Abstract: What is provided herein is a novel system and method for estimating the amount of color in a document to be printed, with the capability to handle composite black, in those environments without access to all the original four color planes simultaneously. In one embodiment, input CMYK values are pre-adjusted via a look-up table to take into account the neutral balance characteristics. The planes are then scaled and quantized so that all four planes become available simultaneously. The difference among the quantized CMYK color values is compared against a threshold that is input level dependent. A pixel is classified into one of several color categories such as, for example, true neutral, fuzzy neutral, true color or fuzzy color. A color billing strategy can then be automatically determined based on the amount of color content. The method advantageously provides flexibility to support multi-tier billing in systems with various marking technologies.

Abstract: A method for improving image quality of edge pixels, when separating an image signal into a set of image planes is provided. The method includes searching for a minimum value and a maximum value within at least one predefined neighborhood pixel window centered on a current pixel in the image signal; and conditionally switching the edge pixels to either the minimum value or the maximum value in the foreground and background planes respectively, or to a value of a specified characteristic of the current pixel, based on predetermined criteria. One such predetermined criteria for this conditional switching of the edge pixels comprises comparing the minimum or maximum luminance values in the predefined neighborhood window of the current pixel and their corresponding chrominance values to some predetermined thresholds which are characteristic of the image for the foreground and background planes, respectively.

Abstract: A method of removing ringing and blocking artifacts from a decompressed digital image. In one method, a background value of the digital image a background region and foreground regions is determined, and a threshold value is computed. A mapping of the digital image is then generated by thresholding the digital image based on the threshold value to produce a thresholded image, and enlarging the foreground regions of the thresholded image to form a map image. The mapping includes the background pixels of the map image. The background region of the decompressed digital image is then cleansed based on the mapping. In an alternate method, ringing artifacts are removed from a decompressed digital image based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the image. In yet another alternate embodiment, ringing artifacts are from a decompressed digital color image that includes a chrominance channel and a luminance channel. An alternate embodiment removes ringing and blocking artifacts.

Abstract: A method of removing ringing and blocking artifacts from a decompressed digital image. In one method, a background value of the digital image a background region and foreground regions is determined, and a threshold value is computed. A mapping of the digital image is then generated by thresholding the digital image based on the threshold value to produce a thresholded image, and enlarging the foreground regions of the thresholded image to form a map image. The mapping includes the background pixels of the map image. The background region of the decompressed digital image is then cleansed based on the mapping. In an alternate method, ringing artifacts are removed from a decompressed digital image based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the image. In yet another alternate embodiment, ringing artifacts are from a decompressed digital color image that includes a chrominance channel and a luminance channel. An alternate embodiment removes ringing and blocking artifacts.

Abstract: What is provided herein is a novel system and method for estimating the amount of color in a document to be printed, with the capability to handle composite black, in those environments without access to all the original four color planes simultaneously. In one embodiment, input CMYK values are pre-adjusted via a look-up table to take into account the neutral balance characteristics. The planes are then scaled and quantized so that all four planes become available simultaneously. The difference among the quantized CMYK color values is compared against a threshold that is input level dependent. A pixel is classified into one of several color categories such as, for example, true neutral, fuzzy neutral, true color or fuzzy color. A color billing strategy can then be automatically determined based on the amount of color content. The method advantageously provides flexibility to support multi-tier billing in systems with various marking technologies.

Abstract: A method of removing ringing and blocking artifacts from a decompressed digital image. In one method, a background value of the digital image a background region and foreground regions is determined, and a threshold value is computed. A mapping of the digital image is then generated by thresholding the digital image based on the threshold value to produce a thresholded image, and enlarging the foreground regions of the thresholded image to form a map image. The mapping includes the background pixels of the map image. The background region of the decompressed digital image is then cleansed based on the mapping. In an alternate method, ringing artifacts are removed from a decompressed digital image based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the image. In yet another alternate embodiment, ringing artifacts are from a decompressed digital color image that includes a chrominance channel and a luminance channel. An alternate embodiment removes ringing and blocking artifacts.

Abstract: A method of removing ringing and blocking artifacts from a decompressed digital image. In one method, a background value of the digital image a background region and foreground regions is determined, and a threshold value is computed. A mapping of the digital image is then generated by thresholding the digital image based on the threshold value to produce a thresholded image, and enlarging the foreground regions of the thresholded image to form a map image. The mapping includes the background pixels of the map image. The background region of the decompressed digital image is then cleansed based on the mapping. In an alternate method, ringing artifacts are removed from a decompressed digital image based on a signal-to-noise ratio of the image. In yet another alternate embodiment, ringing artifacts are from a decompressed digital color image that includes a chrominance channel and a luminance channel. An alternate embodiment removes ringing and blocking artifacts.