Abstract: The present invention is a printing method of recording an image by forming ink dots on a print medium in one of a plurality of print modes. The method determines the reduction pattern in response to the selected print mode selected from the plurality of print modes, which represents reduction of the ink amount for forming ink dots on a border area of a specific type image area represented by the dot data.

Abstract: A color facsimile device capable of transmitting color image information through multiple communication methods, such as G3, G4, T.37, and T.38, which can convert color image information into that represented in appropriate color space for each communication methods.

Abstract: In order to perform optimal character registration and a printing process depending on a language, in an information processing device connected to a printer having a first registration area and a second registration area as font registration areas, registration amounts in the first registration area and the second registration area are determined based on the language which the information processing device uses, and depending on the determined amounts, a first font is registered in the first registration area in the printer and a second font is registered in the second registration area.

Abstract: A method for driving a self-scanning light-emitting element array is provided in which two light-emitting elements may be illuminated simultaneously in one chip. In a self-scanning light-emitting element array including a transfer element array and light-emitting element array, a magnitude of the write signal for illuminating adjacent two light-emitting elements simultaneously is two times that of the write signal for illuminating one light-emitting element. The self-scanning light-emitting element array is composed of a plurality of self-scanning light-emitting element array chips arranged in a linear manner, and the two-phase clock pulses are applied commonly to the plurality of self-scanning light-emitting element array chips.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus includes a first unit that predicts a bleeding occurrence level from input image data, a second unit that replaces pixels in a given area including boundaries between black ink and any of color inks with another pixels in accordance with the bleeding occurrence level, and a third unit that controls switching of multiple printing modes for each main scan in accordance with the bleeding occurrence level.

Abstract: A border can be added to an image using pixels of a graphic piece that can be copied into or around an image. The graphic piece can be repeatedly copied around an image to form a border. A mask file identifies pixels of a graphic piece to merge with pixels of the image. The pixels of the graphic piece are merged or combined with pixels of the image according to the mask so that the image is rendered with a border.

Abstract: A print driver user interface method for printing copies of a document, which includes receiving a number corresponding to the number of copies to be printed from an application, receiving at least one command relating to an operation to be performed on each of the number of copies to be printed, and displaying a first feature to a user informing the user that the application may have a problem printing multiple copies. The method also includes offering the user a choice relating to printing copies of the document and transferring control of printing the copies from the application to the print driver.

Abstract: In a system, such as in a digital copier, for classifying image data derived from an original image, the image data is enhanced before submission to a classification analysis. In the enhancement, portions of the image having a measured roughness (degree of gray level discontinuity) within a certain range are artificially increased in roughness. This increased roughness in the enhanced image data serves to increase confidence of the classification analysis for detecting low-frequency halftone screens, so that such low-frequency halftone areas are not misclassified as contone or high-frequency halftone areas.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes an image processing section for executing at least one image processing operation with respect to digital image data and a set value chancing device for selecting a plurality of image processing conditions as to said at least one image processing operation from among plural levels or plural combinations which are typically preset of image processing conditions, and changing set values of the plurality of image processing conditions from previously set values into the selected plurality of image processing conditions. The customized printing system includes the image processing apparatus, an image input apparatus and an image output apparatus. The image processing apparatus is capable of executing the image processing operation or operations in response to a printing order customized by a customer, and the system is capable of forming a print which may reflect the requests from the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for printer control and color balance calibration. The system and method address the image quality problems of print engine instability, low quality of color balance and contouring from the calibration. The method includes defining combinations of colorants, such as inks or toners that will be used to print images, defining a desired response for the combinations that are to be used and, in real time, iteratively printing CMY halftone color patches, measuring the printed patches via an in situ sensor and iteratively performing color-balance calibration based on the measurements, accumulating corrections until the measurements are within a predetermined proximity of the desired response. The calibration is performed on the halftones while they are in a high quantization resolution form.

Abstract: A recording device includes an image retrieval unit, a memory, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The image retrieval unit retrieves images of the document pages as document image data. The control unit begins retrieving document image data from the memory as the image retrieval unit is retrieving document image data and sends the document image data to the image forming unit. The image forming unit uses document image data to form images on recording sheets faster than the image data is retrieved. The control unit checks the memory to confirm whether document image data for a next document page is stored in the memory. The timing of the memory check is both after completion of forming an image of a present document page at the recording sheet transport speed and when storage of image data for the next document page is anticipated to start in the memory.

