Abstract: A device and method is provided for generating color data for image formation by converting C, M, Y, data into C, M, Y, K data. The minimum value of the three color values of C, M, Y is selected and, depending on the color of the minimum value, a black data generating table is selected to generate a value for the black color K. The black data generating tables have different black data conversion characteristics from one another and are associated with the three colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively.

Abstract: A 3-D dot code is embedded in a printed medium using an embedder that embeds data directly into the halftone dots of a selected file that is ready for printing. An extractor extracts the embedded bits by scanning the printed medium and then interprets the embedded data. A bleed-through elimination module in the extractor is able to eliminate adverse affects on the scanned input of the embedded data caused by bleed-through from the print on the opposite side of the page. The extractor may also include a module that compensates for a misaligned scanned input by automatically detecting the rotation and translation, and then registering the image so that the upper-left corner is located in a certain position. This operation expedites subsequent data retrieval, in which data is read by block matching.

Abstract: It used to be difficult to determine representative colors which allow color conversion with accuracy throughout color spaces without occurrences of local tone jump. An ink quantity lattice point smoothness evaluation function for evaluating the smoothness of the disposition of ink quantity lattice points whose components are the ink quantities of inks in various colors and a CMY lattice point smoothness evaluation function for evaluating the smoothness of the disposition of CMY lattice points defined by CMY color components are defined. The CMY lattice points and the ink quantity lattice points wherein the ink quantity lattice point smoothness evaluation function and the CMY lattice point smoothness evaluation function are separately minimized are taken as lattice points for correspondence definition data creation.

Abstract: A document processing system comprising an image capture subsystem for capturing selected image metrics and at least one image rendition from a plurality of documents and for determining if at least one of the selected image metrics for any of the at least one image rendition does not successfully compare against preselected image quality metric threshold values. An image quality flag is generated for any of the at least one image rendition if it does not successfully compare, and a record entry for each imaged document having at least one flagged image rendition is created in an image quality flag file. An image index file for individually accessing the image renditions is modified to include a reference to the corresponding image quality flag file record entry The document processing system may optionally compare selected document metrics against preselected document metrics in a similar manner.

Abstract: A multifunctional device that processes electronic data includes a processor that processes the electronic data, a memory that stores the electronic data, an alteration circuit that alters the structure of the electronic data and a controller that determines whether idle time exists when the electronic data is stored in the memory, and controls the alteration circuit to alter the electronic data when the controller determines that idle time exists. Moreover, a method of processing electronic data includes processing the electronic data, storing the electronic data, controlling the electronic data by determining whether idle time exists when the electronic data is stored and altering the electronic data when sufficient idle time exists.

Abstract: This invention is a printing control method of generating print data to be supplied to a print unit which is capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material. The printing control method comprises a color conversion step of converting pixel values into multiple gradation data of each ink, the pixel values representing color of each pixel of given image data, the multiple gradation data of each ink expressing the color of the pixel by using the colored ink and the quality-enhancing ink available in the print unit and a gradation-reduction step of generating at least part of colored dot data and transparent dot data by ordered dither method.

Abstract: A printer and a printing method are capable of greatly improving printing efficiency. In a printer and a printing method for printing a first image based on supplied first print data on a printing medium, when a predetermined operation mode is selected, second print data for a frame image formed by arranging second images of several kinds obtained by applying image processing different from each other to the first image, in a predetermined arrangement pattern and then, the frame image based on the second print data is printed on the printing medium. Therefore, it is possible to greatly shorten the time for obtaining a printing medium in which the image processing is performed in a desired sate and to previously avoid the printing medium from being wasted. Thus, it is possible to realize the printer and the printing method capable of greatly improving the printing efficiency.

Abstract: A digital signal processor (DSP) realizes an image processing function by downloading at least one of a computer program and data to realize image processing. A DSP controller that controls the DSP includes a translating unit and a download request unit. The translating unit translates information from an operating unit to information that is recognized by the DSP controller. The download request unit makes a request for download of the program and the data to the DSP based on the information translated.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus uses a layout analysis section, a character/background color extraction section, an input image character/background color difference calculation section, an output image character/background color difference estimation section and a color conversion parameter correction section, thereby executing a process (pre-process) for generating a second color conversion parameter, and then uses a first color conversion section, a second color conversion section and a color conversion switching section, thereby executing color conversion (main process) of input color image data.

Abstract: A printer and a printing method are capable of greatly improving printing efficiency. In a printer and a printing method for printing a first image based on supplied first print data on a printing medium, when a predetermined operation mode is selected, second print data for a frame image formed by arranging second images of several kinds obtained by applying image processing different from each other to the first image, in a predetermined arrangement pattern and then, the frame image based on the second print data is printed on the printing medium. Therefore, it is possible to greatly shorten the time for obtaining a printing medium in which the image processing is performed in a desired sate and to previously avoid the printing medium from being wasted. Thus, it is possible to realize the printer and the printing method capable of greatly improving the printing efficiency.