Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining color profiles based upon optimizing image output color stability. For each of a number of selected output colors, color stability values for a set of device-dependent color specifications that produce the selected output color are iteratively determined. The set of device-dependent color specifications is generated by varying a subset of colorants in the device-dependent color specifications while changing the remaining colorants to maintain the selected output color. The iterative process improves the color stability value, as determined by a color stability model, of the device-dependent color specifications that correspond to the selected output color. When an optimum color stability value is found, the device-dependent color specification having that color stability value is selected as the mapping for the selected device-independent color specification. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for characterizing a color scanner comprising generating a halftone-independent target of color patches, printing the target on a color hardcopy device, measuring the target to obtain device-independent color values, scanning the target to obtain scanner color values, and building a scanner profile that relates scanned color values to device-independent color values.

Abstract: When data of large capacity compared with the capacity of a recording medium used for storing a backup is divided into sections of data and backed up on recording media, a unit configured to divide data and generate sections of the data in order to record the data on recording media, the sections having an order, and a unit configured to generate representative images for each of the recording media, on which the sections of the data are recorded, are provided. Representative images assigned to a certain recording medium include a representative image generated using one of the sections of the data to be recorded on the certain recording medium and a representative image generated using at least one of a previous section and a next section of the data regarding the section of the data, whereby the relationship between the recording media can be easily recognized.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an image printing system that includes a plurality of parallel printers, where each of the printers has a minimum luminance value. The method includes determining a minimum luminance value profile for the plurality of printers in the image printing system based on the minimum luminance values of each of the printers in the image printing system, determining a black point compensation function based on the determined minimum luminance value profile, adjusting luminance values for input image data using the determined black point compensation function, and rendering, with the parallel printers, images on substrates based on the input image data with adjusted luminance levels.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image; a status conversion unit for converting the multi-value pixel data into status values; plural reference look-up tables each indicating an association between an arrangement of the status values of a target pixel and adjacent pixels in a pixel window and an output data value of the multi-value pixel data to be output; a determining unit for determining a target reference look-up table based on the arrangement; and a generating unit configured to change an input data value of the multi-value pixel data, into the output data value of the determined target reference look-up table, and for outputting the multi-value pixel data to the image forming unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that reflects edited content in a process flow when the process flow has been created based on a template and the template forming the basis of the process flow has been edited. To accomplish this, the information processing apparatus, which executes processes in accordance with process flows, creates a process flow that describes the process content of tasks, based on a process flow template. At this time, the information processing apparatus edits the template used by the process flow when editing of the template is instructed, and changes a portion corresponding to the template of the created process flow into the changed content of the edited template.

Abstract: An image forming system capable of shortening the time required to process configuration information on an image forming system and shortening communication time. When any of sheet processing apparatuses is activated before activation of an image forming apparatus, a controller of a sheet processing apparatus acting as a sub-manager configures a sub-system consisting of sheet processing apparatuses connected to a communication network and creates configuration data on the sub-system. When recognizing that the image forming apparatus is newly connected to the network, the sub-manager apparatus notifies the image forming apparatus of the already created configuration data based on which a controller of the image forming apparatus creates configuration data on the system and stores it into a RAM.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus 101 that generates output image data based on multi-level image data is provided with an error diffusion processing unit 104 that generates tone pixel data from the pixel-of-interest data according to an error diffusion method, a dither processing unit 103 that generates tone pixel data from the pixel-of-interest data according to a dither processing method, an allotment ratio determination unit 105 that increases the allotment ratio with respect to the error diffusion method as the difference between the maximum density and the minimum density increases, and a composition unit 109 that composites the tone pixel data for a pixel of interest that has been generated by the error diffusion processing unit 104 and the dither processing unit 103 according to the allotment ratios determined by the allotment ratio determination unit 105, and outputs the composited data as pixel data of the output image data.

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: A display apparatus for displaying an information screen and an operation screen concerning an apparatus to which the display apparatus is connected, is disclosed, including: a screen display request receiving part, a display component creating part, and a display component drawing part. The screen display request receiving part receives a screen display request from the apparatus. The display component creating part creates a display component to display at a screen, in response to the screen display request received by the screen display request receiving part. The display component drawing part draws the display component created by the display component creating part.

Abstract: An image processing method includes: selecting an image processing module for each attribute associated with a block of image data in accordance with the content of image processing made to correspond to the attribute; generating an image processing flow for each block by use of the selected image processing module; and determining whether the image processing flow can be constructed in an image processing area. When it is determined that a processing area of the image processing flow cannot be constructed in the image processing area, the method selects an image processing flow having an image processing module which is not contained in the other image processing flows from among a plurality of the image processing flows the blocks, the selected image processing flow being constructed in the image processing area such that the processing area of the image processing flow is included in the image processing area.

