# US 6,721,065 B1 · Method and apparatus for printing images > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,721,065 B1 - Document ID: US6721065B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/585,118 - Filed: 2000-06-01 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2000-06-01 - Assignees: Lucent Technologies Inc. - Inventors: Bahram Ghaffarzadeh Kermani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6721065B1 ## CPC - G06K 15/128: {generating or processing printable items, e.g. characters} - G06K 15/102: {using ink jet print heads} - H04N 1/58: Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression, e.g. colour misregistration correction (H04N1/62 takes precedence) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The invention is a method and apparatus for printing images intended to appear to be of solid uniform color and intensity while conserving the amount of image-generating medium used to form the image. The method and apparatus form such images by continually reducing the amount of an image-generating medium deposited in a first portion of the image from a predetermined amount at an outer edge of the portion to a lesser amount at an inner edge of the first portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for printing an image which is intended to appear to be of solid, uniform color and intensity, comprising the steps of: (a) defining such an image area on a printable medium; and (b) depositing an image-generating medium in said image area such that at least a first portion of said area is printed by continually reducing the amount of image-generating medium deposited in said first portion of said area from a predetermined amount at at least one outer edge of said first portion to a lesser amount at at least one virtual interior reduction edge of said first portion, said at least one outer edge and said at least one virtual interior reduction edge being separated by a first predetermined distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the defining step comprises utilizing a computer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said first portion comprises essentially the entire image area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein at least a second portion of said image area is filled using a constant amount of image medium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the constant amount of image medium is approximately equal to the amount of image medium used at the outer edge of said first portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein at least a second portion of the image area is printed by continually increasing the amount of image-generating medium deposited in said second portion of said area from the amount at at least one virtual interior reduction edge of said first portion to a greater amount at at least one virtual interior increase edge of said first portion, said at least one virtual interior reduction edge and said at least one virtual interior increase edge being separated by a second predetermined distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined distance and second predetermined distance are about equal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the rate of increase over the second predetermined distance is about equal to the rate of reduction over the first predetermined distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said first and second predetermined distances have a combined length which is less than the distance from the outer edge of the image area to the center of the image area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the greater amount of image medium at said at least one virtual interior increase edge is about equal to the amount of image-generating medium used at the outer edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined amount at said at least one outer edge of said first portion is a maximum amount relative to the other areas of the portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said lesser amount at said at least one virtual interior reduction edge of said first portion is a minimum amount relative to the other areas of the portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said first and second portions comprise essentially the entire image area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein at least a third portion of said image area is filled using a constant amount of image medium. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the constant amount of image medium is approximately equal to the amount of image medium used at the outer edge of said first portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein at least a third portion of the image area is printed by continually decreasing the amount of image-generating medium deposited in said third portion of said area from the amount at said at least one virtual interior increase edge of said second portion to a lesser amount at at least one virtual interior reduction edge of said third portion, said at least one virtual interior reduction edge of said third portion and said at least one virtual interior increase edge of said second portion being separated by a third predetermined distance. ### Claim 17 An apparatus for printing an image, comprising: means for defining an image area on a printable medium, said image area having at least one outer edge and a center; and means for depositing in said image area an image-generating medium such that the unit quantity of image-generating medium deposited on said printable medium is continuously reduced over a predetermined distance in a direction from at least one outer edge of said area toward about the center of said image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising means for defining color/intensity profile variables of said image area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said means for defining color/intensity profile variables comprises a computer.