Abstract: In medical image recording apparatus, exposure unit forms a latent image on film by exposing based on a testing exposure data for correction of density characteristics of the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of film, and heat developer heat-develops the latent image and records it on film, and density measurer measures the density characteristics of the heat-developed testing exposure image, and then, controller determines the correction areas of the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of film based on the result of the density measurement and corrects the density characteristics of the leading edge and/or the trailing edge of film for the correction areas at the image recording stage of a diagnostic image data.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a plurality of holding units that holds data of pixels around a target pixel, a weight generating unit that generates a weight for each holding unit, a plurality of weight applying units that applies a corresponding weight to the data held by each holding unit, and a control unit that determines an exposing energy for the target pixel in accordance with an output of each weight applying unit.

Abstract: A halftoning process section in an image processing apparatus includes a process switching section that switches a process of a signal from a color conversion process section. The process switching section executes switching in accordance with input tag data. In the case of a text, a text halftoning process section executes a halftoning process. In the case of graphics, a bit number increasing section increases a bit number for graphics, and a graphics halftoning process section executes a halftoning process. In the case of a photo, a bit number increasing section increases a bit number for a photo, and a photo halftoning process section executes a halftoning process.

Abstract: In an image data processing device, a notice pixel is selected from among a plurality of pixels constituting an image. A specified direction in which ink ejected on a recording medium would bleed by a relatively large amount on the recording medium is obtained. Then, a color-difference vector indicative of the magnitude and direction of a color-difference between the notice pixel and neighboring pixels disposed adjacent thereto is calculated, and a directional component which is a component of the color-difference vector in the specified direction is calculated. Further, a total density value which is a sum of the density value of the notice pixel and density values of the neighboring pixels is calculated, and a density reduction value is determined according to the directional component and the total density value. Then, the density value of the notice pixel is reduced by an amount represented by the density reduction value.

Abstract: When the trial period for the printer driver of the trial version has elapsed while the license for the printer driver has not been purchased, the normal printing process continues to be enabled, and the density for tint block printing is set to a density at which a latent-image portion appears. Thus, based on the printing results obtained by a printer, the user can observe the same image as the image on which a tint block image is actually printed. As a result, the user understands that unrelated characters “COPY” are superimposed on the original image, and further experiences the effects of the tint block printing function. Further, the user is encouraged to purchase a license for another software product having a tint block printing function.

Abstract: A printing control method of generating print data to be supplied to a print unit capable of forming dots on a print medium by ejecting ink droplets of at least one type of colored ink containing a color material and a quality-enhancing ink for enhancing quality of a printed material. The printing control method comprises a tone-decreasing step which includes the step of generating transparent dot data by a process configured such that size of first processing-targeted pixels is larger than size of second processing-targeted pixels, the first processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the transparent dot data generating process, the second processing-targeted pixels being targeted for processing in the colored dot data generating process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which having a plurality of image processing modes, that is capable of accurate density gradation control without performing output of any patch image to a recording medium in all the image processing modes. A first correction parameter corresponding to a first image processing mode is prepared on the basis of a result of detection, by a second density detection unit, of the image formed on a recording medium in a first image processing mode. A second correction parameter corresponding to a second image processing mode is prepared on the basis of the first correction parameter and a correlation, stored in a storage unit in advance, between density of a toner image formed on an image bearing member in the first image processing mode and density of toner image formed on the image bearing member in the second image processing mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for forming an image with plural types of dots having different densities per unit area in a same hue, including: a section to compare between a pixel value of a target pixel and a value of a prescribed threshold value matrix, and to determine, based on the comparison, whether to form a first type of dot at a position corresponding to the target pixel; a section for calculating a corrected threshold value matrix from the prescribed threshold value matrix; a section for calculating a second determining condition by reflecting the corrected threshold value matrix; and a section for determining whether to form the second type of dot, based on a target pixel value added an error with an error diffusion process and the second determining condition, at the position where the first type of dot has been determined not to be formed.

