Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for second pass video coding in a multi-pass video coding scenario. The coding modes for some video blocks encoded during a second pass may be changed relative to the coding modes used for such video blocks in the first pass. However, motion information does not change for those video blocks that have the changed modes. In particular, mode changes can be made in the second coding pass relative to the modes used in the first coding pass without changing the manner in which motion information will be derived at the decoder, e.g., due to similarities between the original modes of the first pass and changed modes used in the second pass. The second pass coding techniques may also include quantization parameter adjustments, and the mode changes can cause such quantization parameter adjustments to have more profound refinements effects on the second pass coding.

Abstract: The number of times of processing to increment the number of reserved bits in arithmetic coding processing is reduced. For this purpose, upon inputting a binary symbol, a zone is divided into two zones at a ratio between occurrence probabilities of MPS and LPS, and one of the divided zones is selected according to the input symbol. When the length of the selected zone is shorter than a predetermined length, normalization is performed. Then it is determined whether or not a threshold for determining a decimal place of interest exists within the zone of interest. When the threshold exists within the zone of interest, the number of reserved bits is incremented by one. When the threshold exists without the zone, 1-bit data determined based on a relative position between the zone of interest and the threshold is outputted, bit data corresponding to the number of reserved bits is determined and outputted, and the number of reserved bits is cleared to zero.

Abstract: An output apparatus determines pixels that form an area equal to or greater than a predetermined size and whose pixel values are not different from pixel values of neighboring pixels, and pixels that form an area not equal to or greater than the predetermined size. The apparatus reduces the pixel values of the determined pixels and outputs a binary image formed by the determined pixels with the reduced pixel values.

Abstract: Error diffusion halftoning includes using a quantizer having an input and an output; and using a system having a bandpass characteristic to modify the quantizer input without feeding the quantizer output directly into the quantizer input. The error diffusion halftoning can produce clustered pixel halftone patterns that can be reliably reproduced by laser printers and other electro-photographic devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods of ensuring the erasure of transient documents are disclosed. The systems and methods include an imaging device that sends a transient document with a pre-printed image into an erase cycle to attempt to remove the image from the document. After the erase cycle, a scanner scans the transient document and converts the transient document into a digital image. A processor compares bit depths of individual bits of the digital image to a bit depth threshold. Depending on the comparison and a number of completed erase cycles, the transient document enters an additional erase cycle, completes as sufficiently erased, or is rejected as not sufficiently erased.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing bus traffic during texture decoding of a video bitstream are provided. In one configuration, a wireless communication device (e.g., cellular phone, etc.) comprises a processor configured to execute instructions operative to decode and separate in a bitstream macroblock (MB) information and residual packet data. The residual packet data is used to generate codec-independent non-zero MB-packets having a universal order that is codec independent. The codec-independent non-zero MB-packets and MB information are then used for reconstructing pixels of a respective frame of the video bitstream.

Abstract: A method and system operative to process monochrome image data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can comprise the steps of receiving monochrome image data, segmenting the input pixel values into pixel value ranges, assigning pixel positions in the lowest pixel value range an output pixel value of a first binary value, assigning pixel positions in the highest pixel value range an output pixel value of a second binary value, wherein the first and second binary values are different, and assigning pixel positions in intermediate pixel value ranges output pixel values that correspond to a spatial binary pattern. The resulting binary image data can be written to a file for subsequent storage, transmission, processing, or retrieval and rendering. In further embodiments, a system can be made operative to accomplish the same.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically analyzing and searching a database of digital content items includes a process for analyzing digital content items to identify portions capable of receiving text. In one implementation user input is received, where the user input helps construct a set of ordered values representing digital content item features desired by the user. The constructed set of ordered values is compared to sets of ordered values corresponding to digital content items in the database of digital content items, and digital content items are retrieved with sets of ordered values corresponding to the constructed set of ordered values.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an integer-part converting unit configured to convert multi-level image data into integer image data by referring to a first conversion table, a threshold setting unit configured to generate matrix data for performing area coverage modulation by referring to the multi-level image data, a decimal-part converting unit configured to convert the multi-level image data into decimal image data by referring to a second conversion table, a level reducing unit configured to reduce levels of the decimal image data by using a threshold generated in the threshold setting unit, an adding unit configured to add the integer image data to the level-reduced decimal image data and outputting a result of addition as gamma conversion image data, and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the gamma conversion image data.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided having an imaging sensor, a focusing lens, and an image processor. The imaging sensor converts an optical image to an output image signal. The focusing lens focuses on an object. The image processor calculates a contrast value based on the image signal while the focusing lens moves to focus on an object, and in the case where the image processor detects a region in which the amount of variation in the contrast value is within a predetermined range, while the focusing lens moves in a close range around a focusing point the image processor processes at least one output image in which either the image has been cropped to exclude the region, an ornament has been added to the region, or the region has been softened.

