Patent Description:
To increase the speed of the printing operations, the carriage of some printing systems may span the full width of the substrate at a higher hardware cost. To reduce the cost of the printing systems, some printing systems comprise a carriage that spans a part of the width of the substrate and is to scan through the full width of the substrate.

<CIT> describes a print apparatus comprising a group of preliminary processing heads for dispensing a processing solvent onto a print medium and a head unit including a group of print heads for ejecting photocurable inks onto a print medium.

<CIT> describes an image printing method to mitigate ink interference bleeding by correcting the image data such that a first ink and a second different ink do not coincide in the same region.

<CIT> describes a three-dimensional printer comprising a dual printhead mechanism including a first print head and a second printhead having extrusion ports of different sizes.

The present application may be more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout and in which:.

The following description is directed to various examples of the disclosure. In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the examples disclosed herein. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the examples may be practiced without these details. While a limited number of examples have been disclosed, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the examples. In addition, as used herein, the term "includes" means includes but not limited to, the term "including" means including but not limited to.

Some printing systems comprise carriages with printheads to eject ink on a substrate. Said printing systems may be to print a plurality of printing instructions. Some printing instructions may be plain text to be printed, other printing instructions may be two-dimensional objects to be printed, and yet other printing instructions may be a combination thereof.

The present disclosure provides a printing system comprising a plurality of nozzles to eject a printing agent on a substrate to print a print job. The printing system may also comprise a controller to perform a plurality of operations. The controller is to receive the print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. The controller is also to define a first subset of the plurality of nozzles as a first printing mode to print the outline. The controller is further to define a second subset of the plurality of nozzles as a second printing mode to print the fill area, wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset. The controller is further to print the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode.

The present disclosure provides a method comprising a plurality of operations to be performed. The method comprises receiving a print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. The method also comprises defining a first subset of a plurality of nozzles as a first printing mode to print the outline. The method further comprises defining a second subset of the plurality of nozzles as a second printing mode to print the fill area, wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset. The method further comprises printing, by the plurality of nozzles, the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode.

The preset disclosure provides a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor. The non-transitory machine-readable medium comprises instructions to receive a print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. The non-transitory machine readable medium also comprises instructions to define a first subset of a plurality of nozzles as a first printing mode to print the outline. The non-transitory machine readable medium further comprises instructions to define a second subset of the plurality of nozzles as a second printing mode to print the fill area, wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset. The non-transitory machine readable medium further comprises instructions to print the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode by ejecting printing agent using the plurality of nozzles.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a printing system <NUM> with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area, i.e., a first printing mode to print the outline and a second printing mode to print the fill area. The printing system <NUM> comprises a plurality of nozzles <NUM>. The plurality of nozzles <NUM> may be placed in an array, print bar, plurality of print bars, print carriage, printheads, and/or the like. Some examples of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> are shown in <FIG>. The plurality of nozzles is to eject a printing agent on a substrate to print a print job. In the present disclosure, the term "nozzle" should be understood as any cylindrical or round spout at the end of a pipe hose, or tube used to control a jet of the printing agent. The printing agent is any composition used in printing operations. The printing agent composition comprises pigments, colorants and/or inks. A wide variety of substrates to be printed onto may be used. In an example, a paper substrate may be used. Other examples may use different types of substrates, such as a fabric substrate, a polymeric substrate, and/or an additive manufacturing build material. These are examples of substrates; however other substrates may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The printing system <NUM> may also comprise a controller <NUM> connected to the plurality of nozzles <NUM>. The controller connection may be by means of a physical wire and/or wireless. The term "controller" as used herein may include a series of instructions encoded on a machine-readable storage medium and executable by a single processor or a plurality of processors. Additionally, or alternatively, a controller may include at least one hardware devices including electronic circuitry, for example a digital and/or analog application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), for implementing the functionality described herein.

The controller <NUM> is to receive the print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. The print job may be any set of instructions to print a two-dimensional (2D) object comprising an outline and a fill area. The outline should be understood as a line, or a set of lines enclosing the shape of the 2D object. The fill area should be understood as the area to be printed enclosed within the outline. In an example, the print job may be sent to the controller <NUM> by a user through a user interface (e.g., personal computer, tablet, smartphone, and/or the like).

