Optimal-size and nozzle-modulated printmasks for use in incremental printing

A method for creating and using a mask for incremental printing, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a grid substantially corresponding to pixel positions of an image to be printed;
• to complete creation of the mask, establishing indications in the grid of at least one inkdrop layer in which each particular pixel position in the image is to be addressed;
• wherein the grid-establishing step comprises establishing an overall number of pixel positions, as width of the grid, which is optimum in that it corresponds to maximum-human-response spatial frequencies only at viewing distances much greater than a typical reading distance;
• and
• applying the created mask to print an image.

A method of creating and using a mask for incremental printing;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• establishing a grid of at least two dimensions substantially corresponding to pixel positions of an image to be printed;
• to complete creation of the mask, establishing indications in the grid of at least one inkdrop layer in which each particular pixel position in the image is to be addressed;
• wherein the grid-establishing step comprises optimizing the mask width in terms of absolute distance in the image to be printed;
• and
• applying the created mask to print an image.

A method of preparing and using a mask for incremental printing;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• automatically operating a program that creates a printmask by the substeps of:
• defining a grid corresponding to pixel positions in a nontext image to be printed, and
• establishing one or more inkdrop layers in which each of said pixel positions is to be addressed;
• wherein the establishing step comprises imposing a time-varying modulation of nozzle usage;
• and
• then automatically using, or storing for later use, the created printmask.

A method of printing nontext images, for use with at least one pen having multiple ink-ejecting nozzles;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• directing signals to operate the nozzles to form images;
• and
• modulating nozzle usage with respect to time, wherein the modulating step comprises ramping nozzle usage near an end of the pen.

A printer for printing nontext images;

• said printer comprising:
• at least one ink-depositing pen having plural ends and having nozzles disposed between the ends;
• and
• means for modulating nozzle usage with respect to time, wherein the usage-modulating means comprise means for ramping nozzle usage near an end of the pen.

A method of printing nontext images, for use with plural pens each having an array of multiple ink-ejecting nozzles;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• directing signals to operate the nozzles to form images;
• controlling the signals to refrain from using certain nozzles at ends of different pens respectively;
• said certain nozzles being different nozzles for said different pens, respectively, to produce the effect of staggered pens;
• and
• time-varying the signal-controlling step so that the staggered-pen effect is dynamic.

A method of printing nontext images, for use with at least one pen having an array of multiple ink-ejecting nozzles;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• directing signals to operate the nozzles to form different image segments in different passes of the pen, respectively;
• and
• controlling the signals to refrain from using certain nozzles at at least one end of the pen in different passes respectively;
• said certain nozzles being different nozzles for said different passes respectively, so that the different image segments do not mutually abut.