A printing apparatus includes a data processing portion that creates image data that corresponds to printing of a predetermined unit, a transport portion that transports a printing medium, and a printing portion that executes the printing of the predetermined unit on the printing medium on the basis of the image data, in which the data processing portion determines whether or not the creation of image data precedes the printing, causes the printing portion to execute a first printing process for printing of a lower end portion of an image of a printing target in a case in which the creation of image data is precedent, and causes the printing portion to execute a second printing process for printing of the lower end portion in a case in which the creation of image data is not precedent.

In a printing chip overlapping area being an area in which a first printing chip and a second printing chip overlap with each other when viewed from a second direction, ink is discharged so that a first overlapping area and a second overlapping area at least partially do not overlap with each other when viewed from the second direction. In the first overlapping area, a nozzle usage ratio of a first nozzle row and a nozzle usage ratio of a third nozzle row are neither 0% nor 100%. In the second overlapping area, a nozzle usage ratio of a second nozzle row and a nozzle usage ratio of a fourth nozzle row are neither 0% nor 100%.

The invention relates to a process for producing a printed image on a substrate comprising the steps of selecting eight or fewer process colors from a known process ink color set; providing two or more spot colors, forming a color set comprising the process colors and the spot colors; and optionally printing the image using the formed color set. The ratio of the number of spot colors to the number of process colors is at least 0.5:1.

A method of printing a pattern from at least two rows of fluid ejection nozzles, said nozzles ejecting a first fluid in a multi-pass printing mode, the method comprising: dividing the pattern to be printed between the rows of fluid ejection nozzles; applying masks to the rows of fluid ejection nozzles for printing with selected nozzles of each of the rows of fluid ejection nozzles during each pass; wherein a first mask for printing from a first row of fluid ejection nozzles during an n-th pass is different from a second mask for printing from a second row of fluid ejection nozzles during said n-th pass.

Described herein are systems and methods for processing an image such as a halftone image. For example, in some embodiments, pixels of an image are checked to see if when printed would be represented by a given output. Pixels of the image that match defined values are replaced with pixels that are represented by a different set of outputs. This latter set of outputs may be selected to optimize one or more imaging attributes.

According to one embodiment, a mobile printer includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge, and a print head. The first housing has a first surface on which a printing medium can be disposed. The second housing faces the first surface. The hinge connects the first housing and the second housing and permits the first and second housings to rotate relative to each other. The print head is provided in the second housing and is configured to print an image by discharging on to the print medium when the print medium is on the first surface between the first and second housings.

A digital printing system (10) includes a print head (622) and a processor (20). The print head is configured to jet droplets of ink. The processor is further configured to translate a required shade of a color, to be printed at a given location on a substrate by tire print head, into a sequence of pulses (625, 630), the sequence including: (a) up to a predefined maximum number of driving pulses (625) that cause the print head to jet respective droplets, and (b) a tickling pulse (630), which has a smaller amplitude than the driving pulses and which causes the print head to jet a droplet smaller than the droplets jetted in response to the driving pulses. The processor is additionally configured to apply the sequence of pulses to the print head.

A friction reduction system for reducing friction of an intermediate transfer member (ITM) of a printing system, while the ITM is guided along the printing system by a guiding arrangement. The friction reduction system includes a fluid reservoir mounted within the printing system, a fluid depositing arrangement disposed along the ITM, and a control mechanism, adapted to control depositing of fluid, from the fluid depositing arrangement onto the guiding arrangement or onto at least a portion of the ITM. Depositing of the fluid reduces friction between the ITM and the guiding arrangement.

A cleaning method of a liquid ejection head where recording element substrates having an ejection orifice forming-face having ejection orifice arrays which are aligned, and at least one array ejects a different recording liquid than another, includes wiping and preliminary ejection. In the wiping, a wiping member is caused to move along and wipe the arrays. In the preliminary ejection, before the wiping of the entire ejection orifice forming-face is completed, preliminary ejection from the wiped ejection orifices is started. The wiping and preliminary ejection are sequentially performed from a recording element substrate at one end to a recording element substrate at the other end.

An ink jet recording apparatus performs a recording operation by ejecting ink from a recording head. The apparatus includes a first absorber configured to absorb ink, a second absorber disposed apart from the first absorber having a larger ink absorption capacity than the first absorber, and a flow path portion that does not absorb ink. The second absorber has a second lower end portion arranged below a first lower end portion of the first absorber. The flow path portion connects the first lower end portion and a portion of the second absorber below the first lower end portion. As a result, ink is prevented from overflowing from the absorbers, even if an apparatus is arranged at an angle.