Abstract: An image reading device is provided which can read an image at a wide dynamic range and which can be constructed at low cost. Film images which are recorded on a photographic film undergo a preliminary reading by an area CCD. On the basis of the image data obtained from the reading, the density of each LCD cell of an LCD when performing the main scanning of the image can be calculated so that the amount of incident light on the area CCD is as great as possible without saturation of the accumulated charge in each photoelectric conversion cell occurring. The film image then undergoes the main reading with the density of each LCD cell of the LCD controlled so as to be the above calculated density.

Abstract: The image processing method converts an input image in which multiple-value gradation values are assigned to pixels, into a dot image, by performing processing for converting each of the pixels of the input image into a dot pattern of a pixel block composed of a plurality of binary pixels. The dot pattern of a pixel under consideration is specified according to the gradation value of the pixel under consideration in the input image, the gradation values of at least two processed adjacent pixels that are adjacent to the pixel under consideration, and the dot patterns of the at least two processed adjacent pixels.

Abstract: An image processing method comprises the steps of: determining dot arrangement in forming an image with dots on a recording medium; and forming the image on the recording medium by means of a dot formation device according to the dot arrangement, wherein dot arrangement data concerning each of dot formation positions on the recording medium is created from input image data, according to a dot model which is established with respect to each of the dot formation positions, the dot model being determined according to at least one of dot formation characteristics of the dot formation device and fixing characteristics of the recording medium, and including information relating to at least one of a dot shape, dot density, a dot position, and presence or absence of a satellite, of each dot formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: The image processing method comprises: a recording failure position determination step of determining a recording failure position on an image corresponding to a malfunctioning recording element; a basic threshold value matrix storage step of storing a basic threshold value matrix set with threshold values used for halftoning of converting multiple-value input image data into dot data of a number of tonal graduations smaller than that of the multiple-value input image data by quantizing the multiple-value input image data; a sub-matrix storage step of storing a plurality of sub-matrices in association with recording failure positions in the basic threshold value matrix, each of the sub-matrices being set with threshold values which are substituted for the threshold values in a partial region of the basic threshold value matrix, the partial region including a pixel position corresponding to the recording failure position and having a width of a prescribed number of pixels; a replacement region determination st

Abstract: The dot arrangement determination method for determining an arrangement pattern when m dots (where m is a natural number) are arranged in a specific pixel area, the method comprises: a setting step of variably setting an arrangement pattern in which the m dots are arranged without overlapping at pixel positions in the specific pixel area; a first image evaluation value calculating step of calculating an image evaluation value of a halftone image formed by arranging the m dots in the specific pixel area in accordance with the arrangement pattern set in the setting step; a second image evaluation value calculating step of calculating an image evaluation value of a halftone image implemented according to the arrangement pattern set in the setting step when dots cannot be formed in an arbitrary pixel row in the specific pixel area; and a dot arrangement calculating step of determining the arrangement pattern with least image quality degradation for inability to form dots in an arbitrary pixel row in the specific

Abstract: The image recording apparatus comprises: a recording head including recording elements which record an image onto a recording medium; an abnormal recording element specification device which specifies an abnormal recording element from the recording elements of the recording head; a correction dot pattern setting device which sets a correction dot pattern for preventing an image abnormality due to the abnormal recording element; an image processing device which generates dot data by performing quantization processing on image data using the correction dot pattern set by the correction dot pattern setting device; and a drive device which drives the recording elements according to the dot data generated by the image processing device.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading method, comprising the steps of reading photoelectrically an original image with an image sensor by separating it into three primary colors and converting image signals of the three primary colors outputted from the image sensor into digital signals, wherein light quantity of light which is incident on the image sensor is balanced with every color in accordance with an original type. When the image is photoelectrically read, the high-precision image reading can be attained without creating a muddy color. Moreover, the image reading conditions need not be changed, even when the film types are changed.

Abstract: The image processing method for obtaining a quantized image from a multiple tone image, the method comprises: an image dividing step of dividing an input image into a plurality of image blocks of a unit block size; a threshold value matrix specification step of specifying threshold value matrices for the input image with respect to each of the image blocks from a plurality of threshold value matrices including a first threshold value matrix having the unit block size and a second threshold value matrix dividable into a plurality of sub-matrices each having the unit block size; and a threshold value matrix setting step of setting threshold value matrices in image blocks for which the second threshold value matrix has been specified as the threshold value matrix, in such a manner that adjacent positional relationships between sub-matrices formed when the second threshold value matrix is divided into sub-matrix units are preserved.

Abstract: The image processing method for performing halftoning of a digital image constituted by an array of pixels having grayscale values which correspond to a content of the digital image, the method comprises the steps of: grouping the pixels constituting the digital image into a first group comprising pixels in pixel positions from which a quantization error generated through quantization is diffused to a peripheral pixel, and a second group comprising pixels in pixel positions from which the quantization error generated through quantization is not diffused to a peripheral pixel; performing a first quantization process on the pixels belonging to the first group using a threshold matrix; determining the quantization error generated during the first quantization process; diffusing the quantization error obtained in the quantization error determining step to at least one non-quantized pixel belonging to the second group which is adjacent to the pixel subjected to the first quantization process; and performing a seco

Abstract: A print system for performing image processing on an original image and outputting a print in which the original image is reproduced. The system includes image processing unit to process the original image or image data thereof; setting unit for setting the image processing in the image processing unit with the original image as image data, in accordance with the image data or an instruction input from outside; storing unit for storing image processing information of the original image processed by the image processing unit and retrieval information for retrieving the original image; and retrieval unit for retrieving image processing information of a corresponding original image corresponding to the supplied retrieval information, wherein when reprocessing the original image the setting unit sets an image processing by the processing unit in this reprocessing by adding image information retrieved by retrieval unit.

