Abstract: A method of image processing is provided, the method including acquiring a digital image having a three-dimensional shadow, determining a boundary of the three-dimensional shadow, and lightening the three-dimensional shadow within the boundary.

Abstract: A method of processing a scanned negative image produced by scanning a negative film includes creating a baseline positive image from the scanned negative image, analyzing at least one image characteristic of the baseline positive image, determining a film type of the negative film based on the at least one image characteristic, and producing a positive image from the scanned negative image based on the film type, including applying film-specific color inversion to the scanned negative image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method includes a sub-sampler decompression unit that takes an inverse transformation to rebuild 411 sub sampled luminance/chrominance color space components which are than transformed into full resolution luminance/chrominance color space pixel data. The luminance/chrominance color space pixel data is then separated into individual luminosity and chromaticity components which are scaled. A scaling unit responsive to the sub-sampler decompression unit applies different processing algorithms to the various ones of the luminance and chrominance components to scale the main luminosity component utilizing a spacial algorithm while simultaneously scaling the minor chromaticity components utilizing a perceptual algorithm. The scaled full resolution luminance and chrominance color space components are then converted into RGB color space for display purposes.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method for analyzing a digital image and automatically generating a visually attractive frame for the image. A data set for the image is analyzed, preferably in color space, to determine one or more image components representing dominant colors in the image. The components are characterized individually, and then these individual component characterizations are used to characterize the image overall. Based on the overall image characteristics, the framing scheme parameters are determined and used in turn to generate the attributes of a visually attractive frame for the image. A data set for the framed image is then generated, which may be sent to an imaging device for display or printing, or simply stored as a new data set for later use. The user has the ability to modify the rules that determine the framing scheme parameters so as to adjust the framed image if desired.

Abstract: Methods are provided for use with a computing device and an image scanning device. One method includes performing a scan to produce a preview scanned image, selecting a portion of the preview scanned image for final scanning, and scanning the selected portion of the preview scanned image to produce a final scanned image. Performing the scan to produce the preview scanned image may include performing an autocrop process and a deskew process before displaying the preview scanned image to the user. Once the preview scanned image is displayed, then the user may decide to selectively rotate the preview scanned image, for example, about an anchor point that was used in the deskew process. The user may also select a portion of interest within the image. Once the user is satisfied with the user selected rotation, if any, and the user selected portion of interest, then a final scan will be performed. As part of the final scan process, the method includes calculating an effective portion of the preview scanned image.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed to achieve remote processing of items in a client with limited processing capacity. Specifically, a client receives an element that it is unable to render or otherwise process to present to the user due to its limited processing capacity. The client transmits the element to a server that includes various processing modules that allow the server to process the element or otherwise perform the task that was beyond the client capability. The server thus processes the element, thereby converting it into a form that is recognizable by the client. The processed element is then sent back to the client where it is depicted or otherwise executed in the client.

Abstract: A method for automatic removal of vertical streaks involves a comparison between image data for a pixel and its neighbor pixels to determine whether the pixel is non-homogenous. In a preferred method, the comparison employs an adaptive threshold against which a difference between the pixel and its neighbor pixels is compared, with the adaptive threshold taking into account accumulative information pertaining to pixels generated by a common optical sensor element. A preferred method also includes the step of considering locations of non-homogenous pixels in the image to determine whether the image data associated with the non-homogenous pixels needs to be changed or modified. A preferred method also includes the step of associating the non-homogenous pixels with different image data.

Abstract: A method of image processing is provided, the method including acquiring a digital image having a three-dimensional shadow, determining a boundary of the three-dimensional shadow, and lightening the three-dimensional shadow within the boundary.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method includes a sub-sampler decompression unit that takes an inverse transformation to rebuild 411 sub sampled luminance/chrominance color space components which are than transformed into full resolution luminance/chrominance color space pixel data. The luminance/chrominance color space pixel data is then separated into individual luminosity and chromaticity components which are scaled. A scaling unit responsive to the sub-sampler decompression unit applies different processing algorithms to the various ones of the luminance and chrominance components to scale the main luminosity component utilizing a spacial algorithm while simultaneously scaling the minor chromaticity components utilizing a perceptual algorithm. The scaled full resolution luminance and chrominance color space components are then converted into RGB color space for display purposes.

Abstract: A method analyzes an image to be scanned and analyzes at least part of the image pixel-by-pixel. During or after a preview scan, a characteristic is assigned to a plurality of pixels in the image and pixels are grouped according to similar characteristics. A representation of a least one of the characteristics corresponding to a group of pixels is communicated to the scanner. For example, the pixels may be analyzed to determining if the pixel is black or white. The pixels may also be analyzed to determining if a pixel is on an edge between black and white. Black pixels that are adjacent each other can be grouped together, and white pixels that are adjacent each other can also be grouped together. A region of an image with a relatively high number of black and white groups can be characterized as black and white text only. That characterization can then be used to properly set a scanner, for example, without user intervention, so that the final scan of the image can be done at 300 dpi with a low bit depth.

