A printing apparatus determines whether or not predetermined processing in accordance with a predetermined shape of a medium is executed on an image of a printing target. In a case where it is determined that the predetermined processing is not executed on the image of the printing target, the printing apparatus executes the predetermined processing on the image of the printing target to perform printing. In a case where it is determined that the predetermined processing is executed on the image of the printing target, the printing apparatus prints the image of the printing target on which the predetermined processing is not executed.

Example implementations relate to multiple payload pantograph. Some examples may include a first pattern generation engine to generate a first pattern. The first pattern may be a data-bearing pattern encoding a first payload. Additionally, some examples may include a second pattern generation engine to generate a second pattern, the second pattern (by itself or in combination with the first pattern) may represent a second payload. The second payload may be camouflaged by a combination of the first pattern and the second pattern. Some examples may also include a pantograph generation engine to generate a multiple payload pantograph including the first pattern and the second pattern. The multiple payload pantograph may include the first pattern in one of the pantograph background or the pantograph foreground.

Methods and systems for rendering a transparent pantograph pattern. A background path and a foreground path for a pantograph pattern can be determined. An intersection internal to the background path and external to foreground path that is to be marked can be defined. Areas to be masked can be defined with respect to the pantograph pattern. The pantograph pattern can be then rendered as a transparent vector pattern pantograph by writing a background based on the background path and a foreground based on the foreground path and the areas defined as masked.

Methods and systems for rendering a transparent pantograph pattern. A background path and a foreground path for a pantograph pattern can be determined. An intersection internal to the background path and external to foreground path that is to be marked can be defined. Areas to be masked can be defined with respect to the pantograph pattern. The pantograph pattern can be then rendered as a transparent vector pattern pantograph by writing a background based on the background path and a foreground based on the foreground path and the areas defined as masked.

Systems and methods are described for inline rendering of a color filter within a print job. A program associated with a printing system can select an overhead transparency media to serve as a color filter during inline print job finishing. A duplex path and finishing for the transparency media can be enabled on the printing system by the program. A first side of the overhead transparency media can be printed on with one or more colors by the printing system by the program. A transform can be used on a second side of the overhead transparency media to correct for front to back registration and includes one or more colors printed directly underneath colors printed on the first side by the program. The transparency medium including color filters can be inserted into pages of the print job, which can be rendered in the form of a bound book.

A method of preparing image job data for imaging a mask layer includes receiving at least one raster image file, preparing image job data for imaging the mask layer, the preparing comprising: including data relative to the at least one raster image file in the image job data so as to image at least one corresponding image area of the mask layer; determining a non-functional area of the mask layer outside of the at least one corresponding image area; and including filling imaging data in said image job data for imaging said non-functional area.

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, to the generation and usage of authentication images. In one aspect, unauthorized attempts to duplicate authentication images can be thwarted. In another aspect, there can be provision for authorized authentication image generation using low-resolution print devices.

An information processing apparatus includes a memory device that stores instructions and at least one processor that executes the instructions to determine an image rendering instruction as a conversion target to be converted into a cutout rendering instruction among rendering instructions that have been input, convert the image rendering instruction that has been determined as the conversion target into a cutout rendering instruction, and generate a rendering command based on the rendering instructions that have been input and that include the cutout rendering instruction obtained by the conversion.

In an example, a method includes receiving print data indicative of an image to be printed on a substrate. The print data may indicate an image portion in which an image is present and a void portion in which the image is absent. An amount of background print agent to be applied to a region of the substrate corresponding to the locations of the image portion and the void portion on the substrate when the image is printed may be determined. In examples, the amount of background print agent determined to be applied to a region of the substrate corresponding to the location of the void portion on the substrate when the image is printed is greater than the amount of a background print agent to be applied to the region of the substrate corresponding to the location of the image portion on the substrate when the image is printed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of combining a group element so that a color intended by a user is output ultimately even in the case where flattening is performed on the way of the processing performed on the group.