Abstract: A threshold matrix generating method includes: generating q(x, y, g) in which the number of dots in an initial dot pattern is varied; calculating an error matrix (ERR(x, y, g)) of q(x, y, g); calculating AVE(a, b) representing the uniformity of the number of dots in discrete blocks into which the dot pattern has been divided; determining two pixels, of which the dot positions are to be swapped, on the basis of ERR (x, y, g) and AVE(a, b); swapping the dot positions; calculating the evaluation value (MSE(n)) of q(x, y, g) after the positional swapping; and repeating the positional switch of the dots repeating the generation of q(x, y, g) and the positional swapping of the dots with q(x, y, g) functioning as the initial dot pattern until a q(x, y, g) satisfying MSN(n)<MSN(n?1) is obtained.

Abstract: A color processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a setting unit, and a color converting unit. The obtaining unit obtains a predetermined corresponding relationship between total amount limit information regarding limitation of a total amount of inks of colors, and a combination in which, among droplet diameters of inks of colors ejectable to satisfy the total amount limit information, droplet diameters of at least two or more inks are made uniform, and the types of droplet diameters of inks of the colors are two or fewer types. The setting unit sets the combination of droplet diameters corresponding to the accepted ink total amount limit information, on the basis of the obtained corresponding relationship. The color converting unit converts a color in an input color gamut reproducible by an input device into a color in an output color gamut in accordance with the set combination of droplet diameters.

Abstract: Regarding a wording including a character stored neither in character DB1 storing characters whose shapes have portions to be positioned under a base line nor in other character DB2 storing characters that are positioned to separate upward from the base line, a mean YBav calculated with bottom Y coordinates of all characters neither stored in the DB1 nor DB2 is designated as a bottom Y coordinate of wording. Regarding a wording including only characters stored in the DB1, a predetermined value is added to a mean YBav0 calculated with bottom Y coordinates of all characters for obtaining an YBav designated as a bottom Y coordinate of wording. Regarding a wording configured with only characters stored in the DB2, a predetermined value is subtracted from a mean YTav calculated with top Y coordinates of all character marks for obtaining a YBav designated as a bottom Y coordinate of wording.

Abstract: Multi-valued image data corresponding to a pixel area is divided into the first scanning multi-valued data, first and second scanning common multi-valued data, and second scanning multi-valued data. A quantization processing is executed on each of the multi-valued data to generate first scanning quantized data, first and second scanning common quantized data, and second scanning quantized data. After that, these pieces of quantized data are combined for each scanning to generate first scanning combined quantized data and second scanning combined quantized data. According to this, the amount of pixels where dots are both recorded by performing a scanning by plural times (the amount of overlapping dots) is controlled, and while suppressing the image density variations, the granularity is held to a low level.

Abstract: An image processing device adjusts black separately from chromatic colors and applies density adjustment capable of controlling the amount of color material according to the density. Such image processing device, capable of communicating with an image recording device, includes a color conversion unit that converts image data expressed in a first color space to color material amount data expressed in a second color space used by an image recording device; a density adjustment unit that increases or decreases the color material amount data based on a specified adjustment value; a dot breakdown unit that converts the increased or decreased color material amount data to dot quantity data expressed as a dot quantity for each of different sizes of dots formed by the image recording device; and a halftone process unit that converts the dot quantity data to data denoting whether or not the dots are formed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus configured to convert input image data into halftone image data by halftone-processing the input image data includes a prediction unit configured to predict a density of a pixel of interest, which is achieved when the halftone image data is printed, based on a group of halftone-processed pixels neighboring the pixel of interest according to a prediction method determined according to a halftone-processed pixel value of the pixel of interest, and a control unit configured to control the halftone processing according to the density predicted by the prediction unit.

Abstract: Various techniques for generating transformed tables by applying transformations indicated in a transformation table to a first threshold halftone table that is unsuitable for tiling an image as part of an image half-toning process are described. A block of the transformed tables represent a second threshold halftone table that is suitable for the half-toning process, wherein the second threshold halftone table is larger than the first threshold halftone table, such that the block is too large to be stored in the memory. A half-toned image of the image is generated based at least in part on the second threshold halftone table.

Abstract: An optical control method for use in print finishing, comprising the following steps: First, guiding a planar printed product along a conveying path past at least one optical sensor (14). Secondly, detecting an electronic image (2) by the optical sensor, wherein the electronic image (2) comprises at least one region of the printed product. Third, extracting orientation information of the printed product from the electronic image. Fourth, comparing (51) the orientation information of the printed product from the electronic image with reference orientation information, and generating at least one signal on the basis of a result of the comparison.

Abstract: Original image data obtained by reading an original is joined with watermark data associated with a watermark for copy control, which appears as a result of making a copy. The watermark generating section sets the spatial frequency of a chromatic halftone pattern of a foreground, which appears as a result of making a copy, lower than the spatial frequency of an achromatic halftone pattern of a foreground, which appears as a result of making a copy. Accordingly, it becomes more difficult to recognize a foreground in an original document when the foreground is generated using an achromatic color, while a foreground in the duplication is recognized clearly when the foreground is generated using a chromatic color.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes: a log obtaining unit configured to obtain a print log which is an execution history of a print job; a color utilization ratio obtaining unit configured to obtain a color utilization ratio which is a ratio of chromatic color material utilization when past print jobs were executed from the print log obtained by the log obtaining unit; a determination unit configured to determine to perform mixed color correction and single color correction when the color utilization ratio obtained by the color utilization ratio obtaining unit is equal to or larger than a threshold value and to perform the single color correction without performing the mixed color correction when the color utilization ratio is smaller than the threshold value; and a correction unit configured to perform the correction determined by the determination unit.

