Raster image processor with printhead profile compensation for a multi level digital printing machine
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First Claim
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1. A method of generating a screened multi-bit data output file for a digital printing machine having the ability to print on a page a first printable tone level, a second printable tone level, and a third printable tone level, from an unscreened raster data file specifying a continuous tone value for a first colorant for each printable position of the page, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating first and second tonal sub-ranges corresponding to the first and second printable tone levels, respectively, for the first colorant;
each of said first and second tonal sub-ranges comprising beginning and ending boundary tone values defining first and second tone range spans and a first transition tone value to be both said ending boundary tone value of said first tonal sub-range and said beginning boundary tone value of said second tonal sub-range;
(b) shifting the position of said first transition tone value so that said first tone range span is different from said second tone range span;
(c) producing a modified output tone value for said first and second tonal sub-ranges by first and second tone modification functions, respectively; and
(d) producing a single multi-bit output value corresponding to the first colorant for each printable position on the page by using said modified output tone values of said first and second tone modification functions as inputs to at least one bi-level half-toning algorithm.
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Abstract
A system and method of calibration, screening, and compensation is presented for multiple gray-level digital presses. Unequal quantization of the input range is employed with compensated overlapping of sub-ranges. Multiple instances of bi-level screening algorithms, tone modification functions, and a recombination algorithm are employed to produce calibrated screening on individual tone ranges. The method works with any bi-level screening algorithm and devices with any number of gray-levels. Quality imaging results from high detail, high tonal accuracy, low screening noise, and lack of printed artifacts. Dynamic re-calibration is facilitated. The elimination of the constraint of evenly spaced gray-levels also has advantages of cost and yield for both print head fabricators as well as digital press manufacturers. Multiple implementations of the system and method are given for both hardware and software embodiments of the invention.
1 Citation
18 Claims
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1. A method of generating a screened multi-bit data output file for a digital printing machine having the ability to print on a page a first printable tone level, a second printable tone level, and a third printable tone level, from an unscreened raster data file specifying a continuous tone value for a first colorant for each printable position of the page, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating first and second tonal sub-ranges corresponding to the first and second printable tone levels, respectively, for the first colorant;
each of said first and second tonal sub-ranges comprising beginning and ending boundary tone values defining first and second tone range spans and a first transition tone value to be both said ending boundary tone value of said first tonal sub-range and said beginning boundary tone value of said second tonal sub-range;(b) shifting the position of said first transition tone value so that said first tone range span is different from said second tone range span; (c) producing a modified output tone value for said first and second tonal sub-ranges by first and second tone modification functions, respectively; and (d) producing a single multi-bit output value corresponding to the first colorant for each printable position on the page by using said modified output tone values of said first and second tone modification functions as inputs to at least one bi-level half-toning algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A raster image processor for producing a screened multi-bit data output file for a digital printing machine capable of printing on a page a first printable tone level, a second printable tone level, and a third printable tone level, from an unscreened raster data file specifying a continuous tone value for a first colorant for each printable X-Y position of the page, the raster image processor comprising:
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a computing device; a memory device connected with said computer device; a screening module comprising; a tone sub-range module configured to create first, second, and third tonal sub-ranges corresponding to the first, second, and third printable tone levels, respectively, for the first colorant;
each of said first, second, and third tonal sub-ranges comprising beginning and ending boundary tone values defining first, second, and third tone range spans and a first transition tone value to be the value of both said ending boundary tone value of said first tonal sub-range and said beginning boundary tone value of said second tonal sub-range and a second transition tone value to be the value of both said ending boundary tone value of said second tonal sub-range and said beginning boundary tone value of said third tonal sub-range;a shifting module configured to shift the position of said first and second transition tone values so that said first tone range span is different from said second tone range span and said third tone range span; a pixel processing module comprising a tone modification sub-module configured to produce a modified output tone value for said first, second, and third tonal sub-ranges by first, second, and third tone modification functions, respectively; wherein said pixel processing module further comprises an output sub-module configured to produce a single multi-bit output value corresponding to the first colorant for each printable position on the page by using said modified output tone values from said first, second, and third tone modification functions as inputs to at least one bi-level half-toning algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeRampage LLC
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Original AssigneeScaleabilities LLC
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InventorsBogart, Mitchell J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Rudolph, Vincent
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Assistant Examiner(s)BURLESON, MICHAEL L
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Application NumberUS14/534,587Publication NumberTime in Patent Office215 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesG06K 15/1873 Increasing spatial resoluti...G06K 15/1881 Halftoning halftoning of st...H04N 1/4057 the pattern being a mixture...
