Patent ID: 7699426
Filing Date: 2010-04-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image processing method of generating ejection data for an ink jet printing apparatus which includes a printing head for ejecting ink and ejects the ink from the printing head to form dots on a printing medium so as to perform printing, the method comprising the steps of: generating maintenance ejection data for ejecting the ink from the printing head onto the printing medium for the purpose of maintaining the printing head; performing a comparison operation between positions of maintenance ejection based on the maintenance ejection data and positions of dots to be printed; and generating the ejection data by thinning out the dots to be printed of a color different from a color of the ink used for the maintenance ejection, the thinned out dots to be printed on positions coinciding with the positions of maintenance ejection in the step of performing the comparison operation and by combining dot data which has been thinned out and the maintenance ejection data.