Abstract: A method for rendering a raster output level determines an image position of a pixel of interest (POI) within an image. An intended raster output level, which corresponds to the POI, is received into a processing device. A final raster input level is determined as a function of the image position and the intended raster output level. The final input level and the image position are transmitted to an output device. An actual raster output level is rendered, via the output device, at a position on an output medium corresponding to the image position. The actual raster output level substantially matches the intended raster output level.

Abstract: A method for rendering a raster output level determines an image position of a pixel of interest (POI) within an image. An intended raster output level, which corresponds to the POI, is received into a processing device. A final raster input level is determined as a function of the image position and the intended raster output level. The final input level and the image position are transmitted to an output device. An actual raster output level is rendered, via the output device, at a position on an output medium corresponding to the image position. The actual raster output level substantially matches the intended raster output level.

Abstract: A method for rendering a raster output level determines an image position of a pixel of interest (POI) within an image. An intended raster output level, which corresponds to the POI, is received into a processing device. A final raster input level is determined as a function of the image position and the intended raster output level. The final input level and the image position are transmitted to an output device. An actual raster output level is rendered, via the output device, at a position on an output medium corresponding to the image position. The actual raster output level substantially matches the intended raster output level.

Abstract: A method for processing digital images to be displayed, stored, or printed, to eliminate blooming and other artifacts. The system utilizes morphological processes to isolate and modify image structures susceptible to marking process artifacts and then combines the modified image structures with the input image to produce a printable image that may be rendered on a given printer.

Abstract: A method of reproducing a document including halftoned regions therein scans the document to generate scanned image data comprising a digitized representation of said document. The scanned image data that corresponds to the halftoned regions is then rendered using a compact rendering process that includes positioning an observation window about a target pixel and a neighboring pixel; selecting a fill-order based upon a result of the analyzing step; and generating a high addressability pixel as a function of the selected fill-order.

Abstract: A compact rendering processor for processing image data including a multi-bit halftone region generates high addressability pixels. The compact rendering processor includes a tagging sub-processor operating on the image data to identify a target pixel and a neighboring pixel to determine a fill-order. The compact rendering processor also includes a rendering sub-processor that converts the target pixel into a high addressability pixel based upon the fill-order. Optionally, a diffusion sub-processor can be included to diffuse an error resulting from the conversion of the target pixel into a high addressability pixel to other pixels within the image data.

Abstract: Error is distributed to pixels neighboring a pixel of interest based on a ranking of the neighboring pixels. The ranking is based on pixel values of the neighboring pixels. Optionally a spatial weighting is applied to the pixel values before ranking, to provide a preference for pixels closest to the pixel of interest or to a particular portion of a related halftone screen. Rank order based error diffusion provides compact halftone dots without patterning artifacts. An image processing system operative to perform rank order error diffusion includes a pixel ranker and an error diffuser. In a xerographic environment the image processing system includes a xerographic printer.

Abstract: A method of processing a high addressability binary image comprises converting the high addressability binary image to gray-scale image data; manipulating the gray-scale image data; and rendering the manipulated gray-scale image to a high addressability format using a compact rendering process.

Abstract: A method for rendering a raster output level determines an image position of a pixel of interest (POI) within an image. An intended raster output level, which corresponds to the POI, is received into a processing device. A final raster output level is determined as a function of the image position and the intended raster output level. The final output level and the image position are transmitted to an output device. An actual raster output level is rendered, via the output device, at a position on an output medium corresponding to the image position. The actual raster output level substantially matches the intended raster output level.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for performing filtering operations on a digital image. One embodiment is enhancement of the contour fidelity of the image represented by a plurality of pixels, by storing pixel values representing a segment of the image in memory; isolating a plurality of regions of the pixels of said image segment to form a plurality of windows including a central pixel and a plurality of pixels surrounding said central pixel. Then comparing at least two of the regions of pixels within the windows with a set of standard pixel patterns for each of the windows and identifying matching pixel patterns within each of the windows.

Abstract: A method for processing digital images to be displayed, stored, or printed, to eliminate blooming and other artifacts. The system utilizes morphological processes to isolate and modify image structures susceptible to marking process artifacts and then combines the modified image structures with the input image to produce a printable image that may be rendered on a given printer.

