Patent ID: 8705136

Claim:
A method for trapping print data comprising at least first and second objects where the first object is to be inserted at a desired region into the second object by trapping, comprising the steps of: providing a printer for printing the print data and a raster image processor associated with the printer for converting the print data into pixel data in the form of a bitmap pixel file; transferring the print data to said printer together with trapping instructions in a print data stream, the print data stream being structured in different levels, wherein a higher the level a greater an acting scope of the instructions contained in the respective level, and trapping instructions from lower levels having priority over trapping instructions from higher levels; using the raster image processor, converting the second object print data by rasterizing into a bitmap pixel file; using the trapping instructions, determining an overfill for the first object relative to a color region of the second object bordering the first object at said desired region, the overfill being only determined at edges of the first object when a brightness of the first object relative to an adjoining region of the second object differs by a difference magnitude that is greater than a predetermined threshold; using the raster image processor, rasterizing both the first object and the overfill upon insertion at said desired region of the first object and the overfill into the second object bitmap pixel file previously created by rasterizing; and printing the first and the second objects with the printer by use of the second object bitmap pixel file containing the inserted first object and the overfill at said desired region.