An ink jet process is used to deposit a material layer to a desired thickness. Layout data is converted to per-cell grayscale values, each representing ink volume to be locally delivered. The grayscale values are used to generate a halftone pattern to deliver variable ink volume (and thickness) to the substrate. The halftoning provides for a relatively continuous layer (e.g., without unintended gaps or holes) while providing for variable volume and, thus, contributes to variable ink/material buildup to achieve desired thickness. The ink is jetted as liquid or aerosol that suspends material used to form the material layer, for example, an organic material used to form an encapsulation layer for a flat panel device. The deposited layer is then cured or otherwise finished to complete the process.

A method is for processing image data for recording by an image forming apparatus that discharges ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles. The method includes reading out image data corresponding to one line constituted by a series of dots aligning in a main scanning direction. The method further includes calculating a faulty discharge error, which occurs at a non-discharge position on a line at which no ink droplet is discharged from a defective one of the plurality of nozzles. The method further includes controlling distribution of the faulty discharge error to a line that is downstream relative to a line on which the non-discharge position occurs according to a limit setting that limits distribution of the faulty discharge error.

A recording apparatus includes an ejecting unit which can eject first ink for image forming and colorless second ink onto a recording medium; and a control unit which can control ejecting operations of the first ink and the second ink in the ejecting unit, in which the control unit performs a plurality of ejecting operations of the first ink with respect to one ejecting operation of the second ink, so that at least a part of a landing position of the second ink and a landing position of the first ink overlap on the recording medium.

An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit that converts first input image data for a first region and second input image data for a second region to reduce a difference between first region recorded image density and second region recorded image density, and generates dot position data of a dot to be generated in each of the first and second regions based on the dot data after the conversion processing. The acquisition unit acquires edge information indicating a first object pixel edge of an image pixel for the first region and a second object pixel edge of an image pixel for the second region. Based on the acquired edge information, conversion and generation processing are performed in such a manner that a color signal of an edge pixel is increased/reduced to a degree lower than a degree to which a color signal of a non-edge object pixel is increased/reduced.

Wherein, in the first dither mask, when the first space is cut by the first plane, a plurality of threshold values in the first plane has a blue noise characteristic in the spatial frequency domain, and when the first space is cut by a second plane extending in a direction different from that of the first plane, a plurality of threshold values in the second plane has a blue noise characteristic in the spatial frequency domain.

An image processing apparatus includes a hardware processor, an obtaining unit, a comparator, an adjuster and a notifying unit. The hardware processor obtains a read image from a reader that reads a print-through image formed on a back surface opposite an image forming surface of a recording medium. A target image is formed on the image forming surface with a color material, and the print-through image is formed on the back surface by the color material permeating through the recording medium. The obtaining unit obtains a comparison image in which the target image is at least recognizable. The comparator compares the read image with the comparison image. Depending on a result of the comparison by the comparator, the hardware processor causes at least one of (i) the adjuster to adjust a printing process parameter and (ii) the notifying unit to perform notification.

A method is provided for printing a surface of a non-absorbent substrate with an ink to be applied by an inkjet printing device. An ink that contains water as a solvent is used for printing the substrate. An ink having a water content of at least 70% is used. The substrate to be printed is supported by a workpiece support and is moved relative to the inkjet printing device. During this relative movement, ink is applied by the inkjet printing device to the surface of the substrate to be printed. The ink that is applied to the surface of the substrate is heated to a temperature that is above the temperature of the air surrounding the substrate and that is below the boiling point of the solvent contained in the ink. Above a liquid phase of the ink, a vapor layer, consisting of the solvent that is contained in the ink, is formed. The vapor layer that is formed above the liquid phase of the ink is transported away by an air flow emitted by at least one blower nozzle unit. The air output by the respective blower nozzle unit is heated or is dehumidified beforehand. A digital printing press is provided for carrying out this method.

A method is provided for printing a surface of a non-absorbent substrate with an ink to be applied by an inkjet printing device. An ink that contains water as a solvent is used for printing the substrate. An ink having a water content of at least 70% is used. The substrate to be printed is supported by a workpiece support and is moved relative to the inkjet printing device. During this relative movement, ink is applied by the inkjet printing device to the surface of the substrate to be printed. The ink that is applied to the surface of the substrate is heated to a temperature that is above the temperature of the air surrounding the substrate and that is below the boiling point of the solvent contained in the ink. Above a liquid phase of the ink, a vapor layer, consisting of the solvent that is contained in the ink, is formed. The vapor layer that is formed above the liquid phase of the ink is transported away by an air flow emitted by at least one blower nozzle unit. The air output by the respective blower nozzle unit is heated or is dehumidified beforehand. A digital printing press is provided for carrying out this method.

Examples of curl compensation through selective ink depletion are described. In an example, whether printing in a region of a page is likely to produce curling of the page may be determined based on a page location and a print density of the region. The region of the page may be printed with a depleted amount of an ink in response to determining that printing the region at the page location with the print density is likely to produce curling of the page.

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.