A processor of a printing device automatically raster image processes print data in a print job to produce a first, relatively low resolution, bitmap for printing the print job with the printer's main colors and one or more optional colors. The processor automatically compares the extended gamut of the lower-resolution first bitmap and the main color gamut of the printing engine to identify image quality improvement pixels of the extended gamut that are outside the main color gamut. The processor automatically either raster image processes the print data with the main colors and one of the optional colors, or raster image processes the print data with only the main colors, based on whether the number of image quality improvement pixels of the extended gamut that are outside the main color gamut exceeds a pixel quantity threshold, to produce a second, relatively higher resolution, bitmap.

To make it possible to suppress a delay of the start of rendering of a page even in the case where image data is included across the band boundary in the page of print data. The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that performs rendering by dividing a page into a first area and a second area based on print data and includes: a memory configured to store image data arranged across the first area and the second area; a first render configured to access the image data and to perform rendering by using pixels within the first area of all pixels of the image data; and a second render configured to access the image data and to perform rendering by using pixels within the second area of all pixels of the image data.

Methods and apparatus for decoding data streams are provided. A computing device can receive a decoder-input data stream encoded in a decoder-input format. The decoder-input data stream can include one or more pages of content. The decoder-input data stream can be initiated by an identifier identifying the decoder-input format (which may be the same as an encoder-output format) and a lookup table. The lookup table can reference objects within the decoder-input data stream and can specify locations of each of the one or more pages within the decoder-input data stream. The computing device can generate an output based on the decoder-input data stream.

Methods and apparatus for decoding data streams are provided. A computing device can receive a decoder-input data stream encoded in a decoder-input format. The decoder-input data stream can include one or more pages of content. The decoder-input data stream can be initiated by an identifier identifying the decoder-input format (which may be the same as an encoder-output format) and a lookup table. The lookup table can reference objects within the decoder-input data stream and can specify locations of each of the one or more pages within the decoder-input data stream. The computing device can generate an output based on the decoder-input data stream.

A method of encoding print data performed by a host device is described in which a print request for a compound document is received; objects included in the compound document is classified into predetermined groups based on object attribute information; each of the predetermined groups is compressed according to a preset compression method; and the compressed groups is merged and the merged groups is transmitted to an image forming apparatus.

A raster image processing system including a computer readable media storing digital information that includes information corresponding to an image, and instructions for performing raster image processing (RIP) using an over scan RIP technique on the image to generate a bitmap. Also included is a processor configured to RIP the image using the over scan RIP technique at a multiple of the desired output pixel resolution to produce a plurality of sub-pixels per output pixel. The processor is further configured to determine each image output pixel value based on the values set for the plurality of sub-pixels of each image pixel, by firstly comparing the values of the plurality of sub-pixels to each other and, and then secondly comparing the values of the plurality of sub-pixels to a set background value if needed. The processor then sets the output pixel value based upon that second comparison, and generates a bitmap.

A method for generating bitmap image data of a page includes acquiring print data of a page including compressed images, and performing rendering of bands included in the page based on the print data to generate the bitmap image data. The performing of the rendering performs rendering at least two of the bands concurrently. The performing of the rendering includes decompressing the compressed images, and using the decompressed images for corresponding bands of the bands to generate the bitmap image data. The decompressing decompresses, into a same memory area in a decompression buffer, at least two compressed images used for different bands, so that one of the two compressed images is decompressed into the same memory area and another of the two compressed images is decompressed, after rendering of a last band for which the one of the two compressed images is lastly used is finished, into the same memory area.

A method of encoding print data performed by a host device is described in which a print request for a compound document is received; objects included in the compound document is classified into predetermined groups based on object attribute information; each of the predetermined groups is compressed according to a preset compression method; and the compressed groups is merged and the merged groups is transmitted to an image forming apparatus.

An image processing apparatus uses a first rendering processor that performs rendering of a first area within a page based on print data and a second rendering processor that performs rendering of a second area within the page based on the print data. The image processing apparatus includes a controller, having a processor which executes instructions stored in a memory or having circuitry, being configured to acquire image data arranged across the first area and the second area based on the print data, cause the first rendering processor having accessed the image data to acquire all pixels of the image data and to perform rendering with pixels within the first area of all the pixels of the image data, and cause the second rendering processor having accessed the image data to acquire all the pixels of the image data and to perform rendering with pixels within the second area of all the pixels of the image data.

The information processing apparatus: generates PDL data by calculating, in a case where a drawing-target object within XPS format drawing data is a text-attribute character object that is drawn by using a font, a character advance width from font data; and performing rendering for the XPS format drawing data by using the calculated character advance width.