Bit mask generation system and printer drivers and printing methods incorporating bit masks generated utilising same

摘要

A method of compressing data representative of a set of bit mask arrays is disclosed. Initially, data representative of a number of bit masks (54) is stored where each bit mask being a binary array is represented by a plurality of binary numbers. The binary numbers are then re-ordered to generate a plurality of sets of line masks (56) each line mask comprising a number of binary numbers wherein each binary number in a line mask corresponds to a binary number defining a part of a different one of said number of bit masks. An exclusive or operation is then performed for each pair of binary numbers in each line mask and the array after performing the operation (60) is then run length encoded. The original data can be regenerated by performing the operations in reverse.