Patent ID: 6343194
Filing Date: 2002-01-29
Classification: B41J,G03G,H04N

Abstract:
A controller of a printer that forms a multi-color image by using recording agents of plural colors, comprising:detection means for detecting the residual amount of recording agent of each color; calculation means for calculating a biased consumption of recording agent of each color; color conversion means for replacing a color of a recording agent corresponding to the minimum residual amount in the detected residual amount of recording agent of each color with another color when the calculated biased consumption of recording agent is not less than a first prescribed value; extraction means for extracting an enclosed region of an original image; and judging means for judging whether or not the area of the extracted enclosed region is not less than a second prescribed value, wherein said color conversion means, when the calculated biased consumption of recording agent is not less than the first prescribed value, converts a specified color of the extracted enclosed region to another color if the area of the extracted enclosed region is not less than the second prescribed value and if the specified color of the extracted enclosed region is a uniform color consisting only of the color of the recording agent corresponding to the minimum residual amount.