The controller <NUM> is further to define a first subset of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> as a first printing mode <NUM> to print the outline. The controller <NUM> is further to define a second subset of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> as a second printing mode <NUM> to print the fill area, wherein the second subset may comprise more nozzles than the first subset or comprise nozzles that eject drops with a higher drop size than the nozzles corresponding to the first subset. If the print job comprises a plurality of 2D objects to be printed, the first printing mode <NUM> may comprise a plurality of outlines to be printed, and the second printing mode <NUM> may comprise a plurality of fill areas to be printed. In an example, the second subset of nozzles does not comprise any of the nozzles from the first subset of the plurality of nozzles <NUM>. In another example, the second subset of nozzles may comprise the nozzles from the first subset of the plurality of nozzles. In yet another example, the second subset of nozzles may comprise a part of the nozzles from the first subset of the plurality of nozzles.

The controller <NUM> is further to print the print job based on the first printing mode <NUM> and the second printing mode <NUM>. The outline or the plurality of outlines of the printing job may be printed by the first printing mode <NUM>, i.e., using a first subset of the plurality of nozzles. The fill area or the plurality of fill areas of the printing job may be printed by the second printing mode <NUM>, i.e., using a second subset of the plurality of nozzles <NUM>. In an example, a nozzle from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> may not print neither the outline or plurality of outlines, nor the fill area or plurality or fill areas. In another example, a nozzle from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> may print part of the outline and/or plurality of outlines, but may not print the fill area nor the plurality of fill areas. In another example, a nozzle from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> may print part of the fill area and/or plurality of fill areas, but may not print the outline nor the plurality of outlines. In yet another example, a nozzle from the plurality of nozzles <NUM> may print both part of the outline or plurality of outlines, and part of the fill area or plurality or fill areas.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system <NUM> with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area. The printing system <NUM> may be a configuration of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>. The printing system <NUM> may be a page-wide array printing system comprising a first print bar <NUM> and a second print bar <NUM>. The first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may be substantially parallel bars. The length of the first print bar <NUM> and the length of the second print bar <NUM> define a print bar axis (shown as X axis). The first subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) defined as the first printing mode (e.g., first printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>), may be a set of nozzles comprised in the first print bar <NUM>. The second subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) defined as the second printing mode (e.g., second printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>), may be a set of nozzles comprised in both the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM>. In an example, a nozzle from the first print bar <NUM> may be defined as part of the first printing mode and part of the second printing mode. In another example, a nozzle from the first print bar <NUM> may be defined as part of the first printing mode and may not be defined as part of the second printing mode. In yet another example, a nozzle from the first print bar <NUM> may be defined as part of the second printing mode and may not be defined as part of the first printing mode. In a further example, the nozzles within the first bar <NUM> may be used for printing in the first printing mode <NUM> and the nozzles within the first bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may be used for printing in the second printing mode <NUM>.

As used herein, the term "substantially" is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be, for example, an additional <NUM>% more or an additional <NUM>% less than the endpoints of the range. Furthermore, the term "substantially" may provide flexibility in the relative position between a plurality of objects. As an example, some substantially parallel bars may have up to <NUM> degrees of difference between their respective axis. As another example, some substantially perpendicular objects may have from <NUM> to <NUM> degrees of difference between their respective axis. The degree of flexibility of this term can be dictated by the particular variable and would be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to determine based on experience and the associated description herein.

The printing system <NUM> may also comprise a substrate <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may be a paper substrate, fabric substrate, polymeric substrate, and/or the like. The substrate may advance in a substantially perpendicular direction from the X axis (shown as Y axis). The substrate advancement direction is the direction of the length of the substrate <NUM>. In the example, the first printing bar <NUM> and the second printing bar <NUM> span substantially the full width of the substrate <NUM>.

