Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a determining unit that determines whether image data includes multi-valued drawing information for drawing a multi-valued image; a multi-valued drawing unit that draws the multi-valued image of the image data when the multi-valued drawing information is determined to be included in the image data; a less-than-multi-valued drawing unit that draws a less-than-multi-valued image of the image data when the multi-valued drawing information is not determined to be included in the image data; a value-count reducing image processing unit that reduces number of values of a drawing result of the multi-valued image to generate an image with a fewer number of values; and a less-than-multi-valued encoding processing unit that encodes a drawing result obtained by drawing the less-than-multi-valued image and encodes the generated image with the fewer number of values.

Abstract: A scanner device and a method executed in the scanner device are provided. The scanner device includes a generating unit that generates original image data representing a scanned original; a preparing unit that prepares one color-conversion profile among a plurality of color-conversion profiles having different data sizes, according to a feature of the original image data; and an outputting unit that outputs the original image data and the one color-conversion profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for environmental watermarking. According to one embodiment, a print request is received at a printing device coupled to a processing unit, which evaluates whether an environmental print criteria has been satisfied. The document along with an environmental watermark image is printed on the print media upon determination that at least one environmental print criterion has been satisfied.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms a patch image T on a recording material P, a fixing unit that fixes the patch image, a spectral color measurement device that irradiates light onto the patch image T that was fixed by the fixing unit, and measures reflected light from the patch image, a white reference plate disposed facing the spectral color measurement device; and a control unit that controls a density or a chromaticity of an image based on a result obtained by measuring the patch image and a result obtained by measuring the white reference plate by means of the spectral color measurement device. It is thereby possible to improve the color measurement accuracy of a color measurement device.

Abstract: A process and system to provide damage identification and assessment of damage to a geographic area may include acquiring imagery data of a geographic area, processing the imagery data using wavelet transformation to identify damage to the geographic area and outputting a map showing damage condition of the geographic area. Processing the imagery data may use wavelet transformation that outputs wavelet transformation images. Damage categories for at least one location in the imagery data may be provided using discriminant analysis applied to the wavelet transformation images. The outputted maps and damage categories may be used to assess damage to areas affected by catastrophic-like events such as, e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and the like. This process is faster and may be more accurate than current assessment techniques thereby permitting quick responses to catastrophic-like events.

Abstract: Provided is a profile creation method for creating a color conversion profile for an image forming apparatus which forms an image by performing, on an input color value having total use amount of color material exceeding set amount, a process for reducing the total use amount, by interpolating lattice points in a look-up table. The profile creation method includes: determining whether a point of an input color value with the total use amount of color material being equal to the set amount exists between two adjacent lattice points in the look-up table; and, when it is determined so, calculating an output color value of an interpolation point set between the two lattice points, by a polynomial interpolation method for performing interpolation calculation by using, besides output color values of the two lattice points, an output color value of a lattice point other than the two lattice points.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a first order associated with processing a media file and estimating resources associated with fulfilling the first order. The method may also include generating a first logical circuit representing network elements to fulfill the first order and connections between the network elements. The method may further include allocating resources based on the first logical circuit and executing the order using the allocated resources.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a total amount control unit that applies a total amount controlling process to perform correction such that a sum of density values of all pixels composing the color plane data and clear plane data becomes not larger than a certain value; a clear toner plane generating unit that generates clear toner plane data based on gloss control plane data, the clear plane data and the color plane data; a difference calculating unit that calculates a difference between the density value of a pixel of the clear toner plane data and the density value of the pixel of the clear toner plane data to which the total amount controlling process is applied, for each pixel; and a display unit that displays an inconsistent region composed of a pixel in which the difference is not smaller than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: For each totally black pixel of image data to be printed using a fluid-ejection printing device, it is determined whether the pixel is part of a line feature or an area fill feature of the image data. Where the pixel is part of a line feature, a first printing mask selected that is optimized for printing line features. Where the pixel is part of an area fill feature, a second printing mask is selected that is optimized for printing area fill features. Each mask specifies a number of fluid droplets to be printed and positions where the fluid droplets are to be printed. The selected mask is applied to the pixel. The pixel is printed using the mask that has been applied. The fluid-ejection printing device prints the pixel by ejecting the number of fluid droplets specified by the mask at the positions specified by the mask.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a color converting portion and an edge-outline-to-be-defined specifying portion. The color converting portion is configured to convert a portion near one of edges of a black determination range determined as having a composite black and a portion near the other of the edges thereof, so as to have a pure black. The edge-outline-to-be-defined specifying portion is configured to set a range, of the black determination range, positioned inward of one of the edges of the black determination range and the other of the edges of the black determination range, as a mask range, for a black plane, and specify an edge outside the mask range as an edge on which edge outline definition is to be performed.

