Patent ID: 9016825
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: B41J,G06K

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus configured to generate printing data for a printing head to eject a plurality of inks to a plurality of pixel areas, corresponding to pixels, in a unit region on a printing medium by a plurality of relative scanning operations, the plurality of inks including a first color ink containing a pigment, a polymer emulsion and a water-soluble organic solvent, and a second color ink containing a pigment, a polymer emulsion and a water-soluble organic solvent and having a lower dynamic surface tension than the first color ink at a predetermined bubble lifetime, the image processing apparatus comprising: an image data obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data determining, for each of the pixel areas, whether or not the first color ink is ejected to the pixel area, and second image data determining, for each of the pixel areas, whether or not the second color ink is ejected to the pixel area; and a printing data generator configured to generate a plurality of first printing data, corresponding to the plurality of scanning operations and being used for printing performed by the corresponding scanning operation, from the first image data according to a plurality of first mask patterns in which print permitting pixels and print non-permitting pixels are arranged, and a plurality of second printing data, corresponding to the plurality of scanning operations and being used for printing performed by the corresponding scanning operation, from the second image data according to a plurality of second mask patterns in which print permitting pixels and print non-permitting pixel are arranged, wherein the print permitting pixels in each mask pattern define at least one print permitting pixel unit consisting of a plurality of print permitting pixels adjoining each other or a single print permitting pixel not adjoining other print permitting pixels, and the average number per print permitting pixel unit of the print permitting pixels in one of the second mask patterns is larger than the average number per print permitting pixel unit of the print permitting pixels in one of the first mask patterns.