Intelligent print mask

Abstract

A multi swath printing method for printing an image on an ink jet printing system is used to reduce image banding. The ink jet printing system includes a printhead with one or more ink ejection nozzles. The method entails forming a set of individual print masks. Each individual print mask has one or more groupings of two dimensional patterns of different frequencies and is assigned to a color of the ink jet printing system. The method ends by inputting the set of individual print masks formed into the ink jet printing system to form an input mask set and printing images using the input mask set to create an out-of-phase composite of the image printed. Banding is substantially reduced in the printed image and the printed image comprises a resolution between 300 dpi and 4800 dpi.

1 . A multi swath printing method for printing an image using an ink jet printing system to reduce image banding, wherein the ink jet printing system comprises at least one printhead with at least one ink ejection nozzle having a scan axis, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. forming a set of individual print masks, wherein each individual print mask comprises a x-axis, a y-axis, at least one grouping of two dimensional patterns of different frequencies, and wherein each individual print mask is assigned to a color of the ink jet printing system;   b. inputting the set of individual print masks formed into the ink jet printing system to form an input mask set;   c. printing images using the input mask set to create an out-of-phase composite of the image printed, wherein banding is substantially reduced in the image and the image comprises a resolution between 300 dpi and 4800 dpi, wherein the different frequencies comprise a distance between pixels within the two dimensional pattern of each individual print mask.   
   
   
       2 . A multi swath printing method for printing an image using an ink jet printing system to reduce image banding, wherein the ink jet printing system comprises at least one printhead with at least one ink ejection nozzle having a scan axis, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. forming a set of individual print masks, wherein each individual print mask comprises a x-axis, a y-axis, at least one grouping of two dimensional patterns of different frequencies, and wherein each individual print mask is assigned to a color of the ink jet printing system;   b. inputting the set of individual print masks formed into the ink jet printing system to form an input mask set;   c. printing images using the input mask set to create an out-of-phase composite of the image printed, wherein banding is substantially reduced in the image and the image comprises a resolution between 300 dpi and 4800, wherein the different frequencies further comprise a second distance between groups of pixels of each individual print mask.   
   
   
       3 . A multi swath printing method for printing an image using an ink jet printing system to reduce image banding, wherein the ink jet printing system comprises at least one printhead with at least one ink ejection nozzle having a scan axis, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. forming a set of individual print masks, wherein each individual print mask comprises a x-axis, a y-axis, at least one grouping of two dimensional patterns of different frequencies, and wherein each individual print mask is assigned to a color of the ink jet printing system;   b. inputting the set of individual print masks formed into the ink jet printing system to form an input mask set;   c. printing images using the input mask set to create an out-of-phase composite of the image printed, wherein banding is substantially reduced in the image and the image comprises a resolution between 300 dpi and 4800 dpi, wherein a portion of the pixels formed on the print media by the method are addressed more than once by the printhead.   
   
   
       4 . A multi swath printing method for printing an image using an ink jet printing system to reduce image banding, wherein the ink jet printing system comprises at least one printhead with at least one ink ejection nozzle having a scan axis, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 a. forming a set of individual print masks, wherein each individual print mask comprises a x-axis, a y-axis, at least one grouping of two dimensional patterns of different frequencies, and wherein each individual print mask is assigned to a color of the ink jet printing system;   b. inputting the set of individual print masks formed into the ink jet printing system to form an input mask set;   c. printing images using the input mask set to create an out-of-phase composite of the image printed, wherein banding is substantially reduced in the image and the image comprises a resolution between 300 dpi and 4800 dpi, wherein each individual print mask formed are locked out-of-phase from every other individual print mask formed.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of assigning a print mask to each individual print mode. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of assigning a print mask to each individual print mode. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of assigning a print mask to each individual print mode. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of assigning a print mask to each individual print mode. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual print masks are binary filters. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the individual print masks are binary filters. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the individual print masks are binary filters. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the individual print masks are binary filters. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the different frequencies further comprise a second distance between groups of pixels of each individual print mask.   
   
   
       14 . A mask set to reduce image banding in N-pass printing of a color image, the mask set including a first print mask assigned to a first color and a second print mask assigned to a second color, each of the first print mask and the second print mask including an x axis and a y axis, wherein:
 the first print mask comprises:
 a first two dimensional grouping disposed in a first region along the x and y axes, the first two dimensional grouping having a frequency f 1  characterized by f 1 >1/N; and 
 a second two dimensional grouping disposed in a second region along the x and y axes, the second two dimensional grouping having a frequency f 2  characterized by f 2 <1/N; and 
   the second print mask comprises:
 a first two dimensional grouping disposed in a third region along the x and y axes, the first two dimensional grouping having a frequency f 3  characterized by f 3 >1/N; and 
 a second two dimensional grouping disposed in a fourth region along the x and y axes, the second two dimensional grouping having a frequency f 4  characterized by f 4 <1/N, wherein the third region is offset from the first region, and the fourth region is offset from the second region. 
   
   
   
       15 . The mask set of  claim 14 , wherein N=3, f 1  and f 3  are each approximately 50%, and f 2  and f 4  are each approximately 25%.