Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming a three dimensional print image on a recording medium by an image of three dimensional printing material and an image of color material in accordance with image data, comprises a designation unit for designating a three dimensional print region using three dimensional printing material and a non-three dimensional print region, with regard to the image data; and an image processing unit for performing different color conversions on the image data depending on the three dimensional print region and the non-three dimensional print region designated by the designation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input unit that receives input of area designation information designating an image area to be subjected to color adjustment and adjustment amount information designating an adjustment amount of color adjustment, a color adjustment unit that performs color adjustment on rasterized image data in correspondence with the inputted area designation information and the adjustment amount information, and an image forming unit that forms an output image based on the image data subjected to the color adjustment by the color adjustment unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a patch data generator that generates image data of a color patch using a color value substantially equivalent to the color patch as a color sample, and an image forming unit that forms a color patch on a recording medium based on the image data of the color patch generated by the patch data generator.

Abstract: In an image processing section, a foam toner signal generator generates a foam toner signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to a three-dimensional print designation region discriminated at a three-dimensional print region discriminator, and a foam toner interpolation signal generator generates a foam toner interpolation signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to an image region equal to or greater than a constant area in an ordinary print region discriminated at the three-dimensional print region discriminator. Foam toner of a predetermined amount corresponding to the foam toner signal is transferred to the three-dimensional print region, and foam toner of an amount that is less (of a lower height) than the predetermined amount and corresponds to the foam toner interpolation signal is transferred to the ordinary print region.

Abstract: An image formation method for forming an image containing an embossed portion of an expandable material on a recording medium, comprising converting height information about an embossed image which is the image of the embossed portion to the same density information as one used to indicate a density of a non-embossed image which is not raised, and controlling an amount of the expandable material formed on the recording medium according to the converted density information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an image generating unit for generating an image from image data for an image containing an embossed part formed on a medium, the image generated by the image generating unit being different in form of the embossed part or neighborhood thereof from the image formed on the medium, and a display control unit for displaying the image generated by the image generating unit on a display apparatus.

Abstract: An image formation method for forming an image containing an embossed portion of an expandable material on a recording medium, comprising converting height information about an embossed image which is the image of the embossed portion to the same density information as one used to indicate a density of a non-embossed image which is not raised, and controlling an amount of the expandable material formed on the recording medium according to the converted density information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a raised print image by successively transferring foaming toner and non-foaming toner onto a recording medium in correspondence to print image information and heat-fixing onto the recording medium the foaming toner and the non-foaming toner that have been transferred onto the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that image-processes the print image information so that transfer of an image resulting from the foaming toner is selectively prohibited in correspondence to a line width or size of an image to be transferred by the non-foaming toner onto the foaming toner.

Abstract: In an image processing section, a foam toner signal generator generates a foam toner signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to a three-dimensional print designation region discriminated at a three-dimensional print region discriminator, and a foam toner interpolation signal generator generates a foam toner interpolation signal corresponding to a foam toner amount to be transferred to an image region equal to or greater than a constant area in an ordinary print region discriminated at the three-dimensional print region discriminator. Foam toner of a predetermined amount corresponding to the foam toner signal is transferred to the three-dimensional print region, and foam toner of an amount that is less (of a lower height) than the predetermined amount and corresponds to the foam toner interpolation signal is transferred to the ordinary print region.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing image information to form an embossed print image by transferring an image with an expandable toner and an image with a nonexpandable toner onto a recording medium and fixing the expandable toner and the nonexpandable toner, which are transferred onto the recording medium, to the recording medium, comprising a total toner amount recognition unit which recognizes the total toner amount of an expandable toner amount and a nonexpandable toner amount used for formation of an image in a unit of prescribed amount, and an image processing unit which performs image processing of image information to reduce the toner amount used for formation of the image when the total toner amount recognized by the recognition unit exceeds a prescribed amount.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming a three dimensional print image on a recording medium by an image of three dimensional printing material and an image of color material in accordance with image data, comprises a designation unit for designating a three dimensional print region using three dimensional printing material and a non-three dimensional print region, with regard to the image data; and an image processing unit for performing different color conversions on the image data depending on the three dimensional print region and the non-three dimensional print region designated by the designation unit.

Abstract: An image formation processing method for forming an image to be raised with color toners on a raised portion of an expandable toner which is formed on a recording sheet according to an original image, comprising extracting a contour section of the image to be raised from the original image, and changing a color of the extracted contour section to enhance the image to be raised.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a raised print image by successively transferring foaming toner and non-foaming toner onto a recording medium in correspondence to print image information and heat-fixing onto the recording medium the foaming toner and the non-foaming toner that have been transferred onto the recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that image-processes the print image information so that transfer of an image resulting from the foaming toner is selectively prohibited in correspondence to a line width or size of an image to be transferred by the non-foaming toner onto the foaming toner.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, charging, exposure and development are repeated thereby a plurality of color component toner images are formed in superposing on an image carrier and then transferred collectively to an image receptor. As a charging device used in image forming cycle of at least the second color or later, a corona charging device having a discharge electrode and a grid is used. An electrode power source applying at least AC voltage is connected to the discharge electrode, and a grid power source applying AC voltage in nearly the same phase as that of the AC voltage applied to the discharge electrode is connected to the grid, and frequency or peak-to-peak amplitude of the AC voltage from the grid power source is set to optimum range.

Abstract: In a color image forming apparatus, a screen of each of electrostatic latent images to be formed by an exposing device has a parallel lines structure, and phases of the electrostatic latent images each having the parallel lines structure for at least two different colors are made different from each other. Accordingly, the color image forming apparatus can totally solve the problem caused by the rise in potential of exposed portions by toner charges and the dielectric property of toner layers and the problem caused by the toner shielding effect to thereby allow faithful reproduction of a highlight area important for a good halftone image, especially a high-quality color image.

Abstract: A color-image forming apparatus includes: an electrostatic latent image holder; electrostatic latent image forming unit for forming a plurality of electrostatic latent images on the image holder; a scanning unit for scanning the electrostatic latent image holder periodically at predetermined timings; developing devices for developing each of the plurality of electrostatic latent images by toners of each of different colors respectively, and forming thus developed toner image on the image holder; a simultaneously transferring device for simultaneously transferring the plurality of toner images onto a transfer medium; fixing device for fixing the toner image on the transfer medium; and timing-setting unit for setting a timing at which said scanning means starts scanning at each of slow scanning pitches in the direction of fast scanning for each of the plurality of colors; wherein the timings which are allotted to each of the colors are different each other so that the starting position of the scanning of each c