Patent ID: 6629744
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printing method comprising the steps of:providing a print head having a plurality of single chromatic nozzle groups for electing mutually different chromatic inks, each consisting of plurality of nozzles, and an achromatic nozzle group for ejecting achromatic ink consisting of a greater number of nozzles than each of the single chromatic nozzle groups; and printing images in a monochromatic area on a printing medium with the achromatic ink alone, and in a color area with the chromatic inks, the step of printing images comprising the steps of: (a) executing regular monochromatic mode printing whereby sub-scans are performed in a first sub-scan mode, and dots are formed along the main scan lines in the monochromatic area; (b) executing lower-edge monochromatic mode printing whereby sub-scans are performed in a second sub-scan mode in which a maximum sub-scan feed increment is less than a maximum sub-scan feed increment of the first sub-scan mode, and dots are formed along the main scan lines in the monochromatic area in the vicinity of a border with the color area; (c) executing upper-edge color mode printing whereby sub-scans are performed in a third sub-scan mode, and dots are formed along the main scan lines in the color area in the vicinity of the border with the monochromatic area; and (d) executing regular color mode printing whereby sub-scans are performed in a fourth sub-scan mode in which a maximum sub-scan feed increment is greater than a maximum sub-scan feed increment of the third sub-scan mode, and dots are formed along the main scan lines in the color area.