The outline or the plurality of outlines of the printing job may be printed on the substrate <NUM> by the nozzles defined as nozzles for the first printing mode located in the first printing bar <NUM>. The fill area or the plurality of fill areas of the printing job may be printed on the substrate <NUM> by the nozzles defined as nozzles for the second printing mode from both the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM>, in an example, the nozzles for the second printing mode may include the nozzles from the first printing mode in addition to a set of nozzles from the second print bar <NUM>. Some examples may comprise additional print bars (e.g., third print bar, fourth print bar, fifth print bar, and the like) substantially parallel to the second printing bar. The additional print bars may be to eject the printing agent to the substrate <NUM> based on the print job. The controller (e.g., controller <NUM> from <FIG>) may define the additional nozzles from the additional printing bars as part of the second printing mode. Therefore, the additional nozzles from the additional printing bars being to print part of the fill area or the plurality of fill areas of the printing job on the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system <NUM> with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area. The printing system <NUM> may be a configuration of the plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>. The printing system <NUM> may comprise a first print bar <NUM> and a second print bar <NUM>. The first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may be substantially parallel bars. The length of the first print bar <NUM> and the length of the second print bar <NUM> define a print bar axis (shown as X axis). The first subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) defined as the first printing mode (e.g., first printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>), may be a set of nozzles comprised in the first print bar <NUM>. The second subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) defined as the second printing mode (e.g., second printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>), may be a set of nozzles comprised in both the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM>. In an example, a nozzle from the first print bar <NUM> may be defined as part of the first printing mode and part of the second printing mode. In another example, a nozzle from the first print bar <NUM> may be defined as part of the first printing mode and may not be defined as part of the second printing mode. In yet another example, a nozzle from the first print bar <NUM> may be defined as part of the second printing mode and may not be defined as part of the first printing mode.

The printing system <NUM> may also comprise a substrate <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may be a paper substrate, a fabric substrate, a polymeric substrate, and/or the like. The substrate may advance in a substantially perpendicular direction from the X axis (shown as Y axis). The substrate advancement direction is the direction of the length of the substrate <NUM>. In the example, the first printing bar <NUM> and the second printing bar <NUM> span a section of the width of the substrate <NUM>. The printing system <NUM> may comprise a first scanning mechanism <NUM> coupled to the first print bar <NUM>; and a second scanning mechanism <NUM> coupled to the second print bar <NUM>. The first scanning mechanism <NUM> and the second scanning mechanism <NUM> may be any mechanism to move the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> respectively across substantially a full width of the substrate <NUM>. As an example, the first scanning mechanism <NUM> and the second scanning mechanism <NUM> may comprise a guide and a scanning engine to move the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> along the width of the substrate <NUM>. This is an example, and any other scanning mechanism may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The outline or the plurality of outlines of the printing job may be printed on the substrate <NUM> by the nozzles defined as the first printing mode located in the first printing bar <NUM>. The fill area or the plurality of fill areas of the printing job may be printed on the substrate <NUM> by the nozzles defined as the second printing mode from both the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM>. Some examples may comprise additional print bars (e.g., third print bar, fourth print bar, fifth print bar, and the like) substantially parallel to the second printing bar. The additional print bars may be to eject the printing agent to the substrate <NUM> to perform the printing operation. The controller (e.g., controller <NUM> from <FIG>) may define the additional nozzles from the additional printing bars as part of the second printing mode. Therefore, the additional nozzles from the additional printing bars being to print part of the fill area or the plurality of fill areas of the printing job on the substrate <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system <NUM> with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area. The printing system <NUM> may be an implementation of the printing system <NUM> from <FIG>; and/or an implementation of the printing system <NUM> from <FIG>. The printing system <NUM> may comprise a first print bar <NUM> and a second print bar <NUM>. The first print bar <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the first print bar <NUM> from <FIG>, or the first print bar <NUM> from <FIG>. The second print bar <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the second print bar <NUM> from <FIG>, or the second print bar <NUM> from <FIG>. The printing system <NUM> further comprises a substrate <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the substrate <NUM> from <FIG> and/or the substrate <NUM> from <FIG>. The first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may comprise a plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) to eject a printing agent on the substrate <NUM> to print a print job.

A controller (e.g., controller <NUM> from <FIG>) may define a first printing mode (e.g., first printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the outline of a printing job, and a second printing mode (e.g., second printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the fill area of said printing job. The first printing mode may be printed using the first printing bar <NUM>, and the second printing mode may be printed using the first printing bar <NUM> and the second printing bar <NUM>.

