Abstract: In the present invention, tetragons are generated, each of the tetragons being formed of four points of a point A(c, 1), a point B(a+c, b+1), a point C(0, d+1), and a point D(a, b+d+1) specified with arbitrary parameters satisfying the specified number of pixels n=2(ad+bc). From among the generated tetragons, a tetragon having an angle closest to a specified angle is selected, and two of the selected tetragons are placed adjacently to each other to generate the basic pattern. A lighting order is determined so that, continuously from a lighting order of pixels forming a first tetragon of the tetragons of the basic pattern in order of increasing distance from a specific point of the first tetragon, pixels are lit in order of decreasing distance from the specific point, and a rectangular pattern functioning as a binarization-use pattern is generated.

Abstract: A color reproduction system using a medicine bag including a bag adapted to accommodate a medicine therein, and a color chart provided on an outer surface of the bag. The medicine bag includes a first medicine bag having a first color chart and located at a first location and a second medicine bag having a second color chart and located at a second location remote from the first location. The color reproducing system includes: a first device, located at the first location, and operable to read the first color chart so as to generate first color data; and a second device, located at the second location, and operable to transmit image data of an object and second color data of the second color chart to the first device. The first device corrects the image data by using a correction value based on the first color data and the second color data, and displays the corrected image data.

Abstract: An updating unit updates a color-conversion table stored in a storing unit. An image processing unit processes an input image data based on updated color-conversion table. A tamper-resistant chip that includes a first collecting unit that collects log information related to a usage of the image processing apparatus, a generating unit that generates a hash value corresponding to collected log information, and a recording unit that records generated hash value. An acquiring unit acquires the log information corresponding to the hash value by referring to recorded hash value. The updating unit updates the color-conversion table based on acquired log information.

Abstract: In the present invention, tetragons are generated, each of the tetragons being formed of four points of a point A(c, 1), a point B(a+c, b+1), a point C(0, d+1), and a point D(a, b+d+1) specified with arbitrary parameters satisfying the specified number of pixels n=2(ad+bc). From among the generated tetragons, a tetragon having an angle closest to a specified angle is selected, and two of the selected tetragons are placed adjacently to each other to generate the basic pattern. A lighting order is determined so that, continuously from a lighting order of pixels forming a first tetragon of the tetragons of the basic pattern in order of increasing distance from a specific point of the first tetragon, pixels are lit in order of decreasing distance from the specific point, and a rectangular pattern functioning as a binarization-use pattern is generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a multivalue image in a binary-form output pattern. The printing apparatus employs a binary-form dither matrix pattern which is composed of a greater number of pixels, so that moiré patterns and other artifacts are minimized in printouts. The method includes: providing the binary-form dither matrix pattern for use in obtaining the binary-form output pattern; expanding the multivalue image in a memory area; and forming a binary image of output dot elements in accordance with the binary-form output pattern. The binary-form dither matrix pattern has a rectangular pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements that are numbered to be successively turned on are arranged in matrix. The turning-on sequence is set in such a way that plural groups of prospective output dot elements, which groups are substantially identical in shape, grow successively from a plurality of local points associated with the respective groups.

Abstract: A color reproduction system using a medicine bag including a bag adapted to accommodate a medicine therein, and a color chart provided on an outer surface of the bag. The medicine bag includes a first medicine bag having a first color chart and located at a first location and a second medicine bag having a second color chart and located at a second location remote from the first location. The color reproducing system includes: a first device, located at the first location, and operable to read the first color chart so as to generate first color data; and a second device, located at the second location, and operable to transmit image data of an object and second color data of the second color chart to the first device. The first device corrects the image data by using a correction value based on the first color data and the second color data, and displays the corrected image data.

Abstract: An updating unit updates a color-conversion table stored in a storing unit. An image processing unit processes an input image data based on updated color-conversion table. A tamper-resistant chip that includes a first collecting unit that collects log information related to a usage of the image processing apparatus, a generating unit that generates a hash value corresponding to collected log information, and a recording unit that records generated hash value. An acquiring unit acquires the log information corresponding to the hash value by referring to recorded hash value. The updating unit updates the color-conversion table based on acquired log information.

Abstract: A halftoning apparatus free of the occurrence of moiré and other artifacts under a simple technique. In the apparatus, the estimating section calculates the pixel value of the noteworthy pixel, which is to be converted into a binary value, based on other pixel values than that of the noteworthy pixel, and the binarizing section converts the multilevel value of the noteworthy pixel into a binary value.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a binary-coding pattern to be used in binary-coding a multi-value image. The method includes the steps of: creating a basic pattern shape of the prospective binary-coding pattern by a first arithmetic operation; determining the sequence of lighting pixels composing such basic pattern by a second arithmetic operation; and creating a rectangular pattern, which serves as the prospective binary-coding pattern, based on the resultant basic pattern. Hereby, it is possible to automatically create a centralized type of binary-coding pattern, and also it is possible to facilitate creating a minimum-sized binary-coding pattern.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a binary-coding pattern to be used in binary-coding a multi-value image. The method includes the steps of: creating a basic pattern shape of the prospective binary-coding pattern by a first arithmetic operation; determining the sequence of lighting pixels composing such basic pattern by a second arithmetic operation; and creating a rectangular pattern, which serves as the prospective binary-coding pattern, based on the resultant basic pattern. Hereby, it is possible to automatically create a centralized type of binary-coding pattern, and also it is possible to facilitate creating a minimum-sized binary-coding pattern.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus including an input color chip making unit for making a color chip of the selected color signal as an input color chip, an output color chip making unit for subjecting the selected color signal to the under color removal processing carried out in an UCR processing unit with two or more parameters different from one another, thereby making a color chip of the obtained color signal as an output color chip for each parameter, and a parameter determining unit for selecting among the parameters a parameter which provides the minimum difference between the input color chip and the output color chip, wherein the UCR processing unit subjects the input color signal to the UCR processing by using the parameter selected by the parameter determining unit. With this, a color image desired by a user can be created.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display section having plural display elements for displaying a display object with N (natural number larger than one) display elements per pixel, and a display control section, communicably connected to the display section, for controlling the displaying state of the display section in terms of color factors of the respective display elements in such a manner that the display object is displayed with each of the display elements corresponding to one or more pixels on the display object. It is possible to display a small letter, serving high visibility.