Abstract: An image processing method is provided. The image processing method includes: generating profiles for color reproduction, classified for each of recording papers, from at least one of particular characteristic data of the each recording paper, which is generated on the basis of factors that affect color reproduction and particular generation information of the each recording paper, which is obtained by printing plural patch patterns at the recording paper and performing colorimetry of the printed patch patterns; and when implementing basic extraction control for extracting a profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information, if no profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information is extracted, extracting a profile that approximates in accordance with a pre-specified order of priority determination procedure to be a candidate.

Abstract: If an ink for a particular color (for example, red) having an excellent color developing characteristic is used in addition to inks for three primary colors of subtractive color mixture, the high color reproducibility is to be maintained for a long period. To accomplish this, at least one (for example, a yellow ink) of the inks of two colors between which the hue angle of red, included in the three primary colors, is sandwiched is applied to an area of a printing medium to which a red ink is applied so that the inks overlap each other. Thus, the yellow ink, having a high weatherability, is applied to an area on the printing medium to which only the red ink, having a low weatherability, is otherwise applied. It is therefore possible to improve the weatherability while maintaining the color developing characteristic at a high level.

Abstract: An image forming system, image forming apparatus, and method of correcting image density are provided. The system includes a forming unit that forms an image; an acquisition unit that acquires factor information corresponding to a factor which is capable of causing variations in density of the image; a first determination unit that determines a number of marks in accordance with the factor information; a control unit that provides the forming unit with, as the image data, data pertaining to a pattern comprising a plurality of density marks which are different from each other in density and which are equal in number to the number of marks; a detection unit that detects a density of the image formed on the target by the forming unit in relation to the pattern; and a correction unit that corrects the density of the image in accordance with a result of the detection.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a transfer sheet based on image data, comprises an operating section to determine a setup about a margin region on which an image is not formed at an edge portion of the transfer sheet, a control section to determine an inner region having a specified width and being adjacent to the determined margin region as a density change region in which an image density is changed, and determines a more inner region located inward more from the density change region as a regular density region in which an image is formed with a regular image density, and an image forming section to form an image in the density change region based on image data on the condition where the image density is reduced and to form an image in the regular density region based on image data without changing the image density.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image acquisition section that acquires image information; and an image processing section that obtains a plurality pieces of density information on background of the image information for different detection process units in detection process of background density of the image information, and eliminates the background from the image information based on the plurality of pieces of density information for the detection process units.

Abstract: A method to generate random and density controllable dot patterns includes steps of dividing a 2D domain into multiple cell units; determining dot density in each cell; creating at random initial location of dots in each cell; solving the force operation cut radius of the dot; setting up a residual force; solving the force control parameter in the cell; performing the force operation for the cell; making the dots in the cell to achieve balanced positions after repeated operation; and completing the generation of a dot-pattern within a 2D domain.

Abstract: In an apparatus for performing printing using a color ink-jet head having a plurality of ink-discharge-port strings corresponding to ink materials having different color tones, a high-quality image having excellent gradation can be recorded, while reducing the cost of the apparatus and increasing the data processing speed by reducing the capacity of a memory for storing dot arrangement patterns.

Abstract: A separating unit determines, for an image data, whether there exists black data, and generates density data from the black data when the black data exists, and generates color data from data other than the black data. A multinarizing unit converts the color data into multinary data. A magnification varying unit varies the density data and the color data multinarized, using a cubic function convolution method. A binarizing unit binarizes the color data varied, based on a predetermined threshold. An image forming unit prints the color data binarized and the density data varied, onto a recording medium.

Abstract: Xerox Reference No. D/A0639A system and method for improving xerographic halftoning by magnifying a threshold array, interpolating the in-between values, enabling multiple thresholds to be accessed simultaneously and presented to multiple comparators, to cause multi-bit output. A threshold array is sampled at distinct locations separated by the sparse sampling distance to allow warping of the threshold array dots by adjusting the sampling distance in small, fractional portions (deltas) of the magnified distance. By adding more thresholds, amplitude or intensity modulation is used to move dot edges in a process direction for further flexibility in printing irrational or warpable screens.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for printing a multibit per pixel image (10) from a halftone binary digital bitmap having pixels having a multibit per pixel image memory for receiving the multibit per pixel image; a lookup table (16) external to the memory disposed in a programmable gate array (18) for converting the multibit per pixel image to a base duty cycle (20) wherein the base duty cycle is disposed in the programmable gate array and is adapted for creating a modulated drive signal (22) from the base duty cycle to modulate an exposure (24) for each pixel in the multibit per pixel image; and a printer (28) adapted for using the modulated exposure to print an image, having a dpi greater than 1400, further comprising a drum (32) capable of spinning, and an encoder (34) disposed on the drum for providing a home signal (36) and a pixel rate (38).

