Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a downsampling process on image data, and supplies the image data after the downsampling process to a display device as image data for use in a display. Further, the image processing apparatus includes: a segmentation process section which performs a segmentation process on the image data; and a spatial filter section which performs first image processing that varies according to a result of the segmentation process. When a degree of downsampling in the downsampling process is not higher than a predetermined reference level, the spatial filter section performing the first image processing on the image data; and when the degree of downsampling in the downsampling process is higher than the predetermined reference level, the spatial filter section performs second image processing irrelevant to the result of the segmentation process, instead of performing the first image processing, on the image data.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a color/monochrome determination section determines whether color image data is image data indicative of a color document or image data indicative of a monochrome document, regardless of which color setting is selected to output image data, and a control section stores a determination result and the color image data in a storage device so that they are correlated with each other. Upon receiving a change instruction to change the color setting, the control section generates output image data, following a color setting that is changed according to the change instruction, on the basis of the determination result and the color image data each stored in the storage device. As a result, even if the color setting is desired to be changed, it is possible to carry out output processing without reading the document from an image reading apparatus again.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention uses a spatial filter section or an enlarging/reducing section to perform a blur process on image processing data to be supplied to an image display device, thus allowing the image display device to display a preview without deterioration in image quality.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a segmentation process section for performing a segmentation process on image data and a spatial filer section for performing a spatial filter process on the image data. The spatial filter section performs, on image data for use in printing or facsimile transmission, a spatial filer process that varies according to a result of the segmentation process, and performs, on image data for use in a preview display, a spatial filter process irrelevant to the result of the segmentation process. This makes it possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration in quality of an image whose preview is displayed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a blank document determination section determining whether or not input image data is image data of a blank document, regardless of a process mode set for setting a process with respect to the input image data; a storage device storing the input image data in association with a determination result made by the blank document determination section; and a control section (i) reading out the input image data from the storage device and (ii) excluding the input image data determined as image data of a blank document by the blank document determination section, from images to be displayed by the image display device, when the image display device carries out a preview display of the input image data. This configuration makes it possible to carry out a preview display in which a blank document (blank page document) is skipped, without reading the document again.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a color matching section for performing, on monochrome or two-color image data to be supplied to an image display device, a color matching process of reducing differences in color from a single- or two-color image to be outputted by an image display device, and as such, can display a comfortable preview of a single- or two-color image data by reducing differences in color between an image to be previewed and an image to be actually printed.

Abstract: A display control device controls an image display device capable of displaying a preview of an output image that is to be subjected to an output process, before the output image is subjected to the output process. The display control device refers to a storage section in which specific information specifying an image process which a user cannot recognize from a previewed output image is stored, and selects an image process specified by the specific information out of image processes to be carried out on the output image. Further, the display control device causes the image display device to display a setting confirmation image showing a content of the selected image process. This allows a user to correctly understand the content of an image process to be carried out on the output image and the image quality of the output image subjected to the output process.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a bit number correction process section for converting tones of binary image data into a maximum tone and a minimum tone of multilevel image data; a spatial filter section for performing a smoothing process on image data resulting from the bit number conversion; and an enlarging/reducing section for performing an interporation process on the image data subjected to the smoothing process so that smoothness of tones of the image data is maintained, the image data subjected to the interporation process being supplied to the image display device. This allows an image display device for displaying multilevel image data to display a preview image of binary image data without deteriorating the quality of image data.

Abstract: As the color conversion process for image data of an RGB signal, a color correction section 26 performs a color correction process, and a black generation and under color removal section 27 performs a black generation and under color removal process. In the color conversion process, the color correction section 26 and the black generation and under color removal section 27 are supplied with a halftone frequency recognized by a halftone frequency recognition section 23. The color correction section 26 and the black generation and under color removal section 27 change the process based upon the halftone frequency. As a result, an image processing apparatus is realized in which improved image quality can be produced by an optimum image process that is performed on an image containing a halftone area depending upon the halftone frequency of the halftone area so that image quality is improved.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that restrains image quality deterioration of image data read with a resolution in a sub-scanning direction set lower than a resolution in a main scanning direction from a document containing text, halftone photographs, line drawings, photographs, etc. An image processing apparatus performs the tone reproduction processing by applying error diffusion processing to the image data that has undergone processing of making the resolution in the sub-scanning direction equal to the resolution in the main scanning direction when the resolution in the sub-scanning direction is lower than the resolution in the main scanning direction and applying dither processing to the image data in other case. When the resolution in the sub-scanning direction is lower than the resolution in the main scanning direction, the halftone processing is applied to the entire image data that sharpness and smoothing processing has been performed.