Abstract: A halftoning apparatus free of the occurrence of moiré and other artifacts under a simple technique. In the apparatus, a binarizing section converts the multilevel value of a given noteworthy pixel of the multilevel input image into a binary value while pixels of the input image are scanned successively, an error diffusing section diffuses an occurred error in binary value with respect to the noteworthy pixel to unscanned pixels adjacent to the noteworthy pixel by one diffusion technique, and an error diffusion technique changing section changes the diffusion technique to another in accordance with a predetermined manner as the scanning of the successive pixels of the multilevel input image progresses.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing system by which a greater number of pixels are used to form a basic pattern and moirés and artifacts can be reduced. A binarization dither matrix pattern is configured by arranging a plurality of pixels to be successively turned on in a matrix and has a plurality of specific points P1 and P2 provided at substantially point symmetric positions with respect to the position C of the center of figure thereof. Those of the pixels which are adjacent to be turned on pixels are preferentially turned on in order beginning with those of the pixels which are positioned near to the specific points P1 and P2 to individually form successive halftone dots. When a number of pixels substantially equal to one half the number of pixels which form the binarization dither matrix pattern are turned on in order, the turned on pixels and unturned on pixels form a checkered pattern in the binarization dither matrix pattern.

Abstract: The color coordinate transformation table generation method and apparatus of the invention enables substantial reduction in number of color samples required for inferring spectral characteristics by selectively measuring only usable color samples. In addition, applying a model analysis technique using spline functions or a singular value analysis technique realizes accurate inference of spectral characteristics. The color coordinate transformation table generation apparatus of the invention can generate a large number of association tables needed for constituting profiles according to a technique of generating virtual color samples or deriving color signals from a numerous sets of spectral reflectance data by using inferred spectral characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a printing method and apparatus which can reduce moirés and artifacts. The printing method includes an expanding step of expanding a multi-value image in a storage area, and an image forming step of binarizing the multi-value image expanded in the storage area based on a binarization dither matrix pattern wherein the turn-on order of pixels is set so that dots having shapes same as each other individually grow in order from a plurality of points and forming an image based on a result of the binarization.

Abstract: A technology of matching the real output color of a color printer with the color to be reproduced on a monitor by estimating spectral reflectivities precisely with consideration of an optical phenomenon peculiar to the color printer output. A coefficient calculating section calculates coefficients representing color characteristics of the color printer output and concerning the respective spectral reflectivities of 3 reference color chips for a side, which is neither a side where the dot-area percentage of black is 100% nor a side representing black gradation, based on the spectral reflectivities of the color chips.

Abstract: A tele-printing system includes a plurality of printers each for performing printing on a medium based on common electronic printing data at a printing request from a request source; a plurality of color conversion tables, created one for each of the plural printers, each containing printing characteristic information unique to the respective printer; and a management unit for sending said printing data to said plural printers and managing the printing of said printing data on each said printer, in accordance with said unique printing characteristic information. The tele-printing system realizes large item small volume printing at a low cost. It is possible to shorten time required for delivering print mediums to request source and delivery destination from the respective printers. A print specification of each print medium can be modified at a reasonable cost, and the results of printing on plural printer obtain an identical quality in color.

Abstract: The color coordinate transformation table generation method and apparatus of the invention enables substantial reduction in number of color samples required for inferring spectral characteristics by selectively measuring only usable color samples. In addition, applying a model analysis technique using spline functions or a singular value analysis technique realizes accurate inference of spectral characteristics. The color coordinate transformation table generation apparatus of the invention can generate a large number of association tables needed for constituting profiles according to a technique of generating virtual color samples or deriving color signals from a numerous sets of spectral reflectance data by using inferred spectral characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a multivalue image in a binary-form output pattern. The printing apparatus employs a binary-form dither matrix pattern which is composed of a greater number of pixels, so that moiré patterns and other artifacts are minimized in printouts. The method includes: providing the binary-form dither matrix pattern for use in obtaining the binary-form output pattern; expanding the multivalue image in a memory area; and forming a binary image of output dot elements in accordance with the binary-form output pattern. The binary-form dither matrix pattern has a rectangular pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements that are numbered to be successively turned on are arranged in matrix. The turning-on sequence is set in such a way that plural groups of prospective output dot elements, which groups are substantially identical in shape, grow successively from a plurality of local points associated with the respective groups.