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which generates satellites droplets, problems in an image attributable to the satellites are mitigated as far as possible. For this purpose, each parameter is adjusted to satisfy a relationship such that the distance between positions of placement of a main droplet and a satellite substantially agrees with an integral multiple of the width of an index pattern. As a result, a satellite is likely to be placed in a position overlapping a dot formed by a main droplet printed in the same area of a pixel located in the vicinity of the satellite, which prevents satellites from placement blank positions where no dot should be printed. Thus, the influence of satellites is mitigated, and problems in an image attributable to satellite are reduced.

Abstract: Four test patterns are concurrently displayed on a display of a computer. The test patterns include respective backgrounds and contrast areas. The test patterns, different from each other in pixel value, have identically shaped contrast areas. The contrast between the background and the contrast area remains unchanged from test pattern to test pattern. The contrast areas are adjusted in contrast with the pixel value of the background fixed until the test patterns look the same.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image acquisition portion that acquires image data on an image including a character. A character-periphery detector detects the peripheral part of the character in the image data acquired by the image acquisition portion. An outline emphasis portion sets the density of the image data acquired by the image acquisition portion, so that the density of the peripheral part of the character detected by the character-periphery detector becomes higher than the density indicated by this image data. A density changer sets the density of the image data so that this density gradually becomes lower from the peripheral part of the character detected by the character-periphery detector toward the inside thereof. An image former forms an image on a sheet of recording paper on the basis of the image data whose density is set by the outline emphasis portion and the density changer.

Abstract: An image processing device is capable of generating single-hue image data from color image data, which include at least two records of a first area to be filled with a first color based on first hue component data and a second area to be filled with a second color based on second hue component data, the first and second areas establishing one of line contact and overlap therebetween. The image processing device includes a density determining unit that determines a first density of the first area and a second density of the second area in the single-hue image data based on the first hue component data and second hue component data, respectively, a comparing unit that compares the first and second densities as determined, and a modifying unit that modifies at least one of the first and second densities based on the comparison result by the comparing unit.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an image generating unit configured to generate image data expressed a single hue from color image data, which include at least a first area to be filled with a first color based on first hue component data and a second area to be filled with a second color based on second hue component data, the first and second areas defining a boundary line by line contact or overlap therebetween, a density determining unit that determines a first density and a second density in the single-hue image data based on the first hue component data and second hue component data, respectively, a comparing unit that compares the first density with the second density, and a boundary generating unit that generates the boundary line with the single hue of a third density different from the first and second densities based on the comparison result by the comparing unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of quickly performing measurements required for obtaining a proper image density. The image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming apparatuses performs an image density adjustment control process by carrying out a maximum density control process at a reference image forming speed, and carrying out a density gradation control process at each of the plurality of image forming speeds. Image forming conditions for carrying out the density gradation control process at speeds other than the reference image forming speed are determined by performing operation on image forming conditions determined by the maximum density control process carried out at the reference image forming speed.

Abstract: A halftoning method utilizes staged, overlapping pixel intensity growth in a halftone cell in rendering a halftone image with multi-level pixels.

Abstract: A printer is capable of expressing halftones by forming halftone spots in cells each having a plurality of pixels by irradiating an exposure beam. The printer comprises a halftone processing section for converting M-bit image data into N (M>N)-bit drive pulse width data for driving the exposure beam. The halftone processing section includes a threshold matrix including a plurality of threshold values corresponding to the plurality of pixels, and a converter circuit which compares a plurality of threshold values output from the threshold matrix with image data, and generates drive pulse width data in accordance with the comparison result. Random noise is superposed on the plurality of threshold values or the image data, and the resultant is subjected to the comparison, whereby generation of tone jump is suppressed.

