A method in a page-wide array printing apparatus comprising at least first and second printing dies that overlap in a page width direction comprises the steps of calibrating the printing apparatus in a media advance direction to a higher resolution than the page width direction, the media advance direction being perpendicular to the page width direction, and using printing masks to control the operation of a plurality of nozzles in an overlap area between the first and second printing dies to reduce any visible defects caused by dot placement errors in the page width direction.

A printer performs a multi-pass printing including a (a)-print process, a (b)-print process, and a (c)-print process between the (a)-print process and the (b)-print process. The (c)-print process includes a (c1)-pass process, a (c2)-pass process, and a process for conveying a sheet feed amount greater than feed amount used in the (a)-print process after the (c1)-pass process and before the (c2)-pass process. An upstream gradient of dot recording rates of active nozzles used for the (c1)-pass process is greater than that for the (a)-print process. A downstream gradient of the dot recording rates for the (c1)-pass process is greater than or equal to that for the (a)-print process. A downstream gradient of the dot recording rates of for the (c2)-pass process is the same as the upstream gradient for the (c1)-pass process.

Provided is an inkjet recording device and an inkjet recording method that can selectively perform a high-speed recording mode or a high-quality recording mode without requiring a process of changing configurations of nozzle rows. The head control section performs the discharge control by using all the nozzles belonging to the nozzle groups of respective colors as the usable range Ru in the case where the high-speed mode is designated by the mode designating section. On the other hand, in the case where the high-quality mode is designated, the head control section determines, for each color, the usable range Ru being a part of the nozzle range Rn configured by the nozzle groups, and performs the discharge control using only the nozzles belonging to the usable ranges Ru so as to cause the ink droplets to be discharged according to the particular color order at any positions on the recording medium.

A printer performs a multi-pass printing including: (a) pass process executed with Ka number of nozzles; (c1) pass process executed with Kc1 number of nozzles; (c2) pass process executed with Kc2 number of nozzles; and (b) pass process executed with Kb number of nozzles. Kc1 and Kc2 are greater than or equal to Kb and smaller than Ka. An upstream gradient of dot recording rates of (c1) pass process is greater than a gradient of (a) pass process. A downstream gradient of (c1) pass process is the same as the gradient of (a) pass process. An upstream gradient of (c2)-pass process is the same as a gradient of (b) pass process. A downstream gradient of (c2)-pass process is greater than the gradient of the (a) pass process. Kc1 is greater than Kc2.

A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system are provided for ensuring the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed on documents with removable scratch-off coatings by the redundant printing. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce the consequences possibly resulting from misprinted variable indicia.

An image processing apparatus for correcting image data used to print an image on a print medium by discharging ink from a plurality of nozzles provided in a printhead in scanning in each of a first direction included in a scanning direction crossing a conveyance direction of the print medium and a second direction different from the first direction, comprising a correction unit configured to perform correction for, in the image data, image data to be printed by scanning in the first direction in accordance with a degree of condensing of the ink in the nozzles such that a density change caused by the condensing is relaxed, and perform, for image data to be printed by scanning in the second direction in the image data, correction different from the correction for the image data to be printed by the scanning in the first direction.

A printer includes a roller that conveys a sheet in a conveyance direction; a motor that drives the roller; a print head disposed along a line direction intersecting the conveyance direction; and a processor configured to set print speeds for dot data sets of lines to be printed based on a number of dots to be printed in each of the dot data sets, change the set print speeds of target dot data sets among the dot data sets to a uniform print speed when the set print speeds of the dot data sets change multiple times within a predetermined number of consecutive lines, and control the print head to print the dot data sets line by line on the sheet while controlling the motor to cause the roller to convey the sheet toward the print head at the set print speeds and the uniform print speed.

A printer for identifying a type of thermal printhead (TPH) is provided. The printer comprising at least one TPH comprising a plurality of dots. Each dot has an associated resistance. The plurality of dots are in a first pattern having a first end and a second end. The printer may determine a resistance value for each dot. The printer compares the resistance value(s) associated with at least one dot of the first end and at least one dot of the second end with a predefined threshold resistance value. The printer identifies at least one dot having a high resistance value and identify a type of TPH based at least on the at least one heating dot identified.

Provided is a novel inkjet printer system that can use machine learning to improve the inspection performance of a printing inspection device. The inkjet printer system includes, in the machine learning, a random test printing function unit (301) that has a function that prints a random dot arrangement that is based on various characters printed in the printing area of a printing target, and an evaluation function training function unit (302) that has a function that optimizes an evaluation function for inspecting a printed image on the basis of a captured image of the results of the printing.

Systems and methods for laser assisted deposition of a material includes a printing unit configured to print individual dot-like portions of a material from a donor substrate onto a receiving substrate, and a vacuum shuttle configured to be positionable in two or three dimensions between the printing unit and the donor substrate and to engage the donor substrate upon application of a vacuum to the vacuum shuttle. The printing unit may include a coating system and a laser. The vacuum shuttle includes a vacuum channel about its periphery and an open window through which the laser irradiates the donor substrate. The vacuum channel is fluidly coupled to a vacuum inlet for receiving a vacuum suction, thereby to engage the donor substrate and hold it taught against the bottom of the vacuum shuttle in operation. The vacuum shuttle may also include one or more distance measuring sensors and fiducial markers.