Abstract: An image evaluation apparatus includes a reading unit that includes a monochrome detection unit reading, in a focused state, an image formed on a recording material by an image forming apparatus that represents grayscale of the image by forming dots on the recording material, and a color detection unit reading the image in a defocused state; an image information obtaining unit that obtains image information for the image forming apparatus to form the image; a computing unit that computes a luminance and a chroma of an image supposed to be formed on the recording material by the image forming apparatus from the obtained image information; a comparing unit that compares a derived luminance with the computed luminance, and compares a derived chroma with the computed chroma; and an image evaluation unit that evaluates the image formed by the image forming apparatus, on the basis of results of comparison.

Abstract: An information processing system that is capable of efficiently obtaining print data to perform printing without obtaining unnecessary print data from a server on a network with useless timing and continuously spooling it. The server generates attribute information including positional information on individual pages of print data. An image forming apparatus obtains the attribute information from the server. The image forming apparatus determines the number of network sessions based on a time period it took to obtain the attribute information, a size of data on a page to be printed in print data to be obtained from the server, and a restoration time period required to combine and restore the obtained data on the page to be printed. The image forming apparatus obtains the data on the page to be printed using network sessions corresponding in number to the determined number of network sessions.

Abstract: A printer driver device includes: an ink-based maximum tone level determination unit configured to determine maximum tone levels for respective types of ink for raster data on an image generated by a layout setting section, based on contents of a print setting information of the image; and a data volume determination unit configured to generate tone datasets on the respective types of ink for each pixel of the image based on the maximum tone levels determined by the ink-based maximum tone level determination unit, and transfer the generated tone datasets as the raster data by connecting the generated tone datasets by use of a line-interleaved format or a band-sequential format.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a rewriting unit that extracts attribute information of each image object from first page description language data and adds a special color space designating command including at least one color name parameter that represents the attribute information of each of the extracted image objects to rewrite the first page description language data into second page description language data; an RIP unit that interprets the second page description language data rewritten by the rewriting unit to obtain each pixel value of printing image data for a printing device; and a color converting unit that performs a color conversion process during the processing of the RIP unit, wherein the rewriting unit and the color converting unit share information on the correspondence between a color space and a combination of color name parameters for expressing the color space.

Abstract: The invention relates to an embedded system and a method to generate a white underbase for printing on a colored background from the given image to be printed automatically without any human intervention or operator's assistance. This invention simplifies the process of printing on colored substrates like garments, packing materials, woods, acrylic sheets, cardboard etc. Along with the simplification of a great amount of productivity increase is achieved in comparison to the existing methods as it eliminates any human intervention.

