Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an image reading unit that reads an image from a document to generate base image data which matches predetermined default reading conditions; a reading condition identifying unit that identifies reading condition settings specified by a user in response to when the image is read; and an information saving unit that saves the base image data and the reading condition settings identified by the reading condition identifying unit in association with each other as saved-image information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a major color range detector detecting the major color range from the image data; a criteria density setting unit determining a density value where the largest number of pixels exists in a density histogram of the major color range as a criteria density; a first correction value derivation unit deriving a first correction value to change density values in a predetermined range higher than the criteria density to be closer to the criteria density; a second correction value derivation unit deriving a second correction value to change density values in a predetermined range lower than the criteria density to be closer to the criteria density; a correction table derivation unit deriving a gradation correction table based on the first correction value and the second correction value; and a correcting unit correcting density of the scanned image data based on the gradation correction table.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a first image inputting unit, a second image inputting unit, a first partial image extracting unit, a first characteristic quantity data determining unit, a second characteristic quantity data determining unit, and a correcting unit. The first image inputting unit inputs a first image. The second image inputting unit inputs a second image The first partial image extracting unit extracts a desired region of the first image as a first partial image. The first characteristic quantity data determining unit determines first characteristic quantity data based on the first partial image. The second characteristic quantity data determining unit determines second characteristic quantity data based on the second image. The correcting unit corrects the second image based on the first characteristic quantity data and the second characteristic quantity data.

Abstract: An image-processing device includes: a memory that stores a color range within a color space; an acquisition unit that acquires image data; and a generating unit that generates image data in which an image represented by the image data acquired by the acquisition unit has been subjected to an operation to change a color of an image area of the image having a color falling within the color range into black, and an operation to add a black image beside the image area.

Abstract: An image processing method displays a simulation image of an image formed on a print medium under a first light-source color on a display under a second light-source color. The method includes an acquisition step of acquiring image data to be simulated in a format according to the second light-source color, a step of calculating a reflective color obtained when the acquired image data is processed to represent an image corresponding to the image data illuminated by an achromatic light-source color, a step of converting the first light-source color into the format according to the second light-source color, and calculating a glossy color of the image data based on the converted first light-source color, and a generation step of generating an image to be displayed by adding the reflective color calculated in the reflective color calculation step and the glossy color calculated in the glossy color calculation step.

Abstract: A method and system of color management for an image marking device. A sensor measures printed hardcopy colors. A first gain, computed by a linear controller based on a linear model, is scheduled for each color node of a sampled color space. For each node where a convergence error exceeds a threshold, a second gain is scheduled by a nonlinear controller. The second gain scheduling includes initializing operational parameters, and performing an iterative procedure. The iterative procedure includes computing gain matrices over a defined projection horizon, evaluating a cost function for each gain matrix, determining the cost function, scheduling a new gain based on selecting a gain matrix having the minimum value of the cost function, and computing new CMYK values based on the new gain. A multidimensional LUT based on the scheduled gain matrices is generated and stored in memory, and a hardcopy output image is generated based on the stored multidimensional LUT.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving process spot color consistency using white and CMYK toners is disclosed. The present application employs traditional CMYK using the automated spot color editing approach and enhances this approach by applying a white toner to the printing substrate prior to applying the color. This new and novel method will improve the color printing technology for printing or alternately, applying the application of the white as a distinct separation layer for the color toner separations, on plastics, ceramics, woods, and other such non-paper materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for minimizing the effects of metamerism between a set of color standards (e.g., nitrocellulose lacquers) and inkjet printed color merchandise (e.g., paint chips) under a plurality of illuminants, including a balanced illuminant that emulates lighting conditions between cool (6500 K) and warm (2856 K) color temperatures. For each color standard, one selects an ink combination that best produces color merchandise having a minimal degree of metamerism. Innovatively, a combination of instrumental and visual tests is used to evaluate color difference for a set of color standards-color merchandise pairs under a plurality of illuminants. If a color standard-color merchandise pair fails either test then the ink combination may be adjusted.

Abstract: An image processing device for converting a color tone of an image includes: an input unit to which an image is input; a designation unit that designates precision of color conversion performed on the input image; a color conversion table that stores output color data after color conversion of color data, which is determined according to the designated precision and may be included in the image, in an address space determined according to the precision; an address specifying unit that specifies an address referring to the color conversion table on the basis of a first portion, which is determined according to the precision, of color data expressing the input image; a color converting unit that converts the color data included in the input image into output color data by referring to the specified address of the color conversion table; a parameter specifying unit that specifies a parameter for interpolating a color, which is expressed by the output color data, on the basis of a second portion other than the fi

