Abstract: There is described an image-processing apparatus, which makes it possible to compensate for the defect pixel without causing a sense of incongruity in the image. The apparatus includes an image signal acquiring section to acquire the image signals representing an image recorded on a recording medium, a recognizing section to recognize a presence or absence of a defect pixel possibly included in the image signals and a compensating section to compensate for the defect pixel. The compensating section compensates for the defect pixel so that first order differential values of image signals of the defect pixel and those of non-defect pixels adjacent to the defect pixel continue to each other. The compensating section applies a multi-resolution conversion processing to the image signals so as to decompose them into high frequency band components and a low frequency band component, signal intensities of which are compensated for.

Abstract: There is described an image-processing apparatus, which makes it possible to clearly and accurately recognize the image defect caused by the defect of the recording medium. The apparatus processes image signals acquired by scanning an image, recorded on a recording medium, with an image reading light. The apparatus includes a defect-detecting signal generating section to scan the image with a defect detecting light, so as to generate defect detecting signals, which can be employed for detecting a defect of the image; a converting section to apply a multiple-resolution conversion processing to the defect detecting signals, generated by the defect-detecting signal generating section, so as to decompose the defect detecting signals into multiple-resolution signal components; and a recognizing section to recognize a presence or absence of the defect in the image, based on the multiple-resolution signal components decomposed by the converting section.

Abstract: (1) a composition for forming a far-infrared-emitting layer, the composition comprising (i) a liquid composition which contains a ceramics-forming material and which is capable of forming a ceramics layer by gelation induced by polymerization and (ii) at least one pigment capable of emitting far-infrared radiation; and(2) a far-infrared heater comprising a heat source, and a protective means which has a far-infrared-emitting layer formed thereon by applying thereto the composition as defined above in (1) to cause gelation of the coating layer by polymerization.