Abstract: Density values of two non-fine line parts that sandwich a specified fine line part in image data are corrected to density values lower than a density value of the fine line part based on the density value of the specified fine line part.

Abstract: A method for processing a multi-channel image includes modification of adjusted pixel values of one or more pixels in a region of the multi-channel image, in accordance with a pre-specified signal pattern based on one or more parameters. A score is determined based on a ratio of a pixel difference value and a maximum pixel step value. The maximum pixel step value corresponds to modified pixel values of the one or more pixels in the region when the maximum pixel step value exceeds a threshold noise level for the region. False color is suppressed in a selected region of the multi-channel image based on the determined score when the false color is identified in the region.

Abstract: An example embodiment may involve obtaining an m×n pixel cell from an input image. Each of the m×n pixels in the m×n pixel cell may be associated with at least one color value. An m×n attribute cell may be determined, elements of which may be associated in a one-to-one fashion with respective pixels in the m×n pixel cell. The m×n pixel cell may be compressed in a lossy fashion, and the m×n attribute cell may be compressed in a lossless fashion. Compression of the m×n pixel cell may be based on at least part of the m×n attribute cell. An interleaved representation of the compressed m×n pixel cell and the compressed m×n attribute cell may be written to an output medium.

Abstract: Edge enhancement processing is executed by obtaining a sum of whiteness degrees around a target pixel, to which edge enhancement is to be applied, and by adjusting the amount of edge enhancement such that the degree of edge enhancement decreases as the sum of whiteness degrees increases, and the degree of edge enhancement increases as the sum of whiteness degrees decreases. A whiteness degree is a value indicating the extent to which a pixel is close to white, and a sum of whiteness degrees indicates the extent to which the color around the target pixel is whitish.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to methods, systems, and devices for improving the quality of image data for printing by a printer having relatively low resolution capabilities. Image data may be scanned, captured or otherwise received. The image data may be received in bands, chunks, blocks, portions, regions, or its entirety. An edge detector is subsequently employed to detect a location of edges in a region of the received image data. For image data pixels that are located in or close to a detected edge, a first screen is applied to modify these pixels to compensate for printing at or near the detected edge. Otherwise, a second image screen is applied to modify pixels for printing that are not close to a detected edge. The first screen may be an error diffusion screen or a threshold screen. The second screen may be a halftone screen.

Abstract: In systems and methods, an original image was previously converted to a lower bit count per pixel. The resulting image included pixel error based on the lower bit count per pixel. The conversion used an error weighting matrix (which diffuses the pixel error of each pixel to adjacent pixels). Methods and systems produce an output image from the lower bit count per pixel image using the error weighting matrix to determine, for each pixel, the amount of error added because of the adjacent pixels during the conversion process. Then, such methods and systems remove, from each pixel, the amount of error that was previously added based on the adjacent pixels. After removing the amount of error added based on the adjacent pixels from all pixels in the input image, an output image is reconstructed using a filter, such as a low pass filter.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for searching for corresponding points between a first image and a second image is provided. The image processing apparatus includes a window setting portion, a phase information extraction portion that extracts phase information by subjecting a representation included in each set window to frequency decomposition, a corresponding points determination portion that determines the corresponding points based on comparison of the phase information extracted from each window, and a window size control portion that causes the window setting portion to set a window different in size in accordance with a frequency used for calculation of the frequency decomposition. The window size control portion causes the window setting portion to set a window having a first size in response to a first frequency and to set a window having a second size smaller than the first size in response to a second frequency higher than the first frequency.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of iterative calibration includes, in a first iteration, measuring first values of a calibration parameter, and determining first corrections for the measured first values. The method includes, in a next iteration, measuring next values of the calibration parameter that incorporate the first corrections. The first corrections are omitted from the next iteration measurements to provide pseudo iteration measurements, and the first iteration measurements are averaged with the pseudo iteration measurements. Second corrections are then determined based on the averaging.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects an edge in image data and performs density correction so as to reduce the density of the detected edge. The apparatus then performs screen processing on the image data including the edge that has undergone the density correction, and performs smoothing processing on the edge in screen data obtained through the screen processing.