Abstract: A print controlling apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives input data including: gloss control plane data indicating a surface effect type to be achieved on the recording medium with certain density information; and table identifying information for identifying a surface effect selection table indicating a corresponding relation between the surface effect type and the density information used to generate the gloss control plane data; an acquiring unit that acquires an independent data portion indicating a portion corresponding to the surface effect type capable of being achieved independent from competence of the printing apparatus, out of the surface effect selection table identified by the table identifying information included in the input data from an external device; and a generating unit that generates the clear toner plane data using the independent data portion acquired by the acquiring unit.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an image-modification processing unit and an adjustment unit. The image-modification processing unit executes first image-modification processing wherein pixels are inserted to or deleted from a subject image in a first direction or pixels in the subject image are shifted in the first direction and second image modification processing wherein pixels in the subject image are shifted in a second direction. The adjustment unit adjusts a position of a shift-border along which the pixels are shifted in the second image-modification processing on the basis of a position of each step in an image caused in the first image-modification processing.

Abstract: The system provides for controlling color reproduction of input color image in a network having nodes (or sites). The system distributes the input color image data from one of the nodes to other nodes, and provides data structures in the network. The system has means for providing color calibration data at each node characterizing output colors (colorants) of the rendering device of the node, and means for producing at each node, responsive to the color calibration data of the rendering device of the node, information for transforming the input color image data into output color image data at the rendering device of the node. The rendering device of each node renders a color reproduction responsive to the output color image data, wherein colors displayed in the reproduction at the rendering device of each node appear substantially the same within the output colors attainable by the rendering devices.

Abstract: A print management system/method allowing definition of font-based vector artwork images (VAI) that may be associated with selected vector palette groups (VPG) for print publication is disclosed. The system/method operates to permit a publisher to define a catalog of VAIs and associated VPGs that together define sets of font-based presentation images (FPI). Customers may select among the various FPI to generate a proof/production print (PPP) file that is processed by a web server to generate an encapsulated document file (EDF) incorporating the PPP in addition to information supporting an electronic financial transaction (EFT) between the customer and publisher. The customer may transfer the EDF to a printer who then activates the EDF to affect both the print publication of the PPP and an ETF between the customer and publisher based on the number of physical prints of the PPP by the printer.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a receiving unit, a processing range determination unit, and a contour extraction unit. The receiving unit receives specified position information that indicates a position specified by a user with respect to a target image. The processing range determination unit determines, when a distance between a start point position that indicates a start point of positions indicated by the specified position information, and a position indicated by the latest specified position information is a threshold or less, a closed area obtained based on a history of the received specified position information as a processing range. The contour extraction unit extracts a contour of an object in the processing range.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a drawing receiving unit to receive a page start command and a drawing command from an OS, a transparency processing unit to generate a bitmap upon receiving the page start command, to alpha blend a first image with a second image existing on the bitmap to generate a blended image upon receiving the drawing command that includes the first image with an alpha channel, and to duplicate the alpha blended image, and a drawing processing unit to convert the drawing command that includes the first image with the alpha channel, into a print command to draw the duplicated alpha blended image.

Abstract: An information processing device includes an identifying unit, a generation unit, and a contour extraction unit. The identifying unit identifies a first object expressed by pixel data and a second object expressed by vector data from target image data including drawing information for each object. The generation unit performs rasterization based on first drawing information indicating the drawing information of the first object and second drawing information indicating the drawing information of the second object to generate combined image data, into which the first object and the second object are combined. The contour extraction unit extracts a contour from the combined image data.

Abstract: The driving apparatus includes: driving unit driving driven unit; controller controlling the driving unit; portion to be detected in which first areas and second areas are arranged alternately; and detector that detects the first and second areas. The portion includes, on one side of base position in a moving direction, first areas having small width and second areas having different widths larger than the first areas on the one side, and includes, on the other side, second areas having small width and first areas having different widths larger than the second areas on the other side. When moving the driven unit to specific position, the driven unit is driven in direction determined according to an area detected by the detector when starting the operation, and reverses the direction if the driven unit is moved by a predetermined amount or larger in the area after the detection area is changed.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a common color reproduction range generation unit configured to select the data of interest as common color reproduction range data if the data of interest is determined by the first color reproduction range determination unit to fall within the color reproduction range of the first output device and is determined by the second color reproduction range determination unit to fall within the color reproduction range of the second output device; and a table correction unit configured to correct output values for respective grid points of a first color conversion table included in the image processing apparatus in accordance with differences between the reference values and the colorimetric values corresponding to the common color reproduction range data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a base value setting unit and a correction value calculating unit. The base value setting unit sets a base value of an image process condition on the basis of the area ratio of an image to be formed. The correction value calculating unit calculates a correction value obtained by correcting the base value set by the base value setting unit on the basis of at least the pattern of the image. The image is formed based on the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating unit.

