A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

In one example, a method for an inkjet web printer includes a print engine printing a first print job on a moving first web, a printer controller receiving a second print job, the printer controller determining that the second print job may be printed after the first print job on a second web automatically spliced to the moving first web, a web supply automatically splicing the second web to the moving first web, the printer controller reconfiguring the print engine from a first configuration for the first print job to a second configuration for the second print job without stopping the moving first web or the moving second web, and the print engine printing the second print job on the moving second web.

In one example, an inkjet web printer includes a print engine and a controller programmed to determine that a second print job following a first print job may be printed without stopping the web and, without stopping the web, cause the print engine to print the second print job.

In one example, an inkjet web printer includes a print engine and a controller programmed to determine that a second print job following a first print job may be printed without stopping the web and, without stopping the web, cause the print engine to print the second print job.

A recording system for recording a recording image based on image data by repeating a pass operation in which a nozzle column discharges ink while reciprocating relatively to a recording medium in a main scanning direction to form dots on the recording medium, and a conveying operation of relatively moving the nozzle column and the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction, the recording system including an assigning section for obtaining a plurality of halftone data which is generated with respect to the same area of the image data based on the image data, and which corresponds to the ink of a predetermined color, and then assigning each of the halftone data obtained to the pass operations in the same direction in reciprocation in the main scanning direction in a predetermined recording area.

A recording system for recording a recording image based on image data by repeating a pass operation in which a nozzle column discharges ink while reciprocating relatively to a recording medium in a main scanning direction to form dots on the recording medium, and a conveying operation of relatively moving the nozzle column and the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction, the recording system including an assigning section for obtaining a plurality of halftone data which is generated with respect to the same area of the image data based on the image data, and which corresponds to the ink of a predetermined color, and then assigning each of the halftone data obtained to the pass operations in the same direction in reciprocation in the main scanning direction in a predetermined recording area.

There are provided a printing system, a method of generating a halftone processing rule, a method of acquiring a characteristic parameter, image processing device and method, a halftone processing rule, a halftone image, a method of manufacturing a printed material, an ink jet printing system, and a program which are capable of reducing an operation load of a user and acquiring a halftone processing rule appropriate for the printing system. A characteristic parameter acquisition chart including a pattern for acquiring characteristic parameters related to characteristics of the printing system is output, and the output characteristic parameter acquisition chart is read by image reading means. The characteristic parameters are acquired by analyzing the read image of the characteristic parameter acquisition chart, and halftone processing rules that define the processing contents of halftone processes used in the printing system are generated based on the acquired characteristic parameters.

There are provided a printing system, a method of generating a halftone processing rule, a method of acquiring a characteristic parameter, image processing device and method, a halftone processing rule, a halftone image, a method of manufacturing a printed material, an ink jet printing system, and a program which are capable of reducing an operation load of a user and acquiring a halftone processing rule appropriate for the printing system. A characteristic parameter acquisition chart including a pattern for acquiring characteristic parameters related to characteristics of the printing system is output, and the output characteristic parameter acquisition chart is read by image reading means. The characteristic parameters are acquired by analyzing the read image of the characteristic parameter acquisition chart, and halftone processing rules that define the processing contents of halftone processes used in the printing system are generated based on the acquired characteristic parameters.

A method of operating an inkjet printer identifies a thermal load that will be imposed on the printheads in the inkjet printer during execution of a print job and identifies a remedial action to reduce the thermal load if the thermal load increases the temperature of the printheads above an upper threshold of a predetermined temperature range. The thermal load is identified from the ink image content data for the print job, the print job parameters for the print job, and environmental condition measurements received from sensors in the printer. The remedial actions include manipulation of the print job queue, alteration of print job parameters, and active cooling to remove heat from the printheads or media within the printer.