Patent ID: 6168329
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A color printing apparatus comprising: printing means for printing a color print image composed of a dot matrix on a printing medium; feeding means for feeding said printing medium; reciprocal moving means for reciprocally moving said printing means in directions orthogonal to a direction in which said printing medium is fed; and control means for instructing said printing means to perform printing in a plurality of colors to each dot of said color print image so as to selectively conduct uni-directional printing and/or bi-directional printing in said reciprocal movements of said printing means, said control means instructing said printing means to conduct said uni-directional printing for a high contrast color with respect to a background color of said printing medium within said plurality of colors, and instructing said printing means to conduct said bi-directional printing for the remaining colors; said control means being capable of instructing said printing means to conduct a mixture of uni-directional printing and bi-directional printing in a given reciprocal movement of said printing means, the given reciprocal movement being in response to a print command and the uni-directional printing and bi-directional printing being mixed in accordance with data to be printed.