Patent ID: 9041978
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A method comprising, for each pixel of a plurality of pixels of image data to be printed using a fluid-ejection printing device: determining whether the pixel is a totally black pixel; where the pixel is a totally black pixel, determining whether the pixel is part of a line feature of the image data or part of an area fill feature of the image data, where a line feature of the image data is defined as a plurality of contiguous pixels arranged along a length, the line feature having a same thickness at each of a plurality of points along the length, each pixel of the image data to either side of the line feature along the length not being a totally black pixel, and where an area fill feature of the image as defined as more than one contiguous pixel having the same color but that does not define a line; where the pixel is part of a line feature of the image data, selecting a printing mask to use for printing the pixel as a first printing mask that is optimized for printing line features, the first printing mask specifying a number of fluid droplets to be printed for the pixel and positions where the fluid droplets are to be printed for the pixel; where the pixel is part of an area fill feature of the image data, selecting the printing mask to use for the printing pixel as a second printing mask that is optimized for printing area fill features, the second printing mask specifying a number of fluid droplets to be printed for the pixel and positions where the fluid droplets are to be printed for the pixel; applying the printing mask selected to the pixel of the image data; and, printing the pixel of the image data using the printing mask that has been applied, the fluid-ejection printing device printing the pixel by ejecting the number of fluid droplets specified by the printing mask at the positions specified by the printing mask.