Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus which can effectively remove conspicuous noise contained in image data, while suppressing deterioration of image information. Image data containing noise is input from an input terminal (100). Based on the output condition upon outputting image data after noise is removed, a parameter determination module (103) determines predetermined parameters used in a noise removal process. An example of the output condition is information associated with a resolution upon outputting image data. An individual noise removal module (104) removes noise contained in the image data using the parameters, and image data after the noise has been removed is output from an output terminal (105).

Abstract: An input pixel value of input image data is converted to a pixel value within a predetermined range, and a pixel value of pixel of interest of the converted image is quantized for pseudo halftone representation, and a predetermined dot pattern is embedded to the quantized image data. In this manner, the predetermined dot pattern can be added to the input image data such that the predetermined dot pattern is inconspicuous or the degradation of the original image can be reduced.

Abstract: Upon embedding additional information in image information, since an image region in which the additional information can be embedded is limited, the information size that can be embedded is often limited, and all pieces of additional information cannot be embedded. Before the additional information is embedded in the image information, distribution information of pixel values is obtained by scanning the image information, and the information size that can be embedded is detected and displayed on the basis of the obtained distribution information of pixel values.

Abstract: A surrounding pixel reference unit reads out and stores image data having a predetermined size from a line buffer. A color judgment unit detects the color of the image (reference image) stored in the surrounding pixel reference unit. A parameter determination unit determines parameters used in an individual noise removal unit on the basis of the color detected by the color judgment unit, and supplies them to the individual noise removal unit. The individual noise removal unit reads out, from the line buffer, an image which is located at the same position as that read out by the surrounding pixel reference unit and has a size according to the parameters supplied from the parameter determination unit, and executes a noise removal process for the readout image in accordance with the parameters supplied from the parameter determination unit.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program, which can visually remove low-frequency noise contained in image data. Image data containing low-frequency noise is input from an input terminal (201). A window unit (202) designates a window made up of a pixel of interest, and its surrounding pixels. A pixel selector (204) selects a selected pixel to be compared with the pixel of interest from the window, and a pixel value determination unit (206) determines a new pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of the pixel values of the selected pixel and pixel of interest. New image data is generated by substituting the pixel value of the pixel of interest by the new pixel value.

Abstract: This invention is an image processing apparatus capable of adding a reference frame for accurately specifying an image region printed on a printing medium. An image forming unit (13) converts an input image for printing into that of a predetermined resolution. An additional information multiplexer (14) embeds additional information in each predetermined region of the resolution-converted image. A reference frame addition unit 15 adds a predetermined reference frame to the perimeter of the image in which the additional information is embedded. A printer (16) prints the image having the additional information embedded in it and the reference frame onto a printing medium, and outputs a printed image (17).

Abstract: An input pixel value of input image data is converted to a pixel value within a predetermined range, and a pixel value of pixel of interest of the converted image is quantized for pseudo halftone representation, and a predetermined dot pattern is embedded to the quantized image data. In this manner, the predetermined dot pattern can be added to the input image data such that the predetermined dot pattern is inconspicuous or the degradation of the original image can be reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of burying additional information in an image, which can suppress deterioration of image quality and reduce an extraction error rate when extracting the additional information. For implementing the method, in an image processing apparatus for burying predetermined information in a color image, the apparatus comprises an input unit for inputting a color image; a quantizing unit for quantizing the input color image with an error diffusion process for each of predetermined color components; and a quantizing condition control unit for controlling, in accordance with the predetermined information, periodicity at which an amplitude of a quantizing threshold is modulated by the quantizing unit. The quantizing condition control unit controls a phase in the amplitude modulation of the quantizing threshold to be different between at least one of the color components and the other color components.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of embedding predetermined information in an image includes an input unit for inputting the image, a division unit for dividing the input image into plural image regions, a periodicity generation unit for generating plural different periodicities, an addition unit for adding a predetermined value to a pixel value of each pixel in the image region divided by the division unit, on the basis of the periodicity, and a selection unit for selecting the periodicity for the addition from among the plural periodicities, in accordance with the predetermined information. Thus, image quality deterioration is reduced and an extraction error ratio at a time of extracting additional information is also reduced in a method of embedding the additional information in the image.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus developed considering that an embedding or extracting method has not heretofore been changed based on a spatial coordinate on a recording medium or reading device, the apparatus comprising: an input unit for inputting an image, an embedding unit for embedding predetermined information to the inputted image by a predetermined embedding method, an image formation unit for forming the image to which the predetermined information is embedded on the recording medium, and a changeover unit for changing the embedding method by the embedding unit based on the spatial coordinate of the recording medium.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, method, computer program and recording medium capable of embedding a large quantity of additional information in image information upon dispersing the information in such a manner that it will not be noticeable visually. An error correction code is calculated from additional information [x(i)] to be added to image information (D1), and multiplexed information [y(j)] in which the error correction code has been added to the additional information is generated by an error correction encoder (13). Next, the bit sequence of the multiplexed information [y(j)] that has been generated is rearranged into a prescribed bit sequence by a shuffling unit (14), whereby multiplexed information [z(j)] is generated. Furthermore, the multiplexed information [z(j)] whose bit sequence has been rearranged is embedded in the image information (D1) by an additional-information multiplexer (15), whereby image information (D2) is generated.

Abstract: With this invention, upon scanning a print, since additional information recorded together with that print is reproduced while displaying the scanned image, a special effect that cannot normally be obtained from still images can be obtained.

Abstract: A maximum embedding amount can be ensured depending on information to be embedded, by determining an error-correction capability in correspondence with the characteristic of embedded information. For this purpose, upon multiplexing additional information, the additional information is error-correction encoded. At this time, if the additional information is a BMP file, a WAV file or the like, coding is performed with a low error-correction capability since image reproduction can be made without serious problem even if the error-correction capability is low. The error-correction capability is determined by an error-correction parameter determination unit 205 based on an extension of the additional information.