A recording data generation apparatus is provided that generates recording data in CMYK form including color information related to CMYK values and color information other than the CMYK values based on image data in RGB form including color information related to RGB values and transparency information related to transparency degree.

A liquid discharging apparatus includes a support unit configured to support a medium, a discharging unit configured to discharge a liquid onto the medium supported by the support unit, and a controller capable of executing a first image formation operation that forms a first image by causing the discharging unit to discharge liquid on the medium, and a second image formation operation that forms a second image by causing the discharging unit to discharge liquid onto the medium on which the first image is formed. In the case where a same-color region having the same color as the first image located under the second image is present in the second image in a region overlapping with the first image, the controller causes the same-color region to be formed in both the first image formation operation and the second image formation operation.

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a recording head to discharge a liquid on a recording medium while scanning in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction relative to the recording medium. The recording head includes a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array. The first nozzle array discharges the liquid in a first discharge amount per unit time per unit length in a longitudinal direction. The second nozzle array discharges the liquid in a second discharge amount per unit time per unit length in the longitudinal direction. The second nozzle array is shorter than the first nozzle array in the longitudinal direction and disposed not overlapped with the first nozzle array in the main scanning direction. The second discharge amount is larger than the first discharge amount.

A white ink includes a hollow resin particle, an organic solvent, an acrylic silicone resin, and water, wherein the acrylic silicone resin has a resin solubility parameter smaller than that of the hollow resin particle.

A printing control method, a printing control device and a storage medium are provided. The method includes steps of: acquiring first scan times of first ink used for printing a unit area; acquiring second scan times of second ink used for printing a unit area; comparing the first scan times with the second scan times; according to a comparison result, controlling a printer to eject the first ink or/and the second ink in each scan in a main scan direction. The method and device are able to efficiently and quickly print a three-dimensional effect image.

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 inkjet printing method includes the steps of: a) printing a first print job by jetting a free radical UV curable white inkjet ink from a white ink print head and one or more free radical UV curable color inkjet inks from one or more other print heads in a UV curable inkjet printer; b) filling the white ink print head in the UV curable inkjet printer with a safeguard liquid including one or more free radical polymerizable monomers; c) printing a second print job employing only the one or more other print heads in the UV curable inkjet printer for jetting one or more free radical UV curable color inkjet inks; d) replacing the safeguard liquid of the white ink print head in the UV curable inkjet printer by UV curable white inkjet ink; and e) printing a third print job by jetting free radical UV curable white inkjet ink from the white ink print head and jetting one or more free radical UV curable color inkjet inks from one or more other print heads in the UV curable inkjet printer.

In a printing method in which a base layer is formed with glossy ink or the like, a longer time period for drying the base layer is ensured. A metallic ink nozzle section, a superimposed colored ink nozzle section configured to discharge superimposed colored ink that is to be superimposed onto a metallic ink layer, and a non-superimposed colored ink nozzle section configured to discharge colored ink onto a position at which no metallic ink layer has been formed are provided. The non-superimposed colored ink nozzle section is interposed between the metallic ink nozzle section and the superimposed colored ink nozzle section.

A printing method of printing a background and an image on a medium includes a background printing step of printing a background on the medium by discharging background ink, and an image printing step of being performed in parallel with the background printing step and printing an image on the medium by discharging image ink. A non-printing area, where the background ink and the image ink are not discharged to a boundary between the background and the image, is provided in the background printing step and the image printing step.

A recording method includes applying a white ink containing a white material and a first resin onto a predetermined region of a recording medium, and applying a reaction liquid containing a reaction agent onto at least the predetermined region. Further, the recording method includes applying a clear ink containing a second resin onto at least the predetermined region, and the application of the white ink and the clear ink are performed while the white ink and the clear ink are both wet; and/or the white ink further contains the second resin. When either the first resin and water, or the second resin and water, is mixed with an aqueous solution of magnesium sulfate, the average particle size of the first resin increases more than the second resin.