Abstract: The image processing method for specifying dot arrangements for respective ink components according to image data, when forming an image on a recording medium by means of dots of inks of n colors, where n is any positive integer, the method comprises the steps of: calculating color correlation and spatial frequency components from the image data; specifying a dot overlap function for controlling overlapping between dots of the ink components, according to the calculated color correlation and spatial frequency components; calculating an ink recording rate of each of the inks from the image data; specifying the dot arrangement of a first ink component by means of a prescribed method, according to the ink recording rate; and determining a dot arrangement for the inks of the n colors, in such a manner that, taking k to be an integer where 2?k?n, the dot arrangement of the kth ink component is specified according to the ink recording rate of the kth ink component, and the previously specified dot arrangement and d

Abstract: An image correcting method is provided which comprising the steps of: reading an image recorded on a recording material, obtaining image characteristic data based on a result of the reading, and storing the obtained image characteristic data in storage means, and thereafter, when an image recorded on the recording material is read, obtaining image characteristic data from image data obtained by the latter reading; based on the obtained image characteristic data and the image characteristic data stored in the storage means, calculating a correction parameter for correcting image quality deterioration of the image; and correcting the image data based on the calculated correction parameter. Accordingly, image quality deterioration of an image caused by storage environmental conditions or aged deterioration of the recording material can be corrected precisely.

Abstract: The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a recording head which has a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink; a storage device which stores local variation processing parameters determined according to nozzle locality showing displacement from an ideal state of dot depositions due to defectiveness of the nozzles; a digital halftoning processing device which converts inputted image data to dot data; a local variation processing device which varies the dot data obtained by the digital halftoning processing device so as to compensate the nozzle locality by using the local variation processing parameters stored in the storage device; and a control device which controls ink ejection of the plurality of nozzles of the recording head according to the dot data generated through processing by the local variation processing device.

Abstract: An information distribution system is chiefly constituted by an RF tag mounted to an article, a server, a display device, and a reading device. The RF tag stores article identification information that is unique to the article in a non-rewritable fashion. The reading device reads the instruction information from the RF tag, and sends the information to the server. The server stores and manages the article identification information and face image information of the owner of the article in association with each other. The server, based on the article identification information read by the reading device, retrieves the face image information of the owner, and sends the face image information to the display device. The display device, based on the face image information sent from the server, displays the face image as a visible image.

Abstract: A hard copy is produced by steps of recording an image on a recording medium according to an image signal which represents an image density of the image to be recorded; applying a surface roughness control to an image area on the recording medium on which the image is recorded; and correcting, before recording the image on the recording medium, the image signal used for the recording so that a viewed image density provided after the surface roughness control equals the image density of the image to be recorded, using information on a density difference between an image density before the surface roughness control and an viewed image density after the surface roughness control.

Abstract: A print system for performing image processing on an original image and outputting a print in which the original image is reproduced as a visible image is disclosed comprises image processing unit for performing the image processing on the original image or image data thereof; setting unit for setting the image processing in the image processing unit with the original image as image data, in accordance with at least one of the image data and an instruction input from outside; storage unit for storing image processing information of the original image processed by the image processing unit and retrieval information for retrieving the original image with correspondence therebetween; and retrieval unit for retrieving image processing information of a corresponding original image corresponding to the supplied retrieval information, wherein when the storage unit reprocesses the original image storing image processing condition and retrieval information, the setting unit sets an image processing by the processing u

Abstract: An image reading device is provided which can read an image at a wide dynamic range and which can be constructed at low cost. Film images which are recorded on a photographic film undergo a preliminary reading by an area CCD. On the basis of the image data obtained from the reading, the density of each LCD cell of an LCD when performing the main scanning of the image can be calculated so that the amount of incident light on the area CCD is as great as possible without saturation of the accumulated charge in each photoelectric conversion cell occurring. The film image then undergoes the main reading with the density of each LCD cell of the LCD controlled so as to be the above calculated density.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for reading an image read photoelectrically an original image by prescan, set reading conditions in accordance with prescanned data obtained by the prescan, and perform fine scan that photoelectrically reads the original image to obtain fine scanned data for producing output image data. The method and apparatus analyze data of a preset area of the original image for both the prescanned data and the fine scanned data to calculate image characteristic values of the prescanned data and the fine scanned data of the preset area, calculate a correction condition for the fine scanned data such that the image characteristic values of the prescanned data and fine scanned data match and process the fine scannned data on the correction condition.

Abstract: An image reading device is provided which can read an image at a wide dynamic range and which can be constructed at low cost. Film images which are recorded on a photographic film undergo a preliminary reading by an area CCD. On the basis of the image data obtained from the reading, the density of each LCD cell of an LCD when performing the main scanning of the image can be calculated so that the amount of incident light on the area CCD is as great as possible without saturation of the accumulated charge in each photoelectric conversion cell occurring. The film image then undergoes the main reading with the density of each LCD cell of the LCD controlled so as to be the above calculated density.

Abstract: The image processing method and apparatus perform nonlinear transformation on a digital color signal to obtain a nonlinear transformed signal, optionally perform LUT transformation on the digital color signal or the nonlinear transformed signal to obtain a LUT transformed signal, compute a chroma of the digital color signal from the digital color signal or the nonlinear transformed signal, compute a chroma weight coefficient based on the computed chroma and perform arithmetic operations for weighting the nonlinear transformed signal and the digital color signal or the LUT transformed signal with the chroma weight coefficient, thereby obtaining an output signal.