Method of generating an expanded color set of a low resolution color printer

Claim 2

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of colors thereby making a color set of said printer, said printer also having a color black, a method of generating shaded colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the shaded color is to be printed; (c) if a shaded pattern (any pattern but a critical line) is to be printed utilizing one of said predetermined colors, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having the shaded color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer using the designated color.

Claim 3

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 1, wherein said first algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) summing the row number and column number of the pixel which is being generated for the print buffer; (b) if the resulting sum of step (a) is even, setting the pixel to the preselected color; and (c) if the resulting sum of step (a) is odd, setting the pixel to the black color.

Claim 4

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 1, wherein said second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to the preselected color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixels to the black color.

Claim 5

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 2, wherein said second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to the preselected color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixels to the black color.

Claim 6

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of primary colors and wherein said printer supports the printing of secondary colors by overstriking a predetermined combination of said primary colors, said primary and secondary colors making up a color set of said printer, said printer also having a color black, a method of generating shaded primary and shaded secondary colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the shaded color is to be printed; (c) if a shaded pattern (any pattern but a critical line) is to be printed utilizing one of said primary or secondary colors, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having a shaded primary or secondary color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer using the designated primary or secondary color.

Claim 7

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of primary colors and wherein said printer supports the printing of secondary colors by overstriking a predetermined combination of said primary colors, said primary and secondary colors making up a color set of said printer, said printer also having a color black, a method of generating shaded primary and shaded secondary colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the shaded color is to be printed; (c) if a shaded pattern (any pattern but a critical line) is to be printed utilizing one of said primary or secondary colors, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having a shaded primary or secondary color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer using the designated primary or secondary color.

Claim 8

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 5, wherein said first algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) summing the row number and column number of the pixel which is being generated for the print buffer; (b) if the resulting sum of step (a) is even, setting the pixel to the preselected primary or secondary color; and (c) if the resulting sum of step (a) is odd, setting the pixel to the black color.

Claim 9

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 5, wherein the second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to the preselected primary or secondary color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixels to the black color.

Claim 10

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 6, wherein said second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to the preselected primary or secondary color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixels to the black color.

Claim 11

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 5, wherein said second algorithm comprises the step of: causing pixels utilized to generate the critical line to alternate between the black color and the primary or secondary color.

Claim 12

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 6, wherein said second algorithm comprises the step of: causing pixels utilized to generate the critical line to alternate between the black color and the primary or secondary color.

Claim 13

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of colors thereby making a color set of said printer, and wherein a dark color (quasi-black color) is generated by overstriking predetermined colors of said printer, a method of generating shaded colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the shaded color is to be printed; (c) if a shaded pattern (any pattern but a critical line) is to be printed utilizing one of said predetermined colors, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having the shaded color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer using the designated color.

Claim 14

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of colors thereby making a color set of said printer, and wherein a dark color (quasi-black color) is generated by overstriking predetermined colors of said printer, a method of generating shaded colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the shaded color is to be printed; (c) if a shaded pattern (any pattern but a critical line) is to be printed utilizing one of said predetermined colors, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having the shaded color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer using the designated color.

Claim 15

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 11, wherein said first algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) summing the row number and column number of the pixel which is being generated for the print buffer; (b) if the resulting sum of step (a) is even, setting the pixel to the preselected color; and (c) if the resulting sum of step (a) is odd, setting the pixel to print the dark color.

Claim 16

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 11, wherein said second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to the preselected color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixels to print the dark color.

Claim 17

A method of generating shaded colors according to claim 12, wherein said second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to print the preselected color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixel to print the dark color.

Claim 18

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of primary colors thereby making a color set of said printer, a method of generating secondary colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the secondary color is to be (c) if a pattern of a secondary color is to be printed, wherein the pattern to be printed is not a critical line, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having a secondary color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer of the designated primary color.

Claim 19

In a low resolution color printer which prints a pattern by printing selected pixels, said printer having a predetermined number of primary colors thereby making a color set of said printer, a method of generating secondary colors thereby expanding the color set of said printer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining if a critical line is to be printed; (b) determining if the secondary color is to be (c) if a pattern of a secondary color is to be printed, wherein the pattern to be printed is not a critical line, generating a print buffer in accordance with a first algorithm; (d) if a critical line having a secondary color is to be printed, generating a print buffer in accordance with a second algorithm; and (e) otherwise, generating a print buffer of the designated primary color.

Claim 20

A method of generating a secondary color according to claim 15, wherein said first algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) summing the row number and column number of the pixel which is being generated for the print buffer; (b) if the resulting sum of step (a) is even, setting the pixel to a first primary color; and (c) if the resulting sum of step (a) is odd, setting the pixel to a second primary color, the juxtaposing of said first and second primary colors generating a secondary color.

Claim 21

A method of generating secondary colors according to claim 15, wherein the second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixel to a first primary color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixel to a second primary color.

Claim 22

A method of generating secondary colors according to claim 16, wherein the second algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) setting the even numbered column pixels to a first primary color; and (b) setting the odd numbered column pixel to a second primary color.