of selecting a fluorescent ink for reducing the difference between the colorimetric value of the target color and the colorimetric value of the medium on which the color ink is printed, from fluorescent inks that are set in advance, and jetting droplets of the selected fluorescent ink together with the color ink, or after the droplets of the color ink are jetted to cause the fluorescent ink to exist on a surface of an ink image matter, thereby making it possible to select and use an appropriate fluorescent ink with respect to a specific color of which the color reproducibility cannot be ensured using only a color ink in inkjet printing on a medium which is a printing substrate and to ensure high color reproducibility ensuring high color reproducibility for the specific color.

An application of clear protectant to a printable medium is described that allows for different amounts of protectant to be applied to the medium based on the amounts of colorant that is applied to the medium. Colorant bitmaps are analyzed to calculate an amount of colorant coverage for a medium. Printable features in the colorant bitmaps are replicated into different intermediate protectant bitmaps based on the colorant coverage for the printable features, where the intermediate protectant bitmaps specify different amounts of protectant to apply. Features in the intermediate bitmaps are expanded and replicated into a final protectant bitmap. A determination is made for the amount of protectant to apply to the medium that is based on the different amounts specified by the intermediate bitmaps.

An image processing apparatus includes: a determining unit configured to determine a parameter for image processing for a special toner plate depending on a type of a special toner other than a process color toner; and an image processing unit configured to process an image of the special toner plate using the determined parameter.