Abstract: There are provided an image processing system and image processing method which can appropriately set whether to convert an original paper document into re-usable vector data before obtaining vector data from the paper document. An image scanning unit (110) scans a document to obtain image information, and a storage device (111) stores the image information. A data processing device (115) detects control information appended to the document from the image information and determines whether vectorization of the image information is permitted or inhibited. If the data processing device (115) determines that vectorization is permitted, it converts the image information into vector data; otherwise, it directly stores the image information in the storage device (111).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a reading unit adapted to read an image and to generate image data representing the image; a separating unit adapted to separate the image data obtained by the reading unit into a plurality of objects corresponding to attributes; a selecting unit adapted to select a predetermined attribute of the image; a vectorization unit adapted to perform a vector conversion process for the image data separated by the separating unit in accordance with the predetermined attribute selected by the selecting unit; and an output unit adapted to output the image data processed by the vectorization unit.

Abstract: Vector data corresponding to a scanned original image is generated. An edit image of the original image corresponding to the display resolution of a display is generated on the basis of the vector data, and display of the edit image on the display is controlled.

Abstract: An electronic file corresponding to a scanned original image is specified on the basis of the original image. If the electronic file corresponding to the original image cannot be specified, the original image is converted into vector data. The vector data is converted into image data. The first image data of the original image is compared with the second image data generated by the second conversion unit. On the basis of the comparison result, the first image data or vector data is selected as the electronic file corresponding to the original image.

Abstract: An image processing system and method includes selecting a color desired by a user, extracting a partial image corresponding to the color desired by the user and selected from a bit-map image, converting the partial image into vector data, storing the vector data in a memory, and setting the converted vector data as vector data to be processed as desired by the user. The image processing system and method further includes calculating a palette color from the bit-map image, extracting a partial image corresponding to the palette color, converting the partial image into vector data per color object, storing the vector data in a memory, and setting, as vector data to be processed as desired by the user, vector data per object that is selected from the vector data stored in the memory based on the color selected from the calculated palette colors.

Abstract: By smoothing a full-color image, staircasing of characters even in a gradation image is removed. An area to be smoothed is detected from image data having a plurality of color components, and image data included in the detected area is smoothed in units of color components. Image data which places an importance on resolution is smoothed by increasing the resolution to reproduce smooth characters and figures. Image data which places an importance on gradation characteristic is output without increasing the resolution, thus attaining high-gradation recording. A character or figure is detected from bitmap image data input from external equipment, and is smoothed. In correspondence with the density of the smoothed image data, the pulse width is switched, thereby changing the resolution of image data.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to perform smooth black color processing of a character, line, and the like and to prevent deterioration of image quality. A character-thickness judgment unit in a black character judgment unit judges the thickness of a character/line image portion in an image on the basis of R, G, and B signals representing an image supplied from a host computer. An edge detection unit obtains edge information of a character/line image, and a saturation judgment unit obtains saturation information thereof. When image processing is performed by combining the edge information and the saturation information, the thickness judgment signal is corrected, so that the thickness of the character or line changes continuously. A UCR unit is arranged to perform black color processing in accordance with the substrate.

Abstract: Black correction to character, lines, and the like, is performed smoothly so as to maintain quality of an image as much as possible. In a character thickness determining circuit 114 of a black character determination unit 113, the thickness of characters and lines are determined based on RGB signals. Further, character/line outline information is obtained at an edge detector 115, and chromaticity information is obtained at a chromaticity determining unit 116. When an image processing is performed based on the combination of the outline information and the chromaticity information, a thickness determination signal is corrected so that the thickness of the character, lines, and like changes continuously.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable, in case of forming a color image based on color image data entered from an external device, of improving the print quality by smoothing the contour of the printed character or pattern. In consideration of the reproducibility of the printer, a character or a fine line not exceeding a predetermined density is printed with a lowered resolving power. Also the reproduced density is selected between the average of the interpolating density or the original density. As a result, in case of outputting a multi-value image composed of a character or a pattern giving emphasis on the resolving power, the multi-value smoothing interpolation can be executed according to the density of the character, thereby smoothing the contour of such character or pattern and improving the print quality.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to perform smooth black color processing of a character, line, and the like and to prevent deterioration of image quality.

