Abstract: The present invention, as evidenced from the drawings and descriptions provided herein, can be characterized in various, different, through unifying, ways. For example, from a methodologic point of view, the invention may be seen as providing a method which (1) procedurally engages a PDF data stream that is en route to printing, (2) determines whether, in that data stream, there is an image-only data file, and (3), if the answer to that determination is Yes, channels that data file into a novel PDF image-only pipeline for expedited pre-printing preparation (image decoding, resizing, rendering, etc.). From a systemic point of view, the invention proposes an interactive and cooperative assembly of structures, as illustrated in the drawing figures, which are constructed specifically to perform the methodologic functions just described.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for interpreting time stamp information from a digital camera. The method comprises: opening a first format interpreter; receiving image information from a digital camera in a first format selected from the group including joint photographic experts group (JPEG) and tagged image file format (TIFF) formats, with a corresponding time stamp information; displaying the images with corresponding time stamps for editing; selecting the “print time stamp” option; selecting a time stamp layout for a corresponding image; converting the image information and time stamp information to bitmap information; and, supplying the edited images with corresponding time stamps for printing. Some aspects of the method further comprise: selecting miscellaneous superposition overlays for corresponding images.

Abstract: Halftone color image down-sampling, performed on a color-channel-by-color-channel basis, with respect to which the selected, overall down-sampling ratio determines whether one or plural down-sampling stage(s) is(are) implemented. If B<(A?1), where A is the original pixel resolution, and B is the intended final resolution, then plural down-sampling steps are conducted. Otherwise, only a single down-sampling stage is involved. Each down-sampling stage involves looking at successive adjacent clusters containing four pixels arranged in row-and-column paired manners, and calculating new down-sampled pixel values based upon a special averaging strategy. In this strategy, if the population of white pixels in each group of four examined pixels is no more than 50-percent, the white pixel values are not included in the calculated average. If white pixels dominate the group, the non-white pixel values are not included in the calculated average.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downscaling an image. An original image, represented by a collection of individual pixels, is provided so as to be downscaled. One or more of the scan lines of the original image are selectively skipped. One or more of the pixels of non-skipped scan lines are selectively skipped. The remaining pixels are then used to provide the pixels of the downscaled image. In a further implementation, the remaining pixels are used by selectively being averaged to downscale the image. Accordingly, a reduced number of pixels are averaged in order to create a new pixel of the downscaled image. Implementation of the present invention may also avoid a division process by using a right shift instead of division in the averaging process. Accordingly, implementation of the present invention reduces the time required to downscale an image and is also device independent.

Abstract: A pre-printing toner-save method for selective, different-character Page Description Language (PDL) color-object rendering of different-category PDL color objects. This method includes (1) a preliminary determination regarding whether such an object is categorizable as a text object, as a graphics object, or as a raster object, and (2) a subsequent, “post categorization” evaluation of whether the specific-category object nominally selected for toner-save treatment possesses a certain preselected threshold characteristic (or characteristics). Objects so categorized and “successfully thresholded” are then subjected to differentiation into different object regions (edge and non-edge), and then to toner-save rendering which includes the two, collaborative steps of (a) preserving object-edge dot density, and (b), within an object's bounding edge, establishing a checkerboard pattern of dots which maximizes dot gain.

Abstract: The present invention, as evidenced from the drawings and descriptions provided herein, can be characterized in various, different, through unifying, ways. For example, from a methodologic point of view, the invention may be seen as providing a method which (1) procedurally engages a PDF data stream that is en route to printing, (2) determines whether, in that data stream, there is an image-only data file, and (3), if the answer to that determination is Yes, channels that data file into a novel PDF image-only pipeline for expedited pre-printing preparation (image decoding, resizing, rendering, etc.). From a systemic point of view, the invention proposes an interactive and cooperative assembly of structures, as illustrated in the drawing figures, which are constructed specifically to perform the methodologic functions just described.

Abstract: A system and method for printing scale control utilizing, for control purposes, a validated image-source-file data flag which contains information describing the actual original image size in terms of dots-per-inch and total number of bits.

Abstract: Halftone color image down-sampling, performed on a color-channel-by-color-channel basis, with respect to which the selected, overall down-sampling ratio determines whether one or plural down-sampling stage(s) is(are) implemented. If B<(A−1), where A is the original pixel resolution, and B is the intended final resolution, then plural down-sampling steps are conducted. Otherwise, only a single down-sampling stage is involved. Each down-sampling stage involves looking at successive adjacent clusters containing four pixels arranged in row-and-column paired manners, and calculating new down-sampled pixel values based upon a special averaging strategy. In this strategy, if the population of white pixels in each group of four examined pixels is no more than 50-percent, the white pixel values are not included in the calculated average. If white pixels dominate the group, the non-white pixel values are not included in the calculated average.

Abstract: Systems and methods for downscaling an image. An original image, represented by a collection of individual pixels, is provided so as to be downscaled. One or more of the scan lines of the original image are selectively skipped. One or more of the pixels of non-skipped scan lines are selectively skipped. The remaining pixels are then used to provide the pixels of the downscaled image. In a further implementation, the remaining pixels are used by selectively being averaged to downscale the image. Accordingly, a reduced number of pixels are averaged in order to create a new pixel of the downscaled image. Implementation of the present invention may also avoid a division process by using a right shift instead of division in the averaging process. Accordingly, implementation of the present invention reduces the time required to downscale an image and is also device independent.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for interpreting time stamp information from a digital camera. The method comprises: opening a first format interpreter; receiving image information from a digital camera in a first format selected from the group including joint photographic experts group (JPEG) and tagged image file format (TIFF) formats, with a corresponding time stamp information; displaying the images with corresponding time stamps for editing; selecting the “print time stamp” option; selecting a time stamp layout for a corresponding image; converting the image information and time stamp information to bitmap information; and, supplying the edited images with corresponding time stamps for printing. Some aspects of the method further comprise: selecting miscellaneous superposition overlays for corresponding images.