High-image-quality halftone process
First Claim
1. A printing method of printing on a printing medium, comprising:
- a dot data generating step of performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image to determine a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, for generating dot data representing the determined status of dot formation; and
a print image generating step of forming a dot on each of the print pixels for generating the print image according to the dot data, wherein the print image generating step includes the step of generating the print image by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups in a common print area, the plurality of pixel groups having a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups;
a plurality of pixel groups having a physical commonality for the dot formation among the plurality of pixel groups constitute a pixel group family; and
the halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of a first dot pattern, a second dot pattern, and a third dot pattern, the first dot pattern being formed on print pixels of the print image, the second dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, and the third dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to the pixel group family.
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Abstract
This invention provides a printing method of printing on a printing medium. The method includes: a dot data generating step of performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image to determine a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, for generating dot data representing the determined status of dot formation; and a print image generating step of forming a dot on each of the print pixels for generating the print image according to the dot data. The print image generating step includes the step of generating the print image by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups in a common print area, the plurality of pixel groups having a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups. A plurality of pixel groups having a physical commonality for the dot formation among the plurality of pixel groups constitute a pixel group family. The halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of a first dot pattern, a second dot pattern, and a third dot pattern, the first dot pattern being formed on print pixels of the print image, the second dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, and the third dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to the pixel group family.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A printing method of printing on a printing medium, comprising:
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a dot data generating step of performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image to determine a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, for generating dot data representing the determined status of dot formation; and
a print image generating step of forming a dot on each of the print pixels for generating the print image according to the dot data, wherein the print image generating step includes the step of generating the print image by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups in a common print area, the plurality of pixel groups having a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups;
a plurality of pixel groups having a physical commonality for the dot formation among the plurality of pixel groups constitute a pixel group family; and
the halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of a first dot pattern, a second dot pattern, and a third dot pattern, the first dot pattern being formed on print pixels of the print image, the second dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, and the third dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to the pixel group family. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A dither matrix method of generating a dither matrix for determining a status of dot formation on each print pixel of a print image to be formed on a printing medium by performing a halftone process on input image data, wherein
the print image is formed by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups for which a physical difference is assumed with dot formation using the print image generating step, in a common print area, wherein the dither matrix generating method comprises: -
a focus threshold value setting step of setting a specific threshold value as a focus threshold value from among a plurality of threshold values to be stored in each of elements of the dither matrix, the specific threshold value being for which a storage element is not yet set and for which dot formation turns on most easily among the plurality of threshold values;
a matrix evaluation step of setting a comprehensive evaluation value for each assumption that the focus threshold value is stored in each of blank elements that are elements for which stored threshold values are not yet set, wherein dots are regarded as being formed on the pixels corresponding to already set elements that are elements for which the stored threshold values are already set, a storage element setting step of setting the element for storing the focus threshold value according to the comprehensive evaluation value, and a repetition step of repeating each of the steps from the focus threshold value setting step to the storage element setting step, for at least part of the plurality of threshold values, wherein the matrix evaluation step comprises;
an overall evaluation value setting step of setting an overall evaluation value by evaluating the status of dot formation corresponding to all of the groups of the already set elements, a group evaluation value setting step of setting a group evaluation value by evaluating the status of dot formation corresponding only to elements belonging to a rating group selected from among a plurality of element groups corresponding to the plurality of pixel groups among the already set elements, a group family evaluation value setting step of setting a group family evaluation value by evaluating the status of dot formation corresponding only to elements belonging to an element group family that is a combination of the rating group and an element group having a physical commonality with the rating group for a dot formation, among the plurality of element groups, and a comprehensive evaluation value setting step of setting a comprehensive evaluation value according to the overall evaluation value, the group evaluation value, and the group family evaluation value. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A printing apparatus for printing on a printing medium, comprising:
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a dot data generator that performs a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image to determine a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, for generating dot data representing the determined status of dot formation; and
a print image generator that forms a dot on each of the print pixels for generating the print image according to the dot data, wherein the print image generator generates the print image by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups in a common print area, the plurality of pixel groups having a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups;
a plurality of pixel groups having a physical commonality for the dot formation among the plurality of pixel groups constitute a pixel group family; and
the halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of a first dot pattern, a second dot pattern, and a third dot pattern, the first dot pattern being formed on print pixels of the print image, the second dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, and the third dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to the pixel group family.
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Specification