Abstract: A method of rendering the appearance of microprint contained within a printed input digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising identifying one or two pixel lines or both and reassigning their digital value.

Abstract: System and apparatus for automatically correcting alignment of printer writers using a scanner for calculating a calibration parameter. The calibration parameter is used to adjust or maintain the alignment of the printer writers.

Abstract: Method for automatically correcting alignment of printer writers using an imaging device such as a scanner for calculating a calibration parameter. The calibration parameter is used to adjust or maintain the alignment of the printer writers.

Abstract: A method of controlling a printer to print of an image, the printer having a predetermined marking material printed dot size, the method comprising the steps of rasterizing the image and defining halftone super pixels within the image, calculating the average density of the marking material within the super pixels, selecting a pattern for marking the pixels within the super pixels as a function of the printed dot size so as to expand the distribution of printed densities printable by the printer.

Abstract: A method of altering the appearance of an input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, and wherein the pixels comprise Text/Line pixels and halftone pixels, the method comprising the steps of changing the value of halftone pixels using a custom tone transfer function that anticipates the effect of the reassigned pixel values on halftone appearance; rasterizing the digital image; reassigning the digital values of all pixels; and, printing the image.

Abstract: A method of printing an image utilizing a printer having print nonuniformities, the method comprising the steps of converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information comprises defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels to lower values independently in order to reduce toner consumption. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.

Abstract: The invention relates to printing of documents, for example bank checks. According to the various aspects of the invention, a printing system, process and product with microprinting are provided. Documents printed as described may include digitally variable microprint and other enhancements. The invention is particularly useful for enhanced security documents and the production thereof.

Abstract: A method of printing an image with a printer having magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) toning capability, the method comprising the steps of: converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels independently, thereby altering the concentration of magnetizable substances within the image when printed in order to improve the readability of printed characters by reading instrumentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to printing of documents, for example bank checks. According to the various aspects of the invention, a printing system, process and product with microprinting are provided. Documents printed as described may include digitally variable microprint and other enhancements. The invention is particularly useful for enhanced security documents and the production thereof.

Abstract: A method of rendering the appearance of a printed input digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising defining each pixel as either a stand alone pixel or diagonal line pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of the stand alone pixels or diagonal line pixels independently of one another. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.

Abstract: A method of controlling a printer to print of an image, the printer having a predetermined marking material printed dot size, the method comprising the steps of rasterizing the image and defining halftone super pixels within the image, calculating the average density of the marking material within the super pixels, selecting a pattern for marking the pixels within the super pixels as a function of the printed dot size so as to expand the distribution of printed densities printable by the printer.

Abstract: A method of altering the appearance of an input digital image when printed, the digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, and wherein the pixels comprise Text/Line pixels and halftone pixels, the method comprising the steps of changing the value of halftone pixels using a custom tone transfer function that anticipates the effect of the reassigned pixel values on halftone appearance; rasterizing the digital image; reassigning the digital values of all pixels; and, printing the image.

Abstract: A method of printing an image comprising the steps of converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, identifying a first edge of a first character, identifying a second edge of a second character and, reassigning the digital value(s) pixel(s) adjacent to the first edge and/or the second edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to printing of documents, for example bank checks. According to the various aspects of the invention, a printing system, process and product with microprinting are provided. Documents printed as described may include digitally variable microprint and other enhancements. The invention is particularly useful for enhanced security documents and the production thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to printing of documents, for example bank checks. According to the various aspects of the invention, a printing system, process and product with a pantograph are provided. Documents printed as described my include a digitally variable pantograph and other enhancements. The invention is particularly useful for enhanced security documents and the production thereof.

Abstract: The registration and skew information of a document about to be scanned are detected prior to capturing the entire image of the document. Two sensors, a fixed distance apart, are used to detect the document skew. A third sensor is used to detect the edge position of the document. Paper sensors in the Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) are used to determine the document size. The data from the skew sensors are used to calculate the required skew correction angle and direction by which to rotate the image. The document edge position information together with skew information is used to determine the exact location of a corner of the document. This information is used to correct skewed image in real-time, during scanning the document.

Abstract: A method of rendering the appearance of microprint contained within a printed input digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising identifying one or two pixel lines or both and reassigning their digital value.

Abstract: A method of rendering the appearance of a printed input digital image comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of the edge pixels or interior pixels independently of one another. The rendering of the present invention occurs post RIP.

Abstract: A method of printing an image with a printer having magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) toning capability, the method comprising the steps of: converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels independently, thereby altering the concentration of magnetizable substances within the image when printed in order to improve the readability of printed characters by reading instrumentation.

Abstract: A method of printing an image utilizing a printer having print nonuniformities, the method comprising the steps of: converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels independently, thereby altering the appearance of the image when printed in order to compensate for printer nonuniformities.