Abstract: A method and system generates a reconstructed gray scale image of pixels from a binary image of pixels by reverse propagating an error, in a diffused manner, to the pixels of the binary image to create pixels representing a reconstructed gray scale image. The reverse propagation of the error determines if a current pixel has a first predetermined value; sets an error value to a first error value if the current pixel has the first predetermined value; sets the error value to a second error value if the current pixel does not have the first predetermined value; and propagates a diffused error value to a pixel neighboring the current pixel to create an error diffused pixel, the diffused error value being a product of the set error value and a weighting coefficient associated with the pixel neighboring the current pixel. A Gaussian filter may be utilized to filter the pixels representing a gray scale image to create a filtered reconstructed gray scale image of pixels.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for image processing. The method includes dividing a portion of an image into a set of blocks, each block of which is divided into a set of sub-blocks. Thereafter, a measurable block is identified from the set of blocks based on a measurability criteria that comprises determining an average pixel value for each of the sub-blocks based on one or more pixels encompassed by respective sub-block. Further, a maximum average pixel value, a minimum average pixel value, and a range of average pixel values are determined among the set of sub-blocks. The measurability criteria further includes comparing the maximum average pixel value, the minimum average pixel value, and the range of average pixel values with respective pre-determined thresholds. The method further includes estimating a half-tone frequency of the portion based on a processing of the identified measurable block.

Abstract: In the generation of a threshold matrix for Nx speed writing, first and second areas are set, the first area being a cluster of a plurality of first partial areas substantially evenly distributed in a matrix space, and the second area being an area of the matrix space excluding the first area. Next, at least two writing elements in each of the first partial areas are allocated occurrence numbers and changed into determined elements. Then, at least one writing element in the second area is allocated an occurrence number and changed into a determined element. Thereafter, the other writing elements are allocated occurrence numbers and changed into determined elements. In accordance with the occurrence numbers, the threshold value of each writing element is determined to obtain a threshold matrix for Nx speed writing. This results in a reduction in the graininess of an image in a highlight area.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating continuous tone values associated with input pixels in a color image are provided. The method includes receiving binarized halftone image data representing a color image, wherein the color image has a plurality of input pixels; and estimating the continuous tone values associated with each of the input pixels by: establishing a window comprising a pixel of interest and neighboring pixels in the binarized halftone image data, wherein the window comprises a plurality of sub-window's and wherein each sub-window has a plurality of predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels; and processing the binarized halftone image data in both a process direction and a cross-process direction using the window such that the processing is performed for one of the pixels in each of the rows within the sub-window and the processing is skipped for the remaining pixels in that row of that sub-window.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods provide for converting an RGB color image to a grayscale image via a lookup table of correction values. The lookup table is generated and used to compensate for errors in converting the color image to the grayscale image. The lookup table is generated by generating a reference image having pixels with color values in the RGB color space, converting a first copy of the reference image to a grayscale reference image via interpolation, and converting a second copy of the reference image to an intermediate image. The intermediate image comprises chrominance and luminance values (e.g., YCbCR or YCgCo). The chrominance values are removed from the intermediate image. The intermediate image is then compared to the grayscale reference image to generate the correction values. The lookup table may then be applied to a grayscale image that has been converted from the RGB color image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus which uses a threshold matrix of a resolution higher than a resolution of an input image, the image processing apparatus including: a screen processing section which performs screen processing on an input image which is input; a matrix storage section which stores a threshold matrix of a resolution higher than a resolution of the input image; a threshold obtaining section which obtains a new threshold corresponding to each pixel of the input image based on a threshold of each cell composing the threshold matrix, wherein the screen processing section compares the pixel value of each pixel of the input image with the new threshold corresponding to each pixel of the input image obtained by the threshold obtaining section and generates a multivalue output image.

