Abstract: A method of generating a bitmap representative of an original image. The method comprises (1) scanning the original image to generate a greyscale pixel map; (2) interpolating and rotating the greyscale pixel map to generate a higher resolution greyscale pixel map; and (3) converting the higher resolution greyscale pixel map into the bitmap. The greyscale pixel map is converted into the bitmap by (I) ranking each greyscale pixel value against the greyscale pixel values of a neighborhood of adjacent pixel locations; (ii) determining a desired number of black binary pixels (B_Pc) in the neighborhood; (iii) comparing the rank of the greyscale pixel with the desired number of black binary pixels; and (iv) assigning a black binary pixel value to the pixel location when the comparison carried out in step (iii) satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A method of generating image data comprising digital pixel data representative of one or more images on an input scanner support.In a first step the support is scanned to generate support image data at a first resolution comprising digital pixel data representative of the support and image.In a second step support image data at a second resolution is generated from the support image data at a first resolution. In a third step the boundary of an image is determined by performing a predetermined boundary determining algorithm on the support image data at the second resolution.In a fourth step, the image data is extracted from the support image data at the first resolution by extracting pixel data within the boundary of the image determined in the third step.