In an example, the first printing bar <NUM> may be installed at a lower height (e.g., see height point Z1) than the second printing bar <NUM> that may be installed at a higher height (e.g., see height point Z2 higher than height point Z1 in the Z axis). Therefore, the first printing bar <NUM> may be closer to the substrate <NUM> than the second print bar <NUM>. A further example may comprise installing additional printing bars, the additional printing bars being installed substantially at the same height as the second print bar <NUM> (e.g., height point Z2). By installing the first print bar <NUM> closer to the substrate <NUM>, the outline printing operation output may be printed at a higher definition. By installing the second print bar <NUM> further to the substrate <NUM>, the user manipulation operations may be easier and the printing system interruptions due to cockle of the substrate <NUM> may be reduced. In the present disclosure, the term "cockle" should be understood as the undesired wrinkle or creased surface towards the Z axis of the substrate <NUM> due to, for example, the ejecting printing agent operations and/or a humid working environment.

The substrate <NUM> advances upstream through the Y axis. In an example, the first print bar <NUM> is installed upstream in the substrate <NUM> advance direction with respect to the second print bar <NUM>. In said configuration, the first print bar <NUM> ejects printing agent to the substrate before the second print bar <NUM>. A further example may comprise additional printing bars, the additional printing bars may be installed downstream in the substrate <NUM> advance direction with respect to the second print bar <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating another example of a printing system <NUM> with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area. The printing system <NUM> may be an implementation of the printing system <NUM> from <FIG>; and/or an implementation of the printing system <NUM> from <FIG>. The printing system <NUM> comprises a first print bar <NUM> and a second print bar <NUM>. The first print bar <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the first print bar <NUM> from <FIG>, or the first print bar <NUM> from <FIG>. The second print bar <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the second print bar <NUM> from <FIG>, or the second print bar <NUM> from <FIG>. The printing system <NUM> further comprises a substrate <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the substrate <NUM> from <FIG> and/or the substrate <NUM> from <FIG>. The first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may comprise a plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) to eject a printing agent on the substrate <NUM> to print a print job. The plurality of nozzles may be grouped in a plurality of printheads (see, e.g., printhead <NUM> from <FIG>). The first printing bar <NUM> may comprise a first printhead group comprising a plurality of printheads, for example, five printheads: a first printhead 515A, a second printhead 515B, a third printhead 515C, a fourth printhead 515D, and a fifth printhead 515E. This is an example, and a different amount of printheads may be installed in the first printing bar <NUM>. The second printing bar <NUM> may comprise a second printhead group comprising another plurality of printheads, for example, five printheads: a first printhead 525A, a second printhead 525B, a third printhead 525C, a fourth printhead 525D, and a fifth printhead 525E. This is an example, and a different amount of printheads may be installed in the second printing bar <NUM>. In another example, the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may comprise eight printheads each. In yet another example, the first print bar <NUM> and the second print bar <NUM> may comprise a different amount of printheads.

