Printing and print data generating devices, computer-readable media for storing generating instructions, and methods of generating print data

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions for a processor of a print data generating device, the computer-readable instructions instructing the processor to perform the steps of:

• selecting one image orientation of an image to be printed from a plurality of image orientations by using a plurality of partial image data;
• and
• generating print data for printing the image according to the one selected image orientation,
• wherein each image orientation of the plurality of image orientations is with respect to a printing-medium conveying direction,
• wherein each partial image data of the plurality of partial image data corresponds to a respective image orientation of the plurality of image orientations, a respective partial image of a plurality of partial images, and a respective portion of the image to be printed,
• wherein each partial image of the plurality of partial images is less than an entirety of the image to be printed and is configured to be printed in an area defined by a particular distance determined from a corresponding edge of a printing medium,
• wherein the particular distance is based on a standard distance between a location of a most-upstream nozzle and a location of a downstream roller for a printer in the printing-medium conveying direction,
• wherein the particular distance is less than or equal to the standard distance,
• wherein the particular distance is greater than a distance between the most-upstream nozzle and a most-downstream nozzle for the printer in the printing-medium conveying direction,
• wherein selecting the one image orientation comprises:
• calculating a first estimate of a first ink amount required to print a first partial image represented by a first partial image data by using the first partial image data corresponding to a first image orientation of the plurality of image orientations;
• selecting the first image orientation when the first estimate indicates that the first ink amount is less than a threshold value;
• calculating a second estimate of a second ink amount required to print a second partial image represented by a second partial image data by using the second partial image data corresponding to a second image orientation of the plurality of image orientations when the first estimate of the first ink amount indicates that the first ink amount is greater than the threshold value;
• and
• selecting the second image orientation when the second estimate indicates that the second ink amount is less than the threshold value.

A printing device comprising:

• a print executing portion comprising a conveying mechanism and a print head,
• wherein the conveying mechanism is configured to convey a printing medium in a conveying direction,
• wherein the conveying mechanism comprises a downstream roller configured to pinch and convey the printing medium at a position downstream from the print head, and
• wherein the print head comprises a plurality of nozzles and is configured to eject ink from the plurality of nozzles onto the printing medium;
• an image orientation selecting portion configured to select one image orientation of an image to be printed from a plurality of image orientations by using a plurality of partial image data;
• and
• a print data generating portion configured to generate print data for printing the image according to the one selected image orientation,
• wherein each image orientation of the plurality of image orientations is with respect to the conveying direction,
• wherein each partial image data of the plurality of partial image data corresponds to a respective image orientation of the plurality of image orientations, a respective partial image of a plurality of partial images, and a respective portion of the image to be printed,
• wherein each partial image of the plurality of partial images is less than an entirety of the image to be printed and is configured to be printed in an area defined by a particular distance determined from a corresponding edge of the printing medium,
• wherein the particular distance is based on a standard distance between the downstream roller and a most-upstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the print head,
• wherein the particular distance is less than or equal to the standard distance,
• wherein the particular distance is greater than a distance between the most-upstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the print head and a most-downstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the print head,
• wherein the most-upstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the print head is the most-upstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the conveying direction,
• wherein the most-downstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the print head is the most-downstream nozzle of the plurality of nozzles in the conveying direction,
• wherein the image to be printed comprises a first side and a second side,
• wherein a length of the first side of the image to be printed is less than a length of the second side of the image to be printed,
• wherein the image orientation selecting portion is configured to select one of a first image orientation, a second image orientation, a third image orientation, and a fourth image orientation from the plurality of image orientations,
• wherein the first image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the first side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is to be a side of the image printed first,
• wherein the second image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the first side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is a side of the image to be printed last,
• wherein the third image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the second side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is a side of the image to be printed first, and
• wherein the fourth image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the second side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is the side of the image to be printed last.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions for a processor of a print data generating device, the computer-readable instructions instructing the processor to perform the steps of:

• selecting one image orientation of an image to be printed from a plurality of image orientations by using a plurality of partial image data;
• and
• generating print data for printing the image according to the one selected image orientation,
• wherein each image orientation of the plurality of image orientations is with respect to a printing-medium conveying direction,
• wherein each partial image data of the plurality of partial image data corresponds to a respective image orientation of the plurality of image orientations, a respective partial image of a plurality of partial images, and a respective portion of the image to be printed,
• wherein each partial image of the plurality of partial images is less than an entirety of the image to be printed and is configured to be printed in an area defined by a particular distance determined from a corresponding edge of a printing medium,
• wherein the particular distance is based on a standard distance between a location of a most-upstream nozzle and a location of a downstream roller for a printer in the printing-medium conveying direction,
• wherein the particular distance is less than or equal to the standard distance,
• wherein the particular distance is greater than a distance between the most-upstream nozzle and a most-downstream nozzle for the printer in the printing-medium conveying direction,
• wherein the image to be printed comprises a first side and a second side,
• wherein a length of the first side of the image to be printed is less than a length of the second side of the image to be printed,
• wherein selecting the one image orientation comprises selecting one of a first image orientation, a second image orientation, a third image orientation, and a fourth image orientation from the plurality of image orientations,
• wherein the first image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the first side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is to be a side of the image printed first,
• wherein the second image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the first side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is a side of the image to be printed last,
• wherein the third image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the second side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is a side of the image to be printed first, and
• wherein the fourth image orientation is an orientation of the image in which the second side of the image is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction and is the side of the image to be printed last.