Abstract: Techniques are provided that use one or more templates to improve the printing of non-saturated colored text and lines. Such templates are predetermined, fixed patterns which can be indexed or looked up via a code word with a fewer number of bits than in the corresponding template. Thus, such templates are used to increase the resolution or effective resolution of a display. In an embodiment, each template location represents a 4×4 region of binary pixels. The number of possibilities of template values is 2^(4*4) or 65,536. However, in accordance with an embodiment, only 256 of these 65,536 templates are available and are indexed by an 8 bit contone video value.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and method obtains an original image, converts the original image into gray level to determine a gray level distribution of the original image, and defines a fuzzy region and a flat region and a fuzzy region according to the gray level distribution and a binary threshold. The electronic apparatus and method compares the pixel gray values in the fuzzy region with pixel gray values in the flat region to re-define the pixel gray values in the fuzzy region according to the comparison and a formula, and binarizes the original image to output an binarized image.

Abstract: A printing control device includes an input image data acquiring unit, a threshold acquiring unit, a determining unit, and a generating unit. The input image data acquiring unit acquires input image data. The input image data includes a plurality of input pixel data. Each input pixel data has an input value. The determining unit determines, for each input pixel data, a difference related value based on a difference between the input value and a threshold value corresponding to the input value. The generating unit generates print data by generating, for each input pixel data, output pixel data based on the difference related value. The output pixel data expresses density corresponding to the difference related value.

Abstract: Methods, medium, and machines which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decode, decompress and display digital video images. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including, but not limited to, the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. In a Doppler improvement aspect of the invention, Doppler velocity scales are incorporated into grayscale compression methods using two bits. Variable formats may be selected and Doppler encoding can be turned on and off based on the image content. Frames or sets of pixels may be distinguished by automated analysis of the characteristics of an image, such as the presence of Doppler enhanced pixels.

Abstract: An image encryption apparatus encrypts a digital image by specifying a partial region from the digital image, converting the selected partial region into a processing image based on an encryption key, and specifying a position of the partial region by regularly converting a pixel value of the processing image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing document compression. In some embodiments, the method includes converting a document into a grayscale image, for each gradient component of the grayscale image, creating a monochrome image region, determining pixel variation information for the monochrome image region, and selecting the monochrome image region for a binary mask if the pixel variation information satisfies dynamic threshold data and creating a compressed document using the binary mask.

Abstract: Processes for compressing images with sparse histograms are disclosed. The image is divided into blocks, and a bit budget is assigned for each block. The pixels of a block are converted and coded bit-plane by bit-plane, starting from the Most Significant Bit (MSB) and going towards the Least Significant Bit (LSB). The pixels of the block are partitioned into groups. Each group contains pixels that have same value. Moving from the MSB to the LSB, the groups in each bit-plane are processed. When processing a group, the encoder sends a “0” if all group members have same bit value at the current bit-plane being processed, followed by the bit value; otherwise, the encoder sends a “1”, followed by refinement bits for each pixel of the group, and the encoder splits the group.