Abstract: A method for automatic removal of image artifacts includes the steps of comparing scanned image data pertaining to regions where it is possible for image artifacts to be present to idealized image artifact data, determining whether image artifacts or partial image artifacts are present in the known regions, excluding such regions or portions of them as appropriate from a scannable area, and generating an image from the elements of the scanned image data pertaining only to the portions of the scannable area for which no image artifacts are determined to be present.

Abstract: A method of processing a scanned negative image produced by scanning a negative film includes creating a baseline positive image from the scanned negative image, analyzing at least one image characteristic of the baseline positive image, determining a film type of the negative film based on the at least one image characteristic, and producing a positive image from the scanned negative image based on the film type, including applying film-specific color inversion to the scanned negative image.

Abstract: A method of image processing is provided, the method including acquiring a digital image having a three-dimensional shadow, determining a boundary of the three-dimensional shadow, and lightening the three-dimensional shadow within the boundary.

Abstract: Methods are provided for use with a computing device and an image scanning device. One method includes performing a scan to produce a preview scanned image, selecting a portion of the preview scanned image for final scanning, and scanning the selected portion of the preview scanned image to produce a final scanned image. Performing the scan to produce the preview scanned image may include performing an autocrop process and a deskew process before displaying the preview scanned image to the user. Once the preview scanned image is displayed, then the user may decide to selectively rotate the preview scanned image, for example, about an anchor point that was used in the deskew process. The user may also select a portion of interest within the image. Once the user is satisfied with the user selected rotation, if any, and the user selected portion of interest, then a final scan will be performed. As part of the final scan process, the method includes calculating an effective portion of the preview scanned image.

Abstract: A system and method of processing a scanned image produced by scanning a halftone image formed of a plurality of image dots and having a halftone resolution and at least one halftone angle includes detecting at least one halftone characteristic of the scanned image, dividing the scanned image into a plurality of image sections based on the at least one halftone characteristic, and enhancing each of the image sections of the scanned image to create a plurality of enhanced image sections. Each image section of the scanned image includes a plurality of pixels and at least one scanned image dot formed within the plurality of pixels. As such, enhancing each of the image sections includes diffusing the at least one scanned image dot of each of the image sections.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method for analyzing a digital image and automatically generating a visually attractive frame for the image. A data set for the image is analyzed, preferably in color space, to determine one or more image components representing dominant colors in the image. The components are characterized individually, and then these individual component characterizations are used to characterize the image overall. Based on the overall image characteristics, the framing scheme parameters are determined and used in turn to generate the attributes of a visually attractive frame for the image. A data set for the framed image is then generated, which may be sent to an imaging device for display or printing, or simply stored as a new data set for later use. The user has the ability to modify the rules that determine the framing scheme parameters so as to adjust the framed image if desired.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed to achieve remote processing of items in a client with limited processing capacity. Specifically, a client receives an element that it is unable to render or otherwise process to present to the user due to its limited processing capacity. The client transmits the element to a server that includes various processing modules that allow the server to process the element or otherwise perform the task that was beyond the client capability. The server thus processes the element, thereby converting it into a form that is recognizable by the client. The processed element is then sent back to the client where it is depicted or otherwise executed in the client.

Abstract: A system and method is described for automatically determining in a scanned document image the presence of unwanted extraneous information caused by an extraneous device and scanner background information. Once the presence of this information is determined, the system and method of the present invention can compute, for instance, skew and crop statistics. From this, the image can be automatically deskewed and cropped appropriately without the background and extraneous information. The system and method accomplishes this by first determining the presence of unwanted extraneous and background information and then appropriately processing the document image. The extraneous information is ignored during deskew and crop computations. Also, the scanner background and the extraneous information are prevented from being included in the final digital representation of the image.

Abstract: Chromatic adjustments to the overall color balance of the image are presented on one screen and tonal adjustments (such as brightness or contrast) that do not affect the overall color balance are presented on another screen. The chromatic adjustments include at least three independent variables each of which can be separately increased or decreased, while the tonal adjustments include brightness and contrast that can be separately increased or decreased. Such a grouping concentrates the user's attention on only two or three adjustments related to a single readily identifiable deficiency in the original image, and thus not only facilitates image improvement but also makes it easier to selectively undo the effects of some adjustments but not others. Each adjustment is displayed as a pair of preview images which respectively show the effect of a one step increment or decrement of the associated variable.