Abstract: A method for generating print parameters includes: obtaining a printed paper of a test sample sheet obtained by a printing device after performing double-sided printing on the test sample sheet using preset front print parameters and preset back print parameters; detecting a front effect index of a front print effect and a back effect index of a back print effect for the printed paper of the test sample sheet by a print parameter generating device; comparing the front effect index and the back effect index with a standard effect index to obtain a comparison result, or comparing the front effect index with the back effect index to obtain a comparison result; determining from the comparison result and store in the printing device front print parameters and back print parameters used for double-sided printing on a paper to be printed with the same material and attributes as the test sample sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that can provide a natural edge processing even if a toner save processing and a line width correction processing are configured in parallel. The image forming apparatus detects an edge neighboring region of an input image in a predetermined direction. The edge neighboring region detected by the neighboring edge detection step is subjected to a line width correction processing. An edge region of the input image in a direction other than the predetermined direction is detected. Then, a toner save processing is performed on a no-edge region that is a region other than the edge region detected by the edge detection step.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program stored in a recording medium are provided. The image processing apparatus includes a processing circuitry, and the processing circuitry and the image processing method obtain a color image output from an image forming unit, predict an output color of the image forming unit to generate a predicted color specification value independent from the image forming unit, extract from the input image data a colorimetry area for color difference determination, obtain a colorimetric value of an area of the color image that corresponds to the extracted colorimetry area, using a colorimeter, and add a colorimetric error at the colorimeter due to a color arrangement on the input image data to the predicted color specification value, to obtain a corrected colorimetric value of the area of the color image.

Abstract: The information processing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to generate second print data without dividing image data into units of bands if it is determined that memory of the information processing apparatus for generating the second print data has been successfully allocated, and to generate first print data by dividing image data into units of bands if it is determined that the memory of the information processing apparatus for generating the second print data has failed to be allocated.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a wide range of metallic appearances using halftones of a nano-particle metallic ink, such as, for example, nano-silver, are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a nano-particle metallic ink, such as, for example, nano-silver, can be made to produce a range of appearances from, for example, bright silver to dull oxidized aluminum, by changing halftone level of the silver inks, changing the substrate surface properties and introducing small amounts of other colored inks, such as process or spot, in either an underprinting or overprinting of the metallic ink. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, InkJet printing of a single metal-pigmented ink can be effected, and its metallic appearance can very quickly be adjusted to match a given package design.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a specific graphic form storage section, an image determination section, and determination color conversion processing section. The specific graphic form storage section is configured to store a visual image of a specific graphic form and attribute information specific to the specific graphic form as a reference image and reference attribute information, respectively. The image determination section is configured to determine at least one of (i) whether or not an image matching with the reference image is included in target data and (ii) whether or not an image having the reference attribute information is included in the target data, and detect the image identified through the determination as an image corresponding to the specific graphic form. The color conversion processing section is configured to perform specific color conversion processing for the image corresponding to the specific graphic form.

Abstract: An image processing device may calculate, by utilizing scan data obtained by a scan of a document including a natural image in accordance with a specific optical resolution, a first type of index value for classifying the document, determine an output resolution by utilizing the first type of index value, convert the scan data indicating the specific optical resolution into image data indicating the output resolution in a case where the output resolution is not identical to the specific optical resolution, and create a file including the image data indicating the output resolution.