Abstract: This presents an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which print and output image data subjected to halftone processing with an appropriate density characteristic. The image processing apparatus generates a halftone image from a multi-value image using a threshold value arrangement, and generates a difference image between the generated halftone image and a second halftone image having the density characteristic different from that of the generated halftone image. The image processing apparatus stores the generated halftone image and the generated difference image.

Abstract: An image-data acquiring unit acquires image data of an image. An image processing unit performs a predetermined image processing on the image data. A signal generating unit generates a scanning signal for determining a section of the image data for performing the image processing. A signal control unit stores waveform information of a scanning signal in a normal operation as a control signal, compares the control signal with the scanning signal generated by the signal generating unit, and detects an abnormality of the scanning signal. A scan control unit determines whether the image processing is to be continued based on a result of detection by the signal control unit.

Abstract: An image formation controller judges whether or not a tint block has been detected by a tint block processor upon judging that an automatic color determination mode is set in a multi functional peripheral. The image formation controller causes an image forming section to perform a monochromatic image forming operation if the tint block is a chromatic tint block when the tint block was detected by the tint block processor. On the other hand, the image formation controller causes the image forming section to perform an image forming operation corresponding to a determination result by an ACS processor when no tint block was detected and when the tint block was determined to be a monochromatic tint block.

Abstract: In a method to convert color-describing input print data suitable for graphical output with aid of an output apparatus into color-describing output print data, color proportions, defined by the input print data, of at least one region to be inked with at least two color separations, are determined, and a color space value to be generated with aid of the color separations is determined. An association rule is determined to convert the input print data into the output print data while retaining the color space value. A total areal coverage of areal coverages defined by the output print data of the color separations to generate the color space value is reduced relative to areal coverages of the color separations defined by the input print data. The input print data is converted into the output print data with aid of the determined association rule.

Abstract: It is determined whether the pixel of interest in image data to be processed belongs to area 1 not close to a scan line changing point where a scan line changing process is done (S101). If the pixel of interest belongs to area 1, an error diffusion process is performed using an error diffusion matrix for area 1 (S102). If the pixel of interest belongs to area 2 close to the scan line changing point, the error diffusion process is performing using an error diffusion matrix for downward scan line changing for area 2 when the scan line changing process is changing to a lower line, or an error diffusion matrix for upward scan line changing for area 2 when the scan line changing process is changing to an upper line.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one aspect, a method of binarizing an image is provided. The method includes partitioning the image into a plurality of image segments, each image segment having a plurality of image pixels and partitioning each of the image segments into subsegments, each image subsegment having a plurality of image pixels. The method also includes estimating a grey membership parameter for each image pixel for each of the plurality of image segments and subsegments, combining the grey membership parameter for each of the plurality of image pixels from each of the plurality of image segments and subsegments to estimate a net grey membership parameter for each image pixel and assigning black or white color to each of the plurality of image pixels based on the estimated net grey membership parameter of the respective pixel.

Abstract: In a matrix area, a plurality of linear areas each of which extends in a tilt direction tilted relatively to row and column directions are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the tilt direction without spaces, and the plurality of linear areas are alternatively assigned to first and second element groups along an arrangement direction. One element is specified in each element group, and subsequently a process of specifying an element farthest from the specified elements is repeated, to acquire a turn-on order of dots with increase in gray level in one grayscale range and a turn-off order of dots with decrease in gray level in the remaining grayscale range, and a threshold value of each element is determined according to these orders. Thus, generated is a threshold matrix capable of reducing graininess in a halftone image with directionality in the tilt direction, and improving the reproduction of thin lines and characters.

Abstract: A printing apparatus performs printing on a print medium. The printing apparatus includes: a dot data generator that performs a halftone process on image data, wherein the print image is formed by mutually combining print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel position groups for which a physical difference is assumed at a formation of dots by the print image generator, in a common print area, and the halftone process is configured to determine the status of dot formation on each of the print pixels on an assumption of the physical difference.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for scalable motion estimation. One embodiment of a method for performing motion estimation includes setting a target complexity for a macroblock of a source frame and performing motion estimation for one or more partitions of the macroblock until the target complexity is met.

