Abstract: An ink set that includes a plurality of chromatic primary color inks that can reproduce achromatic color in combination with each other and at least one spot color ink having a hue different from any of the chromatic primary color inks is prepared. A color to be reproduced on a printing medium in accordance with a given input color is termed a reproduction color, and a combination of ink amounts for inks in the ink set to be used to reproduce the reproduction color on the printing medium is termed a color separation ink amount set. When a saturation parameter value that is correlated with the saturation of the reproduction color falls within a first range that is close to achromaticity, the ink amount of the spot color ink included in the color separation ink amount set is adjusted such that it decreases in accordance with a change in the saturation parameter value in the direction of lower saturation.

Abstract: An image processing method, apparatus, and program as well as a printer, a print instructing terminal, and an image processing system, capable of reducing or preventing deterioration of the image quality and achieving binarization at high speeds is provided. An image processing method, by which a multi-grayscale image is divided into two regions. These regions are synthesized after error diffusion processing is applied to each region. Before the original image is divided into two regions, errors of respective pixels on a dividing line are diffused to these two regions. It is thus possible to obtain substantially the same processing result as in a case where the error diffusion processing is applied continuously across the entire original image. Hence, it is thus possible to reduce or eliminate stripes or the like in the joined portion that deteriorate the image quality when the divided regions are synthesized after the error diffusion processing, which enables a high-quality image to be obtained.

Abstract: A method of defining a device color profile is described. The method may include (a) storing a first set of color descriptions, wherein each color description describes a color of a different printed test patch in a first target and includes: (i) a set of color component values defined in an overlapping color space, and (ii) at least one color component cross term; (b) obtaining a second set of color descriptions, wherein each color description in the second set describes a color of a different printed test patch in a second target and includes: (i) a set of color component values defined in the overlapping color space, and (ii) at least one color component cross term; and (c) using the stored first set of color descriptions and the second set of color descriptions to define a device color profile.

Abstract: In case print operation is performed using only a single ink, a problem arises. If a profile is referred to, it is impossible to use only the single ink. If a profile is not referred to, the color tone differs from that rendered when with respect to the single color, color conversion is carried out referring to a profile. Input image data wherein colors are rendered by the combinations of a plurality of color component values is acquired. Then, the input image data is transformed into output image data wherein colors are rendered by the combinations of gradation values corresponding to ink colors used in a printing device when print operation is performed. At this time, a color conversion table for transforming a specific color in input image data into output image data wherein colors rendered only by a specific color component value are specified is generated, referring to a previously stored profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing system and a printing method that avoids interrupting a printing process in order to execute a calibration process, while stably reproducing colors. A second printer includes a printing engine having a temperature sensor, a density sensor, and a density sensor and a print controller which acquires information from the various sensors in the printing engine to provide calibration process information to a first printer. The print controller includes a density converted characteristic generating section that converts output density values corresponding to density values inputted to the first printer so that the output density values exhibit an ideal characteristic. The density converted characteristic information generating section generates density converted characteristic information. The first printer receives the density converted characteristic information and executes a printing process while carrying out a density conversion.

Abstract: An image forming system includes a printer and a personal computer coupled via through a communication line. The printer includes an inquiry section that sends an inquiry to request apparatus information on the image forming apparatus. The printer includes a status detection section, a status storage section, a notification information storage section, and an information response section. The status detection section detects the status of the printer. The status storage section stores the detected status. The notification information storage section stores notification information that should be sent to the information processing apparatus. The information response section generates the apparatus information. The apparatus information includes the status and the notification information when the image forming apparatus receives the inquiry from the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: The sharpness of image data is adjusted using image data generated by an image generating device and image generating information that is associated with the image data and includes at least aperture information and operating mode information pertaining to the image data generation; the sharpness adjustment is performed based on the aperture information and the operation mode information included in the image generating information.

Abstract: This invention relates to a producer of content who associates information for print control with the content such as a picture, before delivery. Specifically, a digital broadcast receiving device receives this content delivery, and the content is decoded by a data decoding unit via a broadcast receiving unit. A controlling unit judges print control information registered in association with the decoded content, performs image processing in accordance with this print control information, and transmits data for printing to a printing device. The printing device performs printing according to the received data for printing.

Abstract: In a case where a thumbnail image is displayed at the time of insertion of an image file storage medium including an automatic reproduction file, the thumbnail image is displayed only for the image file which contains description of automatic reproduction in an automatic reproduction file. Also, a thumbnail image of an image file which contains description of non-automatic reproduction in the automatic reproduction file is replaced with a dummy image or displayed as a thumbnail image not apparently capable of being recognized in response to a user request.

Abstract: A highly efficient method and system for eliminating halftone screens from scanned documents while preserving the quality and sharpness of text and line-art is disclosed. The method and system utilizes a single channel screen frequency estimator module, which generates a screen frequency estimate for image data. The module generates a signal based on the highly filtered image signal at low contrast levels, and based on a reliable estimate to the halftone frequency at higher contrast levels. The single channel screen estimate module has adequate performance in resolution ranges from 300 to 600 dpi.

Abstract: A method of generating a dither matrix for an output device having sub-pixel addressability that permits the attenuation of tone for less than whole pixels. An original representative pixel grid is expanded to a super-resolution by replication of the pixel grid in both directions by the sub-pixel factor S. Halftoning methods for generating dither patterns are then applied using the super-resolution grid to create dither or filter outputs, which are converted to a corresponding output for a sub-pixel resolution grid. Selection of location for incremental addition (deletion) of tone is made using the sub-pixel grid output. The cycle of output generation, conversion to sub-pixel resolution, and tone modulation selection is repeated iteratively until a desired gray level is reached. The process is further repeated for each desired gray level to produce the multiple dither patterns that comprise the desired dither matrix.

Abstract: An adjusting dot position method for overlapped dots in a printer is disclosed. The pixels of an image are first input. Then, it determines whether the pixel is an overlapped dot or not. If yes and a pixel on a left side is a blank dot, the magenta, cyan or yellow in the pixel is moved to the left side pixel. Then, it determines whether the pixel is an overlapped dot or not. If yes and a pixel on an upper side is a blank dot, the magenta, cyan or yellow dot in the pixel is moved to the upper side pixel.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus receives and stores data, and then performs processing such as the output of the stored data. The data processing apparatus nullifies already-processed data by means of deletion or overwrite. The data processing apparatus displays a reception screen for receiving from a user a priority instruction for either a processing-speed oriented priority where priority is imparted to the processing of data or a security oriented priority where priority is imparted to the nullification of data. When the security oriented priority is instructed, the data processing apparatus performs the nullification of data immediately after the processing of the data. When the processing-speed oriented priority is instructed, the data processing apparatus performs with priority the processing of data. Then, when not-yet-processed data has been completed, or alternatively after a user has left the site, the data processing apparatus performs the nullification of already-processed data.

Abstract: An image communication apparatus aims to prevent that an original is damaged in case of sharing an edge sensor, a driving motor and a transportation roller in both a reading operation and a recording operation, and thus includes a control means. In a case where an operation state stored in a non-volatile memory is not “in-reading (i.e., the reading operation is being performed)” when a power supply is turned on, the control means controls to discharge a recording paper if the recording paper in question is detected by an original/recording paper detection means. On one hand, in a case where the operation state stored in the non-volatile memory is “in-reading”, the control means controls not to discharge an original even if the original in question is detected by the original/recording paper detection means.