Abstract: A method for simultaneously recording both a picture and a line drawing used in the recording of a reproduced image having a picture with a variable density tone existing together with a line drawing, the method including separately taking a picture signal and a line drawing signal and converting them to digital signals having equal numbers of bits, more than one bit of the digital signals being given a discrimination bit which allows discrimination between the picture signal and the line drawing signal, giving a line drawing bit which indicates the condition of the line drawing to more than one bit of the line drawing signal, dividing the bits into a picture portion, a line drawing portion, and a boundary portion located between the picture portion and the line drawing portion, forming a dot in the picture portion according to picture information of the original image, preferentially putting out line drawing data in the boundary portion, separately providing dot area percentage data to the line drawing porti

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of condensing line-drawing image data (binary image data: drawing or literal data expressed by two logic levels, in which logic "1" represents a "solid" pixel, and logic "0" represents a "vacant" pixel) in which data corresponding to one line-drawing pixel block composed of m.times.n pixels are expressed in a run-length form and/or a bit pattern form in a "word" with data for judging the condition of the line-drawing block and other necessary data.

Abstract: In an image reproducing system, a memory stores B (Blue), G (Green) and R (Red) color component data instead of color separation data Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan) and K (Black) thus permitting the use of a reduced storage capacity memory. The B, G, R signals are converted to Y, M, C, K for output to a recording module, while internal processing is performed on the B, G, R signals. Screen tint generation or flat tone generation operations are performed on the B, G, R data as needed, at least one of the B, G, R signals being specially encoded to identify generation of a flat tone.

Abstract: A method and system for transforming images in reproducing images, in which image data obtained from original pictures are written into or read from a memory according to a specified transformation condition which is preliminarily given to a computer module to designate a scanning start point or start and stop points of each scanning line.

Abstract: In duplication of an original picture in which line drawings coexist therewith, signals obtained by scanning the picture and derived from pictorial elements thereof are processed in such a manner that graphic signals originating from the pictorial elements adjacent one pictorial element of said line drawings are added to a line signal originating from said one pictorial element to thereby prevent a blank unprinted area from taking place along contours of said line drawings recorded on a duplicate.

Abstract: To improve the quality of border pixels located between pictorial components, between a pictorial component and a rule component or between a pictorial component and a screen tint component in an image reproduction system, each border pixel is recorded using image data contained in selected pixels that surround the border pixel being reproduced. Which ones of the surrounding pixels are selected are determined by a digital word associated with the border pixel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of using a buffer memory for storing a plurality of picture signals wherein picture signals of more than one types are stored in an alternating manner into a buffer memory and the stored picture signals are read out at predetermined address intervals so that the picture signal of a desired type may be picked out for subsequent use for each of the types. According to the method of this invention, the number of the types of the picture signals may be arbitrary since the memory device does not have to be divided into a plurality of blocks, and all the picture signals may be stored, substantially as they are picked up at a scanning head, in a buffer memory. To eliminate any time lag in the exact timing of picking up the picture signals of various types, a sample and hold circuit may be conveniently used.

Abstract: An asynchronous color separation system comprises a plurality of picture input units for supplying a set of color-separated picture signals corresponding respectively to color components to be subjected to color tone controls. A scanner data processor is provided for selectively receiving the set of color-separated picture signals from the plurality of picture input units and contains at least one set of look-up tables adapted to carry out desired color tone controls on the thus-received set of color-separated picture signals. A plurality of picture reproducing units includes at least one central processing unit. The central processing unit selectively controls the distribution of color separated picture signals from the scanner data processor to the various reproducing units in accordance with a predetermined order of preference. The reproducing units provide a reproduced permanent or temporary picture.

Abstract: A machine and method of picture reproduction wherein a picture on a first cylinder is scanned and the signals produced are color-corrected, digitalized, and fed into a memory. Then the stored values are read out from the memory at the same frequency as they were put in, and are converted to analog form and used to record a picture on a light-sensitive film mounted on a second cylinder. Magnification or reduction is provided by controlling the addresses of the read-out values so that some values are either read out several times, or skipped.

Abstract: A method for subdividing the addresses of a multi-dimensional memory, having n-dimensional addresses defined over a logical address space which is divided into a plurality of unit divisions. Each unit division has several vertices each of which is addressable by one of the n-dimensional addresses. Each one of the addresses associated with a given unit division is divided and allocated to a distinct memory bank so that no two addresses of the same unit division are in the same memory bank. There are a total of 2.sup.n memory banks, each having independent data lines and address lines. The original n-dimensional address of the vertices determines to which memory bank the vertex address will be allocated. Moreover, the n-dimensional address also determines the address of the given vertex within the memory bank to which it has been allocated.