Abstract: An image data processing system includes an image input module, a bit map generation module and an encoding module. The image input module receives an image and secret information and obtains at least one gray-level image according to image. The bit map generation module generates a bit map image according to gray-level image and generates an ordered dithering block truncation coding (ODBTC) image according to bit map image and gray-level image. The encoding module generates an encoded gray-level image according to bit map image and secret information, wherein the encoding module divides gray-level image into image blocks, finds candidate blocks with close black and white pixel numbers among the image blocks, selects high frequency blocks belong to the high frequency region of the image from candidate blocks, and randomly embeds secret information into high frequency blocks to generate encoded gray-level image with secret information embedded therein.

Abstract: A method for image processing with encoding selection is provided. In accordance with the color pixel, the maximum pixel value, and the minimum pixel value, the corresponding encoding method is selected and encoding is performed for producing encoding data corresponding to the color pixel. The present invention further comprises a color-difference operational for selecting a plurality of color pixels as a basic pixel, a first color pixel, and a second color pixel. When encoding the basic pixel, a first color difference, and a second color difference, respectively, first encoding data corresponding to the basic pixel, second encoding data corresponding to the first color difference, and third encoding data corresponding to the second color difference are produced, respectively.

Abstract: A method of processing a continuous tone image includes using a halftone screen to generate a bi-level bitmap; partitioning the contone image into an array of image blocks; halftoning the image blocks; using the bi-level bitmap to select some of the halftone image blocks; and modifying the selected halftone image blocks using code words, such that information contained in the code words is embedded in a halftone image. A method of extracting embedded information in a halftone image includes accessing a bi-level bit map; partitioning the halftone image into a plurality of image blocks; using the bitmap to select at least some of the blocks; identifying a code word sequence in the selected blocks; and extracting the information from the code word sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including: a screen processor for determining each pixel value of a screen processing application unit region composed of a plurality of pixels to which a threshold matrix is applied, in an inputted image; and for carrying out a screen processing by applying one threshold matrix among a plurality of threshold matrices in which applied positions of the threshold values are different from each other, to the plurality of pixels in the screen processing application unit region based on each determined pixel value.

Abstract: A method and imaging systems that process images employ image binarization. An image processing system includes a processor, a memory and a computer program stored in the memory and executed by the processor. A scanning system includes a scanner that scans an image source to produce a grayscale image and an image processor that includes a computer program. The respective computer programs include instructions that implement image binarization. The method of image binarization includes generating a solid fills binary image from a grayscale image and generating an edge enhanced binary image from the grayscale image. The method further includes combining the generated binary images to produce a composite binary image and providing the composite binary image as an output binary image.

Abstract: A method for producing an electronic annotated document including embedding annotation information into an electronic annotation object having image data including an annotation, and producing the electronic annotated document using pixel information from the electronic document and the electronic annotation object. The annotation embedded information may be used to select corresponding pixel information from one of the electronic annotated object and electronic document to be provided in the electronic annotated document. A system and tangible storage medium having machine-readable instructions for producing an electronic annotated document are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for creating a binary mask image from an a inputted digital image of a scanned document, comprising the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, comprising the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a data conversion unit for converting a plurality of sequentially input data into transfer data and sequentially transferring the transfer data, arranging the input data in each conversion unit using one transfer data as one transfer unit and a prescribed number of transfer units as one conversion unit, and the data conversion unit includes a first bit division unit for dividing the input data into first and second divided data, a bit comparison unit for comparing first divided data of an n-th time (n is a natural number equal to or more than 1) and an (n+1)-th time, a bit determination unit for determining whether the first divided data is to be inverted based on the determination result to output inversion information, a first bit inversion unit for outputting data selected based on the inversion information, and a first bit coupling unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an encoding/decoding method using a tree structure. The encoding method for encoding image information includes: grouping predetermined areas having the image information into a plurality of groups, and generating a node value of each layer up to an uppermost layer by determining a minimum value or a maximum value of information to be encoded within grouped areas as information on the grouped areas; and encoding a difference value between the node value of each layer and a node value of an upper layer or a difference value between the node value of each layer and a value determined based on a preset criterion. Accordingly, the encoding efficiency and in turn the video compression efficiency are improved by using the tree structure in the encoding of various pieces of image information and the decoding of the resultant encoded data.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an image processing system to binarize a gray-scale image to generate a corresponding binary image in the electronic device. Binarization of the gray-scale image by the image processing system includes generation of a binarization array to store binarization threshold values that each corresponds to a pixel of the gray-scale image, and binarization of the gray-scale image according to all binarization threshold values stored in the binarization array.

