PRINTER AND PRINT SYSTEM

Abstract

A printer for executing printing on the basis of tone data representing a tone of one of a plurality of colors of ink, includes an input unit that inputs first tone data for a color represented by N bits per pixel and second tone data for a color represented by M bits per pixel, M being larger than N; a storage unit that stores the tone data input by the input unit, the storage unit including a plurality of storage areas, each storage area having a capacity that can store a group of the first tone data within a predetermined print range, wherein multiple storage areas are used to store the second tone data; and a print unit that executes printing on the basis of the tone data stored in the storage unit, the print unit being capable of processing both the first tone data and the second tone data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer and a print system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram describing data generated by a printer driver.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing exemplary memories included in a data storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an exemplary printing procedure performed by the print system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the usage of the memories in the case that all colors are represented by two bits per pixel.

Claims

1. A printer for executing printing on the basis of first tone data and second tone data, comprising: an input unit that inputs the first tone data for a color represented by N bits per pixel and the second tone data for a color represented by M bits per pixel, M being larger than N;a storage unit that stores the data input by the input unit, the storage unit including a plurality of storage areas, each storage area having a capacity that can store a predeteremined amount of the first tone data, wherein multiple storage areas are used to store the second tone data; anda print unit that executes printing on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit.

2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein an identification information indicating either the first tone data or the second tone data is added to each data stored in each storage area, and a processing for the printing by the print unit is changed on the basis of the identification information.

3. A print system comprising: a host device that generates first tone data for a color represented by N bits per pixel and second tone data for a color represented by M bits per pixel, M being larger than N, and that transmits the first tone data and the second tone data, anda printer includes an input unit that inputs the transmitted data,a storage unit that stores the data input by the input unit, the storage unit including a plurality of storage areas, each storage area having a capacity that can store a predeteremined amount of the first tone data, wherein multiple storage areas are used to store the second tone data, anda print unit that executes printing on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit.