Abstract: An image processing system such as a multi-function device (MFD) with an “e-reader” mode is disclosed. The e-reader mode can be activated by a user from the MFD user interface, or automatically detected by the system if the mode is set to “auto.” Once in e-reader mode, the system automatically locates the area corresponding to the e-reader screen, crops it, de-skews it when necessary, and enhances the image. In addition, N-Up (printing several pages of content on one physical page) may be applied if users desire. The enhancement adjusts background color, boosts the contrast, and de-blurs the image when necessary. Two embodiments of enhancement are presented. The first one performs Tone Reproduction Curve (TRC) adjustment and possible de-blurring on the entire screen area. The second one segments the screen area into three kinds of objects (text/picture/background). Different TRCs are applied to enhance the objects.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit to read a plurality of different images from a single image at various focal distances, and an image processing unit to extract clear pixels from the read images to synthesize the extracted pixels. According to the apparatus and a method thereof, an image is scanned several times at various focal distances to extract pixels having a clear picture quality in each corresponding pixel or block, and a synthesized image including only the extracted pixels is generated, so that the construction of the image processing apparatus can be simplified and the manufacturing cost thereof can be minimized while a clear image is being obtained.

Abstract: An image read processing device connected to a scanner reading an image of a document comprises at least a memory and a controller. The memory comprises a setting information recording unit that records a setting information with an application to start up depending on a document size defined there. The controller comprises a scanner controlling unit that controls the scanner, a document size checking unit that checks the document size of the image read out by the scanner according to the control of the scanner controlling unit, and a start-up application determining unit that determines the application depending on the document size checked by the document size checking unit, based on the setting information recorded in the setting information recording unit and starts up the application.

Abstract: A color compensation apparatus, a color compensation method, an image forming apparatus, and a computer readable recording medium are provided. The color compensation apparatus includes a color scheme analyzing unit to classify an input image into one or more objects and to compute average color values for each of the classified one or more objects, a storage unit to store a color table proposed for color compensation, and a color compensating unit to compensate the average color values computed for each of the classified one or more objects using colors of the stored color table which match the computed average color values.

Abstract: Haptic security features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied on a surface of a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. The haptic security features are complemented by visual features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features, and/or otherwise to features of an underlying image that is already printed on the substrate. One or more colored ink layers that includes characters or other features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features is embedded into the haptic security features on the surface of the substrate to form a composite security feature that has visual information as well as haptic response. Haptic security features are based on redundantly encoding features that are pre-printed on the substrate in a preliminary step of forming a visual image on the substrate by overprinting portions of the underlying pre-printed image related to the haptic security features.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus with a preview function and a monochrome/color automatic detection function, capable of displaying a preview of original image data immediately next a detection result has been switched such as from color to monochrome, or monochrome to color, with a simple operation. On receipt of an operation of a next skip button by a user, a preview image display control portion refers to a detection result recording table and displays a preview of image data of a top page in an image data group (unit) that is next the image data being displayed for previewing currently.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an object type determining unit that determines whether a drawing object in the input image data includes a color character group; a background area extracting unit that extracts the background area on which the color character group is formed in the drawing object; a monochromatic conversion unit that, when the drawing object is determined to include the color character group, generates monochromatic image data by performing monochromatic conversion of the input image data with minimum luminance of a main color; a pattern generating unit that, when the drawing object is determined to include the color character group, generates, according to the hue of the color character group, pattern image data to be added to the background area of the post-monochromatic-conversion color character group; and a synthesizing unit that synthesizes the monochromatic image data and the pattern image data.

Abstract: Processing is optimized in advance during interpretation of PDL data, so as to accelerating rendering processing during processing associated with image formation. To this end, it is determined whether or not the addition of intermediate data based on PDL data during interpretation to that which is already generated during the processing associated with image formation considerably reduces a speed of the rendering processing.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store shared printer drivers classified into a plurality of product categories each including one or more printing apparatuses, and correspondence information between the shared printer drivers and the printing apparatuses, an acquisition unit configured to acquire product specifying information for specifying a printing apparatus from among the printing apparatuses, a determination unit configured to determine a shared printer driver corresponding to a product category corresponding to the product specifying information acquired by the acquisition unit based on the correspondence information stored in the storage unit, even if the shared printer driver is not included in the correspondence information, a setup unit configured to perform setup using the shared printer driver determined by the determination unit.

Abstract: The color image forming apparatus includes a CPU configured to correct a result of detecting a toner patch by a density sensor based on a result of detecting a first white reference plate by the density sensor, and to control a density or chromaticity of a toner image based on a result of detecting the toner patch by the density sensor corrected by the CPU. The CPU is configured to further correct the result of detecting the first white reference plate by the density sensor based on a result of detecting, by the density sensor, a second white reference plate for correcting the first white reference plate. With this configuration, a correction of a sensor output is performed with high accuracy, and detection accuracy of the density or the chromaticity by the sensor is enhanced.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving color data for an object to be printed and performing post color processing for each pixel in the object if the object is a graphics/text object, while no processing is performed if the object is an image object. Post color processing is performed by determining if a pixel is black or gray and converting the pixel to K only black color if the pixel is black or gray.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a setting section and an image processing section. The setting section sets a process condition of electrophotographic image formation suited to reading of an information image that represents data by a pattern. The image processing section performs an image process for preventing degradation, in image quality, of an image other than the information image under the process condition set through the setting section.

Abstract: A color-unevenness inspection apparatus includes: an image pickup section picking up an image of an inspection target for a color-unevenness inspection; an image generation section generating an uneven-color image by determining one or more uneven-color regions existing in the picked-up image of the inspection target obtained by the image pickup section, and by classifying unit regions included in each of the uneven-color regions into a plurality of color groups; a calculation section calculating, on the uneven-color regions in the uneven-color image, an evaluation parameter to be used in the color-unevenness inspection; a correction section making a correction to the calculated evaluation parameter in consideration of a difference of color-unevenness visibility between the color groups; and an inspection section performing the color-unevenness inspection, based on a resultant evaluation parameter obtained by the correction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a character information acquisition unit configured to acquire character information included in each of a body region and a caption region; an accumulation unit configured to divide the character information acquired from the body region into predetermined set units and to accumulate the character information and position information of the divided set unit in a memory; an anchor term extraction unit configured to extract an anchor term from the character information acquired from the caption region; an anchor term search unit configured to search, based on the character information accumulated in the memory for each set unit, for the set unit including the anchor term extracted; a link information generation unit configured to generate link generation information that associates the set unit found by the anchor term search unit with the object region to which the caption region including the anchor term is appended.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which is capable of efficiently performing color/monochrome determination of characters as a print object. A printer driver determines whether a character as the print object is a character which is necessary to be drawn or a character which is not necessary to be drawn. Then, when the character as the print object is determined to be a character which is not necessary to be drawn, the printer driver determines that the character as the print object is in monochrome.

Abstract: A method for processing a high dynamic range (HDR) image for printing. Tone mapping is first applied to the input image to map the colors, to find an optimized range of brightness values, and to scale the color to place colors inside the optimized range (in-range colors) into a device color space (e.g. sRGB), but without clipping colors outside of the optimized range (out-of-range colors). The scaled colors are then converted to the color space of the output device (e.g. CMYK) using WCS (Windows Color System) color transform, where the in-range colors are processed using a optimized transform and the out-of-range are processed using a sequential transform. A mapping from the original color space to the converted color space for all colors in the image is stored in a lookup table (LUT), and the input image is converted to the output image using the LUT.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes an image scanning unit that reads an image from an original sheet by scanning an image-formed surface of the original sheet with light in a main-scanning direction and converting light reflected from the image-formed surface into electricity using a photoelectric conversion element; a shading correction unit that performs shading correction on an image signal created by reading the image from the original sheet; a white member that faces a scanning surface of the image scanning unit; and a reference-white-data creating unit that creates reference white data for the shading correction by scanning a surface of the white member using the image scanning unit; and an interval controlling unit that decreases an interval between a scanning surface of the image scanning unit and a surface of the white member when the reference-white-data creating unit creates the referential white data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus controls a formation of dots in a recording element configured to perform scanning on a sheet-like recording medium to form dots of different colors on a surface of the recording medium. The image processing apparatus makes a constraint according to cyan and magenta constraint information applied to a same scanning operation stronger than a constraint according to cyan and magenta constraint information applied to mutually adjacent scanning operations.

Abstract: The colorimetric values of a plurality of reference color patches formed on a specific medium are measured at a plurality of temperatures, and a temperature characteristic LUT in a colorimetric value temperature correction unit is created based on the colorimetric values. Upon creating a calibration LUT, a patch based on arbitrary device values is formed on the medium, and a patch temperature and colorimetric values are acquired immediately after fixing of that patch. A correction target temperature as a temperature upon observation of the medium is, for example, fixed, the colorimetric values are corrected by interpolation processing based on the temperature characteristic LUT to obtain colorimetric values, and a calibration LUT is created based on the colorimetric values.

Abstract: An image revising method, an image forming apparatus, and a method for revising image spreading are provided. The image revising method includes regulating a black color level in a black area of an input image; adjusting a color level of at least one other color excluding the black color in the black area; and revising the image by applying the regulated black color level and the adjusted color level of the at least one other color. Thus, in copying a document, the black color with the enhanced legibility can be serviced.

Abstract: An image acquiring unit reads an original and outputs whole image data of the original including a vertical streak portion corresponding to a location of a foreign material on a read surface of the reading unit. A storing unit stores therein the image data output from the image acquiring unit. A dividing unit defines an edge portion of the image data and divides the image data into vertical-streak-correction subject data and image portion data. A vertical-streak correcting unit performs a correction process on the vertical-streak-correction subject data to compensate a degradation in image quality due to the foreign material.

Abstract: An available image area is recognized from information, including a read start position and a read end position of a document, a scaling for performing image processing, a processing object position, or the like. Subsequently, the number of chromatic pixels of one line is counted to output it to a memory, and when it is summed up to an end line of the available image area, a difference between a count number N1 in one previous line of the available image area and a count number N2 in the end line of the available image area is calculated to thereby compare the difference with a predetermined threshold value. When the difference is larger than the threshold, it is determined to be a chromatic image, whereas when the difference is smaller than the threshold, it is determined to be an achromatic image.

Abstract: A method includes applying at least one medium to a substrate with a printing device to form a symbol. The perceived reflectance properties of the symbol are provided by an amount of the at least one medium applied to the substrate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a spot color area detection unit, an erasing determination unit and a drawing control unit. The spot color area detection unit detects a spot color area in image information. The erasing determination unit determines, based on designation regarding drawing of the spot color area, as to whether or not a non-spot color area overlapping the spot color area is to be erased. The drawing control unit outputs an instruction of erasing the spot color area and determines a drawing range of the non-spot color area based on a determination result of the erasing determination unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to generate a preview image. The method of generating the preview image includes classifying data input from an application program by data types, performing a color matching operation that converts a first color signal of the input data into a second color signal used in a printing device according to one or more rendering intents set for the classified data types, and generating the preview image of the input data for which the color matching operation is completed. The preview image is generated based on the color-matched data for the different classified data types. Thus, the preview image appears to be substantially the same image as a document that is printed by an image forming device.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel method for reducing errors in IOP registration of a digital document system. In one embodiment, a number of digital pages (10, for example) are received in the image path. For each of a process and lateral direction of a first side of each digital image, a total amount of IOP registration error to be corrected is determined. A portion of the total IOP registration error is estimated that is separable error. Each of the estimated separable errors are subtracted from the total IOP registration error to obtain an amount of non-separable error in each respective direction. The non-separable error values are averaged to obtain an error value for each direction per-side. The error values are compensated for in their respective directions per-side by adjustments to the device in an amount which is equal in magnitude and in an opposite direction to the error.

Abstract: An original design image is processed to create a modified design image for blending with an image of a product to create a combined image representing the result of printing the design image onto the product. To create a modified design image, both the alpha value and color of pixels in the original design image are modified. The modified alpha value and the modified color of a pixel are determined as a function of the amount of gray in the original color of the pixel. The modified pixel color is calculated by subtracting the level of gray in the original pixel color from each of the three original component color values and increasing any remaining color component values as a function of the modified alpha value of the pixel.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for performing printing with the use of a special gloss material and a coloring material is provided. The printing apparatus includes: an inputting unit that receives or acquires image data as an input; and a printing unit that controls the arrangement of the special gloss material and the coloring material on a print target medium on the basis of the inputted image data to print the image data. The printing unit changes the amount of use of the special gloss material depending on an index value that is related to the lightness of a color represented by the coloring material.

Abstract: A method for optimally using color patch codes or color barcodes for transmitting machine-readable information, via device characterization, is disclosed to comprise characterizing a printing device and optionally a sensing device for identifying a number of recognizably spaced printer output colors; deriving a code book, by relating the printer output colors and their corresponding input values to information elements; and using the code book for encoding and decoding the information to be transmitted. The recognizably spaced printer output colors are in terms of a color space relevant to a color patch code or color barcode sensing device, and are related to the corresponding marking device input values.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a forming portion, an adjusting portion and a control portion. The forming portion is configured to form an image, while the adjusting portion is configured to execute an adjustment for correcting a pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on a measurement of an image formed by the forming portion. The control portion is configured to control execution of the adjustment achieved by the adjusting portion. Specifically, the control portion obtains a plurality of kinds of variation values, which individually indicate a different state variation capable of involving a state change in the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition. The control portion calculates a complex evaluation of the current state of the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on the plurality of kinds of variation values, and determines a starting time for execution of the adjustment based on the complex evaluation.

Abstract: At least certain embodiments of the disclosures relate to methods and data processing systems for matching a source profile to a destination profile. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a destination test chart and a corresponding first source test chart with each test chart having color patches. The method includes adjusting the source profile to substantially match a known or an unknown destination profile in response to receiving an input for visually matching an adjustable white color patch of the first source test chart to a corresponding white color patch of the destination test chart. The method includes progressively generating a second source test chart having modified at least some and possibly all color patches compared to the first displayed test chart based on applying a first transformation to the source profile in response to visually matching the white color patch.

Abstract: An automated method for extracting highlighted regions in a scanned text documents includes color masking of highlight regions, extracting text from highlighted regions, recognizing the characters in extracted text optically and inserting the recognized characters to new document in order to easily identify highlighted text in scanned images. Using a two-layer multi-mask compression technology configured in a scanned export image path, edges and text regions can be extracted and together with the use of mask coordinates and associated mask colors, all highlighted texts can be easily identified and extracted. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can then be utilized to appropriate summarization of different extracted highlighted texts.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method that includes incorporating an entity specification into a business process in response to an input by a user is described. The entity specification describes an element of a document and is associated with the business process. The computer-implemented method also includes determining a multifunction printer (MFP) from a heterogeneous mix of MFPs for implementation of the business process. The MFP has an associated executable language and a graphical user interface (GUI) specification. The computer-implemented method also includes associating the entity specification with an element of the GUI specification. The computer-implemented method also includes generating, from the entity specification and the business process, an executable that conforms to the executable language and the GUI specification and performs the business process when executed by the MFP. The computer-implemented method also includes deploying the executable to the MFP.

Abstract: Display image data for displaying images on a screen, and when display image data that has undergone specified gradation conversion is received, the characteristics of the output brightness displayed on the screen is checked. In the area for which the output brightness of the display image data is convex at the bottom in relation to the image data gradation values, the display image data gradation values are corrected so as to have a roughly linear relationship between the gradation values and the output brightness. Printing image data is generated based on the post-correction image data and an image is printed. In the area for which the output brightness bottom is convex, by performing this kind of correction, it is possible to print an image with an impression closer to the display on the screen. As a result, it is possible to print images on the monitor screen easily and without losing the impression received from the image displayed on the monitor screen.

Abstract: Data concerning a transfer pattern of a lamination transparent film is not externally sent and stored in a memory but is generated by a random pattern generating module of a color controlling DSP. A random number generating section generates a pseudorandom number for each dot of one line; a tone data obtaining section obtains tone data corresponding to the pseudorandom number; and a transferring section transfers the tone data to a head signal converting ASIC. Tone data for each dot of one line is alternately written in line buffers. Using the tone data written in the line buffers, a thermal head transfers transparent film.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printing a 3D object on a three-dimensional (3D) printer are described. The methods semi-automatically or automatically delineate an item in an image, receive a 3D model of the item, matches said item to said 3D model, and send the matched 3D model to a 3D printer.

Abstract: A method for composing a global histogram of the values of the pixels of a hardcopy original includes a division of a detection area, which may be larger than the original, in stripes. For each of the stripes, a local histogram is made, which is added to a candidate histogram. If the decision is made from the values of the local histogram that a stripe belongs to the original, the candidate histogram is added to the global histogram. In this way, a representative histogram of the original is obtained, even if the white pixels from the original are indiscernible from the white pixels from the cover of the scanner. The method is embodied in an electronic component, including an application specific processing unit.

Abstract: A printer gradation correcting method, comprises the steps of: outputting a color patch image by a printer based on image data of a color patch image; measuring a gradation of the outputted color patch image by a color measuring device so as to obtain a gradation measurement value; and correcting a gradation characteristic of the printer based on the gradation measurement value. The color patch image includes a patch-shaped image having a uniform gradation of a predetermined gradation representative value and gradation fluctuation of a predetermined color component added in the patch-shaped image, and the added gradation fluctuation is structured such that a total of gradation fluctuation measured in a measurement region by the color measuring device becomes a predetermined value. The gradation characteristic of the printer is corrected based on the gradation representative value, the predetermined value of the total of gradation fluctuation, and the gradation measurement value.

Abstract: When dividing multi-valued data and generating data for two-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data that are divided for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected onto the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, division ratios that are used when generating the common data by the multi-valued data division described above are set according to the image characteristics (whether or not the area is flesh color) of the multi-valued data. Thereby, it is possible to perform high-quality printing regardless of the image characteristics by taking a suitable balance between suppressing density unevenness and suppressing graininess.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention, a gradation correction table creation unit prints stored chart data on a print paper by an image forming device, determines a target color from the color measuring result of the printed chart by a color measuring device, and creates a gray reproduction estimation model function according to the measured color result of the chart. Next, after the gradation correction table is created such that the gray of each gradation is adequately close to the target color, the gradation correction table is changed such that the color difference of neighboring gradations is included in a predetermined range.

Abstract: In image processing it is possible to adequately reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating 2-pass multi-pass printing data, in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is also generated. Moreover, the quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data of each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, the division ratio when generating common data in the division of multi-valued data is set according to the duty (gradation value) of the multi-valued data. By doing so it becomes possible to adequately reduce the density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data.

Abstract: An image revising method, an image forming apparatus, and a method for revising image spreading are provided. The image revising method includes regulating a black color level in a black area of an input image; adjusting a color level of at least one other color excluding the black color in the black area; and revising the image by applying the regulated black color level and the adjusted color level of the at least one other color. Thus, in copying a document, the black color with the enhanced legibility can be serviced.

Abstract: A plurality of color data respectively undergo quantization processing, and a logical multiplication of the plurality of quantized color data is calculated. A product of the plurality of color data is calculated. A first low frequency component is extracted from the logical multiplication, and a second low frequency component is extracted from the product. The first low frequency component is subtracted from each of the plurality of color data, and the second low frequency component is added to the subtraction results to generate a plurality of corrected color data. The plurality of corrected color data respectively undergo the quantization processing.

Abstract: A first color value of a printing medium under a first light source which emits first light including light in an ultraviolet region and at a first temperature is obtained from either a measured data table or a measurement section. A second color value of the printing medium under the first light source and at a second temperature different from the first temperature is obtained from either the measured data table or the measurement section. A color value of the printing medium at a viewing temperature, which is different from the first and second temperatures, is estimated from the obtained first and second color values.

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: Techniques are provided for extending a WS-enabled scanner. A client device sends a request for multiple scan ticket templates that the WS-enabled scanner maintains. A WS scan module, executing on the scanner, receives the request and forwards the request to a scan templates handler (STH). The STH invokes a routine of a scan templates manager (STM). The STM retrieves, in response to the invocation of the routine, a plurality of scan ticket templates. The STM sends the plurality of scan ticket templates to the STH, which forwards the plurality to the WS scan module. The WS scan module composes a response message that includes the plurality of scan ticket templates and sends the response message to the client device.

Abstract: Conventional calibration patches are designed such that gradation values of the patches are determined, based on the overall length of a trajectory of a monochrome ink color in an L*a*b* space, so that distances between patches become uniform, and therefore provide low interpolation accuracy in a region where measurement values change non-linearly in accordance with the change in gradation. According to the present invention, gradation values of patches to be used for color calibration are determined so that the patches are closely arranged in a region where measurement values change non-linearly in accordance with the change in gradation. Thus, interpolation accuracy can be improved in a region where measurement values change non-linearly.

Abstract: A system and related method for selectively printing color content of a page with a reduced color gamut are provided. The system includes a detection module, a printing mode module, and a conversion module. The detection module is configured to detect a color object in the page and the printing mode module exists in at least one mode. The conversion module can selectively convert the detected color object to a converted reduced-colorant object in accordance with the existence of the at least one mode of the printing mode module.

Abstract: An image inspection apparatus determines whether a test image is a copy of an original image. The image inspection apparatus includes an image group generation unit that determines one or more types of image transform, and transforms the original image according to the determined types of image transform to generate an original image group; a spatial color difference computing unit that transforms a color space of the generated original image group, and calculates first spatial color differences between the original image and images in the original image group to provide color difference data; an image inspection unit that receives the test image and the original image group to calculate second spatial color differences between the test image and the images in the original image group, and compares the second spatial color differences to the color difference data; and an inspection result output unit that outputs the comparison result.

Abstract: A system enables a rendering intent to be specified for an object in a page description language that does not support the specifying of rendering intents. Such a system includes a user interface for receiving a rendering intent and an identification of an object associated with the received rendering intent, a page description language (PDL) file generator for generating a tag to associate the identified object with a PDL output parameter, and an encoder for encoding the received rendering intent in the PDL output parameter associated with the identified object. Such a system may be used, for example, with a PostScript or a PDF print job file.