An information processing device performs processing of specifying a positional relationship between a first printing section and a second printing section based on image capturing data of a test image that is printed on a printing medium by the first printing section and the second printing section in each of which a plurality of printing elements are arranged. The test image includes a plurality of first lines which are printed by the first printing section so as to have printing positions different from each other in a line arrangement direction on the printing medium and a plurality of second lines which are printed by the second printing section so as to have printing positions different from each other in the line arrangement direction. The information processing device contains a printing coordinate acquisition section, a printing position acquisition section, and a positional shift amount calculation section.

A droplet deposition apparatus (1) comprising: a first head module (101A, 101B, 102A) and a second head module (101B, 102A, 102B) arranged in at least partially overlapping relationship, each head module having a plurality of nozzles in at least one nozzle array (A1, B1); and a storage (200) configured to store a table of determined best aligned nozzle pairs in an overlap region and corresponding skew angles (Θi) of at least one of the head modules relative to a datum of the droplet deposition apparatus and/or a corresponding positional offset of the second head module relative to the first head module; wherein, in the overlap region, nozzles of the first head module are arranged at a first nozzle pitch (P2) and nozzles of the second head module are arranged at a second nozzle itch (P3). Associated methods in respect of determining misalignment information in respect of such a droplet deposition apparatus, and determining one or more best aligned nozzle pairs in an overlap region between at least two head modules, are also provided.

This invention provides an image processing apparatus for generating image data for recording in a recording apparatus including a recording unit including a plurality of nozzles discharging ink, comprising a converting unit which converts, based on characteristic information according to a characteristic of each nozzle included in the recording unit, image data corresponding to an input print job into image data to be used for recording by the recording unit; and a control unit which executes one of a plurality of correction processes based on image data obtained by reading an image recorded by the recording unit, wherein the plurality of correction processes include first correction processing that is performed after the recording of the image according to the print job is stopped, and second correction processing that is performed without stopping the recording of the image according to the print job.

A printing apparatus includes: a plurality of heads configured to print mutually different colors; and a control unit configured to control the heads. The control unit operates the first head, configured to print a first color distinguishable from a surface color of an adjustment paper, to print a first correction pattern for performing alignment correction of the first head on the adjustment paper, and operates the second head, configured to print a second color distinguishable from the first color, to print a second correction pattern for performing alignment correction of the second head on the adjustment paper so as to at least partially overlap a first color area that is an area formed by the first head.

An image forming apparatus includes: an ink-jet head including a storage that stores phase transition ink, the ink jet head forms an image on a recording medium by ejecting the phase transition ink; and one or more hardware processors. The one or more hardware processors change a driving condition of the ink jet head for a case of ejecting the phase transition ink on a basis of a first reading result of a pattern image formed by the ink-jet head; estimate occurrence of a state change of the phase transition ink in the storage when the driving condition that is changed satisfies a predetermined condition; and determine whether a lifetime of the ink jet head is over in accordance with whether the occurrence of the state change is estimated.

A method is provided that is implemented on a control device connected with an inkjet printer, which includes an inkjet head having an ink discharging surface, a head scanning unit reciprocating the inkjet head relative to a recording sheet along a scanning direction parallel to the ink discharging surface, and a wave shape generating mechanism deforming the recording sheet in a predetermined wave shape that has tops of portions protruding in a first direction toward the ink discharging surface and bottoms of portions recessed in a second direction opposite to the first direction alternately arranged along the scanning direction, the method including acquiring gap information related to a gap between the ink discharging surface and each individual one of the tops and the bottoms on the recording sheet, and determining whether the gap information acquired for each individual one of the tops and the bottoms is abnormal.

In an ink jet recording device in which a paper supporting part is constituted by a first support and a second support having a comb teeth structure, a region where paper is supported by only the first support is defined as a first region, a region where the paper is supported by only the second support is defined as a second region, and a region where the paper is supported by the first support and the second support is defined as a third region. Charts including a plurality of grayscales for the respective regions are drawn. The respective drawn charts are read by an image reader. Correction values of density unevenness are obtained for the respective regions on the basis of the reading results. Density data of an image are corrected for the respective regions on the basis of the correction values of the density unevenness for the respective regions.

A printing apparatus acquires characteristic information about a recording medium and executes a light quantity adjustment in a reading operation using a reading unit based on the acquired characteristic information. By using the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of processes for analyzing read data obtained by reading a test pattern.

At least a part of an inspection image is divided into a finite number of local regions by allowing overlap in a first direction. A streak intensity signal quantitatively showing intensity of a streak for a position in a second direction intersecting with the first direction is created for each of the local regions. A position of a streak-like signal is detected by using each of at least one of T thresholds, where T is 1 or more. Presence or absence of a streak is determined for a position in accordance with the number of times of detection for each of thresholds in a local region group composed of two or more local regions connecting in the first direction. The number of times of detection required for determining that there is a streak for at least one of the thresholds is two or more.

A pattern of a first ink is formed on a recording medium using a first nozzle, a difference between smoothness of a surface at an edge portion of the pattern of the first ink in a predetermined direction and smoothness of a peripheral area of the pattern of the first ink on the recording medium is increased by applying another imparting material different from the first ink on the pattern of the first ink and a first adjustment pattern is formed, a second adjustment pattern of a predetermined imparting material is formed on the recording medium using a second nozzle, and a detection unit detects information by measuring specular reflected light when areas respectively including the first and the second adjustment patterns are each irradiated with light.