Abstract: A method of forming a dithering mask includes providing a specific sub-dithering mask, and generating a plurality of sub-dithering masks of the dithering mask by adjusting the specific sub-dithering mask. The dithering mask generated by the method includes a plurality of sub-dithering masks, each sub-dithering mask includes (4N)×(4N) dithering values, where N is an integer, and at least two sub-dithering masks of the plurality of sub-dithering masks have different contents. By breaking the regularity in the dithering mask, flickering patterns or visual patterns can be avoided on the screen, thereby raising the displaying quality of the screen.

Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate on which a document is placed, an image-forming unit configured to cause a light from the document to form an image, a reading unit configured to receive the light from the document which has passed through the image-forming unit, a supporting member for supporting the image-forming unit, a fixing member for fixing a reading element, and a frame member for holding the image-forming unit, the supporting member, the reading element and the fixing member.

Abstract: A method for extracting step and repeat data from a halftone printing job (200). De-screening a halftone image data on a computer (104) to create a de-screened image. The de-screening (512) is performed on a halftone image data stored in a computer storage (116). The halftone image data contains at least one step and repeat element (208). The de-screened image is scanned (516) to identify unique pixel segments (520). All instances of the found unique pixel segments are used to reconstruct (524) the step and repeat data previously used to create the halftone printing job (200).

Abstract: A method includes receiving a primary image as input data and receiving textured image data for rendering a perceived non-uniform texture on a printed output of the primary image. The primary image input data is used for determining a low coverage portion and a high coverage portion. The method then includes applying clear toner to the low coverage portion and applying colored toner at variable anisotropic orientations to the high coverage portion.

Abstract: An actuator includes a movable portion which can swing around a swing axis, a connecting portion which extends from the movable portion, and a support portion which supports the connecting portion, wherein the movable portion is formed in a cross shape which includes a pair of first protrusions protruding along a direction perpendicular to the swing axis and a pair of second protrusions protruding along a direction parallel to the swing axis, and when a length of the movable portion in the direction perpendicular to the swing axis is A, a length of the movable portion in the direction parallel to the swing axis is B, a length of the first protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the swing axis is a, and a length of the second protrusion in the direction parallel to the swing axis is b, the following equations (A) and (B) are satisfied. 0.8 × { 1 2 ? ( A - 1 3 A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ? a ? 20 × { 1 2 ? ( A - 1 1 3 ? A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ( A ) 0.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus which inhibits possible bleeding by thinning color data adjacent to black data and enables printing free from image quality degradation such as gradation skip is provided. Specifically, when only one pixel has color data and pixels located vertically and horizontally adjacent to that pixel have no color data, an isolated point pixel containing a color dot is detected only in that pixel. Then, the dots other than the isolated point are thinned-out. This makes it possible to inhibit possible bleeding at the boundary between a color area and a black area and to achieve proper printing with the appropriate gradation of the entire image maintained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for acquiring a substantially complete depth map from a 3-D scene. Both depth values and derivates of depth values may be used to calculate a pixel dense depth map with the steps of acquiring partial depth map from said 3-D scene, acquiring derivates of depth information from said scene, and extending said partial depth map by adding non-relevant information to said partial depth map, creating a pixel dense full depth map being spatially consistent with both said partial depth map and said derivates of depth information.

Abstract: A method adapts image data using more than eight bits per pixel to be compatible with devices using only 8-bit per pixel data. The method separates the higher bit depth data into an 8-bit image data stream, the balance of the bits are carried in a separate tag data stream. The 8-bit image data stream can be used in legacy devices that can handle only 8-bit data, and the tag data stream can be used in legacy devices that incorporate a tag data stream for their internal image processing.

Abstract: An image glossiness controller has a main component color specifying unit that identifies a prescribed component color and output identification information thereof. A change in amplitude of a convexoconcavity of a toner layer of the prescribed component color is greatest among those of the other component colors when each of the component color toner is formed and fixed alone. Three or more halftone dot signal generators convert clear toner image information into three or more binary clear toner image signals corresponding to three or more component colors per component color pixel using multiple halftone dot characteristics, respectively. Each of the multiple halftone dot characteristics generating three or more binary clear toner image signals has a reversed phase from that generating three or more binary component color image signals.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for reducing the bit depth of grayscale imagery using multi-bit halftoning. The halftoned image data may be lossy or losslessly compressed and stored in memory or transmitted over a communication channel. At the time of printing, the images are decompressed and reconstructed to a grayscale image data using Sigma filtering to preserve edges. Preferably, different Sigma filters may be applied based on contrast information within a local neighborhood region. Fuzzy edge detection may also be used to preserve edge features and prevent smearing.

Abstract: The system and method for inverse halftoning using a partitioning look-up table (LUT) provides an improvement on a conventional LUT method for inverse halftoning, and a hardware implementation thereof. The method includes the partitioning of the single LUT into N smaller look-up tables (s-LUTs). After partitioning, N s-LUTs are generated, which can be stored in separate memory blocks, allowing parallel access to more than one s-LUT at any time. Such parallelization is not possible with only one LUT stored in a single memory block. Additionally, two or more templates (represented as r templates) with different pixels at position 0 can be retrieved from the halftone image concurrently. Further, the contents of the single LUT are partitioned into Ns-LUTs, thus the total entries in Ns-LUTs are equal to the entries in the single LUT of the conventional LUT based method of inverse halftoning.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including: a screen processor for determining each pixel value of a screen processing application unit region composed of a plurality of pixels to which a threshold matrix is applied, in an inputted image; and for carrying out a screen processing by applying one threshold matrix among a plurality of threshold matrices in which applied positions of the threshold values are different from each other, to the plurality of pixels in the screen processing application unit region based on each determined pixel value.

Abstract: A method and a printing implementing the method for dynamic printer performance tuning. The method includes the steps of processing a page to be printed by a printer description language interpreter to generate a Display List, selecting tuning parameters from the Display List data, analyzing the tuning parameters by a Bayesian analyzer to obtain a score for each tuning parameter, and based on the score of each tuning parameter, adjusting rendering settings of the tuning parameters for printing the page. The steps of training the Bayesian analyzer includes creating a set of training pages, rendering each page to determine best performance settings for each tuning parameter, grouping the pages based on tuning parameter settings, generating Display List data of each page, rendering the training pages in each group to compile training data that are saved for future printing jobs.

Abstract: Method of generating a CIElab to Neugebauer Primary area coverages interface for a print system, comprising selecting area coverages of Neugebauer Primaries and printing corresponding patches, measuring the CIE XYZ coordinates of the patches, converting the CIE XYZ coordinates to corresponding CIE Lab coordinates, and relating the CIE Lab coordinates to the NPacs.

Abstract: A method for creating a differential gloss image includes providing first and second anisotropic halftone structures. The first and second anisotropic structures have different orientations. One of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a first region of an image to be halftoned. The other of the first and second anisotropic structures may be applied to image data in a second region of an image to be halftoned. A mixture of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a third region of the image to be halftoned, whereby when printed, the three regions each have a gloss characteristic which differs from that of the other two regions.

Abstract: A clustered-dot screen design method, a device to perform the clustered-dot screen design method based on human vision characteristics and printer model characteristics, and an image-forming apparatus to output binary images using designed screens. The clustered-dot screen design method based on the human vision characteristics and the printer model characteristics includes determining positions of a plurality of clustered-dot centers using a predetermined method, and designing a screen by growing specific sub-dots about the cluster centers using a predetermined algorithm according to position information of the cluster centers, the human vision characteristics, and the printer model characteristics.

Abstract: A spool file modifying device for a printing system which generates a spool file including intermediate files independent of a type of printer, and converts the spool file into print data suitable to a target printer. The spool file modifying device includes a spool file retrieving system that retrieves the spool file stored in a storage, a halftone mode designating system that designates an halftone mode as a processing mode to be used when the spool file including a bitmap is reduced in size. With this mode, a gradation of the original bitmap is retained after reduced. The device further includes a modifying system that modifies the retrieved spool file if the spool file retrieved by the spool file retrieving system includes modification information designating the spool file to be modified. The spool file before modified is replaced with the modified spool file, in the storage.

Abstract: Aspects of color of a halftoned image are controlled or adjusted. A method for adjustment can include determining a color description of a color of an area or window associated with a target halftoned pixel, determining a desired adjustment to the color associated with the target pixel, determining a color change value based on the desired adjustment and the color description associated with the target pixel, combining the color change value with at least one value of the target halftoned pixel, thereby generating at least one combined target pixel value and quantizing the at least one combined target pixel value. For instance error diffusion and/or rank-ordered error diffusion is used to perform the quantization. Color adjustments can be based on user preference and/or calibration compensations between original and target devices.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.

Abstract: An isolated point detection portion detects an isolated point in image data input from an image data adjustment portion. An isolated point removal portion makes a replacement of image data at a point of an isolated point detected by the isolated point detection portion. An edge identification portion performs edge identification for identifying a character region for the image data from which the isolated point has been removed by the isolated point removal portion. In this technique, edge identification is performed after the isolated point is erased by performing isolated point identification as a preliminary step of edge identification, so that isolated point noise can be removed with high accuracy.

Abstract: A disclosed dither matrix is used in halftone processing for converting input image data having M input halftone levels into output image data having N (M>N>2) output halftone levels. In the halftone processing, a concentration type dither matrix is used as the dither matrix when an input halftone level is within a range of input halftone levels corresponding to an output halftone level that is lower than a predetermined threshold level T (N>T>1), and a dispersion type dither matrix is used as the dither matrix when the input halftone level is within a range of input halftone levels corresponding to an output halftone level that is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold level T.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, systems include a segmentor to segment text binary image data to a first plane. A subtractor subtracts text binary image from binary image data to generate a non-text binary image data in a second plane. A converter converts non-text binary image data in the second plane into non-text gray scale image data in the second plane. A first compressor compresses the text gray scale image data in the first plane. A second compressor compresses the non-text gray scale image in the second plane.

Abstract: A method and system reconstructs a contone image from a binary image by first tagging pixels to identify one of a multiplicity of image content types. The tag information and the pattern of bits surrounding the pixel to be converted to a contone value are used to reconstruct a contone image from a binary image. The pattern of bits in the neighborhood is used to generate a unique identifier. The unique identifier is used as the address for a lookup table with the contone value to be used wherein each lookup table corresponds to an image context type.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or internal controls. These functional units perform preliminary color adjustment, automatic deskew, background and dust removal, descreen, text detection and enhancement, color conversion, scaling, and color manipulation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.

Abstract: A dot analysis apparatus includes a dot converging section that converges individual dots forming a dot image toward their respective centers, a selecting section that selects plural dot units each consisting of one main dot and plural sub-dots surrounding the main dot from the converged dots, a calculating section that calculates an interval between the main dot and the sub-dots of each dot unit and a direction of arrangement of the main dot and the sub-dots, and a statistic processing section that determines statistic distributions of the interval and the direction calculated for each dot unit by the calculating section and determines the interval and the direction corresponding to the peaks of their respective distributions as the interval between the regularly arranged dots forming the dot image and the direction of the regular arrangement of the dots forming the dot image, respectively.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for descreening a digital image.

Abstract: An embodiment described below provides a system that allows a user to provide an exact implementation or a close approximation to any desired Holladay dot to a printer with super-resolution encoding (SRE)/decoding (SRD) capabilities. In particular, the embodiment converts a desired Holladay dot to an SRE dot. The SRE dot or SRE look-up table may be uploaded to a printer that supports SRE/SRD.

Abstract: A method of printing a pixel defined by C1, M1, Y1, K1 color values having a sum that is not less than a maximum allowed paper coverage max_cov, including obtaining an adjusted cyan color value Cadj that depends on C1 and K1, an adjusted magenta color value Madj that depends on M1 and K1, and an adjusted yellow color value Yadj that respectively depends on Y1 and K1; assigning a maximum and a minimum of Cadj, Madj, Yadj to max_color and min_color, respectively;selecting a black color value K that is not greater than a minimum of min_color and (Cadj+Madj+Yadj?max_cov+K1)/2; adding K1 to K to obtain a black output color value Kout; determining output non-black primary color values Cout, Mout, Yout and a secondary value S_color such that their sum is equal to max_cov; and half-toning Kout, Cout, Mout, Yout, and S_color.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing digitized images are provided that include an image reconstruction path that receives a digitized image and provides a processed RGB or CMYK image that may be printed or stored in memory. The image reconstruction path is configured to operate in either a multiple scan or single scan environment if the source of the digitized image is a scanner. A plurality of optional functional units in the reconstruction path can be controlled by user or internal controls. These functional units perform preliminary color adjustment, automatic deskew, background and dust removal, descreen, text detection and enhancement, color conversion, scaling, and color manipulation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and media to enhance image processing for a color reprographic system are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention may calibrate a component like scanner and/or printer in response to user input and/or coupling the component to the reprographic system. More specifically, embodiments may generate correction parameters that describe differences in color values between an image scanned by a scanner or an image printed by the printer by comparing the outputs to known characteristics like color values for the image. Some embodiments comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) to communicate with the user, allowing the user to select user preferences to change, for example, the brightness of an image being copied. Further embodiments incorporate network and phone system interfaces to communicate with remote components as well as to receive input from and/or output to other systems via email, facsimile, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for de-screening an image signal utilizing a bank of filters to provide several increasingly blurred versions of the original image signal is disclosed. At any given time, one or more of the blurred versions are created, on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The outputs from a selected pair of blurred signals are then blended together to create a variable blending output that can vary smoothly from no blurring to maximum blurring in a smooth and continuous manner. In addition, the apparatus and methods provide enhanced text and line art by using a variable un-sharp masking mechanism with independent post-blur sharpening control, and detect and enhance neutral (no-color) output pixels.

Abstract: An improved digital halftoning method that uses an input image's global gray levels to determine the local gray levels of a monochrome output image. Input multi-bit pixels grouped into two-pixel-by-two-pixel local subcells are variously aggregated into one or more larger supercells. The size of said supercell(s) is related to and limited by the size of the global input bitmap. A final monochrome gray level is derived from said supercell(s) and distributed within contained subcells. Subcell gray levels are expressed as interim whole monochrome pixels and gray level remainders. A comparison is made of the final supercell and the summed interim subcell monochrome gray levels. An ordering of the remainders is used for assignment of additional monochrome pixels, if necessary, to yield final subcell monochrome gray levels. Gray level rounding errors thus are quantized by reverse diffusion until a monochrome gray level for each of the global image's two-pixel-by-two-pixel local subcells is derived.

Abstract: A method and system for de-screening an image signal utilizing a bank of filters to provide several increasingly blurred versions of the original image signal is disclosed. At any given time, only two of these blurred versions are created, on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The outputs from the selected pair of blurred signals are then blended together to create a variable blending output that can vary smoothly from no blurring to maximum blurring in a smooth and continuous manner. In addition, the method provides the capability to enhance text and line art by using a variable un-sharp masking mechanism with independent post-blur sharpening control, and the capability to detect and enhance neutral (no-color) output pixels.