Abstract: The method of obtaining a reproduced printed picture such as a separated color film, without the necessity for modifications typically associated with a retouching work for such prints. In accordance with the invention, data signals representing quantity and area of retouching work are determined with the aid of a monitored picture which is obtained on a CRT screen through similar treatment as is done in a color scanner. The data signals are stored in a memory device, and are read out and added to recording signals of a color scanner to provide a composite recording signal which includes the desired retouching. Where the monitored picture represents a plurality of picture elements corresponding to data points stored in the memory device, data retrieved from the memory device is interpolated for presentation as the monitored picture. Interpolation may be linear, and is provided in two dimensions in order to provide a smoothed monitored image.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing eclectic masks, the method comprising a computation of contour signals and a step of entering them in portions of a proper memory medium wherein said computation is conducted, by CPU, simultaneously with the usual treatment of image signals in the photographical plate making process. Said portions for contour signals are allotted in said medium so as to have the same addresses as those for the usual image signals stored in other medium, or more conveniently each of the contour signals is incorporated into each of the image signals, so that in a layout operation on a monitor screen the eclectic mask composed of corrected contour signals can be easily and accurately superposed on or collated with the pictorial image of the picture to be formed on the printing plate.

Abstract: An original picture is photoelectrically scanned to produce image signals that are written on addresses of a memory at intervals corresponding to a magnification ratio. Each of the thus skipped over addresses are subsequently filled up with the image signal written on the leading address. Blank addresses adjacent to and interposed between the addresses allocated zigzag to contour lines of a figure in the picture are complemented with the image signals stored on the zigzag addresses near to the blank addresses. The originally written signals, filled up signals as well as complemented signals are then read to control a recording device.

Abstract: In scanning and recording an original picture and a character document so as to produce a reproduce synthesized from said picture and said document, picture signals and character signals both generated by the scanning are arranged in data formats of the same word length. Each character signal is caused to correspond to plural fine picture elements that are defined by finely dividing one picture element of the original picture so that the characters may be processed with a resolving power higher than that for said picture. The data formats include a discrimination signal by which the picture signals are selected to be output only when the character signals do not exist in processing circuit.

Abstract: A method for correcting gradation of output data for reproducing a picture image, for use in a picture digital processing system wherein picture data is processed by using one or a plurality of lookup table memories aligned in series, wherein a variable number of lower bits of input data to be input to the lookup table memory, the number of the lower bits of the input data being varied depending on the input data and the input-output characteristics of the one lookup table memory or the total input-output characteristics of the plurality of lookup table memories, is added as correction data to data output by the one or the plurality of lookup table memories.

Abstract: The proposed method comprises a step of indicating the menu portions which must be operated in any processing step in computer processing, wherein the indication is desirably performed by means of light sources of different colors some of which are selected alternatively and sequentially so as to be switched on in each different step. The proposed apparatus is constructed such that it might be suited for and utilized in the proposed method in that it comprises plural cells each provided on the back sides of said menu portions thereby plural light sources of different colors being disposed in each cell. Each of said lighting sources may alternatively be disposed on the front of the digitizer and near each menu portion.

Abstract: Set-up data for a photo-electric scanner are prepared in the form of graphs using an X-Y recorder or the like for the convenience of storage, modification and recognition. Such a method according to this invention is conveniently and accurately carried out through the use of the apparatus according to this invention which can read the graphs using an image sensor and convert them into sets of digital values so as to be accessible from the photo-electric scanner.

Abstract: Color separation condition selecting means for setting up color separation conditions to a picture scanning and recording machine such as a color scanner and a color facsimile, wherein input means inputs factors for determining color separation conditions, processing means selectively outputs the most proper color separation conditions or a symbol representing those depending on the input factors, and output means outputs the selected result of the processing means, and wherein the processing means possesses a construction corresponding to a decision tree which is composed of the input factors and the color separation conditions resulting from the input factors.

Abstract: A multiplicity of special points are identified and recorded as a photoelectrical scanning process. Each special point is marked as an annular pattern on a pattern sheet. The ground of the pattern sheet, the annular pattern and the interior of the annular pattern may have various optical densities and color properties and through detection of such optical properties with at least one light receiving head the exact center of the interior of the annular pattern is detected. This method will be highly useful in automatically drilling holes for mounting component parts in a printed circuit board as a process in the manufacture of printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A method for producing a halftone plate from an original picture having a continuous tone directly, for use in a picture reproducing machine such as a color scanner and a color facsimile, wherein a reproduction picture is recorded on a photosensitive material by means of a plurality of exposure light beams which are independently modulated by picture signals obtained by scanning the original picture, wherein a halftone dot area is quantized into picture elements depending on a screen angle approximate to the desired screen angle, whose tangent value is a rational number, and the picture elements are indentified by address numbers in a predetermined order, wherein data for halftone dot area rates and forms of halftone dot patterns are stored in addresses of memories to be addressed by a common address, and then one of the memories is selected depending on the picture signals, and wherein the data is read out of the selected memory, and the exposure light beams are controlled by the read-out data.