Abstract: A plurality of color signals indicative of a plurality of color patterns are processed based on a first distribution curve to distribute the original color signals into color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the plurality of color patterns are printed by the color signals for normal ink and color signals for light ink. Then, the density of each color pattern is detected to produce a density curve. A second distribution curve is produced based on the detected density, the original color signals, and the first distribution curve so that the second distribution curve can attain a properly linearly-changing density curve. By preparing beforehand a plurality of first distribution curves dependently on a variety of usage conditions of the printer, it is possible to use a second distribution curve that is in conformity to the usage condition, under which the printer is desired to be driven, by selecting a distribution curve that corresponds to the usage condition.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record image data having a wide dynamic range is a file together with image data having a narrow dynamic range. First, an image recording apparatus separately gradation-converts image data to be recorded into primary data having a narrow dynamic range and secondary data having a wide dynamic range. Then, the image recording apparatus calculates data that determines correlation between the primary data and secondary data and employs the calculated data as tertiary data. The image recording apparatus records the primary data and the tertiary data in a file. On the other hand, an image reproducing apparatus reads out primary data and tertiary data that were recorded in the above manner and reproduces secondary data having a wide dynamic range based on the primary data and the tertiary data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating intensity measurement correction coefficients for a pixel in a focal plane array of an optical sensor, wherein the correction coefficients are used to correct an intensity measurement generated by the pixel responsive to illumination. The method includes the steps of accessing past values of the correction coefficients, receiving a pixel intensity measurement indicative of illumination characterized by a reference energy density function, generating a modeled noise signal, and generating present values of the correction coefficients. The present values of the correction coefficients are generated based on the past values of the correction coefficients, the pixel intensity measurement, the modeled noise signal, and the reference energy density function.

Abstract: While a general large layer dither volume provides great flexibility in dither cell design, by decoupling different intensity levels, they are inefficient to access since each color component requires the retrieval of a different bit from the volume. Therefore in a multi threshold dither volume for digital halftoning a contone color image, in the form of an array of contone color pixel values to bi-level dots, there is allocated for each dither cell location a fixed set of n thresholds defining n+1 intensity intervals within which said dither cell location is defined to be alternatively not set and set.

Abstract: A method and system updates individualized calibrated tone-reproduction curves. A plurality of predetermined stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves are used, each predetermined stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a distinct media type and halftone type combination along with a plurality of predetermined relationships between each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve and a reference media type and reference halftone type combination. A new tone-reproduction curve corresponding to a reference media type and reference halftone type combination calibration operation is generated, and each predetermined stored calibrated tone-reproduction curves based on the newly generated tone-reproduction curve corresponding to the reference media type and reference halftone type combination and the plurality of predetermined relationships between each stored calibrated tone-reproduction curve and the reference media type and reference halftone type combination is updated.

Abstract: When recording a gradation pixel by performing pseudo-halftone processing, the occurrence of unevenness in the density in the recorded image is suppressed. For that purpose, when recording a pseudo-halftone image using dot patterns, a dot-pattern table storing a plurality of different dot patterns is provided for each gradation value. One dot-pattern table is selected from N dot-pattern tables based on gradation-value information for each pixel. One dot pattern is selected from the selected dot-pattern table, based on position information indicated by the pixel, and recording is performed using the selected dot pattern. It is thereby possible to prevent the concentrated use of a particular nozzle of a recording head, and suppress the occurrence of unevenness in the density due to characteristics of the specific nozzle.

Abstract: An attentional portion to be corrected in gradation of an image is specified, and a gradation corrective function with respect to a density of the specified attentional portion is generated. Preset gradation conversion characteristics are corrected with the gradation corrective function, and the gradation of the image is converted according to the corrected gradation conversion characteristics. The gradation conversion characteristics can be corrected in the vicinity of a desired density.

