Image forming method and apparatus configured to correct image gradation

摘要

An image forming apparatus is disclosed that corrects a gradation of an image to be formed by detecting a gradation pattern. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that transfers a correction toner image corresponding to the gradation pattern on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium and forms a correction image corresponding to the gradation pattern on a surface of a recording medium, a detection unit that detects the correction toner image and the correction image, and an image processing unit that corrects the gradation based on the detected correction toner image and the detected correction image.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus that corrects a gradation of an image to be formed by detecting a gradation pattern, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit configured to transfer a correction toner image corresponding to the gradation pattern on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium and to form a correction image corresponding to the gradation pattern on a surface of a recording medium; a detection unit configured to detect the intensity of the correction toner image and the intensity of the correction image; an image processing unit configured to correct the gradation based on at least one of the detected correction toner image or the detected correction image, wherein the image processing unit is configured to, calculate a transfer characteristic based on the intensity of the correction toner image detected by the detection unit, calculate an image forming characteristic based on the intensity of the correction image detected by the detection unit, and correct the gradation based on at least one of the calculated transfer characteristic or the calculated image forming characteristic such that,
when a detection value corresponding to the correction toner image detected by the detection unit is less than or equal to a first threshold value or greater than or equal to a second threshold value, the image processing unit corrects the gradation based on a detection value corresponding to the correction image detected by the detection unit, andwhen a detection value corresponding to the correction toner image detected by the detection unit is not less than or equal to the first threshold value and is not greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the image processing unit corrects the gradation based on the detection value corresponding to the correction image detected by the detection unit and a detection value corresponding to the correction toner image detected by the detection unit.