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.

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.

An ejection apparatus includes an ejection head configured to eject a droplet from an ejection port on an ejection port surface, a droplet detection unit configured to detect arrival of the droplet ejected from the ejection port at a predetermined position, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about an ejection speed that is a moving speed of the droplet detected by the droplet detection unit, and a determination unit configured to determine subsequent timings for acquiring an ejection speed by the acquisition unit, based on the ejection speed acquired by the acquisition unit at a preceding timing of the subsequent timings.

A printhead is provided having an elongate support having a plurality of internal webs protruding from a base section to define a plurality of parallel fluid supply channels, a shim supported by the support and defining a plurality of rows of openings through which fluid from respective supply channels is supplied, and a plurality of elongate printhead modules supported serially on the shim. Each module defines a plurality of fluid supply passages through which fluid passes to fluid ejection nozzles from respective rows of the openings. Either end of each module defines complementary formations such that adjacent modules nest together.

A method of manufacturing a pattern includes providing a pattern of a first liquid on a medium, applying a powder material to the provided pattern, and providing a second liquid to the powder material applied to the first liquid.

A method is described in which a first color is detected at a user-selected arbitrary position of a first print; a second color is detected at a user-selected arbitrary position of a second print printed by a printer; a color difference between the first color and the second color is determined; and settings of the printer are changed to reduce the color difference in further prints printed by the printer.

A geographically remote computing device transmits an image to a central computing device. The geographically remote computing device also communicates specifications of a substrate or substrates to be imaged to the central computing device. The central computing device selects a geographically remote fulfillment printer. A local, but geographically diverse distribution system is available according to the invention. The central computing device chooses the geographically remote fulfillment printer as a function of factors such as the selected image and substrate, printer capabilities, and the consumer's location. Image quality and consistency is maintained by the central computer selecting an appropriate geographically remote computing device and providing printer the appropriate instructions, rather than the instructions for printing being determined locally at the printer.

Examples associated with drop velocity aberrancy detection are disclosed. One example includes firing ink through nozzles of a print-head past sensors to identify drop velocities of the nozzles. A target drop velocity is selected based on the drop velocities of the nozzles. An aberrant nozzles is detected when a nozzle has a drop velocity that deviates from the target drop velocity by a selected threshold. The aberrant nozzle is deactivated, and a good nozzle that will travel over locations traversed by the aberrant nozzle is configured to print portions of a job that would have been printed by the aberrant nozzle.

Test patterns are printed by ink jet means for jetting ink containing a color material and transparent liquid jet means for jetting transparent liquid. In the test patterns, ink and transparent liquid are applied to different regions on the same medium and ink application regions and transparent liquid application regions are arranged adjacent to each other. A device for determining the amount of transparent liquid to be jetted includes information acquisition means for acquiring information representing the amount of medium deformation of a medium on which the test patterns are printed, and information processing means for determining the amount of transparent liquid to be jetted by the transparent liquid jet means for jetting the transparent liquid, from the information representing the amount of medium deformation acquired by the information acquisition means.

In one example, an aerosol control system for a printer includes an air knife to discharge a sheet of air into a flow of aerosol along a moving print substrate web and a vacuum near the air knife to suck up aerosol from the flow simultaneously with the air knife discharging air into the flow.