Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.

Abstract: Color compression processing capable of sufficiently maintaining a visual constant hue property even after the color compression processing is realized. There is provided a method for generating a profile used to convert a color of a first color reproduction range into a color of a second color reproduction range. The method includes dividing each of the first and second color reproduction ranges into a plurality of regions, performing color space conversion for individual regions in accordance with color space definitions unique to the individual regions, and generating a profile used to convert the color of the first color reproduction range into the color of the second color reproduction range based on color coordinates obtained through the color space conversion performed for individual regions.

Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.

Abstract: A transfer method for transferring data between a digital still camera and a printer in direct communication with each other. The digital still camera stores an image file of an input image and a conversion file including conversion information for carrying out color conversion in a preset color space common to both the digital still camera and the printer. The method includes a first transfer step of transferring from the digital still camera to the printer the conversion file and a second transfer step of transferring the image file from the digital still camera to the printer. The printer carries out color conversion of and outputs the image of the image file transferred in the second transfer step using the conversion information included in the conversion file transferred in the first transfer step.

Abstract: An adapter capable of communicating with an image supply device and an image output device and allowing direct printing even when a plurality of images are transferred at the same time from image supply devices. The adapter transmits a print request associated with a first image to the image output device. If acquisition of a second image is completed before acquisition of the first image completed, the adapter transfers the second image instead of the first image as the image to be printed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a determination unit, a setting unit, and a processing unit to perform an image edge intensifying processing. The obtaining unit obtains image data by reading a document. The determination unit determines an image edge direction. The setting unit sets an edge intensifying processing intensity based on the image data and a processing intensity determined corresponding to a difference between resolution in a main scanning direction and resolution in a sub-scanning direction. The processing unit performs the image edge intensifying processing according to the set intensity. In response to the resolution of the image data being higher in the sub-scanning direction than in the main scanning direction, the setting unit sets a higher intensity of the edge intensifying processing in response to the edge direction being along the sub-scanning direction than in response to the edge direction being along the main scanning direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus which determines an attribute of an image including a pixel to be processed. An image area having a predetermined size including the pixel to be processed is extracted (S701). A variation related to the image area is calculated based on pixel values included in the image area (S705). Pixels in the image area are converted into N-ary data (ternary data or higher) in accordance with the calculated variation (S709). The attribute of the pixel to be processed is determined by analyzing the N-ary data as a result of the N-ary conversion (S711).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus to perform an edge intensifying processing of an image includes an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, a setting unit, and a processing unit. The obtaining unit obtains image data composed of pixels aligned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The calculating unit obtains an edge direction of an image and a variation amount indicating a magnitude of change in a luminance value. The setting unit sets an intensity of the edge intensifying processing. The processing unit performs the edge intensifying processing. In a case where the image data resolution in the sub-scanning direction is higher than in the main scanning direction, the setting unit sets the intensity of the edge intensifying processing to an amount that is higher when the edge direction is the sub-scanning direction than when the edge direction is the main scanning direction.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus for applying an adjusting process to an image including multicolor image signals. An image area including a pixel to be processed is extracted, and one representative signal value is generated from signal values corresponding to a plurality of colors of pixels included in the image area (S2501). A feature amount associated with the image area is calculated based on the representative signal value (S2503, S2505, S2511), and a substitute candidate pixel common to the plurality of colors is selected from the image area based on the calculated feature amount (S2512). Signal values of the pixel to be processed are substituted by new pixel values, which are calculated from the signal values of the pixel to be processed and signal values of the substitute candidate pixel.

Abstract: An image processing method in which the image of a document is extracted from an image including the image of the document on a document positioning table, acquired by a line sensor scanning the document placed on the document positioning table while illuminating the document from the upstream side or the downstream side of the scanning includes extracting the edge of the image on the document positioning table to set a provisional document area based on the edge, detecting a bright area where light incident on the line sensor is excessive, at the illuminated edge on the upstream side or the downstream side in the scanning direction from the image of the provisional area, and determining the area of the document by removing the area where light is excessive from the provisional area.

