Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Hirokazu Sada

Kazumasa Matsumoto

Hidehiko Saito

Hidehito Takayama

Kenichi Suzuki

Satoshi Shimizu

Keiji Okoda

When data to be output in accordance with a predetermined protocol and attached information of the data are input in setting output conditions of an output apparatus capable of setting a plurality of output parameters, information concerning output of the data is detected from the attached information. An output parameter is selected in accordance with the detected information, and the data is converted in accordance with the selected output parameter. This reduces operations by a user, so an appropriate output corresponding to the data can be obtained without any expert knowledge. This invention is applicable to, e.g., an output system for printing medical images.

Method of setting output conditions of output apparatus, output system, and printing apparatus

A plurality of ink-jet head units, each having ink with different density in a color, are prepared. Superimposed print information of a plurality of the types of ink, each having different density, is stored as an ink type distribution table in correspondence with the density of image data. An increase in ink density in each nozzle is predicted on the basis of a continuous ink non-discharging count (non-discharging time) stored in an ink density characteristics change table. Binary data for determining an optimal ink type distribution for recording the image data, i.e., ink-jet head units to be used for printing, are generated by referring to the predicted value and the ink type distribution table. Printing is then performed. In addition, the density value of the target pixel to be printed is predicted. The error between the predicted density value and the density value of the original pixel is distributed to the pixels around the target pixel to convert the image data, thereby printing an image on the basis of the resultant image data.

Image processing method and apparatus and recording apparatus

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Tochigi, Japan

Hirokazu Sada