Patent ID: 6655783
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printing method comprising the steps of:(a) executing monochromatic mode printing by repeating a unit scan operation using an achromatic nozzle group, the unit scan operation consisting of main scans and intervening sub-scans of a first feed amount, wherein all dot positions in a first achromatic unit band consisting of plural main scan lines without any gap therebetween are serviced in a single unit scan operation by the achromatic nozzle group, and wherein a monochromatic mode sub-scan of a second feed amount is performed in each interval between each unit scan operations, and (b) executing color mode printing by repeating the unit scan operation using a specific achromatic nozzle group and a plurality of single chromatic nozzle groups while a color mode sub-scan of a third feed amount less than the second feed amount is performed in each interval between each unit scan operations, the specific achromatic nozzle group being part of the achromatic nozzle group, wherein the step (a) comprises: (a1) in a case that a lowermost main scan line of a second achromatic unit band comes to be positioned within the color area when it is assumed that a set of the color mode sub-scan and the unit scan operation is performed J times (where J is an integer of two or greater), the second achromatic unit band consisting of plural main scan lines without any gap therebetween for which the specific achromatic nozzle group services with a single unit scan operation, performing a sub-scan whose feed amount is equal to a sum of (Jâˆ’1) times the third feed amount and (Jâˆ’2) times a total feed amount of sub-scans performed in one unit scan operation; and proceeding to the color mode printing.