There are provided a printing system, a method of generating a halftone processing rule, a method of acquiring a characteristic parameter, image processing device and method, a halftone processing rule, a halftone image, a method of manufacturing a printed material, an ink jet printing system, and a program which are capable of reducing an operation load of a user and acquiring a halftone processing rule appropriate for the printing system. A characteristic parameter acquisition chart including a pattern for acquiring characteristic parameters related to characteristics of the printing system is output, and the output characteristic parameter acquisition chart is read by image reading means. The characteristic parameters are acquired by analyzing the read image of the characteristic parameter acquisition chart, and halftone processing rules that define the processing contents of halftone processes used in the printing system are generated based on the acquired characteristic parameters.

There are provided a printing system, a method of generating a halftone processing rule, a method of acquiring a characteristic parameter, image processing device and method, a halftone processing rule, a halftone image, a method of manufacturing a printed material, an ink jet printing system, and a program which are capable of reducing an operation load of a user and acquiring a halftone processing rule appropriate for the printing system. A characteristic parameter acquisition chart including a pattern for acquiring characteristic parameters related to characteristics of the printing system is output, and the output characteristic parameter acquisition chart is read by image reading means. The characteristic parameters are acquired by analyzing the read image of the characteristic parameter acquisition chart, and halftone processing rules that define the processing contents of halftone processes used in the printing system are generated based on the acquired characteristic parameters.

A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

A business method includes imaging documents with an imaging device placed at a location. Media usage is monitored over a cellular network. Upon the media reaching a predetermined level, workers provide additional media. Workers exist in the “gig” economy and have preplaced media. No longer do users change or swap media in media trays. Packaging materials bundle the media. For use, only a portion of the packaging materials is opened thereby revealing an end of the media. Both the packaging materials and the exposed media are inserted into a reusable media shell in a manner making the media available for picking by the imaging device. Other embodiments are envisioned.

An image processing method is an image processing method of a recording device. The image processing method includes inputting the image data having a resolution in a sub scanning direction of X×N dpi, performing data processing on the image data for each N-unit region, performing resolution reduction processing of reducing, to 1/N, a resolution in the sub scanning direction, and generating a recording data based on the reduced image data. In the data processing step, when the N-unit region is formed of a pixel having a black gradation value and a pixel having a gradation value that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value when expressed by RGB, and the pixel having the black gradation value is consecutive from another N-unit region adjacent to the N-unit region, a black dot is generated in a pixel after the resolution reduction processing.

An image processing method is an image processing method of a recording device. The image processing method includes inputting the image data having a resolution in a sub scanning direction of X×N dpi, performing data processing on the image data for each N-unit region, performing resolution reduction processing of reducing, to 1/N, a resolution in the sub scanning direction, and generating a recording data based on the reduced image data. In the data processing step, when the N-unit region is formed of a pixel having a black gradation value and a pixel having a gradation value that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value when expressed by RGB, and the pixel having the black gradation value is consecutive from another N-unit region adjacent to the N-unit region, a black dot is generated in a pixel after the resolution reduction processing.

An image recording apparatus includes a feed tray, a feed mechanism feeding a sheet-shaped medium accommodated in the feed tray, and a recording device recording an image on the sheet-shaped medium fed by the feed mechanism. The feed tray includes a first accommodation portion accommodating a roll, in which the sheet-shaped medium is rolled, a pair of side walls interposing the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll in a first direction parallel to an axis of the roll, and a side guide disposed inside the pair of side walls and having an inner-side surface contactable with an edge in the first direction of the first sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll. The side guide has a metal portion made of metal, the metal portion forming at least part of the inner-side surface.

An image recording apparatus includes a feed tray, a feed mechanism feeding a sheet-shaped medium accommodated in the feed tray, and a recording device recording an image on the sheet-shaped medium fed by the feed mechanism. The feed tray includes a first accommodation portion accommodating a roll, in which the sheet-shaped medium is rolled, a pair of side walls interposing the sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll in a first direction parallel to an axis of the roll, and a side guide disposed inside the pair of side walls and having an inner-side surface contactable with an edge in the first direction of the first sheet-shaped medium unrolled from the roll. The side guide has a metal portion made of metal, the metal portion forming at least part of the inner-side surface.

An image processing method is an image processing method of a recording device. The image processing method includes inputting the image data having a resolution in a sub scanning direction of X×N dpi, performing data processing on the image data for each N-unit region, performing resolution reduction processing of reducing, to 1/N, a resolution in the sub scanning direction, and generating a recording data based on the reduced image data. In the data processing step, when the N-unit region is formed of a pixel having a black gradation value and a pixel having a gradation value that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value when expressed by RGB, and the pixel having the black gradation value is consecutive from another N-unit region adjacent to the N-unit region, a black dot is generated in a pixel after the resolution reduction processing.

An apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive, as a request for a remaining amount of a consumable item and a color for remaining amount display of the consumable item in the apparatus, information relating to a transmission source of the request, and a transmitter configured to transmit the remaining amount and the color to the transmission source in response to the request. The transmitter is configured to acquire a background color of the remaining amount display in response to the request, and when the background color acquired and a first display color set in advance as the color of the remaining amount display are determined to be close to each other according to a prescribed standard, transmit a second display color different from the first display color and the remaining amount to the transmission source.