Abstract: A halftoning method utilizes staged, overlapping pixel intensity growth in a halftone cell in rendering a halftone image with multi-level pixels.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for linearizing the tone scale of individual colors in a multi-color printing system, by deriving a prescribed tone scale of individual colors in a single or multi-color printing system. Full linear ink gradations are printed on multiple substrates, and a linearization table is generated with multiple points for each of the multiple substrates and/or ink gradations. A polynomial curve is fitted to the points of each linearization table to generate polynomial curves. At least one point in the polynomial curves is selected, that shows high variation from one curve to a next curve, and coefficients of a group of polynomial curves are plotted as functions of the value of the at least one point. The range of prediction can be as narrow or as broad as an application requires. Finally, a prescribed tone scale table is derived from the polynomial curves and the at least one point.

Abstract: An image transformation apparatus for performing a transformation processing for outputting a color image by an image output device such as a color printer. The image transformation apparatus has an image receiving section for receiving an image represented by digital data, an image sort discrimination section for discriminating whether the image received by the image receiving section is a halftone dot image or a multiple gradation image, an image transformation section for applying a conversion processing for the multiple gradation image to the halftone dot image when it is decided by the image sort discrimination section that the image received by the image receiving section is the multiple gradation image, and a driver section for outputting an image discriminated as the halftone dot image by the image sort discrimination section and an image converted into the halftone dot image by the image transformation section to an image output device.

Abstract: Density correction method capable of performing density correction at high speed with high precision. In a printing apparatus adopting this method, a predetermined test pattern image is printed on a printing medium, the printed test pattern image is optically read by a sensor at first resolution, the quality of the read image is evaluated, based on the evaluation result the printed test pattern image is optically read by the sensor at second resolution higher than the first resolution, and correction data is generated based on the read test pattern image.

Abstract: Halftone pixels are distinguished from non-halftone pixels in pixels making up an image according to a predetermined algorithm based on a result of edge detection for determining whether the pixels are edge pixels. The pixels which have been determined to be non-halftone pixels according to the predetermined algorithm, are continuous to the pixels determined to be halftone pixels according to the predetermined algorithm including those which have been redetermined to be halftone pixels and are not lower than a predetermined threshold density in density are all redetermined to be halftone pixels.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus (2000) is disclosed, which comprises forming elements (2002) for forming an image, a memory (2006) indicating relative desirability of utilising the forming elements (2002) for forming the image, and processing means (2008) for computing image recording signals using input image signals (2012) and the stored data. The use of a particular forming element is thereby biased dependent upon the relative desirability data of other forming elements, the corresponding input signal for the particular forming element, and a term for the particular forming element.

Abstract: A method for halftoning a multi-channel digital color image having an x,y array of color pixel values, wherein at least two color channels are similar having substantially the same color but with low- and high-densities, includes the steps of: providing a matrix of dither values for each group of similar color channels wherein two or more of the matrices of dither values are designed jointly to minimize a visual cos t function; for at least one group of similar color channels, forming an inverted matrix of dither values by subtracting the value of each element of the matrix of dither values for that group from a predetermined maximum value, associating the inverted matrix of dither values with one of the low- or high-density color channels, and associating the matrix of dither values for that group with the other low- or high-density color channel of that group; for each color channel of the multi-channel digital color image modularly addressing the matrix of dither values associated with that color channel u

Abstract: The present invention reduces the granularity of the dots for the entire density range by optimally setting formation amounts of a low-density dot and of a high-density dot per unit area. For this purpose, the formation amounts of the low-density dot and of the high-density dot in accordance with the density level are determined in such a way that as the density level rises, the formation amount of the low-density dot is gradually increased up to a first peak amount (200%) and, after reaching the first peak, gradually decreased, and in a range of density levels higher than a predetermined density level at which the low-density dot is formed to a specified amount (200%), as the density level rises, the formation amount of the high-density dot is gradually increased up to a second peak amount (100%) smaller than the first peak amount.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, printing information on a hardcopy medium includes the acceptance of data representing a first information and the acceptance of data representing a second information. Second information is printed in regions on the medium where first information data is not printed. Second information data is encoded into a grayscale or color data representation such that necessary or maximum data density is achieved. First information is printed using black (K) ink (or alternatively using a different color gamut than that used for printing the second information) such that first information can be filtered out in a straightforward manner upon scanning of the printed medium by a digital scanning apparatus, and second information can then be recovered and utilized to advantage.