Abstract: Provided is an error correcting encoder and, more particularly, to an error correcting encoder used for an improved transmission method of the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC), and a method thereof. The error correcting encoder for digital television broadcasting, which is suggested in the present research, includes a robust encoder for encoding a one-bit input into robust encoded data; a pre-coding block for receiving the robust encoded data and performing pre-coding to thereby produce a pre-coded signal; and a trellis encoding block for performing trellis encoding on the robust encoded data and the pre-coded signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a binarization unit, a determination unit and a pixel value calculating unit. The binarization unit binarizes image data. The determination unit determines as to whether or not each pixel of the image data binarized by the binarization unit forms a peripheral portion of a pixel block. The pixel value calculating unit calculates a corrected pixel value of the pixel block based on (i) pixel values of pixels which are determined by the determination unit not to form the peripheral portion of the pixel block and (ii) pixel values of pixels forming the pixel block.

Abstract: A motion vector detecting apparatus includes a correlation detecting unit, a repetitive object detecting unit and a motion vector detecting unit. The correlation detecting unit detects correlations among plural pieces of pixel data in plural directions. The repetitive object detecting unit detects whether or not concerned pixel data in which a motion vector is to be detected is located in a repetitive object. The motion vector detecting unit decreases a difference value in a direction coincident with a direction of motion vector having detected at a past time when the concerned pixel data is located in the repetitive object and detects a motion vector.

Abstract: First, a binary image is generated by binarizing an image. Next, a binary pixel ratio, that is a ratio of a binary pixel quantity that is a quantity of dotted pixels included in a specific area of the binary image to a total quantity of pixels included in the specific area of the binary image, is found. Then, a thin-line image is generated by performing a line-thinning process on the specific area. After that, a thin-line pixel ratio that is a ratio of the quantity of dotted pixels included in the generated thin-line image to the binary pixel quantity is found, and the specific area is determined to be a map area or a photograph area based on the calculated binary pixel ratio and the calculated thin-line pixel ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a node structure for representing tactile information, and method and system for transmitting tactile information using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a node structure that represents tactile information for driving a tactile display device including an array of drivers as a tactile video, and to method and system for transmitting tactile information using the same. The invention provides a node structure for representing information for driving a driver array of a tactile display device. The node structure includes: a url field that indicates the position of the tactile video storing information on the driving strength of the driver array as intensity values of pixels! a start time field that indicates the playback start time of the tactile video; and a stop time field that indicates the playback stop time of the tactile video. In addition, the invention provides method and system for transmitting tactile information using the node structure.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform multi-focal plane image acquisition and compression are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes capturing a first image of a portion of an object at a first focal plane and at a first resolution, computing a contrast metric for the captured first image, comparing the contrast metric to a threshold to determine whether to capture a second image of the portion of the object at the first focal plane and at a second resolution, wherein the second resolution is different from the first resolution, capturing the second image of the portion of the object at the first focal plane and at the second resolution, and storing a first representation of the second image in a file, the file containing a second representation of the portion of the object at a second focal plane, wherein the second representation is at the first resolution.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for image processing. The apparatus for image processing comprises an encoding circuit, which can select two reference pixels according to two reference pixels and produce a maximum pixel value and a minimum pixel value according the two reference pixels. The present invention further comprises a color-difference operational unit for selecting a plurality of color pixels as a basic pixel, a first color pixel, and a second color pixel. When encoding the basic pixel, a first color difference, and a second color difference, respectively, first encoding data corresponding to the basic pixel, second encoding data corresponding to the first color difference, and third encoding data corresponding to the second color difference are produced, respectively.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for adjusting quality and bit rate of multiple chunks of media delivered over a network are described. For example, each of the multiple chunks is encoded as multiple layers (e.g., a base layer and multiple embedded residual layers) for fine-grained scalability at different rate/quality points. A server stores the encoded data for the layers of chunks as well as curve information that parameterizes rate-distortion curves for the chunks. The server sends the curve information to a client. For the multiple chunks, the client uses the curve information to determine rate-distortion preferences for the respective chunks, then sends feedback indicating the rate-distortion preferences to the server. For each of the multiple chunks, the server, based at least in part upon the feedback, selects one or more scalable layers of the chunk to deliver to the client.

