Abstract: A test page produced by ink pens for calibrating drop weights for at least a first and a second printheads, comprising: a page with an area for color swatches; a plurality of color swatches disposed in the area; and a predetermined substantially uniform color background disposed in said area between and around said plurality of color swatches. In a system embodiment of the present invention, a sensor may be used for sensing spectral data for each color swatch in a plurality of color swatches; and a component may be provided for comparing the sensed spectral data for each color swatch in a plurality of the color swatches to spectral data for the background color and selecting one of the plurality of color swatches which has spectral data which is closest to the background color for use in adjusting ink volume for at least one of the ink pens.

Abstract: A method of compressing a set of image data organized into a matrix of pixels includes selecting a multi-pixel block portion of the data, then performing a mathematical function on the multi-pixel block portion to generate a first result. The multi-pixel block portion is divided into at least two segments, and a function is performed on each of the segments to generate a second result and a third result. Based on a comparison of the first, second, and third results, determining whether or not to compress the multi-pixel block portion. The function may be a deviation or mean measurement and serve to determine the noise level and image detail level to determine whether to compress or divide the block into sub blocks. Sub blocks may be recursively analyzed for compression or subdivision until all sub blocks are compressed or divided into single pixels.

Abstract: A method for white balancing an image. The method may include determining a location of a human facial region within the image. Additionally, the method may include determining skin color of the human facial region. The method also may include determining a correction factor to change the skin color to substantially match a known range of skin colors. Furthermore, the method may include applying the correction factor to the image to provide white balancing.

Abstract: Optimally determined halftoning algorithms are applied to tone values by selecting among combinations of at least two algorithms that best address the tradeoff between output quality and rendering performance. Input tone values are scrutinized and matched with the algorithm combination that processes the associated tone values in a manner that increases performance (including data compressibility) without sacrificing output quality. The selection process is computationally simple and fast. Reliability is ensured because the combinations of halftoning algorithms are tabulated as a result of analysis of test samples of the printed output.

Abstract: Optimally determined halftoning algorithms are applied to tone values by selecting among combinations of at least two algorithms that best address the tradeoff between output quality and rendering performance. Input tone values are scrutinized and matched with the algorithm combination that processes the associated tone values in a manner that increases performance (including data compressibility) without sacrificing output quality. The selection process is computationally simple and fast. Reliability is ensured because the combinations of halftoning algorithms are tabulated as a result of analysis of test samples of the printed output.

Abstract: Optimally determined halftoning algorithms are applied to tone values by selecting among combinations of at least two algorithms that best address the tradeoff between output quality and rendering performance. Input tone values are scrutinized and matched with the algorithm combination that processes the associated tone values in a manner that increases performance (including data compressibility) without sacrificing output quality. The selection process is computationally simple and fast. Reliability is ensured because the combinations of halftoning algorithms are tabulated as a result of analysis of test samples of the printed output.

Abstract: An automatic contrast enhancement method improves the quality of an image by increasing the dynamic range of the tone levels in an image without causing an undesirable hue shift. An overall stretch factor that stretches the dynamic range of all the colors is generated based on the standard deviation of the tone levels for the overall luminance of the image. A color weighting factor is used to individually control the amount that each color is stretched. The color weighting factor is based on the difference between the standard deviation of the tone levels for the overall luminance of the image and the standard deviation of the tone levels for each color. An anchor factor is used to preserve the mean tone level for each color while the tone levels far from the mean tone level are changed more dramatically than the tone levels close to the mean tone level, which minimizes hue shifts while maximizing contrast enhancement.

Abstract: A test page produced by ink pens for calibrating drop weights for at least a first and a second printheads, comprising: a page with an area for color swatches; a plurality of color swatches disposed in the area; and a predetermined substantially uniform color background disposed in said area between and around said plurality of color swatches. In a system embodiment of the present invention, a sensor may be used for sensing spectral data for each color swatch in a plurality of color swatches; and a component may be provided for comparing the sensed spectral data for each color swatch in a plurality of the color swatches to spectral data for the background color and selecting one of the plurality of color swatches which has spectral data which is closest to the background color for use in adjusting ink volume for at least one of the ink pens.

Abstract: An automatic contrast enhancement method improves the quality of an image by increasing the dynamic range of the tone levels in an image without causing an undesirable hue shift. An overall stretch factor that stretches the dynamic range of all the colors is generated based on the standard deviation of the tone levels for the overall luminance of the image. A color weighting factor is used to individually control the amount that each color is stretched. The color weighting factor is based on the difference between the standard deviation of the tone levels for the overall luminance of the image and the standard deviation of the tone levels for each color. An anchor factor is used to preserve the mean tone level for each color while the tone levels far from the mean tone level are changed more dramatically than the tone levels close to the mean tone level, which minimizes hue shifts while maximizing contrast enhancement.

Abstract: An automatic contrast enhancement method improves the quality of an image by increasing the dynamic range of the tone levels in an image without causing an undesirable hue shift. An overall stretch factor that stretches the dynamic range of all the colors is generated based on the standard deviation of the tone levels for the overall luminance of the image. A color weighting factor is used to individually control the amount that each color is stretched. The color weighting factor is based on the difference between the standard deviation of the tone levels for the overall luminance of the image and the standard deviation of the tone levels for each color. An anchor factor is used to preserve the mean tone level for each color while the tone levels far from the mean tone level are changed more dramatically than the tone levels close to the mean tone level, which minimizes hue shifts while maximizing contrast enhancement.

Abstract: Optimally determined halftoning algorithms are applied to tone values by selecting among combinations of at least two algorithms that best address the tradeoff between output quality and rendering performance. Input tone values are scrutinized and matched with the algorithm combination that processes the associated tone values in a manner that increases performance (including data compressibility) without sacrificing output quality. The selection process is computationally simple and fast. Reliability is ensured because the combinations of halftoning algorithms are tabulated as a result of analysis of test samples of the printed output.

Abstract: In an image processing device for processing image data representing an image, and including an image filtering arrangement, a filter function is applied to the image data that greatly amplifies or enhanced high frequency imge data, including noise inherent in the image. Such noise, which may be the granularity of the image, when enhanced, serves to mask the beating pattern of moire. One function which accomplishes adequate high frequency and noise filtering is a modified Laplacian function with a maximum modulation at a frequency of the noise or granularity of the image. Similarly, the special effect of a random screen image or mezzo tint is obtained when a continuous tone image is processed with the modified Laplacian filtering function, and subsequently thresholded in a thresholding arrangement.