Method and apparatus for producing images on radiation sensitive recording mediums.

摘要

An apparatus and method for producing images on radiation sensitive recording mediums. The apparatus includes a plurality of radiation sources (50) which are independently selectively operable to produce a plurality of radiation signals at a predetermined location (32) from the radiation sources. The plurality of radiation signals are arranged to define a matrix having m rows and n columns in which m and n are each integers greater than 1, and the matrix of signals is of a predetermined size at the predetermined location. A radiation sensitive recording medium is mounted for relative movement relative to the radiation sources so that respective portions of the recording medium are presented at the predetermined location from the radiation sources. The radiation sources are selectively operated at selected intervals as the radiation sources and recording medium move relative to one another to thereby produce one or more radiation signals to thereby expose a series of dot areas on the recording medium to produce a desired image. Each of the exposed dot areas is produced during one of the selected intervals and comprises one or more exposed subdot areas (30) corresponding in number to the number of radiation signals selectively produced during the one interval whereby the size of the exposed dot area is less than or equal to the predetermined size and corresponds to the size at the predetermined location of the radiation signals selectively produced. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the radiation means is operated during relative movement of the radiation means and the recording medium to expose the recording medium with radiation in a pattern of dot areas to produce an image, at least one of the dot areas including at least one subdot area having a density which is below a predetermined value. Thereafter, at least one portion of the at least one subdot is manipulated so as to modify the size of the exposed dot area to thereby produce the desired image.