Ink limiting in ink jet printing systems

A method for controlling liquid ink volume in a printing system having multiple pixels associated with source image data, the source image data for each of the multiple pixels further associated with a pixel color produced by a variable combination of primary color units, the method comprising the following steps:

• assigning an individual ink volume to each one of the multiple pixels proportional to a given number of the primary color units, the primary color units combined in various combinations to form the associated pixel color;
• selecting a variable threshold volume, the individual ink volume of each one of the multiple pixels below the variable threshold volume defined as a non-depletion color volume;
• selecting a full range ink volume defining a largest number of the total primary color units assigned to any one associated pixel color, the full range ink volume of each one of the multiple pixels between the threshold volume and the full range ink volume defining a depletion color volume;
• selecting a maximum total ink volume greater than the variable threshold ink volume defining a maximum volume of ink applied within a given area of a print medium for any one associated pixel color;
• depleting the individual ink volume of each one of the multiple pixels having a depletion color volume, each of the individual pixels having an associated ink volume depleted according to the maximum total ink volume and proportional to the individual ink volume assigned to each one of the pixels thereby reducing the ink volume assigned to each depletion color volume while maintaining a linear relationship between the depleted individual ink volumes;
• and
• outputting the depleted individual ink volume from the printing system.

A method of limiting ink volume to improve quality of a printed image in a liquid ink printing system arranged to receive multiple pixels of digital source image data, the source image data including a specified ink volume for each one of the multiple pixels with a combination of primary colors having a predefined volume ratio, the method comprising the steps of;

• maintaining the volume ratio between primary colors in each one of the pixels;
• selecting a maximum total ink volume;
• individually depleting the specified ink volume so as to generate a depleted total ink volume for each one of the multiple pixels of the source image data by an associated amount according to the maximum total ink volume and proportional to the specified ink volume so that the depleted total ink volume for each one of the multiple pixels is less than or equal to the selection maximum total ink volume;
• and
• outputting the depleted ink volume from the printing system for each one of the multiple pixels.