Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of rendering an infrared mark, can involve providing an image path for an image processing apparatus, wherein the image path integrates infrared mark related functions with regular image processing functions of the image processing apparatus, and rendering the infrared red mark with the image processing apparatus, after subjecting the infrared mark to the infrared mark related functions in the image path of the image processing apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an input device which receives image adjustment selections from an associated user interface device. Memory of the device stores a user interface generator, which generates a background adjustment selector for presenting to a user on the user interface device; a background adjustment component which, for each of a plurality of pixels of an input image computes adjusted color values, as a function of at least one of: (a) a background adjustment factor computed for the respective pixel, and (b) a background class derived from the computed background adjustment factor, the background adjustment factor being a function of a background strength of the pixel and a luminance strength of the pixel; and an image output component outputs an output image derived from the adjusted color values for the plurality of pixels. A processor implements the background adjustment component and image output component.

Abstract: An image processing system and method provide for receiving a digital document page to be printed. The page includes a background region for which no color is specified. A user is presented with an option to select a print medium from a set of print media of different colors and to select an option for a color of the selected print medium be used as a color of a background layer of the digital document page. When the option is selected, a background layer is inserted into the page. A print job incorporating the processed digital document page is output to an associated printer that is configured to convert the color of the background layer to colorant values that use the print media as a colorant for rendering at least a part of the background region.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an input device which receives image adjustment selections from an associated user interface device. Memory of the device stores a user interface generator, which generates a background adjustment selector for presenting to a user on the user interface device; a background adjustment component which, for each of a plurality of pixels of an input image computes adjusted color values, as a function of at least one of: (a) a background adjustment factor computed for the respective pixel, and (b) a background class derived from the computed background adjustment factor, the background adjustment factor being a function of a background strength of the pixel and a luminance strength of the pixel; and an image output component outputs an output image derived from the adjusted color values for the plurality of pixels. A processor implements the background adjustment component and image output component.

Abstract: A system and method for tile type based color space transformation improves the performance and image quality of multifunction devices. The disclosed embodiments transform an input image on a tile by tile basis. If a tile is detected as neutral, simple 1D L* to CMYK Tone Reproduction Curves or Look-Up-Tables are used to convert the input pixels of the tile in L*a*b* to output pixels in CMYK. If a tile is detected as containing color content, then the input pixels are chrominance adjusted and subsequently converted to CMYK using regular tetrahedral interpolation.

Abstract: A system and method for tile type based color space transformation improves the performance and image quality of multifunction devices. The disclosed embodiments transform an input image on a tile by tile basis. If a tile is detected as neutral, simple 1D L* to CMYK Tone Reproduction Curves or Look-Up-Tables are used to convert the input pixels of the tile in L*a*b* to output pixels in CMYK. If a tile is detected as containing color content, then the input pixels are chrominance adjusted and subsequently converted to CMYK using regular tetrahedral interpolation.

Abstract: A method and system for an auto-color detection and color transformation is provided including with at least one image signal processor, splitting an input image into a plurality of strips on a page. Each strip is composed of a plurality of pixels. The presence of color data within a strip is determined. Based on a determination that no color data is present within the strip both a monochrome rendering and a simple color rendering of this neutral strip are generated. Based on a determination that color data is present within a strip, the entire page is declared a color page and either one of a simple color rendering (via 1D look up tables) or a complex color rendering (via tetrahedral interpolation) of the strip is generated. Thereafter, only color renderings of subsequent strips is performed for the corresponding page.

Abstract: An image compression method includes compressing an input image with first and second compression methods to generate first and second (e.g., lossless and lossy) compressed images. First and second residual layers are generated, based on a difference between the first and second compressed images. Connected components in the residual layers are identified. Each connected component includes a group of one or more pixels that, when mapped to the second compressed image is connected, in first and second directions, to pixels in the second compressed image. A compressed image is generated, which includes, for a connected component identified in the first residual layer, removing corresponding pixels from the second compressed image, and for a connected component identified in the second residual layer, adding corresponding pixels to the second compressed image. The system and method can thus provide file size savings associated with lossy compression while avoiding character replacement.

Abstract: According to exemplary methods, a selection of a paper type for producing an image is received. A database of background suppression values associated with paper types is searched. Responsive to not finding a background suppression value associated with the paper type, the database is updated for the paper type. According to the method of updating, a page of the paper type is scanned and image data obtained by scanning the page is analyzed. Background luminance for the page is determined based on analyzing the image data. A background suppression value is calculated for the page based on the background luminance. The paper type and the background suppression value for the page are added to the database. The background suppression value is associated with the paper in the database.

Abstract: An image compression method includes compressing an input image with first and second compression methods to generate first and second (e.g., lossless and lossy) compressed images. First and second residual layers are generated, based on a difference between the first and second compressed images. Connected components in the residual layers are identified. Each connected component includes a group of one or more pixels that, when mapped to the second compressed image is connected, in first and second directions, to pixels in the second compressed image. A compressed image is generated, which includes, for a connected component identified in the first residual layer, removing corresponding pixels from the second compressed image, and for a connected component identified in the second residual layer, adding corresponding pixels to the second compressed image. The system and method can thus provide file size savings associated with lossy compression while avoiding character replacement.