Abstract: A method for processing digital images to be displayed, stored, or printed, to eliminate blooming and other artifacts. The system utilizes morphological processes to isolate and modify image structures susceptible to marking process artifacts and then combines the modified image structures with the input image to produce a printable image that may be rendered on a given printer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for overloading operators in Page Description Language (PDL) defined graphics redefines the graphic, such as to compensate for certain undesirable line growth characteristics of a target printer or display device. Line width can be controlled based on various attributes, such as color, size, or width. Additionally, the method and apparatus determine whether a line of an object of the graphic intersects with or completely overlays another object. If it does, only those overlying portions are redefined. A line of the graphic can be redefined to be wider, narrower or of a differing color to achieve a desired printed graphic. Also, the method and apparatus can compensate for fill in of reverse-line and “cookie-cutter” holes. The method, performed within a decomposer, examines individual lines of a PDL defined graphic, determines if compensation is needed to achieve a desired printed output, and redefines an operator to achieve the compensation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for overloading operators in Page Description Language (PDL) defined graphics adjusts widths of lines in a manner that yields preferred line widths, such as to compensate for certain undesirable line growth characteristics of a target printer or display device. Line width can be controlled based on various attributes, such as color, size, width, pattern or orientation. Line width can be redefined to be wider, narrower or of a differing color to achieve a desired printed graphic. The method, performed within a decomposer, examines individual lines of a PDL defined graphic, determines if compensation is needed to achieve a desired printed output, and redefines a modification attribute to achieve the compensation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the identification and tagging of antialiased pixels within regions of an image. The techniques described improve the recognition of fine gray features and enable the detection of both black and white features on high and low contrast backgrounds. The system relies on the establishment of the sense (positive/negative) of an image by first using a histogramming operation. Once the sense is determined, a plurality of logical channels are used to select a threshold, binarize a region of the image, generate a vector representative of the region, and to process the vector to identify whether an antialiased pixel is present therein. Subsequently, the output of the channels is logically combined to produce an antialias tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for overloading operators in Page Description Language (PDL) defined graphics redefines the graphic, such as to compensate for certain undesirable line growth characteristics of a target printer or display device. Line width can be controlled based on various attributes, such as color, size, width, pattern or orientation. Line width can be redefined to be wider, narrower or of a differing color to achieve a desired printed graphic. Also, the method and apparatus can compensate for fill in of reverse-line and “cookie-cutter” holes. The method, performed within a decomposer, examines individual lines of a PDL defined graphic, determines if compensation is needed to achieve a desired printed output, and redefines an operator to achieve the compensation. The compensation can include addition of wider reverse (white) lines under colored lines to prevent the fill in.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the control of darkness/lightness in a digital image rendered by a printing system. The technique preferably employs templates to selectively apply different amounts of darkening (lightening) to borders of structures detected within the image dependent upon the need for darkening (lightening).

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for logic based resolution conversion of digital images. The invention employs an interlocked area mapping technique to provide one or more resolution converted bit planes of digital image data. The system has particular use in highlight color systems, wherein the highlight color data may be processed separately for each color plane, using the present invention, and then recombined to produce enhanced highlight color output.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for resolution enhancement of gray-scale input images including text and line art, and more particularly to a filtering method and image processing apparatus for enhancement of high contrast line edges found in continuous tone (gray-scale) images without requiring that the input image data include predetermined tag bits to identify region types (e.g., continuous tone or text and line art).

Abstract: A multi-track tape player having at least one program or commercial message recorded on each of a plurality of the tracks thereof is connected to a source of background music by a control system which, periodically, in response to a control signal from a timing mechanism, activates successive ones of the tracks of the tape player. As the commercial message or program commences, the background material is caused to fade out until the completion of the program, whereupon the background returns. A separate volume control for the tape player and background material allows the commercial message to be played at a higher volume than the background material. Further the control system includes various special selection circuits and overrides which adapt the control system to skip tracks, cancel a program being played, or start a program regardless of the timing sequence of the timing means.