In a color printing environment, functions for printing color management are dissociated. An abstraction layer is also provided to facilitate setting and evaluation of all factors relating to color print and prediction.

An image capturing unit captures an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information. An adjustment unit adjusts a white balance of the image captured by the image capturing unit on the basis of an adjustment value associated with the embedded image. A processing unit processes image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit to read the additional information in the image captured by the image capturing unit.

Methods and systems for creating a security mark for a document. A first generation print can be rendered based on one or more patterns (e.g., pantograph pattern) for a security mark. Post-copy results of the pattern(s) can be then rendered. The first generation print and the post-copy results of the pattern(s) can be calibrated, and the output of the calibration of the first generation print and the post-copy results are then applicable for optimizing the design of the security mark for a print condition. Optimization of the design of the security mark for the print condition can be implemented by applying the output of the calibrating of the first generation print and the post-copy results for the print condition. The first generation prints and post-copy results of pantograph pattern samples can be calibrated to drastically reduce the time and labor involved in optimizing void pantograph designs for a particular print condition.

Methods and systems for creating a security mark for a document. A first generation print can be rendered based on one or more patterns (e.g., pantograph pattern) for a security mark. Post-copy results of the pattern(s) can be then rendered. The first generation print and the post-copy results of the pattern(s) can be calibrated, and the output of the calibration of the first generation print and the post-copy results are then applicable for optimizing the design of the security mark for a print condition. Optimization of the design of the security mark for the print condition can be implemented by applying the output of the calibrating of the first generation print and the post-copy results for the print condition. The first generation prints and post-copy results of pantograph pattern samples can be calibrated to drastically reduce the time and labor involved in optimizing void pantograph designs for a particular print condition.

An example image forming apparatus includes a communicator to receive print data, an image forming unit, and a processor to control the image forming unit to perform image processing on the received print data and control the image forming unit to print the image-processed print data. When the received print data is not a scan file, the image processing is performed at a first level and when the received print data is a scan file, the image processing is performed at a second level, the second level being higher than the first level.

An example image forming apparatus includes a communicator to receive print data, an image forming unit, and a processor to control the image forming unit to perform image processing on the received print data and control the image forming unit to print the image-processed print data. When the received print data is not a scan file, the image processing is performed at a first level and when the received print data is a scan file, the image processing is performed at a second level, the second level being higher than the first level.

Such internal decoration is implemented that an object looks a target color as viewed in any direction, and that the object is colored and has image depiction in any cross-section. A method is provided for producing a three-dimensional object by extruding a build material to form a layer corresponding to each of cross-sections obtained by slicing a target object by a plurality of parallel planes, and depositing such layers in sequence so as to form the three-dimensional object. A white material 15 and one or two or more decoration materials 13 of colors other than white, which solidify wider a predetermined condition after extruded from nozzles, are used as the build material. The decoration materials 13 and the white material 15 are mixed to form the layer.

Embodiments are disclosed for generating a vector object that comprises a precise circular halftone representation of an input image. A method of precise circular halftone generation includes receiving an input image, dividing the image into a grid comprising a plurality of cells, determining a color of a portion of the input image associated with a first cell, determining a radius of circular halftone elements to represent the color associated with the first cell, and generating a path object representing the portion of the input image using circular halftone elements having the determined radius.

An image processing apparatus generates image data for an image forming apparatus having a recording head with recording elements in a first direction that forms an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from the elements toward the medium fed in a second direction perpendicular to the first. The apparatus has an acquiring unit that acquires multi-valued input image data having a uniform tone, a conversion unit that converts the input image data into halftone image data indicating a dot pattern, by using a dither matrix, and a correction processing unit that executes a density unevenness correction process in accordance with properties of each of the elements. The properties of the elements are obtained by reading a chart image formed based on the halftone image data. The dither matrix is a dispersive dither matrix with a size of Sx rows corresponding to the second direction, Sx, a natural number.

A method of forming a chemical delivery device with an active chemical includes generating halftoned image data using a stochastic halftone screen and with reference to a concentration parameter for the active chemical. The method also includes ejecting a chemical carrier including the active chemical into a portion of a plurality of cavities formed in the chemical delivery device based on the halftoned image data to produce the chemical delivery device with a concentration of the active chemical corresponding to the concentration parameter.