Abstract: In an RIP processing apparatus, layout information of each of objects arranged in original data is obtained to generate initial attribute information. In a print inspection apparatus, the initial attribute information is transformed in accordance with an inspection object image to generate attribute information and a print inspection parameter reflecting the attribute information is set. In performing a print inspection, an area in object image data which is intended for the print inspection is specified by the attribute of image element. With this operation, even when image areas of different attributes are mixed, an optimum print inspection for each image area can be performed and it is therefore possible to efficiently obtain a significant inspection result by one operation on the whole of object image data.

Abstract: Interpolation of gradation levels of an image without degradation of the quality of the image is disclosed. The image is searched in the vertical direction from an objective pixel (Pt) to be subjected to the gradation level interpolation for a high-level pixel (Pvh) located closest to the objective pixel (Pt), and then searched in the horizontal direction from the objective pixel (Pt) for a high-level pixel (Phh) located closest to the objective pixel (Pt). A comparison is made between the high-level pixels (Pvh, Phh) to determine the distance from the objective pixel (Pt) to one of the high-level pixels which is closer to the objective pixel (Pt) as a high-level distance (Dhigh). Similar operation is performed to extract low-level pixels (Pvl, Phl), and a comparison is made therebetween to determine a low-level distance (Dlow). The gradation level of the objective pixel (Pt) is determined based on the high-level distance (Dhigh) and low-level distance (Dlow).

Abstract: An active layer of a semiconductor laser element held by a laser mount is formed to be closer to the bottom than to the center of the height of the semiconductor laser element. A laser beam emitted from the active layer passes through a collective lens and an optical isolator and enters an incidence portion of an optical fiber. Returning light reflected by the incidence portion of the optical fiber passes through the optical isolator and the collective lens and is collected onto an end face of the laser mount. The optical isolator includes first and second rutiles which transmit normal light with refraction and abnormal light without refraction, a Faraday element which rotates a polarization plane of transmitted light in the clockwise direction by 45 degrees, and a permanent magnet for applying a magnetic field to the Faraday element.

Abstract: A mask area is specified as a target area of modification in a multi-tone image. The multi-tone image is converted to a plurality of binary images with a plurality of threshold values. A plurality of density-contours corresponding to the plurality of binary images are extracted. Without implementing any contraction or expansion, a portion overlapping the contour of the mask area is deleted from each extracted density-contour. A plurality of modified density-contours which do not include the portions overlapping the contour of the mask area are converted back to a modified multi-tone image.

Abstract: The multi-tone image data is converted to a plural sets of binary image data with a plurality of density levels as threshold values. Contraction and expansion are sequentially executed on the plural sets of binary image data to correct a contour of each binary image. The plural sets of the processed binary image data are re-converted to multi-tone image data which represents a multi-tone image having a corrected contour.