Abstract: A PDL interpreter rasterizes image data, which are described in page description language, entered from a host computer, and stores the rasterized image data in an image memory. A CPU discriminates the type of image, pixel by pixel, by referring to the image data stored in the image memory, and stores a discrimination code, which indicates the result of discrimination, in a code memory. The CPU reads out image data that have been stored in the image memory and reads the discrimination code corresponding to these image data out of the code memory. The image data read out of the image memory are subjected to different binarizing processing by two binarizing circuits. Depending upon the discrimination code read out of the code memory, a selector selects the output of one of the two binarizing circuits and sends the selected image data to a printer.

Abstract: A PDL interpreter rasterizes image data, which are described in page description language, entered from a host computer, and stores the rasterized image data in an image memory. A CPU discriminates the type of image, pixel by pixel, by referring to the image data stored in the image memory, and stores a discrimination code, which indicates the result of discrimination, in a code memory. The CPU reads out image data that have been stored in the image memory and reads the discrimination code corresponding to these image data out of the code memory. The image data read out of the image memory are subjected to different binarizing processing by two binarizing circuits. Depending upon the discrimination code read out of the code memory, a selector selects the output of one of the two binarizing circuits and sends the selected image data to a printer.

Abstract: By smoothing a full-color image, staircasing of characters even in a gradation image is removed. An area to be smoothed is detected from image data having a plurality of color components, and image data included in the detected area is smoothed in units of color components.

Abstract: By smoothing a full-color image, staircasing of characters even in a gradation image is removed. An area to be smoothed is detected from image data having a plurality of color components, and image data included in the detected area is smoothed in units of color components. Image data which places an importance on resolution is smoothed by increasing the resolution to reproduce smooth characters and figures. Image data which places an importance on gradation characteristic is output without increasing the resolution, thus attaining high-gradation recording. A character or figure is detected from bitmap image data input from external equipment, and is smoothed. In correspondence with the density of the smoothed image data, the pulse width is switched, thereby changing the resolution of image data.

Abstract: By smoothing a full-color image, staircasing of characters even in a gradation image is removed. An area to be smoothed is detected from image data having a plurality of color components, and image data included in the detected area is smoothed in units of color components.

Abstract: A PDL interpreter rasterizes image data, which are described in page description language, entered from a host computer, and stores the rasterized image data in an image memory. A CPU discriminates the type of image, pixel by pixel, by referring to the image data stored in the image memory, and stores a discrimination code, which indicates the result of discrimination, in a code memory. The CPU reads out image data that have been stored in the image memory and reads the discrimination code corresponding to these image data out of the code memory. The image data read out of the image memory are subjected to different binarizing processing by two binarizing circuits. Depending upon the discrimination code read out of the code memory, a selector selects the output of one of the two binarizing circuits and sends the selected image data to a printer.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method are adapted to prevent a decline in image quality while reducing the number of bits in a discrimination signal stored in memory. The apparatus includes an image compressing device for encoding image data in prescribed block units and then storing the encoded data in a memory, after which the stored image data is decoded and outputted. A black-character discriminating unit discriminates a plurality of attributes of the image data, and a black-character compressing device encodes the plural results of discrimination in conformity with the image processing. The plurality of codes are divided into blocks of different sizes in such a manner that resolution is reduced, and the codes are stored in memory. Thereafter, the stored codes are decompressed and sent to a masking UCR circuit and to a spatial filter. On the basis of the codes sent, the masking UCR circuit and spatial filter apply image processing to the image data outputted from the image compressing device.