Abstract: An adaptor which mediates between an image supply device and a printer causes the printer to print by selecting either of the first operation mode in which image data from the image supply device is received by wireless communication and before the completion of receiving the image data, a print job is issued to the printer by wired communication, and the second operation mode in which image data from the image supply device is received by wireless communication and after the completion of receiving the image data, a print job is issued to the printer by wired communication.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus to perform an edge intensifying processing of an image includes an obtaining unit, a calculating unit, a setting unit, and a processing unit. The obtaining unit obtains image data composed of pixels aligned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The calculating unit obtains an edge direction of an image and a variation amount indicating a magnitude of change in a luminance value. The setting unit sets an intensity of the edge intensifying processing. The processing unit performs the edge intensifying processing. In a case where the image data resolution in the sub-scanning direction is higher than in the main scanning direction, the setting unit sets the intensity of the edge intensifying processing to an amount that is higher when the edge direction is the sub-scanning direction than when the edge direction is the main scanning direction.

Abstract: This invention allows printing an image with less image deterioration with respect to a document including both text and an image. An image processing apparatus includes a pixel value acquisition unit which acquires a pixel value of a pixel as a target in an input digital image, and a pixel value correction/modification processing unit which executes a correction/modification process based on the pixel value of the pixel acquired by the pixel value acquisition unit. The pixel value correction/modification processing unit includes a contrast correcting unit which executes contrast correction based on information representing a brightness value corresponding to the pixel value of the pixel, and an intermediate color removing unit which removes intermediate color in the digital image by replacing the pixel value of the pixel by pixel values of pixels around that pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured to apply correction processing to image data having sharpness varying depending on an alignment direction of pixels. The image processing apparatus detects a feature quantity in an edge direction of the image data. The image processing apparatus sets an intensity of the correction processing based on correction intensity which is predetermined based on the sharpness varying depending on the alignment direction of the pixels, according to the detected feature quantity in the edge direction of the image data.

Abstract: An image processing method is used to converting a color within a first color reproduction range that is a device-independent color space into a color within a second color reproduction range that is a color reproduction range of an output device. The image processing method includes defining, within the first color reproduction range, a third color reproduction range of a color that is estimated to be input; defining, within the second color reproduction range, a fourth color reproduction range that is smaller than the second color reproduction range; and, in performing the color conversion, compressing a color within the third color reproduction range into a color within the fourth color reproduction range and compressing a color within the first color reproduction range and outside the third color reproduction range into a color within the second color reproduction range and outside the fourth color reproduction range.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus for applying an adjusting process to an image including multicolor image signals. An image area including a pixel to be processed is extracted, and one representative signal value is generated from signal values corresponding to a plurality of colors of pixels included in the image area (S2501). A feature amount associated with the image area is calculated based on the representative signal value (S2503, S2505, S2511), and a substitute candidate pixel common to the plurality of colors is selected from the image area based on the calculated feature amount (S2512). Signal values of the pixel to be processed are substituted by new pixel values, which are calculated from the signal values of the pixel to be processed and signal values of the substitute candidate pixel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image processing apparatus which applies an adjusting process to an image that includes a pixel to be processed. The image processing apparatus extracts an image area with a predetermined size including the pixel to be processed. The apparatus calculates a variation associated with the pixel to be processed from signal values of pixels included in the image area. The apparatus calculates a variation time count in the image area from the signal values of the pixels included in the image area. The apparatus calculates adjusting levels Fz1, Fz2, and Fe from the variation time count and the variation using a definition unit which defines correspondence among the variation time count, the variation, and the adjusting levels, and applies an adjusting process to a signal value of the pixel to be processed by the calculated adjusting levels.

Abstract: An image correction process that suppresses image deterioration in a printed image is provided. An image correction processing apparatus includes an area setting unit which sets an area comprising a plurality of pixels including an interest pixel, a first correction strength setting unit which adaptively sets a first correction strength for at least the interest pixel in the area based on the number of changes and the changing amount, a first correction unit which executes image correction for a pixel, for which the first correction strength is set, by the first correction strength, a second correction strength setting unit which adaptively sets a second correction strength for at least the interest pixel in the area based on the number of changes and the changing amount, and a second correction unit which executes image correction for a pixel, for which the first correction strength is set, by the second correction strength.

Abstract: Software of a simple configuration checks whether an original image to be corrected is an image picture, and an image correction process based upon a formed histogram of the original image is not performed for an image different from the image picture. An image processing condition is set in accordance with the formed histogram to perform the image correction process for the original image. An image processing method judges from a shape of the formed histogram whether the original image is an image picture, and does not perform not perform the image correction process for the original image if it is judged that the original image is not an image picture.

Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.