Picture producing apparatus using multiple dot forming units and recording materials of different concentrations

Claim 2

Picture producing apparatus for forming a picture comprising a plurality of picture elements with different light-reflecting properties providing different optical reflection densities, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of dot forming units for providing dots of recording material on a medium to form the picture elements, said dot forming units providing dots of a particular color using recording materials with different concentrations, wherein said plurality of dot forming units includes a first dot forming unit capable of providing dots having an optical density in a first range and a second dot forming unit capable of providing dots having an optical density in a second range at least partially overlapping the first range; determining means for determining the optical reflection density limits of a plurality of original picture elements of an original to be reproduced corresponding to picture elements of the picture to be produced; and selecting means responsive to said determining means for selecting only said first dot forming unit to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements are within the first optical reflection density range, only said second dot forming unit to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements are within the second optical reflection density range, and said first and said second dot forming units to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements extend over the first and second optical reflection density ranges.

Claim 3

Picture producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording materials are liquid inks and said plurality of dot forming units include ink jet recording devices.

Claim 4

Picture producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each dot forms one picture element.

Claim 5

Picture producing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second dot forming units are capable of modulating the size of each dot such that said first and second dot forming units can form picture elements having optical reflection density ranges that enable reproduction of the entire range of optical reflection densities of the plurality of original picture elements.

Claim 6

Picture producing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each dot forms one picture element.

Claim 7

Picture producing apparatus for forming a picture comprising a plurality of picture elements with different light-reflecting properties providing different optical reflection densities, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of dot forming units for providing dots of recording material on a medium to form the picture elements, said dot forming units providing variable-size dots of a particular color using recording materials with different concentrations, wherein said plurality of dot forming units includes a first dot forming unit capable of providing dots having an optical density in a first range by varying the sizes of the dots and a second dot forming unit capable of providing dots having an optical density in a second range at least partially overlapping the first range by varying the sizes of the dots; determining means for determining the optical reflection density limits of a plurality of original picture elements of an original to be reproduced corresponding to picture elements of the picture to be produced; and selecting means responsive to said determining means for selecting only said first dot forming unit to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements are within the first optical reflection density range, only said second dot forming unit to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements are within the second optical reflection density range, and said first and said second dot forming units to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements extend outside the overlapping region of the first and second optical reflection density ranges.

Claim 8

Picture producing apparatus for forming a picture comprising a plurality of picture elements with different light-reflecting properties providing different optical reflection densities, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of dot forming units for providing dots of recording material on a medium to form the picture elements, said dot forming units providing variable-size dots of a particular color using recording materials with different concentrations, wherein said plurality of dot forming units includes a first dot forming unit capable of providing dots having an optical density in a first range by varying the sizes of the dots and a second dot forming unit capable of providing dots having an optical density in a second range at least partially overlapping the first range by varying the sizes of the dots; determining means for determining the optical reflection density limits of a plurality of original picture elements of an original to be reproduced corresponding to picture elements of the picture to be produced; and selecting means responsive to said determining means for selecting only said first dot forming unit to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements are within the first optical reflection density range, only said second dot forming unit to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements are within the second optical reflection density range, and said first and said second dot forming units to form picture elements when the optical reflection density limits of the original picture elements extend outside the overlapping region of the first and second optical reflection density ranges.

Claim 9

Picture producing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording materials are liquid inks and said plurality of dot forming units include ink jet recording devices.

Claim 10

Picture producing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each dot forms one picture element.