Density unevenness correction data creation method, density unevenness correction data creation apparatus, printing system, program, test chart, and test chart data creation apparatus

A density unevenness correction data creation apparatus that creates density unevenness correction data applied to printing of a single-pass method in which a line head in which a plurality of recording elements are disposed along a first direction is used, the density unevenness correction data creation apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories that store a program executed by the one or more processors,
• wherein the one or more processors execute a command of the program to
• acquire a test chart captured image obtained by imaging a first test chart that includes a density step pattern including one or more density patterns corresponding to one or more density values, a plurality of alignment marks having different shapes from each other, and a plurality of line marks having shapes extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and that is printed on a print medium,
• acquire correspondence relationship information representing a correspondence relationship between a theoretical position in the first test chart and an imaging position in the test chart captured image for the first direction and the second direction, and
• create the density unevenness correction data by using information on a density of the density step pattern in the test chart captured image,
• in a case of acquiring the correspondence relationship information,
• a rough correspondence relationship representing the correspondence relationship between the theoretical position and the imaging position in the first direction is acquired by using information on a position of each alignment mark in the first direction specified based on the shape of each alignment mark, and
• a detailed correspondence relationship between the theoretical position and the imaging position in the first direction, which represents a more detailed correspondence relationship than the rough correspondence relationship, is acquired by using information on a position of each of the plurality of line marks estimated by using the acquired rough correspondence relationship, and
• in a case of creating the density unevenness correction data, the density unevenness correction data is created by estimating the density value of each position of the density step pattern in the first direction by using the detailed correspondence relationship in the first direction.

A printing system comprising:

• a line head in which a plurality of recording elements are disposed along a first direction;
• and
• a density unevenness correction data creation apparatus that creates density unevenness correction data applied to printing of a single-pass method in which the line head is used,
• wherein the density unevenness correction data creation apparatus includes
• one or more processors, and
• one or more memories that store a program executed by the one or more processors,
• the one or more processors execute a command of the program to
• acquire a test chart captured image obtained by imaging a first test chart that includes a density step pattern including one or more density patterns corresponding to one or more density values, a plurality of alignment marks having different shapes from each other, and a plurality of line marks having shapes extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and that is printed on a print medium,
• acquire correspondence relationship information representing a correspondence relationship between a theoretical position in the first test chart and an imaging position in the test chart captured image for the first direction and the second direction, and
• create the density unevenness correction data by using information on a density of the density step pattern in the test chart captured image,
• in a case of acquiring the correspondence relationship information,
• a rough correspondence relationship representing the correspondence relationship between the theoretical position and the imaging position in the first direction is acquired by using information on a position of each alignment mark in the first direction specified based on the shape of each alignment mark, and
• a detailed correspondence relationship between the theoretical position and the imaging position in the first direction, which represents a more detailed correspondence relationship than the rough correspondence relationship, is acquired by using information on a position of each of the plurality of line marks estimated by using the acquired rough correspondence relationship, and
• in a case of creating the density unevenness correction data, the density unevenness correction data is created by estimating the density value of each position of the density step pattern in the first direction by using the detailed correspondence relationship in the first direction.

A non-transitory, computer-readable tangible recording medium which records thereon a program of creating density unevenness correction data applied to printing of a single-pass method in which a line head in which a plurality of recording elements are disposed along a first direction is used, the program causing a computer to:

• acquire a test chart captured image obtained by imaging a first test chart that includes a density step pattern including one or more density patterns corresponding to one or more density values, a plurality of alignment marks having different shapes from each other, and a plurality of line marks having shapes extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and that is printed on a print medium;
• acquire correspondence relationship information representing a correspondence relationship between a theoretical position in the first test chart and an imaging position in the test chart captured image for the first direction and the second direction;
• and
• create the density unevenness correction data by using information on a density of the density step pattern in the test chart captured image,
• wherein, in a case of acquiring the correspondence relationship information,
• a rough correspondence relationship representing the correspondence relationship between the theoretical position and the imaging position in the first direction is acquired by using information on a position of each alignment mark in the first direction specified based on the shape of each alignment mark, and
• a detailed correspondence relationship between the theoretical position and the imaging position in the first direction, which represents a more detailed correspondence relationship than the rough correspondence relationship, is acquired by using information on a position of each of the plurality of line marks estimated by using the acquired rough correspondence relationship, and
• in a case of creating density unevenness correction data, the density unevenness correction data is created by estimating the density value of each position of the density step pattern in the first direction by using the detailed correspondence relationship in the first direction.