Abstract: When the width of a recording head is greater than the width of a recording medium having a maximum conveyable width, a recorded image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head cannot be corrected. Multiple correction test patterns are recorded using ejecting ports in part of the recording head, and correction data for correcting an image corresponding to ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head on the basis of the colorimetric result of the test patterns. In this way, image data to be recorded by the ejecting ports in the entire area of the recording head is corrected.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of reducing color unevenness due to variations in ejection characteristics among a plurality of nozzles when printing an image using a plurality of inks. To that end, a first image which is made up a color with noticeable color unevenness and similar colors is printed onto a print medium. The user then specifies a color and a nozzle position where color unevenness has occurred. On the basis of these results, parameters are set for a correction table referenced by are MCS processor. In so doing, it becomes possible to address the factor causing the color unevenness, and mitigate the effects of color unevenness in a focused way without incurring increases in processor load, memory requirements, or processing time as compared to the case of calibrating all lattice points.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable of very accurately and efficiently reducing uneven color caused by variation in ejection characteristics among nozzles that eject ink and that occurs in a color image that is formed by mixing a plurality of different kinds of ink. A patch is printed by ejected ink from a plurality of nozzles, a region is specified so as to perform color correction in a test color image that is printed on a printing medium, a plurality of different color correction processing is performed on color signals that correspond to a color correction region, a plurality of color correction patches are printed, a color correction patch to be used is selected from among the plurality of different color correction patches and table parameters that correspond to the nozzles are created based on the selected color correction processing.

Abstract: In the present invention, joint sections and non-joint sections are formed in nozzle arrays of a plurality of chips arranged in a print head. Correction values for correcting input image data are calculated for reducing color difference caused by variation in the ejection characteristics of the nozzles. In this calculation of correction values, first a first correction value corresponding to first nozzles that form a color measurement area is calculated based on the color measurement value obtained by measuring the color of a discrete color measurement area included in a patch formed by a nozzle array. Next, a second correction value for correcting input image data corresponding to second nozzles of the nozzle array is calculated based on the first correction value. Different complementary processing is used when calculating the second correction value corresponding to a non-joint section, and when calculating the second correction value corresponding to a joint section.

Abstract: When printing an image using a plurality of inks, color unevenness caused by variations in ejection characteristics among nozzles is corrected at suitable timings in accordance with change in the color unevenness over time, and favorable image output without noticeably color unevenness is maintained. For this purpose, parameters are prepared, for colors formed by combinations of at least two colors of ink, the parameters being determined so as to reduce differences in coloration on a print medium caused by individual variations in the ejection characteristics of a plurality of nozzles. When printing, a first color signal included in individual pixels is corrected for a second color signal by using the parameters. Information regarding the ejection volume characteristics of a plurality of nozzles is acquired as appropriate, and by estimating changes in coloration from this information, suitable timings for overwriting such parameters are determined.

Abstract: Area information is obtained with respect to a specified color and nozzle position having color unevenness. Then, coordinate information indicating a nozzle position corresponding to the above area information is obtained in a printing head or nozzle array corresponding to an ink color relating to the specified color information. Next, the number of candidate correction values or candidate patches is obtained on the basis of nozzle coordinates obtained corresponding to the area, by referring to a table. In this table, for example, the number of candidate correction values is small at a nozzle position where an effect due to the variations of nozzle ejection characteristics such as a nozzle ejection volume is small and a change direction is constant, and the number of candidate correction values is large at a nozzle position where an effect due to variations of nozzle ejection characteristics is large.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that can accurately and efficiently reduce color unevenness that occurs in a color image, which is formed by color mixture of a plurality of different types of inks, due to a variation in ejection characteristic among nozzles. The inks are respectively ejected from the nozzle arrays to print patches; regions where color correction for test color images should be performed are specified; a different types of color correction processing for color signals corresponding to the color correction regions are performed to print color correction patches; a color correction patch to be used is selected; on the basis of selected color correction processing, a table parameter corresponding to a nozzle is formed; when the plurality of color correction patches are formed, only correction candidate values having larger color differences than a predetermined threshold value in a uniform color space are generated for color signals.

Abstract: The invention decreases the enlargement of memory and processing time for the correction of image data carried out to reduce image deterioration caused by nozzle ejection characteristic variation in an inkjet printing apparatus. Print heads are provided with pluralities of chips that have nozzle arrays formed from a plurality of nozzles. Coupled portions and non-overlap portions are formed on each chip. An image processing apparatus sets input image data, which correspond to nozzle regions that are defined in nozzle arrays along the alignment direction of the nozzles of the print head and that are composed of a plurality of nozzles, as processing blocks. The input image data is processed according to parameters defined for each of those processing blocks. The boundaries of the nozzle regions corresponding to the input image data of the processing blocks are established according to the boundaries of the overlap portions and the non-overlap portions.