The plurality of printheads 515A-515E in the first printhead group and the plurality of printheads 525A-525E in the second printhead group span a different area in a longitudinal print bar axis (shown as axis X). In the example, the first printhead 515A from the first print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X1 and X3 from the X axis, and the first printhead 525A from the second print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X2 and X5 from the X axis; the second printhead 515B from the first print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X4 and X7 from the X axis, and the second printhead 525B from the second print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X6 and X9 from the X axis; the third printhead 515C from the first print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X8 and X11 from the X axis, and the third printhead 525C from the second print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X10 and X13 from the X axis; the fourth printhead 515D from the first print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X12 and X15 from the X axis, and the fourth printhead 525D from the second print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X14 and X17 from the X axis; the fifth printhead 515E from the first print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X16 and X19 from the X axis, and the fifth printhead 525E from the second print bar <NUM> spans the area comprised between points X18 and X20 from the X axis. In a further example, points X3 and X4, X5 and X6, X7 and X8, X9 and X10, X11 and X12, X13 and X14, X15 and X16, and X17 and X18 may be substantially the same points. In another further example, points X3 and X4, X5 and X6, X7 and X8, X9 and X10, X11 and X12, X13 and X14, X15 and X16, and X17 and X18 may have an interim gap. Installing the printheads in the previous configuration may average the printed output, therefore increasing the image quality of the filled area printed.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printhead <NUM>. Printhead <NUM> may be any of the printheads 515A-515E and/or 525A-525E from <FIG>. Printhead <NUM> may comprise a plurality of dyes, for example, five dyes: a first dye 610A, a second dye 610B, a third dye 610C, a fourth dye 610D, and a fifth dye 610E. This is an example, and a different amount of dyes may be present in the printhead <NUM> without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Each dye from the plurality of dyes 610A-610E may comprise a plurality of trenches. In the example, each dye 610A-610E comprises four trenches 620A-620E respectively. However, each dye may comprise a different number of trenches than the example. Each trench in the printhead comprises a plurality of nozzles. In the example, each trench 620A-620E comprises a plurality of nozzles 630A-630E respectively. In an example, each nozzle associated with a trench is to eject the same printing agent. Some example of printing agents may be a printing agent comprising Cyan colorant (e.g., Cyan ink), a printing agent comprising Magenta colorant (e.g., Magenta ink), a printing agent comprising Black colorant (e.g., Black ink), a printing agent comprising White colorant (e.g., White ink), and/or the like. In a further example, a dye in the printhead <NUM> may comprise four trenches, the nozzles from a first trench to eject Cyan ink, the nozzles from a second trench to eject Magenta ink, the nozzles from a third trench to eject Yellow ink, and the nozzles from a fourth trench to eject black ink.

In an example of the present disclosure, at least two nozzles from different trenches may be to eject a printing agent comprising Cyan colorant in each substrate area unit within the longitudinal print bar axis. In another example of the present disclosure, at least two nozzles from different trenches may be to eject a printing agent comprising Magenta colorant in each substrate area unit within the longitudinal print bar axis. In another example of the present disclosure, at least two nozzles from different trenches may be to eject a printing agent comprising Yellow colorant in each substrate area unit within the longitudinal print bar axis. In another example of the present disclosure, at least two nozzles from different trenches may be to eject a printing agent comprising Black colorant in each substrate area unit within the longitudinal print bar axis.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method <NUM> for printing with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area. Method <NUM> may be described below as being executed or performed by a printing system, such as printing system <NUM> of <FIG>. Various other suitable systems may be used as well, such as, for example printing system <NUM> of <FIG>, printing system <NUM> of <FIG>, printing system <NUM> from <FIG>, and printing system <NUM> from <FIG>. Method <NUM> may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium and executed by a single processor or a plurality of processors of the apparatus <NUM>, and/or in the form of any electronic circuitry, for example digital and/or analog ASIC. In some implementations of the present disclosure, method <NUM> may include more or less blocks than are shown in <FIG>. In some implementations, one or more of the blocks of method <NUM> may, at certain times, be ongoing and/or may repeat.

The method <NUM> starts at block <NUM>, and continues to block <NUM>, where a controller (e.g., controller <NUM> from <FIG>) receives a print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. At block <NUM>, the controller defines a first subset of a plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) wherein such first subset is used to print in a first printing mode (e.g., first printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the outline. At block <NUM>, the controller defines a second subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) wherein the second subset is used to print in a second printing mode (e.g., second printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the fill area, wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset. At block <NUM>, the plurality of nozzles prints the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode. At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may end. Method <NUM> may be repeated multiple times to print a print job.

<FIG> is another flowchart of an example method for printing with printing modes comprising an outline and a fill area. Method <NUM> may be described below as being executed or performed by a printing system, such as printing system <NUM> of <FIG>. Various other suitable systems may be used as well, such as, for example printing system <NUM> of <FIG>, printing system <NUM> of <FIG>, printing system <NUM> from <FIG>, and printing system <NUM> from <FIG>. Method <NUM> may be implemented in the form of executable instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium and executed by a single processor or a plurality of processors of the apparatus <NUM>, and/or in the form of any electronic circuitry, for example digital and/or analog ASIC. In some implementations of the present disclosure, method <NUM> may include more or less blocks than are shown in <FIG>. In some implementations, one or more of the blocks of method <NUM> may, at certain times, be ongoing and/or may repeat.