Abstract: According to exemplary methods, a selection of a paper type for producing an image is received. A database of background suppression values associated with paper types is searched. Responsive to not finding a background suppression value associated with the paper type, the database is updated for the paper type. According to the method of updating, a page of the paper type is scanned and image data obtained by scanning the page is analyzed. Background luminance for the page is determined based on analyzing the image data. A background suppression value is calculated for the page based on the background luminance. The paper type and the background suppression value for the page are added to the database. The background suppression value is associated with the paper in the database.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a mixed raster content representation of an input image. An input image is segmented into image and text layers. Connected component analysis is performed on the image layer, with each group of connected pixels labeled. For each group, an average color is determined and when a mask layer exists for the color, the pixels in the group are enabled in the mask layer. When a mask layer does not exist for the color, a new mask layer is created and the corresponding pixels enabled. The image layer is then removed and the mask layers are combined into the text layer, whereupon a text only MRC compression file is output.

Abstract: A method and system for segmenting text from non-text portions of a digital image using the size, solidity, and run length characteristics of connected components within the image data. For a connected component comprising a rectangular group of pixels enclosing a set of connected pixels having the same binary state, the size characteristic may be based on a ratio of height to width of the connected component and the total number of pixels within the connected component, the solidity characteristic may be based on a ratio of pixels within the connected component to a total number of pixels within a convex hull of the set of connected pixels, and the run length characteristic may be based on a number of transitions within the connected component.

Abstract: Methods and devices process an electronic image of an item that has a background color and line features of a second color distinct from the background color. An electronic image and a menu option are displayed to allow the user to define at least one area of the electronic image as a distinctive color region. The electronic image is separated into different planes, and line features within the distinctive color region are removed from a second mask plane (second color) and added to a third mask plane (third color). The first plane, second mask plane, and third mask plane, are combined into an electronic file, and automatically stored.

Abstract: Methods and devices process an electronic image of an item that has a background color and line features of a second color distinct from the background color. An electronic image and a menu option are displayed to allow the user to define at least one area of the electronic image as a distinctive color region. The electronic image is separated into different planes, and line features within the distinctive color region are removed from a second mask plane (second color) and added to a third mask plane (third color). The first plane, second mask plane, and third mask plane, are combined into an electronic file, and automatically stored.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for estimating a skew angle of an image. The method includes identifying a set of measurable blocks from one or more blocks in said image. The method further includes dilating each measurable block, in said set of measurable blocks, with a predetermined regular structure to create a set of modified measurable blocks. The method further includes selecting a second set of measurable blocks from said set of modified measurable blocks based on a size of each modified measurable block in said set of modified measurable blocks. Thereafter, the method includes determining a slope of each measurable block in said second set of measurable blocks. Further, the slope is utilizable to estimate said skew angle of said image. The method is performed by one or more microprocessors.

Abstract: According to embodiments illustrated herein there is provided a method of image compression. The method includes generating a modified image based on a compression of an image. The method further includes generating a first residual layer and a second residual layer based on a comparison of the modified image and the image. The method further includes filtering a set of pixels from the first residual layer and the second residual layer. The method further includes compressing the filtered first residual layer and the filtered second residual layer to generate a compressed first residual layer and a compressed second residual layer. Additionally, the method includes generating a second compressed image based on the modified image, the compressed first residual image and the compressed second residual image.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for estimating a skew angle of an image. The method includes identifying a set of measurable blocks from one or more blocks in said image. The method further includes dilating each measurable block, in said set of measurable blocks, with a predetermined regular structure to create a set of modified measurable blocks. The method further includes selecting a second set of measurable blocks from said set of modified measurable blocks based on a size of each modified measurable block in said set of modified measurable blocks. Thereafter, the method includes determining a slope of each measurable block in said second set of measurable blocks. Further, the slope is utilizable to estimate said skew angle of said image. The method is performed by one or more microprocessors.

Abstract: A method and an application server are provided for processing an image. The application server comprising an image processing unit processes an image by segmenting into first segmented layer and a second segmented layer. The image processing unit identifies one or more regions in the first segmented layer and for a coordinate in the identified region a vicinity check condition is performed in the second segmented layer. The image processing unit compares a first size of identified region with at least an average size of the set of text components in the second segmented layer. Further, the image processing unit merges the identified region with the second segmented layer to get a processed image.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for estimating a half-tone frequency of an image. The method includes combining, by one or more processors, a first binary block, obtained from a portion of the image, with one or more second binary blocks to create a third binary block. Each of the one or more second binary blocks is obtained by shifting the first binary block. The method further includes estimating, by the one or more processors, the half-tone frequency of the portion of the image, based on the first binary block and the third binary block.