Ink jet recording method and apparatus, ink and ink cartridge

• US 6,084,610 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ueda, Hiroo, Akeno, Keita, Sakai, Shino, Mori, Masahiro, Suzuki, Shigeharu, Umemiya, Shigeyoshi, Ozaki, Mitsuo, Inagaki, Takefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSIEH, SHIH WEN
• Application Number:
  US08/585,196
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 347/43, 347/15
• US Class Current: 347/43
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2107 characterised by the ink properties supplying ink in a solid state B41J2/17593

Abstract

An ink jet recording method records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium. The ink jet recording method includes the steps of (a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, where a first ink out of the two kinds of inks has a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, and (b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary region with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary region using the second ink.

Claims

1. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of a ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

the second ink and inks of hues other than the predetermined hue having approximately the same diffusibility as the second ink have diffusibilities which are higher for hues with lower contrasts.

2. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue;

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink; and

(c) recording the image using an ink of a hue having a first contrast with a priority over recording the image using an ink of a hue having a second contrast higher than the first contrast.

3. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink;

wherein said step (b) includes recording the image using the second ink before recording the image using the first ink when the remaining portion of the boundary portion is larger than the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width.

4. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein said step (b) includes recording the image using the first ink before recording the image using the second ink when the remaining portion of the boundary portion is smaller than the portion of the boundary with the predetermined recording width.

5. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein said step (b) includes recording the image using the first ink before recording the image using the second ink when the remaining portion of the boundary portion is smaller than the portion of the boundary with the predetermined recording width.

6. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink, wherein

said step (b) comprises the substeps of;

recording the first recording region and the remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink; and

recording the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width using the second ink a predetermined time after recording the first recording region and the remaining portion of the boundary region,

said predetermined time being set longer than a conformance time of the first ink that is required with respect to the recording medium in order for the first ink to conform to the recording medium.

7. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein said predetermined recording width is adjusted based on at least one of an amount of inks used to record the boundary portion and diffusibilities of the inks.

8. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width and the remaining portion of the boundary portion recorded as a result of said step (b) have approximately a same contrast or color saturation.

9. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein said step (b) includes using the first ink and the second ink which include a same dye, and an amount of the dye included in the second ink is larger than an amount of the due included in the first ink.

10. An ink jet recording method which records as image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width and the remaining portion of the boundary portion recorded as a result of said step (b) have approximately a same recording tone.

11. An ink jet recording method which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, the ink jet recording method comprising the steps of:

(a) carrying out a recording using two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other that the predetermined hue; and

(b) at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, recording at least a portion of the boundary portion with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and recording a remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink,

wherein the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width and the remaining portion of the boundary portion recorded as a result of said step (b) have a recording tone difference of 0.3 (OD) or less.

12. The ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step (b) includes using the second ink which includes an amount of dye larger than an amount of dye included in the first ink.

13. The ink jet recording method as claimed in claim 11, wherein an amount of the first ink adhered within the remaining portion of the boundary portion per unit area by said step (b) is larger than an amount of the second ink adhered within the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width per unit area.

14. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein said head portion uses inks such that the second ink and inks of hues other than the predetermined hue having approximately the same diffusibility as the second ink have diffusibilities which are higher for hues with lower contrasts.

15. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein said control means controls said head portion so as to record the image using an ink of a hue having a first contrast with a priority over recording the image using an ink of a hue having a second contrast higher than the first contrast.

16. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used, and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein said control means controls said head portion to record the image using the second ink before recording the image using the first ink when the remaining portion of the boundary portion is larger than the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width.

17. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other that the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary position on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion if recorded using the first ink,

wherein said control means controls said head portion to record the image using the first ink before recording the image using the second ink when the remaining portion of the boundary portion is larger than the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width.

18. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recording using the first ink,

wherein said control means controls said head portion to record the image using the first ink before recording the image using the second ink when the remaining portion of the boundary portion is smaller than the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width.

19. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein said control means

controls said head portion to record the first recording region and the remaining portion of the boundary portion using the first ink; and

controls said head portion to record the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width using the second ink a predetermined time after recording the first recording region and the remaining portion of the boundary portion,

said predetermined time being set longer than a conformance time of the first ink that is required with respect to the recording medium in order for the first ink to conform to the recording medium.

20. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for a least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein said predetermined recording width is adjusted based on at least one of an amount of inks used to record the boundary portion and diffusibilities of the inks.

21. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for a least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width and the remaining portion of the boundary portion recorded by said head portion have approximately a same contrast or color saturation.

22. An inkjet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein said head portion uses the first ink and the second ink which include a same dye, and an amount of the dye included in the second ink is larger than an amount of the dye included in the first ink.

23. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width and the remaining portion of the boundary portion recorded by said head portion have approximately a same recording tone.

24. An ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering inks of a plurality of hues on the recording medium, two kinds of inks having different diffusibilities with respect to the recording medium being used for at least a predetermined one of the hues, a first ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility which is lower than a diffusibility of an ink having a hue other than the predetermined hue, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used; and

control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink out of the two kinds of inks having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink,

wherein the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width and the remaining portion of the boundary portion recorded by said head portion have a recording tone difference of 0.3 (OD) or less.

25. The ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said head portion uses the second ink which includes an amount of dye larger than an amount of dye included in the first ink.

26. The ink jet recording apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein an amount of the first ink adhered within the remaining portion of the boundary portion per unit area by said head portion is larger than an amount of the second ink adhered within the portion of the boundary portion with the predetermined recording width per unit area.

27. A combination including an ink cartridge which stores a first ink of a predetermined hue which is used together with inks of a plurality of hues when making an ink jet recording by an ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering the inks on the recording medium, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used, and control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink of the predetermined hue having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink, said combination comprising:

the inks of the plurality of hues;

a cartridge body;

for said ink cartridge and

the first ink of the predetermined hue stored within said cartridge body,

said first ink having a diffusibility with respect to the recording medium lower than diffusibilities of the inks of the plurality of hues, and a contrast which is lower than contrasts of the inks of the plurality of hues.

28. The combination as claimed in claim 27, wherein the predetermined hue is black.

29. The combination as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first ink includes a dye used in the inks of the plurality of hues.

30. The combination as claimed in claim 27, wherein an amount of dye included in the first ink is larger than an amount of dye included in each of the inks of the plurality of hues.

31. A combination including an ink cartridge which stores a first ink of a predetermined hue which is used together with a black ink when making an ink jet recording by an ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering the inks on the recording medium, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used, and control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using a second ink of the predetermined hue having a diffusibility higher than that of the first ink and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the first ink, said combination comprising:

the black ink;

a cartridge body;

for said ink cartridge and

the first ink of the predetermined hue stored within said cartridge body,

said first ink having a diffusibility with respect to the recording medium higher than a diffusibility of the black ink, and a contrast which is higher than a contrast of the black ink.

32. The combination as claimed in claim 31, wherein the first ink is selected from a group consisting of black, yellow, magenta and cyan.

33. The combination as claimed in claim 31, wherein the first ink includes a black dye and a contrast identical to those of the black ink.

34. The combination as claimed in claim 31, wherein the first ink includes an amount of dye larger than an amount of dye included in the black ink.

35. A combination including an ink of a predetermined hue which is used together with a black ink when making an ink jet recording by an ink jet recording apparatus which records an image on a recording medium by adhering the inks on the recording medium, said ink jet recording apparatus comprising a head portion having a plurality of heads corresponding to a number of kinds of inks used, and control means for controlling said head portion so that, at a boundary portion on the recording medium where a first recording region which includes the predetermined hue and a second recording region which includes a hue different from the predetermined hue are adjacent to each other, at least a portion of the boundary portion is recorded with a predetermined recording width up to the second recording region using another ink of the predetermined hue having a diffusibility higher than that of the ink of the predetermined hue and a remaining portion of the boundary portion is recorded using the ink of the predetermined hue, said combination comprising:

said black ink; and

said ink of predetermined hue, including

a dye; and

a solvent,

a diffusibility of the ink of the predetermined hue with respect to the recording medium being higher than a diffusibility of the black ink,

said ink of the predetermined hue having a contrast which is higher than a contrast of the black in.

36. The combination as claimed in claim 35, wherein the ink of the predetermined hue is selected from a group consisting of black, yellow, magenta and cyan.

37. The combination as claimed in claim 35, wherein said dye of the ink of the predetermined hue include a black dye and a contrast identical to those of the black ink.

38. The combination as claimed in claim 35, wherein the ink of the predetermined hue includes an amount of dye larger than an amount of dye included in the black ink.