Abstract: A method for halftone printing of an image may include receiving image data of an image to be printed. The method may also include processing the image data to generate, for each printing element of a plurality of printing elements which are designed to sharingly print a single color component of a color space, or for each pass of a single printing element which is designed to pass a plurality of passes over a single print area when printing that color component, a halftone pattern for the image for that color, that was independently generated for that printing element or for that pass. The method may further include printing, by each printing element of the plurality of printing elements or in each pass of a single printing element, the halftone pattern that was independently generated for that printing element or for that pass.

Abstract: A basic color to be printed in achromatic colors (a layer superimposed with another layer) is changed in response to the brightness of a pixel indicated by the original image data.

Abstract: Color shift detection requires additional processing as compared to detection of other items, and thus increases the load on the inspection processing. Conventional inspection apparatuses have a problem that the processing speed associated with inspection is affected and the costs of the inspection processing apparatus are raised. In a case where an inspection setting specified by a user includes color shift detection (YES in S406), scan image data of a printed material for a test print is determined to be a reference (S407). Then, comparison is made between scan image data obtained by scanning the printed material associated with a print job and the scan image data of the printed material for the test print.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a trapping process. The image forming apparatus includes an image processing unit that includes a determination unit, a color correction unit, a processing unit, an adding unit, and a generating unit. The processing unit performs the trapping process on the pieces of image data, on which the color correction has been performed by the color correction unit. The generating unit generates intermediate data in accordance with the print data including the pieces of image data, on which the trapping process has been performed. The image forming apparatus also includes a rendering unit that performs a rendering process on one or more of the pieces of image data on which the color correction has been performed by the rendering unit and on the pieces of image data for which tag information indicates that the color correction has been performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an input part for receiving image data; an image processor for image-processing the input image data; an output part for outputting data processed at the image processor; and a controller for controlling the image processor to process the image using one of a plurality of image processing modes having a toner consumption lower than a toner density to use when the toner density to use for outputting the input image data exceeds a preset reference density. The plurality of the image processing modes includes a boundary image processing mode which outputs only boundaries of objects in the image data. Thus, the toner used for the image forming can be saved.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for compensating for side 1 to side 2 differences in a document scanning device. In one embodiment, the present method involves selecting at least one solid area patch printed in at least one reference color of a color space. The scan head of side 1 scans the patch to capture a first set of color values. The scan head of side 2 scans the same patch to capture a second set of color values. A regression method generates a coefficient matrix which minimizes a ?E color difference metric between the first and second sets of color values. An image processing module associated with the side 2 scanner is programmed with the coefficient matrix and uses the coefficient matrix to adjust a color response of the side 2 scanner to compensate for side 1 to side 2 differences.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a receiver which receives original image data from a terminal, a converter which converts the original image data to tone-changed image, a storing unit which stores parameter groups for converting the original image data, the parameter groups including a first parameter group for RGB components and a second parameter group for YMCK components, a print size selector, and a print controller which issues a print instruction for the converted image data. A display controller allows the terminal to display the converted image data obtained by using the first parameter group. The print controller issues a print instruction for the converted image data obtained by using the second parameter group.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a generation unit; wherein a first dither pattern and a second dither pattern have same threshold values that are set for same pixels in a first gradation range, and have different threshold values that are set for same pixels in a second gradation range that exceeds the first gradation range; and the generation unit sets a first threshold value for forming dots of the first dither pattern, and generates a first binary data according to whether or not a threshold value corresponding to a target pixel of the first dither pattern is included in the first threshold value, and sets a second threshold value for forming dots of the second dither pattern, and generates a second binary data according to whether or not a threshold value corresponding to a target pixel of the second dither pattern is included in the second threshold value.

Abstract: Provided is a quantization processing method using dither patterns that make it possible to obtain a dot array having excellent dispersibility even in the case of a single color or mixed color inks. For this purpose, first and second dither patterns are prepared in order to respectively quantize multivalued data for a first ink to different pieces of binary data, respectively. Also, third and fourth dither patterns are prepared in order to respectively quantize multivalued data for a second ink to different pieces of binary data. Further, on the basis of a combination of the multivalued data on the first ink and the multivalued data on the second ink, a quantization unit for the first ink, and a quantization unit for the second ink are determined.

