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.

A method compensates a failing nozzle of a print head of an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer includes at least one print head, the at least one print head including a plurality of nozzles. A receiving material is moved relatively to the at least one print head. The method includes ejecting droplets of marking material from the plurality of nozzles onto the receiving material forming dots of an image, scanning the printed dots, analyzing the scanned dots for detecting whether a nozzle is failing, determining a group of nozzles, which group of nozzles most likely contains the nozzle that is failing, selecting one nozzle of the group of nozzles, in an image part ejecting compensating droplets of marking material in accordance with a compensation scheme selected as if the one nozzle is failing, scanning the image part, repeating the steps of ejecting and scanning for each other nozzle in the group of nozzles, analyzing each image part, selecting from the image parts a deviating image part, the deviating image part having a highest or lowest print quality of all image parts, selecting a compensation scheme based on the deviating image part, and proceeding with printing, including ejecting compensating droplets in accordance with the selected compensation scheme. An inkjet printer is configured to execute the method.

The position information includes first position information about a position, at a first timing, of a droplet ejected from a first nozzle, which is one of the plurality of nozzles, and traveling in air, and second position information about a position, at the first timing, of a droplet ejected from a second nozzle, which is one of the plurality of nozzles N and is different from the first nozzle, and traveling in air.

An ink discharge operation adjustment method includes the following, recording a halftone image in which the ink is discharged to form a predetermined halftone pattern and a solid image in which the ink completely covers a surface of the recording medium; obtaining a first reading result by a reader reading a non-recording region in which an image is not recorded on a recording medium; obtaining a second reading result of the halftone image and the solid image so that a difference of an elapsed time from a start of the curing to the reading is within a predetermined reference difference; obtaining coverage rate information based on the reading results; and performing setting regarding adjustment of a droplet amount of the ink based on the coverage rate information.

An apparatus includes a printing head (154) comprising jet nozzles (158) spaced apart from one another, where a distance from a first jet nozzle to a second jet nozzle positioned adjacent the first jet nozzle defines a jet-spacing, a printing head position control assembly includes a first actuator assembly (102) to move the printing head along the longitudinal axis and a second actuator assembly (103) to move the printing head along a latitudinal axis, and an control unit communicatively coupled to the printing head position control assembly. The control unit causes jet nozzles to dispense drops of binder (50) while the printing head traverses a first pass trajectory along the longitudinal axis in a first direction, indexes the printing head to a second pass trajectory along the latitudinal axis, and causes jet nozzles to dispense drops of binder while the printing head traverses the second pass trajectory along the longitudinal axis in a second direction.

A three-dimensional object production method according to the disclosure includes a step of allocating one of regions in a nozzle row (22) that is different from each other to each of pixel groups (25A, 25B) divided into a predetermined number n (n being an integer ≥2) of groups among pixel rows constituting the unit layer (25), and a step of forming the pixel rows by nozzles (21) included in each region forming one pixel group (25A, 25B).

A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. 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 possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.

There is provided an image recording apparatus, including: a conveyer; a recording head; a carriage; a signal output circuit; and a controller. When recording is performed by a multi-pass recording mode, when the number of defective-discharge nozzles is less than a predefined value, when a discharge-defective nozzle, in which a dot recording ratio using a first mask data is equal to or more than a threshold value, is included in nozzles, and when a discharge-defective nozzle, in which a dot recording ratio using a second mask data is equal to or more than the threshold value, is not included in the nozzles, the controller sets the second mask data as a used mask data and performs recording without a suction purge. In other cases, the controller sets the first mask data as the used mask data and performs a purge process before recording as needed.

In an image-recording device, a cartridge has a first chamber and an outlet. A mount body includes a tank, first and second sensors. The tank has an inlet, and a second chamber. The liquid in the first chamber flows into the second chamber via the outlet and the inlet. The first sensor outputs a first signal when a level of the liquid in the second chamber is higher than a first position, and outputs a second signal when the level is lower than the first position. The second sensor outputs a third signal when the level is higher than a second position higher than the first position, and outputs the fourth signal when the level is lower than the second position. A controller controls a notification device to issue a notification if a condition based on the first and second signals is satisfied.

A method for assessing the condition and improving the printing quality of printing nozzles in printheads of an inkjet printing machine includes printing a nozzle test chart formed of a specific number of horizontal rows of equidistant vertical lines printed periodically underneath one another, with only every n.sup.th printing nozzle contributing to the test chart in every row of the test chart and n corresponding to a different number between one and the specific number of horizontal rows, recording and digitizing the test chart and analyzing the test chart regarding the condition of the contributing nozzles by using a computer. The nozzles printing horizontal lines between the horizontal rows complementing the equidistant vertical lines to form quadrangular objects used by the computer to analyze the condition of the contributing nozzles. Measures are taken to improve the printing quality of the nozzles depending on the condition of the contributing nozzles.