An image processing apparatus has a data acquisition unit that acquires first multi-valued data for a first ink that is not black ink and second multi-valued data for a second ink that is black ink; a threshold value acquisition unit that acquires a threshold value from a threshold value matrix; an offsetting unit that offsets at least one of the threshold value and the second multi-valued data; and a generating unit that generates first quantized data for the first ink by comparing the first multi-valued data and the threshold value, and generate second quantized data for the second ink by comparing the second multi-valued data and the threshold value with offset by the offsetting unit. Dispersibility of dots printed at positions corresponding to threshold values from a minimum value to a predetermined value is higher than that corresponding to threshold values except from the minimum value to the predetermined value.

A method and a system for image compression are disclosed. An image is converted to a halftoned image. The one or more halftoned lines in the halftoned image comprise one or more pixels. A first transformed image is generated from the halftoned image based on shifting of the one or more pixels, associated with the one or more halftoned lines in the halftoned image, by a first value. A second transformed image is generated from the first transformed image based on shifting of the one or more pixels, associated with the one or more halftoned lines in the first transformed image, by a second value. Further, a compressed image is generated based on compression of the second transformed image. The compressed image is stored in a storage device. Another method and system for image conversion are disclosed that converts the compressed image back to the first transformed image.

A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a halftone screen using a Direct Multi-bit Search Screen Algorithm (DMSSA) to optimize a halftone pattern at each gray level.

A recording device includes a recording head including a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge a liquid onto a medium, and a control unit configured to control the discharge of the liquid by the recording head based on recording data. The control unit is configured to execute a plurality of combined halftone processes, the combined halftone process being a combination of a plurality of halftone processes and the plurality of combined halftone processes being different from each other in mode of the combination of the plurality of halftone processes. When performing recording on the medium by executing a recording mode designated from among a plurality of the recording modes having different degrees of error in landing position of dots of the liquid on the medium, the control unit selects the combined halftone process and executes the selected combined halftone process to generate the recording data.

Methods of printing a colour image having more than one colour comprise receiving multiple-bit image data comprising multiple-bit pixel values, deriving 1-bit image data comprising first and second sets of 1-bit image data, and printing from the 1-bit image data the colour image. Methods of generating 1-bit image data for a colour image having more than one colour comprise receiving multiple-bit image data comprising multiple-bit pixel values, and electronically deriving a first set and a second set of 1-bit image data.

Methods of manufacturing a volumetric continuous gradient complex dielectric element with drop-on-demand techniques, such as inkjet printing, by calculating spatial placement of nanocomposite-ink droplets are disclosed. The methods comprise determining or having a multi-dimensional gradient profile representing a volumetric gradient complex dielectric element. Providing or having a plurality of nanocomposite-inks, at least one of the nanocomposite-inks having a curable organic-matrix and a concentration of nanoparticles dispersed within to print the volumetric continuous gradient complex dielectric device. A print mask is determined in one-, two-, or three-dimensions that reconstructs the multi-dimensional gradient profile as a discretized pattern based on the material properties of the plurality of nanocomposite-inks and properties of a printing apparatus. A spatial or spatio-temporal print schedule is determined that results in an at least approximate reproduction of the gradient profile when printed with the printing apparatus.

A determination unit determines whether a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of pixel values of a plurality of pixels in a region of interest in N-gradation multi-valued data, where N4, representing the pixel values of the plurality of pixels is less than a determination threshold value. A generation unit generates M-gradation quantization data represented by an M-gradation quantization value, where 3M<N, based on the N-gradation multi-valued data and the determination. In a case where the determination unit determines that the difference is less than the determination threshold value, the generation unit generates the M-gradation quantization data so that each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to the region has a value that is one of two consecutive values of the M-gradation quantization values in the generated M-gradation quantization data.