Abstract: There is provided a technique of enabling the use of a common printer profile even in a case where a configuration of a printer system is changed or added. Color data under a second configuration condition corresponding to an output color which matches or approximates an output color acquired through a first color predictor under a first configuration condition, is searched and acquired from color data subjected to total color material amount restriction processing acquired by total color material amount restriction processing using a first color material amount restriction profile under the first configuration condition, through a second color predictor under the second configuration condition. The color data searched and acquired under the second configuration condition and color data prior to total color material amount restriction processing are associated and a second total color material amount restriction profile under the second configuration condition is created.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method and an apparatus for generating multi-bit depth halftone amplitude-modulation dots. The method may comprise: scanning an input image to obtain a value of a current pixel Pxy, where x represents a lateral position index of the current pixel, and y represents a vertical position index of the current pixel; obtaining gj from a preset multi-bit depth threshold matrix G by starting with i=0, and determining if Pxy<gj, then providing a screening output gray level gradation value of the printer to Out=L?1?i; and otherwise, increasing i and repeating the determining and providing steps. L represents the number of a frequency-modulation screen gradation, L=2e, e represents a bit depth value of the printer, i is an integer and i?[0,L?1], h is an index number of an element g arranged sequentially in G and h is provided to h=(y % n)×m+(x % m)+i×m×n, and gj is the element value of ith line and jth row in G.

Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to adequately restrict the total color material amount from the viewpoint of the second scale which substantially represents a color material amount, and sufficiently produce the color reproducibility which is potentially held by an image formation apparatus. Moreover, since the order of the CMY ratio in the space of the first scale is maintained, it is possible to smoothly secure the connection between tones.

Abstract: The profile of a reference color space is acquired, and the acquired profile is converted into the profile of a uniform color appearance space which is a color space different from the reference color space. An evaluation value of color in the profile of the uniform color appearance space is calculated, and the profile of the uniform color appearance space is corrected based on the calculated evaluation value. The corrected profile is inversely converted into the profile of the reference color space.

Abstract: A process for creating a barcode with an embedded logo considers a printer gamut and divides the printer gamut into multiple regions. A virtual printer gamut is then generated with the colors in bright and dark regions. A target logo image is generated by mapping the virtual gamut to the original logo image. A logo with embedded barcode is produced using the colors specified in the target logo image.

Abstract: A touch screen displays a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of colors represented by color information stored in a color information storage unit. A selection part indicating whether the image is in a selected state or an unselected state is associated with each image displayed on the touch screen. An intermediate color calculating unit calculates color information representing an intermediate color of two colors indicated by images respectively corresponding to two selection parts in the selected state. An intermediate color adding unit displays on the touch screen an image corresponding to the intermediate color, based on color information of the intermediate color calculated by the intermediate color calculating unit, and a selection part corresponding to the image. An output unit outputs the color information of the intermediate color corresponding to the selection part if the selection part corresponding to the intermediate color is selected.

Abstract: An image processing system that facilitates process of color universal design that enables people with color amblyopia to recognize color difference as image pattern without changing characteristic of coloration and gradation and people with no disabilities who look the same image to feel less discomfort. A hue determining unit 102 determines hue of image data, and a selecting unit 105 selects halftone processing in accordance with the determined hue. If the selected halftone processing is dithering process that uses AM dithering, a halftone processing unit 106 executes halftone processing with different line per inch depending on the determined hue.

Abstract: A image generating apparatus and method for scanning documents using multiple image sensors are disclosed. The image generation apparatus comprises a glass plate configured to hold a document placed upside down on the glass plate; a calibration pattern placed on the glass plate; a plurality of image sensors arranged under the glass plate, wherein each of the plurality of image sensors is configured to capture and generate a raw image, the raw image covers a portion of the document and a portion of the calibration pattern through the glass plate; and a processing unit capable of combining all raw images generated by the plurality of image sensors based on the portion of the calibration pattern in the raw image captured by each of the plurality of image sensors, and the processing unit is further configured to generate a complete image of the document.

Abstract: If a non-edge part of an image is thinned at a constant thinning ratio regardless of an image size (a character size or a line image width), a reduction in image density in the non-edge part becomes more conspicuous with increasing image size, which can lead to a reduction in image quality. In view of the above, the thinning ratio at which to thin data in the non-edge part of the image is determined depending on the image size. The thinning ratio is set to be smaller for images with sizes greater than or equal to a predetermined value than for images with sizes smaller than the predetermined value such that a high-quality image with sufficiently high density in its non-edge part is obtained regardless of the image size.

Abstract: An image watermarking method includes a color transform on RGB image data to derive CMYK image data that define a constant K image. Variable infrared (IR) mark data defining an IR mark are received and a sparse two-dimensional pattern of black pixels is defined that corresponds to the variable IR data, e.g., using Gold codes or pseudorandom binary sequences. A watermarked black separation K? is defined by embedding the sparse two-dimensional pattern into the constant K black separation K? while maintaining local average levels. A watermarked image includes the watermarked black separation K? in combination with the CMY separations of the constant K image. A decoding process includes using an IR microscope fitted with IR LEDs and an IR pass filter to capture an IR image, which is subjected to exposure correction, thresholding, and dilation operations to extract the two-dimensional pattern for subsequent correlation processing.