Abstract: An original is illuminated by a light source ? or a light source ?, and image data is obtained under these conditions. An absolute value of a difference between image data under these different conditions is compared to a threshold value, and it is judged whether or not a color-unmatch occurs. If the color-unmatch occurs, the color-unmatch is corrected in accordance with a plurality of image data read under different conditions.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus executes a zoom process to an image data depending on a received zoom level, selects a dither matrix from a plurality of dither matrices each having a different resolution. The image processing apparatus selects a dither matrix that has a higher resolution in a case that the received zoom level is equal or less than a first zoom level to reduce the image data. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus selects a dither matrix that has a lower resolution in a case that the received zoom level is equal or more than a second zoom level to enlarge the image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document type automatic discrimination section that, based upon input image data read from a document, automatically discriminates a document type of the document. The document type automatic discrimination section, based upon plural types of parameters (quantity of halftone pixels, quantity of photographic-picture pixels, and quantity of high density pixels) obtained from plural types of characteristics (maximum density difference, total density busyness) extracted from the input image data and which parameters are used for discriminating a document type. A specific inkjet printed image whose output image data would not reach a standard level, if a process for a halftone reproduction region or a process for a continuous tone region were to be carried out on the input image data. This can improve the accuracy of document discrimination and the image quality of reproduced image.

Abstract: In a color converting device for converting input image data based on a plurality of first color components (the number of bits of each color component is k) into output image data based on plural of second color components by interpolation processing using a 3DLUT storing color correction values at grid points obtained by dividing a color space composed of the plurality of first color components, the distance of the grid points is 2n (where n is an integer smaller than k), the number Dn of grid points of the plurality of first color components is an integer satisfying 2m?1+1<Dn<2m+1+1 (where Dn?2m+1, and m=k?n), and input image data is converted into output image data by converting each color component data of the input image data according to the number of grid points, and performing interpolation processing by reading color correction values corresponding to the converted color components from the 3DLUT.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a counting section for counting pixels belonging to a chromatic text component and chromatic pixels belonging to a component other than the text component among pixels composing image data obtained by reading a document, a comparison section for comparing the counted numbers with respective predetermined values, a determination section for determining that the document contains a chromatic color when either one of the number of the pixels belonging to the text component and the number of the chromatic pixels belonging to the component other than the chromatic text component is not less than the corresponding predetermined value, and an image processing section for performing a process with respect to the image data in accordance with a determination result by the determination section.

Abstract: A document matching process section calculates feature points (e.g., the centroid) on the basis of an inputted document image, then selects a plurality of feature points from among the calculated feature points, and then calculates a hash value on the basis of the selected feature points. Then, on the basis of the calculated features, the document matching process section determines whether the document image is similar to a preliminary reference format (reference image). When it is determined as being similar, the document matching process section determines whether write-in is present in the document image, and then outputs a determination signal (a determination result indicating the presence or absence of write-in). In the determination of similarity of the document image, permission or non-permission for processing such as copying is determined more accurately than in the prior art.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus that captures an image including characters or graphics, determines whether or not the characters or graphics included in the captured image are prepared by handwriting, and applies processing to the image in accordance with a determination result, comprising: means that extracts the feature of an edge regarding objects to be determined such as characters or graphics, and means that determines whether or not the characters or graphics are prepared by handwriting based on extracted characters.

Abstract: A segmentation process section classifies signals of pixels in input image data into respective signals of a black text/low density area, a black text/high density area, a color text area, and an area other than a text area. A black generation and under color removal section performs an under color removal process with respect to the signal of the black text/low density area so that an amount of UCR is a middle value (C, M, Y) of signals indicative of color component density levels. Consequently, it is possible to prevent color fringing and a white spot at a time when chromatic aberration occurs in the input image data.

Abstract: As the color conversion process for image data of an RGB signal, a color correction section 26 performs a color correction process, and a black generation and under color removal section 27 performs a black generation and under color removal process. In the color conversion process, the color correction section 26 and the black generation and under color removal section 27 are supplied with a halftone frequency recognized by a halftone frequency recognition section 23. The color correction section 26 and the black generation and under color removal section 27 change the process based upon the halftone frequency. As a result, an image processing apparatus is realized in which improved image quality can be produced by an optimum image process that is performed on an image containing a halftone area depending upon the halftone frequency of the halftone area so that image quality is improved.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a document type automatic discrimination section that, based upon input image data read from a document, automatically discriminates a document type of the document. The document type automatic discrimination section, based upon plural types of parameters (quantity of halftone pixels, quantity of photographic-picture pixels, and quantity of high density pixels) obtained from plural types of characteristics (maximum density difference, total density busyness) extracted from the input image data and which parameters are used for discriminating a document type. A specific inkjet printed image whose output image data would not reach a standard level, if a process for a halftone reproduction region or a process for a continuous tone region were to be carried out on the input image data. This can improve the accuracy of document discrimination and the image quality of reproduced image.