Printing apparatus, print control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10038814-B2
Application number	US-201615376148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2016
Priority date	Dec 25, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, a control unit reads image data and date information of a main image from a memory card into a RAM. When a watermark printing is set, the control unit combines characters of the date information having a high gradation value with overcoat layer data having a mixture pattern in which pixels having a high gradation value and pixels having a low gradation value are located randomly or alternately in rows and columns to generate overcoat layer print data and stores the data in an overcoat layer data storage area. The control unit generates CMY print data from the image data of the main image to print it on image-receiving paper by using a print processing section. After printing of the main image, the control unit prints the overcoat layer print data so that it is superimposed on the main image on the image-receiving paper.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printing apparatus that prints an overcoat layer on printing paper on which a main image has been printed, the printing apparatus comprising:
an acquisition unit configured to acquire supplemental information;
a setting unit configured to set a gloss mode of an overcoat layer; and
a control unit configured to perform control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data,
wherein, in a case where the supplemental information acquired by the acquisition unit is printed by using an overcoat layer, the control unit performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data generated by combining the supplemental information formed in a mixture pattern for the supplemental information in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged alternately in rows and columns, with a mixture pattern for a background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged,
wherein the control unit performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data having a low gradation value if a first gloss mode is set by the setting unit, and performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data having a mixture pattern for the background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged if a second gloss mode is set by the setting unit, and
wherein, in a case where the supplemental information is printed by using an overcoat layer, even if the first gloss mode is set, the control unit performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data generated by combining the supplemental information with a mixture pattern for the background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in a case where the supplemental information is printed by using an overcoat layer, the control unit generates overcoat layer print data in which a high gradation value is arranged in an area around an area where the supplemental information is formed.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mixture pattern for the background portion is a pattern in which a low gradation value and a high gradation value are arranged randomly.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the mixture pattern for the background portion is a pattern in which a low gradation value and a high gradation value are arranged alternately in rows and columns.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein, when gradation of the overcoat layer print data is represented by 8 bits, the high gradation value is a gradation value of equal to or greater than 200, and the low gradation value is a gradation value ranging from 70 to 140.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the supplemental information is image-capture date information of the main image, and
wherein the acquisition unit acquires the image-capture date information from a recording medium in which the main image is stored.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a supplemental information print setting unit configured to set a setting specifying whether the supplemental information is to be printed,
wherein the supplemental information print setting unit can set a setting specifying whether the supplemental information is to be printed by using an overcoat layer or a color ink.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein, if the supplemental information print setting unit sets a setting specifying that the supplemental information is to be printed by a color ink, the control unit performs control so that the supplemental information acquired by the acquisition unit is combined with the main image and is printed.

9. A print control method for printing an overcoat layer on printing paper on which a main image has been printed, the print control method comprising:
acquiring supplemental information;
setting a gloss mode of an overcoat layer; and
in a case where the supplemental information acquired in the acquiring step is printed by using an overcoat layer, performing control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data generated by combining the supplemental information formed in a mixture pattern for the supplemental information in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged alternately in rows and columns, with a mixture pattern for a background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged,
wherein the performing performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data having a low gradation value if a first gloss mode is set, and the performing performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data having a mixture pattern for the background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged if a second gloss mode is set, and
wherein, in a case where the supplemental information is printed by using an overcoat layer, even if the first gloss mode is set, the performing performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data generated by combining the supplemental information with a mixture pattern for the background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a print control method, the method comprising:
acquiring supplemental information;
setting a gloss mode of an overcoat layer; and
in a case where the supplemental information acquired in the acquiring step is printed by using an overcoat layer, performing control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data generated by combining the supplemental information formed in a mixture pattern for the supplemental information in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged alternately in rows and columns, with a mixture pattern for a background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged,
wherein the performing performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data having a low gradation value if a first gloss mode is set, and the performing performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data having a mixture pattern for the background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged if a second gloss mode is set, and
wherein, in a case where the supplemental information is printed by using an overcoat layer, even if the first gloss mode is set, the performing performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data generated by combining the supplemental information with a mixture pattern for the background portion in which a high gradation value and a low gradation value are arranged.

11. A printing apparatus that prints an overcoat layer on printing paper on which a main image has been printed, the printing apparatus comprising:
an acquisition unit configured to acquire supplemental information; and
a control unit configured to perform control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoat layer print data,
wherein, in a case where the supplemental information acquired by the acquisition unit is printed by using an overcoat layer, the control unit performs control so that the overcoat layer is printed based on overcoa

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Suzuki Tetsuya

Classifications

• B41M7/0036

  using protective coatings or layers dried without curing · CPC title

• B41J29/38

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• H04N1/32325 Primary

  the embedded data being visible · CPC title

• H04N2201/3242

  of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording (H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N2201/3271

  Printing or stamping · CPC title