Abstract: Upon conversion of density and/or tone of an image, an impression of a specific color in the image is also corrected. Tone conversion is carried out in a CMY color space on image data having been subjected to logarithmic conversion, and density conversion processing is also carried out thereon in density conversion means. The image data are then subjected to inverse logarithmic conversion. In LCH conversion means, the image data are converted into lightness, saturation and hue, and the saturation and/or the hue are corrected by color impression correction means. By converting the data into RGB data by using RGB conversion means, processed image data are obtained.

Abstract: In an image-processing apparatus, a digital image signal is stored in a memory, and a memory access control part entirely manages all accesses to the memory with respect to the digital image signal. An image processing part converts the digital image signal stored in the memory into an output image signal to be supplied to an imaging unit outputting a visible image based on the output image signal so that a pixel density of the output image signal is higher than a pixel density of the digital image signal read from the memory and an amount of the output image signal is less than an amount of the digital image signal stored in the memory. Accordingly, the central controlled memory is shared by a plurality of functions so as to effectively use the memory, and a high-quality image can be produced by carrying out a density conversion so as to match the pixel density.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus processes image signals based on a predetermined gradation-converting curve. The predetermined gradation-converting curve includes at least one of: a first gradation in which a maximum absolute-value of a difference between a lightness gradation curve and its smoothed curve in a range of about 1/10 of its gradation number is not greater than 1; a second gradation in which a maximum absolute-value of first-order differential values of a difference curve between a lightness gradation curve and its smoothed curve in a range of about 1/10 of its gradation number is not greater than 100; and a third gradation, in which a maximum absolute-value of first-order differential values of a difference curve between a first smoothed curve in a range of about 1/100 of a gradation number and a second smoothed curve in a range of about 1/10 of a gradation number, is not greater than 100.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus has a converting device which converts a first image signal into a second image signal by employing an image signal converting condition, a recording device for recording an image by signal values of the second image signal, a measuring device for reading a test chart image recorded by the recording device by test chart output image signal values to acquire measurement density values, a selecting device for selecting reference density values corresponding to the measurement density values from target density data which indicates a relationship between the first image signal and target density of an image recorded on a recording medium, and a calculating device for calculating target image signal values based upon the target density data and the reference density values and for calculating the image signal converting condition based upon both the target image signal values and the test chart output image signal values.

Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, capable of providing an image with little deterioration, even in case the image contrast has to be adjusted not for the purpose of image adjustment, such as for reducing the toner consumption amount or for preventing the leak in the charging device.

Abstract: When one-to-one correspondence is made between each pixel of an original image and each element of a threshold matrix, a density of each pixel in an output image is represented by binary or multivalue, and a dot pattern of which the size corresponds to the threshold matrix is divided into small blocks, the threshold matrix is created such that the number of dots in each of all the blocks is made equal in all gray levels, the dot patterns in the plural blocks are made mutually the same in all the gray levels, and at a boundary of the blocks where the dot patterns are made mutually the same, the dots are increased while taking conformity of the dot patterns, or the threshold matrix is created such that order of dot increase is controlled between the blocks where the dot patterns are made mutually the same and the other blocks.

Abstract: Although almost the same color reproducibility as with a reference print head has been attained in single-color printing, inconsistency in color reproducibility has occurred in mixed-color printing. Where ejection of color ink or any other recording material for forming dots on such a printer as an ink-jet printer (31) varies due to an instrumental error, it is burdensome to set up a degree of adjustment for correcting inconsistency in each color.

Abstract: A color image signal is generated and an arbitrary color in the color image signal is set as a color to be converted. A color after conversion is designated. The color to be converted or a color similar to the color to be converted is converted into the color after conversion or a color similar to the color after conversion. By this processing, a color-converted image, in which a conversion boundary is unnoticeable, can be produced.