An image processing apparatus includes a management unit and a plurality of image processing modules. Each of the image processing modules performs image processing. The management unit manages a processing status of each of the image processing modules. The number of colors and the number of pixels for each of the colors are set as a processing unit for each of the image processing modules, and each of the image processing modules starts the image processing using the processing unit which is set, on the basis of the processing status of a previous image processing module among the processing statuses managed by the management unit.

An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.

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 (100) including a pattern for acquiring characteristic parameters related to characteristics of the printing system is output, and the output characteristic parameter acquisition chart (100) is read by image reading means. The characteristic parameters are acquired by analyzing the read image of the characteristic parameter acquisition chart (100), 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 (100) including a pattern for acquiring characteristic parameters related to characteristics of the printing system is output, and the output characteristic parameter acquisition chart (100) is read by image reading means. The characteristic parameters are acquired by analyzing the read image of the characteristic parameter acquisition chart (100), 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.

In printing, it is possible to more easily reduce a change in color that is caused by the surface form of an image to be formed. A color correction unit configured to correct color data representing a color by using a correction value in accordance with gloss data representing gloss, a color conversion unit configured to convert the corrected color data into color material amount data, a first generation unit configured to generate, based on the color material amount data, data that is used to form a color development layer among the print data and which makes the color development layer flat and smooth, and a second generation unit configured to generate, based on the gloss data, data that is used to form a glossy layer among the print data are included.

A method of operating a three-dimensional object printer to form printed images on a surface of an object with increased color resolution includes generating a plurality of low-precision tone reproduction curves (TRCs) from a plurality of high-precision color conversion entries that are modified by a plurality of values in a one-to-one correspondence to the TRCs. The method further comprises generating modified contone image and halftone image data for each plane using one of the low-precision TRCs and forming the image from multiple printed layers of ink corresponding to the plurality of planes.

A method of operating a three-dimensional object printer to form printed images on a surface of an object with increased color resolution includes generating a plurality of low-precision tone reproduction curves (TRCs) from a plurality of high-precision color conversion entries that are modified by a plurality of values in a one-to-one correspondence to the TRCs. The method further comprises generating modified contone image and halftone image data for each plane using one of the low-precision TRCs and forming the image from multiple printed layers of ink corresponding to the plurality of planes.

An image capturing unit includes a sensor unit that image-captures a predetermined area including a subject; and a reference chart unit that is arranged in the predetermined area and captured with the subject by the sensor unit.

A white-plate graphic erosion process is performed on print data subjected to a RIP process in the following procedure. First, an erosion candidate region which is a candidate for a region in which a white-plate graphic is eroded is determined. Then, a region to be applied with an ink of a color other than white is determined. Then, an application target region is determined. Then, a region other than a region obtained by an erosion process out of the application target region is determined to be an erosion allowed region. Then, a region included in the colored region and the erosion allowed region out of the erosion candidate region is determined to be an erosion target region. Finally, the values of data of pixels included in the erosion target region among white-plate data are rewritten such that the amount of white ink applied to the pixels is reduced.

An inkjet recording apparatus includes a calculation section, a selection section, and a recording head. The calculation section calculates respective densities of first regions in pairs included in the image. The selection section selects dot patterns corresponding to the respective first regions according to the respective densities of the first regions. The recording head ejects ink onto a sheet based on a dot pattern corresponding to a region of the image other than the first regions and the dot patterns corresponding to the respective first regions. The first regions in pairs corresponds to end portions in pairs among a plurality of end portions of the image that each extend in a conveyance direction of the sheet. The dot patterns corresponding to the respective first regions each have a density lower than a corresponding one of the densities of the respective first regions calculated by the calculation section.