Abstract: There has been a demand to accelerate image data conversion through the use of the error diffusion method. To convert image data, it is determined whether a specified block process condition is satisfied on the basis of a gradation value for each pixel in a target block. When the block process condition is true, a process is performed to diffuse a gradation error for the entire target block and convert image data for pixels in the target block at a time. Even when the block process condition is false, it is determined whether to form a dot in the target block. When it is determined that no dot should be formed, a process is performed to diffuse a gradation error for the entire target block to the unconverted pixels in another block and convert image data for pixels in the target block.

Abstract: Xerox Docket No. D/A0037Q Document authentication is accomplished by acquiring document image data, generating a set of features of the document, and generating an assist channel that includes information on how to generate the set of features. The set of features and the assist channel are digitally signed and then append to the document. Document verification is accomplished by acquiring document image data and verifying the signature. If the signature is valid, a set of features of the document is generated using information contained in the assist channel appended to the document. The generated set of features is then compared to the set of features appended on the document. If the sets do not match, the document is determined to have been altered sometimes after the assist channel was appended to the document, i.e., the document is not genuine. Otherwise, the document can be considered to be genuine.

Abstract: A plurality of image forming apparatuses connected with one another via a network each have a power management table A and a power management table B. Each image forming apparatus uses the power management table A to cumulate power amounts consumed therein by each user group, transmits cumulating results (the contents of the management table A) to other image forming apparatuses. The image forming apparatus receives the contents of the power management table A from the other image forming apparatuses, obtains a sum of consumption power amounts of each user group, using the received contents and the contents of its own power management table A, and updates relevant fields in the power management table B. The image forming apparatus prohibits execution of a new job submitted by a group whose consumption power amount is equal to or greater than a maximum power amount.

Abstract: A method of controlling usage of fonts stored in a printer includes detecting a request for use of a first one of the fonts by a print job. Printer identification information contained in the first font is compared to a printer identifier stored in the printer. Usage of the first font by the printer is controlled based on the comparison.

Abstract: A white background determination section performs a white background determination on the basis of a white threshold calculated by a white threshold calculation section and an area size selected by an area size determination section. A character discrimination section executes character recognition such that a condition for character discrimination is relaxed when the white background determination section determines that a pixel of interest belongs to a white background, and the condition for character discrimination is made stricter in other cases.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to simply order extra prints, an image viewing/ordering ID and an image viewing/ordering password and an order determining ID and an order determining password are issued (created) when input of image data is accepted. Each of members belonging to a group transmits to a server 6 the image viewing/ordering ID and password to a server 6 using a portable telephone set 20A. Image data related to the image viewing/ordering ID is transmitted to the portable telephone set 20A from the server 6. While seeing images displayed on a display screen of the portable telephone set 20A, each of the members belonging to the group selects the image whose extra prints are ordered, and transmits the number of ordered prints of the image to the server 6. When the order determining ID and password are transmitted to the server 6 using the portable telephone set 20A, the order given by the member is made definite, thereby making a desired number of extra prints of the image desired by the members.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, dithering an image to be printed. Color component values of odd and even pixels of an image are stored in a dither cell. The dither cell is mapped to a staggered dither cell such that lines of odd pixel component values are staggered relative to lines of even pixel component values. Addressing of the staggered dither cell is determined by an address generator that also addresses a buffer storing an up-interpolated image. Corresponding values in the staggered dither cell and the buffer are compared to determine which nozzles of a printhead are fired.

Abstract: A first storage stores input image data. A second storage stores image data read from the first storage. A control part determines, with respect to a timing at which data transfer of image data into the first storage, a data transfer of the said image data from the first storage to the second storage, based on a rate of data transfer and writing of the image data into the first storage and rate of data transfer and writing of the image data into the second storage from the first storage.

Abstract: An operating system alternate arrangement for a printer driver/spooler/print processor is disclosed. Referring to one embodiment, although using a PPD-compatible printer driver is often desirable, such a driver includes no mechanism for implementing a printer feature that cannot be specified in a PPD. The disclosed alternate arrangement uses the PPD for those printer options and features that can be specified by PPD. The remaining options and features are classified as “custom actions” that are processed in a custom print processor that is bound to the spooler in place of the operating system's default print processor. Preferably, however, the custom print processor does not implement any traditional print processor functionality. Instead, after performing any custom actions, the custom print processor subroutines call the OS default print processor subroutines to perform traditional print processing.