The method <NUM> may start at block <NUM>, and continue to block <NUM>, where a controller (e.g., controller <NUM> from <FIG>) may receive a print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. At block <NUM>, the controller may define a first subset of a plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) as a first printing mode (e.g., first printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the outline in a first print bar (e.g., first print bar <NUM> from <FIG>). At block <NUM>, the controller may define a second subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) as a second printing mode (e.g., second printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the fill area in the first print bar and in a second print bar (e.g., second print bar <NUM> from <FIG>), wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset. At block <NUM>, the plurality of nozzles may print the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode. At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may end. Method <NUM> may be repeated multiple times to print a print job.

Furthermore, the methods <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a step of analyzing an image in order to extract from a print job the outline and the fill area prior to defining the subsets of nozzles to use in the first and the second printing modes.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a processor-based system <NUM> to print with printing modes to print an outline and a fill area. In some implementations, the system <NUM> may be or may form part of a printing device, such as an additive manufacturing system. In some implementations, the system <NUM> is a processor-based system and may include a processor <NUM> coupled to a machine-readable medium <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a single-core processor, a multi-core processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or any other hardware device suitable for retrieval and/or execution of instructions from the machine-readable medium <NUM> (e.g., instructions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>) to perform functions related to various examples. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor <NUM> may include electronic circuitry for performing the functionality described herein, including the functionality of instructions <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>. With respect of the executable instructions represented as boxes in <FIG>, it should be understood that part or all of the executable instructions and/or electronic circuits included within one box may, in alternative implementations, be included in a different box shown in the figures or in a different box not shown.

The machine-readable medium <NUM> may be any medium suitable for storing executable instructions, such as a random-access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, hard disk drives, optical disks, and the like. In some example implementations, the machine-readable medium <NUM> may be a tangible, non-transitory medium, where the term "non-transitory" does not encompass transitory propagating signals. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may be disposed within the processor-based system <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, in which case the executable instructions may be deemed "installed" on the system <NUM>. Alternatively, the machine-readable medium <NUM> may be a portable (e.g., external) storage medium, for example, that allows system <NUM> to remotely execute the instructions or download the instructions from the storage medium. In this case, the executable instructions may be part of an "installation package". As described further herein below, the machine-readable medium may be encoded with a set of executable instructions <NUM>-<NUM>.

Instructions <NUM>, when executed by the processor <NUM>, receive a print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed. Instructions <NUM>, when executed by the processor <NUM>, define a first subset of a plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) as a first printing mode (e.g., first printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the outline. Instructions <NUM>, when executed by the processor <NUM>, define a second subset of the plurality of nozzles (e.g., plurality of nozzles <NUM> from <FIG>) as a second printing mode (e.g., second printing mode <NUM> from <FIG>) to print the fill area, wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset. Instructions <NUM>, when executed by the processor <NUM>, print the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode by ejecting printing agent using the plurality of nozzles.

The above examples may be implemented by hardware, or software in combination with hardware. For example, the various methods, processes and functional modules described herein may be implemented by a physical processor (the term processor is to be implemented broadly to include CPU, processing module, ASIC, logic module, or programmable gate array, etc.). The processes, methods and functional modules may all be performed by a single processor or split between several processors; reference in this disclosure or the claims to a "processor" should thus be interpreted to mean "at least one processor". The processes, method and functional modules are implemented as machine-readable instructions executable by at least one processor, hardware logic circuitry of the at least one processors, or a combination thereof.

Claim 1:
A printing system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a plurality of nozzles (<NUM>) configured to eject a printing agent composition on a substrate (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to print a print job, wherein the printing agent composition comprises pigments, colorants, and/or inks; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to:
receive the print job comprising an outline and a fill area to be printed,
define a first subset of the plurality of nozzles as a first printing mode (<NUM>) to print the outline,
define a second subset of the plurality of nozzles as a second printing mode (<NUM>) to print the fill area, wherein the second subset comprises more nozzles than the first subset, and
print the print job based on the first printing mode and the second printing mode.