Abstract: In the present invention, a first calculation unit calculates, based on image data obtained by reading with a reading unit a plurality of patches formed on a printing medium by a plurality of nozzle regions constituting nozzle array of a printing head, respective color specification values of a plurality of correction regions corresponding to a plurality of nozzle regions constituting the nozzle array. Then, a target value setting unit sets, based on the calculated color specification values of the plurality of correction regions, a target color specification value of the patch. Further, a second calculation unit calculates a difference between each of the color specification values of the plurality of correction regions and the target color specification value as a correction amount. After that, based on the correction amount calculated, image data corresponding to an image printed by each of the plurality of nozzle regions are corrected.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes image data representing a musical score inputs image data of a musical score document to the image processing apparatus, detects a blank area in the musical score based on the input image data, and generates image data in which an assistance sign has been added in the blank area in correspondence with a sign in the musical score.

Abstract: When a gradation mask is used to distribute image data to be recorded by overlapping portions in an overlapping head, color unevenness is generated in an image recorded by the overlapping portions due to a displacement in impact positions caused by an assembly error. As a result, accurate colorimetric measurement of patches recorded by the overlapping portion cannot be performed. To solve such a problem, a distribution ratio by which the image data is distributed to the overlapping portions is set to be approximately constant when recording a test pattern for performing color correction, as compared to when normally recording the image.

Abstract: In an overlapping head including a plurality of recording head chips overlapped to each other, a color shift can occur between a color recorded by an overlapping region and a color recorded by a non-overlapping region, which cannot be corrected by a density correction using head shading or the like. To correct such a color shift, a test pattern is recorded by the overlapping region and the non-overlapping region and colors of the recorded test pattern are measured. Color correction data to be used in correction of colors of an image to be recorded is generated based on a result of the measurement of the colors.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus reads an image on an original and generates lines of data by causing a carriage to perform scanning, then by referring to the data, detects chromatic color pixels that exist between two achromatic color pixels, being first and second achromatic color pixels, from among pixels in the image that has been read in the scanning direction of the carriage, and determines one of the detected chromatic color pixels as a pixel of interest and corrects the pixel of interest to an achromatic color pixel while shifting the position of the pixel of interest pixel-by-pixel N times from a pixel position adjacent to the first achromatic color pixel in a direction toward the second achromatic color pixel.

Abstract: Image data of sheet music formed from a plurality of pages is input, and the input image data is divided into bars. The complexity of performance of each divided bar is determined for each page. An easy-to-play portion is detected as a page feed position for each page in accordance with the determination result. The layout of the sheet music is changed based on the detected page feed position, and the layout-changed sheet music is output.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes image data representing a musical score inputs image data of a musical score document to the image processing apparatus, detects a blank area in the musical score based on the input image data, and generates image data in which an assistance sign has been added in the blank area in correspondence with a sign in the musical score.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an image reading apparatus. In the apparatus, reading an original by irradiating it with light of three primary colors, respectively, and by receiving the reflected light is performed as follows. More specifically, an operation mode is designated, and conditions used to perform image reading are set in accordance with the designated mode. Under the set conditions, the image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original sequentially with beams of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Alternatively, under the set conditions, image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original simultaneously with beams of two primary colors in each of three different combinations of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Instead, image reading is executed twice according to these two methods.

Abstract: Image data of sheet music formed from a plurality of pages is input, and the input image data is divided into bars. The complexity of performance of each divided bar is determined for each page. An easy-to-play portion is detected as a page feed position for each page in accordance with the determination result. The layout of the sheet music is changed based on the detected page feed position, and the layout-changed sheet music is output.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method capable of performing satisfactory image reading by absorbing variations in each apparatus. According to this method, in primary color reading, light emitting unit sequentially irradiates an image original with light components of three primary colors and reads the image original, and in complementary color reading, the light emitting unit simultaneously irradiates the image original with one of three different color combinations, which includes two of the light components of three primary colors, and reads the image original. Each of the primary and complementary color readings includes image processing of executing shading correction of image data based on calibration data obtained by calibrating the light emitting unit when reading the image original.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method capable of performing appropriate under color removal in image original reading. According to this method, under color removal of the original is performed as follows. A printing medium without any printed image is read by primary and complementary color readings. A brightness signal distribution is generated by converting, using a provisional table, each of image data generated by the reading methods. The lowest one of signal levels is selected from each of the distributions. In correspondence with each of the primary and complementary color readings, a conversion table is formed, which converts the image data to make a pixel value corresponding to the selected lowest one of the signal levels to a value representing white. Under color removal of the image data is performed using a corresponding conversion table in accordance with the reading method of the image original.

Abstract: A sheet music creation method of creating sheet music whose layout is changed based on image data of sheet music input from an input device includes the steps of dividing the image data of the sheet music input from the input device into grand staffs, designating the grand staffs divided in the dividing in the order of performance, and re-editing, by a processor, image data representing the grand staffs in accordance with the order designated in the designating.