Abstract: A method for eliminating moire in scanned digital image comprises the steps of using an average circuit for taking weighted average and error diffusing a gray level difference between an error diffusion pixel Gij and neighbor pixels to neighbor to obtain output image pixel Y?ij; using a second adder for subtracting the error diffusion pixel Gij from the output image pixel Y?ij to obtain a neighbor image error dij; using a error filter H(z) to process the neighbor image error dij to obtain a corrected pixel error H(d(i,j)); and using a first adder for adding the corrected pixel error H(d(i,j)) and the input image pixel Yij to obtain the corrected error diffusion pixel Gij, and then jumping to first step until all pixels being processed. The method provides real time treatment for eliminating moire and provide smooth image.

Abstract: A method for creating a differential gloss image includes providing first and second anisotropic halftone structures. The first and second anisotropic structures have different orientations. One of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a first region of an image to be halftoned. The other of the first and second anisotropic structures may be applied to image data in a second region of an image to be halftoned. A mixture of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a third region of the image to be halftoned, whereby when printed, the three regions each have a gloss characteristic which differs from that of the other two regions.

Abstract: Diffusion dithering can be performed efficiently by applying a set of diffusion filter weights with one or more shift, add, and/or subtract operations. An existing diffusion filter can be approximated with dyadic rationals, thereby allowing division operations in applying the filter weights to be performed with bit-shifting operations. An algorithm is identified to calculate the product of a set of filter weights and a pixel error, where the algorithm performs the calculations using one or more shift, add, or subtract operations. An exhaustive search of the combinations of operations can be made to find an efficient algorithm to calculate the products.

Abstract: The present approach increases bandwidth by performing at least two functions at the pre-processing level. Specifically, under the present approach, program code is structured so that the segmentation and binarization functions/modules (and optionally a blob analysis function/module) are merged into a single module to reduce memory bandwidth. In addition, each image frame is segmented into a plurality of partitions (e.g., vertical strips) to enhance the reusability of the image data in LS already fetched from main memory. Each partition is then processed by a separate one of a plurality of processing engines, thereby increasing the utilization of all processing engines and allowing the processing engines to maintain good bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing an intra prediction procedure with an electronic device includes an encoder that utilizes a delta value comparison procedure to identify optimal delta values for creating optimal predicted blocks of image data corresponding to original blocks of image data. The encoder then utilizes the original blocks and the optimal predicted blocks to generate residual blocks that represent the original blocks in an encoded format. The encoder then generates a bitstream containing the delta value information and the residual block for storage or transmission purposes. A decoder may decode the delta values and the residual block to reconstruct the image block.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which applies processes to input image data is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes a first processing section which applies processes to the image data by a specific calculating device, and a second processing section which applies processes to the image data by a general-purpose calculating program. The input image data are multilevel image data. The first processing section includes an image data binarizing unit for forming binary image data from the multilevel image data, and a multilevel image data processing section for applying a calculation process to the multilevel image data. The second processing section includes a binary image data processing section for applying a calculation process to the binary image data formed by the image data binarizing unit.