Abstract: Disclosed are color management methods and systems to adaptively tune colors for one or more image marking devices. Specifically, exemplary embodiments include methods and systems to create profiles for preference color matching. For example, Lab values associated with target node colors can be warped using a predefined function for special regions of interest.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing image data read from a book document placed on a platen of an image reading apparatus. The method includes determining a background pixel of the image data based on a luminance difference or a color difference between neighboring pixel arrays, identifying a shadow region based on a luminance change between the neighboring background pixel arrays, discriminatively detecting a shadow of a binding portion and a shadow of a front edge in a document region with reference to a changing direction of shadow luminance, and performing a luminance correction on the shadow region according to characteristics of the shadows.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a specific image detection unit detecting an area including at least a part of a specific image in an input image, a representative color calculation unit calculating a representative color of the specific image on the basis of pixels belonging to the area detected by the specific image detection unit, plural correction curve acquisition units which acquire plural correction curves resulting in gradation correction for every element color on the basis of the gradation value for every element color constituting the representative color after correction, and plural correction units which correct the gradation value for every element color in each pixel constituting the input image based on the obtained plural correction curves.

Abstract: Engine response curves (RCs) can be used for streak compensation for printed documents. A feedback control paradigm can be included to effect RC compensation. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) can be used to represent each RC in the collection of spatial RC data as a linear combination of basis vectors. RCs are approximated by selecting the first few basis vectors, the approximation aiding in noise rejection and reducing computation in the controller by reducing dimensionality of the RC data from gray levels to the number of SVD bases selected. An optimal subset of RCs is selectable from the set of approximated RCs by clustering the SVD weights, the clustered SVD weights producing TRCs that span all engine response RCs generated by a printer. Compensation RCs are constructible using reduced number of bases and clustered SVD weights.

Abstract: System and method for maintaining perceived hue constancy. A method for displaying an image includes receiving a color vector and associated image data, remapping the color vector to maintain a perceived hue constancy by adjusting a hue component of the color vector in response to a change in a lightness component or a chroma component of the color vector, providing the remapped color vector to a light source for display, and displaying image data associated with the color vector. The use of the constant hue curve ensures that the adjusting of the color vector maintains the perceived hue of the color vector, thereby helping to maintain image quality.

Abstract: A clock-signal generating unit generates temporally-continuous clock signals. A spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit generates a spread-spectrum clock signal by modulating a frequency spectrum of a clock signal generated by the clock-signal generating unit. A signal delaying unit generates a fixed delay unaffected by a spread spectrum from the spread-spectrum clock signal generated by the spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit, and delays a phase of the spread-spectrum clock signal based on an amount of the fixed delay.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for performing a CMYK to CMYKKpRGB color transform which helps reduce engine-specific halftone artifacts in diverse printing devices capable of dot-on-dot printing. The present method lends adaptive color overlapping control to local color regions depending on the engine behaviors and imaging artifacts to be addressed. With such a transform, an added degree of flexibility is provided to a variety of halftoning algorithms to reduce engine-specific halftone artifacts. Advantageously, increased halftone image quality is effectuated for different engine behaviors in a computationally efficient manner. Various embodiments have been disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a first image inputting unit, a second image inputting unit, an image processing unit, and a restriction control unit. The first image inputting that inputs a first image. The second image inputting unit inputs a second image. The image processing unit performs a prescribed process on the second image based on the first image. The restriction control unit is configured to restrict the prescribed process based on information of the first image.

Abstract: A software-controlled method for minimizing color toner use during copying of a color page by a color copier including (a) examining such a page to identify different pre-selected categories of page-contained image elements, (b) associating, with identified different-categories of such elements, specific, respective, pre-determined color-toner usage rules, and (c) following the associating step, outputting the elements to the copier along with instructions that the copier use, in the copying of such elements, the correct, respectively associated color-toner usage rule(s). From a structural point of view, the invention includes examining structure, associating structure, and output structure designed to perform the basic core methodology steps of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide methods and apparatuses for creating color conversion definition to make the same output result appear without any uncomfortable feeling when a same output result is observed under different illumination lights. To achieve this, the method comprising the successive steps of: (a) assuming an observational environment under an illumination light in which a difference in color appearance of an output result of the image output device in a plurality of observational environments with different illumination lights to observe the output result is made less; (b) determining measured color values of a device color of the image output device in the observational environment under the illumination light in which a difference in each color appearance is made less; and (c) creating a color conversion definition on the basis of the measured color values of the device color of the image output device determined at step (b).

Abstract: A server apparatus configured to manage log information corresponding to job information transmitted from a host computer to a printer includes a storage unit storing the log information received in a temporary storage area, an issue unit configured to issue identification information identifying the log information, a generation unit configured to generate authentication information based on the identification information and authenticate the identification information, a transmission unit configured to transmit the identification to the host computer, a reception unit configured to receive, from the image processing apparatus, identification information and authentication information extracted by the image processing apparatus from job information received by the image processing apparatus from the host computer, a determination unit configured to determine whether log information corresponding to the identification information is stored in the temporary storage area, and a notification unit configured to n