Abstract: An apparatus comprises a generation unit configured to generate a plurality of layouts by arranging at least one image on a template; a decision unit configured to decide a display order of the plurality of layouts generated by the generation unit such that a similarity between two layouts that are successive in the display order becomes not more than a predetermined similarity; and a display control unit configured to cause a display device to display the plurality of layouts in accordance with the display order decided by the decision unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire main object information specifying a main object in generation of a layout image, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire object correlation information specifying an object having a correlation with the main object, an extraction unit configured to extract at least one image including the main object and at least one image including the object having the correlation with the main object from a plurality of images based on the acquired main object information and the acquired object correlation information acquired, and a generation unit configured to generate, using a layout template, a layout image in which the at least one image extracted by the extraction unit and including the main object and the at least one image extracted by the extraction unit and including the object having the correlation with the main object are laid out therein.

Abstract: An apparatus extracts feature information from an object of image data. The apparatus registers the extracted feature information in a dictionary. The apparatus refers to the dictionary and determines a similarity between feature information registered in the dictionary and the extracted feature information. The apparatus does not use, of feature information to be registered in the dictionary, feature information not satisfying a predetermined evaluation criterion in similarity determination.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique for generating a layout which matches preferences of more persons by selecting images having high preference evaluation values including not only preference degrees explicitly set by the user but also access counts in response to browse instructions and the like. To this end, using both a value indicating a preference degree explicitly set for a given image by the user and an interest degree (automatic preference degree) determined based on a browse count, an importance degree (preference evaluation value) for that image is obtained. Then, images to be laid out on a template are determined according to the importance degrees.

Abstract: A method includes a state determination step of determining the quality of an object in image data, an extraction step of extracting feature information from the object, and a registration step of registering, in a dictionary, the feature information extracted in the extraction step. In the registration step, when the quality of the object determined in the determination step is lower than a predetermined reference, registration of the feature information of the object in the dictionary by the registration step is not performed.

Abstract: There is provided an image copying apparatus provided with a scanner and a printer, the image copying apparatus comprising: an obtaining unit which obtains image data by causing the scanner to scan an image of an original; a correction unit which performs correction processing that adds, to saturation, a value corresponding to a difference between lightness before and after performing predetermined editing processing on the image data, with respect to a region where a correction is performed designated near the maximum saturation of a color gamut of the printer; and a control unit which causes the printer to print the image data corrected by the correction unit.

Abstract: Image data can be subjected to a smoothing processing to improve a color reproduction characteristic and an image free from a deteriorated gradation characteristic can be printed. Specifically, the smoothing processing improves the color reproduction characteristic. This smoothing processing may cause a color originally not having the lightness equal to or lower than blacking lightness to be converted to a color having lightness equal to or lower than the blacking lightness. To solve this, such a color is subjected to a gradation adjustment processing to convert the color to the color having the lightness higher than blacking lightness. A gamut mapping does not map such a color on a black point, thus preventing such a color from being broken by the blacking.

Abstract: A pixel in a photograph region image to be subjected to blacking is subjected to a brightness modulation processing so that the pixel is modulated to any of “a pixel having the brightness to be subject to blacking” and “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking”. Specifically, the modulation by noise addition converts some pixels for which original pixel values are to be subjected to blacking to a pixel having the brightness not subjected to blacking. Thereby, “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking” thus converted has no change in brightness in the blacking processing. Consequently, a pixel at which the blacking processing is not generated can be caused to exist in the photograph image. As a result, even when the blacking processing set for character/line region is similarly set for the photograph region, the effect of the blacking can be reduced.

Abstract: For a printing apparatus which saves on a color material, an image processing apparatus is realized which enables a user to incur printing costs only for necessary information and necessary areas in a print product. For this purpose, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a separation unit configured to analyze and separate print information into text, photograph, and graphic constituent elements, a display unit configured to display information about a color material used amount to be used in printing for each of the separated constituent elements, and a setting unit configured to allow a user to set a change in the color material used amount for each of the separated constituent elements.

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: A recording apparatus comprises a writing unit adapted to write data on a recording medium, a selection unit adapted to select data to be written on the recording medium from a storage medium configured to store a plurality of data, and a display control unit adapted to cause a display device to display a display screen concerning printing before the data selected by said selection unit is copied from the storage medium onto the recording medium, wherein said display control unit causes the display unit to display the display screen if there is a restriction on the number of times of copying of the data.

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: In a print system for causing a printer to print an image on the basis of image data supplied from a portable communication apparatus by direct communication between the portable communication apparatus and the printer, the print function of the printer is obtained. When print conditions input by using the UI of the portable communication apparatus cannot be implemented by the print function of the printer, the portable communication apparatus requests a server to execute corresponding processing. A result processed by the server is received, and the printer is caused to print the image.

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: 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.