Abstract: Provided is a dither pattern generation method so that a dot arrangement having excellent dispersibility can be obtained in low-gradation areas for single colors and for mixed colors. The dither pattern generation method generates dot patterns for low-gradation areas having threshold values 1 to S so that high dispersibility is obtained in a cyan dot pattern and a magenta dot pattern, and so that in a combined dot pattern made by combining these dot patterns there are no overlapping pixels. The dither pattern generation method then sets threshold values for a cyan dither pattern and a magenta dither pattern based on these generated dot patterns.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit to store a color conversion table, a user interface unit to receive a color revision initiation command, an image forming unit to print a color chart generated based on the color conversion table if the color revision initiation command is received, the color chart having a plurality of CMYK mixed colors having at least one of brightness and chroma changed, a scan unit to scan the printed color chart, and a change unit to revise the color conversion table using the scanned color chart.

Abstract: Provided are black trapping methods, apparatus and systems for binary images. According to one exemplary method, black trapping color image data is performed by incorporating a set of trapping condition logical operations. Specifically, edge checking is based on estimated contone color values and density checking based on a binary bitmap.

Abstract: A printing system includes an image forming apparatus, a management server, and a print data transmission apparatus, each of which are coupled one another via a network. The print transmission apparatus transmits print data to the management server in association with a user. The image forming apparatus, including apparatus-supported setting data, (i) causes the management server to authenticate the user, and (ii) prints the print data. The management server (i) manages the print data transmitted from the print data transmission apparatus, (ii) performs authentication of the user, and changes the print data associated with the user to supported print data corresponding to the apparatus-supported setting data, and (iii) transmits the supported print data to the image forming apparatus, if the authentication of the user is successful.

Abstract: When a skewness of brightness of a print target image is a first skewness, print data is generated such that an ink amount of a metallic ink is a first amount. When the skewness of brightness is a second skewness that is larger than the first skewness, a print data is generated such that the ink amount is a second amount that is larger than the first amount.

Abstract: Methods and systems divide an image into image blocks, determine a number of high-variation blocks within valid image blocks, determine a page variance measure by dividing the number of high-variation blocks by the total number of valid image blocks, and classify the image as comprising a halftone and/or text image if the page variance measure exceeds a halftone threshold. Such methods and systems classify the image as being a continuous tone image if the page variance measure does not exceed the halftone threshold and a text index is below a text index threshold, and classify the image as being a continuous tone and text image if the page variance measure does not exceed the halftone threshold and the text index is not below the text index threshold. Further, such methods and systems select an image processing mode based on such image classifications.

Abstract: In the image processing apparatus, image data is divided into large blocks of a prescribed size and the large blocks are subdivided into small blocks by the dividing unit. The number of isolated points in each large block is then calculated by the large block isolated point calculation unit, and the number of isolated points in each small block is then calculated by the small block isolated point calculation units. It is then determined by the halftone-dot region determination unit whether or not the large block is a halftone-dot region. This determination considers both the number of isolated points in the large block and the number of isolated points in each small block.

Abstract: A method to generate an image in which a plurality of offset vectors for portions of a first image are determined by comparing the similarity of the portions to portion of a second image.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a colour rendering reprographic apparatus for making an output colour profile comprises the steps of measuring a set of colour values, indicative of output of the colour rendering reprographic apparatus on a predetermined medium and processing these measurement data to profile data that are applicable for creating an output colour profile according to the standards of the International Colour Consortium. The processing step comprises a correction of a measured colour value with a medium compensation value that depends on the medium gray colour value at the same lightness as the measured colour value. The medium gray colour value is a value that results from the application of black colorant on the predetermined medium. The medium compensation value reduces to zero at the lightness of the predetermined medium. The effect of this processing step is that a profile is generated that gives prints that are both free of background colorant and have natural colour rendering.