Selecting colorant amount for printing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for printing an image on a print medium, comprising:
- identifying a minimum compliant area size, as a smallest size area into which the image is divisible into areas that each have an optical density no greater than a threshold optical density for the image, the minimum compliant area size having a lowest colorant thickness at which the threshold optical density is achievable within each area of the image of the smallest size area, minimizing colorant usage to achieve the threshold optical density;
identifying a colorant cluster size, based on the minimum compliant area size and the lowest colorant thickness;
printing the image on the print medium using the identified cluster size.
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Abstract
A method for selecting a colorant amount for printing is described in which a maximum optical density of an image is identified. The maximum optical density is compared to with a threshold optical density, and when the threshold is exceeded, dot cluster sizes from a first lookup table are selected, otherwise, dot cluster sizes from a second lookup table are selected. A colorant thickness corresponding to the selected dot cluster sizes is selected for printing the image.
20 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for printing an image on a print medium, comprising:
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identifying a minimum compliant area size, as a smallest size area into which the image is divisible into areas that each have an optical density no greater than a threshold optical density for the image, the minimum compliant area size having a lowest colorant thickness at which the threshold optical density is achievable within each area of the image of the smallest size area, minimizing colorant usage to achieve the threshold optical density; identifying a colorant cluster size, based on the minimum compliant area size and the lowest colorant thickness; printing the image on the print medium using the identified cluster size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for selecting a colorant amount for printing, comprising:
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identifying a maximum optical density of any area of an image having a minimum compliant area size, the minimum compliant area size being a smallest size area into which the image is divisible into areas that each have an optical density no greater than a first threshold optical density for the image, the minimum compliant area size having a lowest colorant thickness at which the first threshold optical density is achievable within each area of the image of the smallest area size, minimizing colorant usage to achieve the first threshold optical density; comparing the identified maximum optical density of any area having the minimum compliant area size with a second threshold optical density; selecting cluster sizes for areas of the image having the minimum compliant area size from a first lookup table when the identified maximum optical density of any area having the minimum compliant area size exceeds the second threshold optical density; selecting cluster sizes for the areas from a second lookup table when the identified maximum optical density of any area having the minimum compliant area size does not exceed the second threshold optical density; selecting colorant amounts that corresponds to the selected cluster sizes; printing the image using the selected colorant amounts. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A printing press, comprising:
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a controller to; receive an image; identify a maximum optical density of any area of the image having a minimum compliant area size, the minimum compliant area size being a smallest size area into which the image is divisible into areas that each have an optical density no greater than a first threshold optical density for the image; and based on the maximum optical density of any area of the image having the minimum compliant area size, select between a standard colorant amount and at least one reduced colorant amount, wherein the standard colorant amount corresponds to a predetermined colorant cluster size table and the at least one reduced colorant amount corresponds to at least one increased cluster size table, respectively; an image forming unit, to receive the selected colorant amount and respective cluster size table and print the image on a print medium based on the received colorant amount and respective cluster size table. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification