Abstract: In the conventional printing application, it is impossible to easily overview which image is printed in which page, so that there is a drawback that a user is required to perform the printing while imagining printing result. An idea for more quickly providing the printing result at the same time when the printing is performed by simple operation has not been sufficiently made. In order to solve the problems, a printing apparatus includes decoding means for, before an instruction is given, decoding the image to be printed in at least a first sheet with the layout selected by layout selecting means among images selected by image selecting means and printing controlling means for effecting the printing of image data decoded by the decoding means, and a printing method includes steps to be executed in the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A vacuum freeze-drying apparatus capable of rapid drying is provided. A cold trap for drying, which is arranged inside a drying chamber, is set to a low temperature of ?70 degrees Celsius or below, and heat is supplied to frozen particles on a conveyor belt to a degree such that the frozen particles do not melt. The amount of the liquid component evaporating from the frozen particles increases, and the amount of the liquid component entering the frozen particles decreases so that the time for drying the frozen particles is shortened.

Abstract: An image processing method for displaying a simulation image of an image formed on a print medium under a first light-source color on a display device under a second light-source color comprises an acquisition step of acquiring image data to be simulated in a format according to the second light-source color, a reflective color calculation step of calculating a reflective color obtained when the acquired image data is located under an achromatic light-source color, a glossy color calculation step of converting the first light-source color into the format according to the second light-source color, and calculating a glossy color of the image data based on the converted first light-source color, and a generation step of generating an image to be displayed by adding the reflective color calculated in the reflective color calculation step and the glossy color calculated in the glossy color calculation step.

Abstract: Processing for printing image data is speeded up while color gamut is widened and tonality enhanced. An image data processing apparatus for achieving this includes a print-quality acquisition unit adapted to acquire information relating to print quality, and a selection unit adapted to select a combination of a color space and bit precision to which the image data to be printed will be converted, based upon the acquired information relating to print quality. The image data is converted to the color space and bit precision selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: This invention is to easily generate a normal map at a low cost. Hence, image data representing the characteristic of the surface of paper is inputted using an image input device. The type of finish of the paper is determined. Filtering processing corresponding to the type of finish is performed for the image data. A normal map is generated from the image data on which the filtering processing is performed.

Abstract: A complicated operation using a graphics application is necessary in order to create a cover attached to an album. Accordingly, when a cover image to be attached to an output object that includes a digital image is generated, metadata that has been associated with the digital image to be output is read in and the cover image is generating by making selective use of a cover template related to the metadata that has been read in.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible to obtain an enlarged image while suppressing noise and maintaining the sharpness of an original image only by setting a simple enlargement ratio without no special knowledge. Original image data (Ia) is enlarged in accordance with a set enlargement ratio (E) to generate an enlarged image (IA). The enlarged image (IA) is smoothed by using a smoothing filter with a size depending on the enlargement ratio (E) to generate smoothed image data (IB). Difference image data (IC) is generated by calculating the difference between the enlarged image data (IA) and the smoothed image data (IB). The generated difference image data is multiplied by an emphasis coefficient. The product is added to the enlarged image data, thereby obtaining image data (IS) that has undergone enlargement/unsharp masking.

Abstract: Various recording apparatuses and methods, each capable of repeatedly attaching the same meta-data as information related to binary data to a plurality of binary data to generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data. A first recording apparatus generates binary data by image sensing and also generate meta-data as information related to the binary data. This apparatus can repeatedly attach the same meta-data generated to the generated binary data to easily generate a plurality of binary data having meta-data. A second recording apparatus loads and uses binary data instead of generating it and can generate meta-data and repeatedly attach the same meta-data to a plurality of loaded binary data to easily generate binary data having meta-data.

Abstract: An apparatus which automatically generates a digital album by using binary data with meta data. One of previously-provided scenarios and an image data group to be used in an album are selected. Next, keywords described in the meta data of the image data group are compared with keywords of respective templates linked to the selected scenario, and based on the result of comparison, the image data are assigned to the templates. Then, the assigned image data are inserted into image data frames in the templates, thereby a digital album is generated. The album is saved as a SVG file or JPEG image file.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus in which attachment of removable memory card is detected and it is determined whether or not binary data is stored in the memory card. If it is determined that binary data is stored in the memory card, it is further determined whether or not meta data is stored in the memory card. If it is determined that the meta data is stored, the meta data is added to the binary data. If it is determined that no meta data is stored, meta data registration processing is started, and addition processing is performed after registration of the meta data. On the other hand, if it is determined that no binary data is stored, the registration processing is started to register the meta data in the memory card.

Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention displays a display area for displaying the conversion curve indicating a relation between input pixel value and output pixel value and a window having a slider bar. The user can adjust the conversion curve moving a knob of the slider bar. In addition, the conversion curve can be changed by changing the position of one of the plurality of index axes that define the conversion curve in the display area. When the position of an index axis is changed and the conversion curve is adjusted, the state of the slider bar is also revises based on the post-adjustment conversion curve.

Abstract: In the conventional printing application, it is impossible to easily overview which image is printed in which page, so that there is a drawback that a user is required to perform the printing while imagining printing result. An idea for more quickly providing the printing result at the same time when the printing is performed by simple operation has not been sufficiently made. In order to solve the problems, a printing apparatus includes decoding means for, before the an instruction is given, decoding the image to be printed in at least a first sheet with the layout selected by layout selecting means among images selected by image selecting means and printing controlling means for effecting the printing of image data decoded by the decoding means, and a printing method includes steps to be executed in the printing apparatus.

Abstract: Processing for printing image data is speeded up while color gamut is widened and tonality enhanced. An image data processing apparatus for achieving this includes a print-quality acquisition unit adapted to acquire information relating to print quality, and a selection unit adapted to select a combination of a color space and bit precision to which the image data to be printed will be converted, based upon the acquired information relating to print quality. The image data is converted to the color space and bit precision selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: JPEG image data is decoded into YCbCr data, an Exif tag is analyzed, and it is judged whether or not the image is to be emphasized in tonality according to the analyzed result. In case of tonality emphasis, the YCbCr data is converted into sRGB data, and the image data is corrected by an sRGB color space to perform conversion into DeviceRGB data. In case of color gamut emphasis, the YCbCr data is converted into XRGB data, and the image data is corrected by an xRGB color space to perform conversion into the DeviceRGB data. Then, the DeviceRGB data is converted into CMYK data to perform the print.

Abstract: A polishing cloth is adhered to a polishing belt including a window opening for end-point detection. A transparent film, including a liner, that transmits end-point detection light is adhered to a portion of the polishing cloth corresponding to the window opening of the polishing belt. Another liner is adhered via an adhesion layer to the adhesion surface of the polishing cloth at area other than the portion corresponding to the window opening. The polishing cloth includes the transparent film that transmits the end-point detection light at the portion corresponding to the window opening of the polishing belt so that an end point of the surface of the object to be polished can be detected through the transparent film. This prevents slurry to leak inside the belt compared to the conventional technology.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus in which attachment of removable memory card is detected and it is determined whether or not binary data is stored in the memory card. If it is determined that binary data is stored in the memory card, it is further determined whether or not meta data is stored in the memory card. If it is determined that the meta data is stored, the meta data is added to the binary data. If it is determined that no meta data is stored, meta data registration processing is started, and addition processing is performed after registration of the meta data. On the other hand, if it is determined that no binary data is stored, the registration processing is started to register the meta data in the memory card.

Abstract: A complicated operation using a graphics application is necessary in order to create a cover attached to an album. Accordingly, when a cover image to be attached to an output object that includes a digital image is generated, metadata that has been associated with the digital image to be output is read in and the cover image is generating by making selective use of a cover template related to the metadata that has been read in.

Abstract: There are disclosed a method and an apparatus for inputting characters, capable of saving the space of a character input screen and facilitating character inputting, and a storage medium. When the information of a character to be input is selected and input by scrolling a character selection portion displaying predetermined character information to be displayed on the character inputting position of an input result display portion, the input character information is displayed on the input result display portion, and the character selection portion is moved to a next character information inputting position.

Abstract: A data search apparatus for searching search object data that contains binary data and meta-data displays a list of thumbnails that indicate search object data. When a desired thumbnail is designated as search object data from this list display, meta-data contained in the designated search object data is extracted and displayed. When desired data is designated from the displayed meta-data, the designated data is set as a keyword as a search condition. A data search is executed based on the set keyword and meta-data contained in each search object data.

Abstract: An apparatus which automatically generates a digital album by using binary data with meta data. One of previously-provided scenarios and an image data group to be used in an album are selected. Next, keywords described in the meta data of the image data group are compared with keywords of respective templates linked to the selected scenario, and based on the result of comparison, the image data are assigned to the templates. Then, the assigned image data are inserted into image data frames in the templates, thereby a digital album is generated. The album is saved as a SVG file or JPEG image file.