Abstract: An image generating device for generating a gradation in which the color value changes from a center of the gradation through multiple areas includes an acquisition unit that acquires parameters representing a gradation pattern including the center and shape of the gradation, a symmetry judgment unit that judges whether the gradation symmetry is satisfied (condition that the shape has line symmetry or point symmetry and the gradation center is on a line symmetry axis or at the center of point symmetry), an area determination unit that determines a partial area usable for generating a whole gradation using the gradation symmetry if the gradation symmetry is judged to be satisfied, a drawing unit that draws the gradation in the partial area based on the parameters, and a gradation development unit that develops the drawn gradation into the whole gradation using the gradation symmetry.

Abstract: An image scanner is provided with a super-resolution processing function for generating a high-resolution image using multiple pieces of low-resolution image data. The scanner device then measures an initial MTF value without performing the super-resolution processing, refers to an MTF properties table in which is registered a number of pieces of low-resolution image data for a scanner device of that type to achieve a pre-set target MTF, and registers the number of images that corresponds to the initial MTF value in the scanner, if that number is present, and registers an interpolated value if that number is not present. The image scanner then performs the super-resolution processing using the registered number of pieces of low-resolution image data, and outputs image data of a target resolution.

Abstract: An image dependent gamut mapping method for mapping source colors of an image to destination colors reproducible by a printing apparatus, each source color having a lightness component within a range between a source white point and a source black point, and each destination color having a lightness component within a range between a destination white point and a destination black point. A composed transfer function maps the source white point onto the destination white point and the source black point onto the destination black point, applying the composed transfer function on each lightness component of source colors of at least a part of the image. The transfer function is composed of linear mappings. The steepness of each linear mapping is determined by a mathematical optimization problem intended to preserve lightness and contrast in the image produced by the printing apparatus under the conditions of at least one constraint.

Abstract: A method for printing an image with a printing system including the steps of multitoning image data to produce a multitoned image having a multitone resolution; providing a look-up table, wherein each look-up table entry specifies a number of dots of a first size and a number of dots of a second size; using the look-up table to expand the multitoned image data from the multitone resolution to a print-ready image having a printing resolution; and printing the print-ready image using a first array of dot forming elements for forming dots of a first size and a second array of dot forming elements for forming dots having a second size that is greater than the first size.

Abstract: An image-printing device includes a reading unit, a sample characteristic amount extracting unit, an original characteristic amount extracting unit, an image converting unit, and a printing unit. The reading unit reads a sample image and an original image. The sample image has a sample characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the sample image. The original image has an original characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the original image. The sample characteristic amount extracting unit extracts the sample characteristic amount from the sample image. The original characteristic amount extracting unit extracts the original characteristic amount from the original image. The image converting unit converts the original image based on both the sample characteristic amount and the original characteristic amount. The printing unit prints the converted original image.

Abstract: An image generating device comprises an acquisition unit which acquires an image drawing instruction for drawing an elliptical radial gradation from accepted target data, an extraction unit which extracts elliptical shape parameters and gradation pattern parameters from the acquired image drawing instruction, a transformation matrix generating unit which generates a transformation matrix for transforming an elliptical shape specified by the elliptical shape parameters into a perfect circular shape based on the elliptical shape parameters, an inverse matrix calculating unit which calculates an inverse matrix of the transformation matrix, a transformation unit which transforms the gradation pattern parameters using the transformation matrix, a drawing unit which draws a gradation for the perfect circular shape based on the transformed gradation pattern parameters, and a gradation generating unit which generates the elliptical radial gradation by inversely transforming the perfect circular shape (including the g

Abstract: The present application discloses a system, method and device for placing substantially invisible marks comprising alphanumeric characters, symbols, or bar codes, on a page using clear ink or toner, which may then be read by a spectrophotometer. Such substantially invisible marks are not viewable to the unaided eye of a human observer, do not distract a viewer, and allow the viewer to focus their attention on the printed matter and text of interest to the viewer.

Abstract: An automated system and method for recognizing handwritten edits contained on a hard-copy document, the hand-written edits being made in one of two colors, and creating an electronic version of the hard-copy document with the edits applied, the edits being applied according to the highlighted color of the edit.

Abstract: A personal computer connected to a USB port of a printer through a management table managing writing on an ordinary storage region in FLASH ROM recognizes the ordinary storage region in the FLASH ROM of the printer as a removable drive which is a USB mass storage class device. Accordingly, an execution file of an application program stored in a portion of the ordinary storage region in the FLASH ROM can be read with a usual access from the personal computer, enabling the application program to be executed without being installed. When the application program is executed on the personal computer, periodic accesses are made to the ordinary storage region of the printer, and when an access fails, the application program is terminated.