Abstract: Document data corresponding to each page included in a document is stored, and furthermore, feature data indicative of a feature of the document data and a document index indicating the document are associated with the document data. A document extracting apparatus obtains input document data, calculates feature data from the input document data, judges similarity between the input document data and the document data based on the feature data, obtains a document index associated with document data similar to the input document data, and extracts a plurality of pieces of document data associated with the document index. Thus, document data concerning the document including a page corresponding to the document data similar to the input document data is extracted for a plurality of pages.

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 processing device, having plural functions and executing at least any one of the plural functions based on a request from an application program, includes: a storage to store, from among plural setting information selectable to one of the plural functions, simultaneous use possible/impossible information being information concerning a combination of settings usable simultaneously or a combination of settings non-usable simultaneously; a selector to select any one of the plural setting information to at least any one of the plural functions based on the request from the application program; a discriminator to discriminate, by referring to the simultaneous use possible/impossible information, whether or not competitive setting information being the setting information non-usable simultaneously with the setting information selected by the selector exists; and a notification unit to notify the application program of information concerning the competitive setting information, when the discriminator discri

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a user interface, and an image forming unit to perform an image forming job in a new image mode by combining two or more image modes when the two or more image modes are selected through the user interface. The image forming unit may include a controller to combine color lookup tables of the two or more selected image modes and to create a new color lookup table, and an engine unit to perform the image forming job in an image mode corresponding to the new color lookup table. Therefore, it is possible for the image forming apparatus to support various image modes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided that can suppress blur edges at an edge portion of a character so that sharpness and quality of the image can be improved. The apparatus comprises an inside and outside edge discrimination portion for discriminating whether a target pixel to be processed belongs to an inside edge or to an outside edge, a threshold value generating portion for selecting a threshold value from plural threshold values for error diffusion process in accordance with an area discriminated by the inside and outside edge discrimination portion to output the selected threshold value and an error diffusion process portion for performing the error diffusion process for multilevel input data concerning the target pixel by utilizing the threshold value generated by the threshold value generating portion so as to produce output data whose gradation steps are reduced.

Abstract: A test pattern containing plurality of patches recorded using small dot patterns and large dot patterns is printed. The dot sizes arranged in the patches are different between patches. Then the test patterns are read. The detection rate and average density of additional information embedded in each large dot pattern are obtained. A large dot pattern whose detection rate and average density fall within a reference range and are closest to ideal values is determined. The average density of each small dot pattern is obtained. A small dot pattern whose average density falls within a reference range and is closest to the average density of the determined large dot pattern is determined. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated using these dot patterns and combined with a print target image.

Abstract: In order to accelerate the processing speed using existing hardware or program, MFP sets a reference lattice point in the device space of a printer (S05), calculates the difference between first color data and the reference lattice point (S06), sets the dimension having the largest difference of the differences of dimensions not set as process targets, as a process target dimension (S10), sets the lattice point having the process target dimension as a second process target lattice point (S11), calculates a base term based on the difference of the process target dimension, the first process target lattice point, and the second process target lattice point (S18), calculates a total sum vector (S19), resets the second process target lattice point as a first process target lattice point every time the base term is calculated (S20), calculates a second reference vector using an existing triangular pyramid interpolation expression when the number of dimensions not set as process target dimensions become three (S14)

Abstract: A method and system modify a rasterized digital image to reduce registration artifacts, the image having a black plane and a color plane by determining if a pixel is part of a connected black region and if the pixel is part of a connected color region. It is determined if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous. A dilation operation is performed on the color plane value of the pixel if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous.

Abstract: Density-correction-table lists showing an amount of density changes in respective density levels of images that exist after an image having a predetermined density has been printed on a predetermined number of sheets are maintained. The amount of density changes in the respective density levels for an image ratio that exists after the predetermined number of sheets have been printed on and for the predetermined number of sheets that have been printed on are obtained with reference to values in the maintained density-correction-table lists. A density correction characteristic is determined using the obtained amount of density changes.

Abstract: A color look-up table (CLUT) is compressed in a lossless manner. The CLUT includes nodes that convert values of a first color space to corresponding values of a second color space. The CLUT is received in a serialized node-by-node manner. For each of some of the nodes, the following is performed in the order in which the nodes are received in the serialized node-by-node manner. First, a difference value is determined that represents compression of a value of the node, in accordance with a hierarchical differential encoding approach or in accordance with a cellular interpolative prediction approach. Second, the difference value is stored in lieu of the value of the node being stored, to compress the value of the node in the lossless manner.

Abstract: A method for using a processor to process image data received from an image data source in preparation for multipass printing, comprising multitoning the image data to produce a multitoned image, using the multitone level of a pixel in the multitoned image to select a plane of a print mask, using the location of the pixel in the multitoned image to select a cell of output pixels in the selected plane of the print mask, and copying the selected cell of output pixels to corresponding locations within a print buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating an output image are provided. The apparatus includes an output image estimation module which estimates an output image for an original image using a lookup table (LUT) that maps one color space to another color space, an error detection module which detects an erroneous patch from the estimated output image, and an LUT compensation module which compensates the LUT based on the detected patch.

Abstract: Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of fixing marking materials onto media are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; a second member comprising at least one ferromagnetic material having a relative magnetic permeability greater than 1, a susceptor over the at least one ferromagnetic material, the susceptor comprising at least one electrically resistive metal, and a second surface over the at least one ferromagnetic material and the susceptor, the second surface forming a nip with the first surface at which media are received; and a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field to inductively heat the second member.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for screening color separations of a lenticular image with a lenticular frequency of the lenticular lenses needed for viewing the lenticular image. An amplitude-modulated halftone image is calculated for each of the color separations at a screen angle and at a screen frequency, the tangent of the screen angle being a rational number. For a specific color separation, a screen angle relating to the direction perpendicular to the image strips of the lenticular image is defined, a pair of whole numbers whose ratio is equal to the tangent of the screen angle is determined, and the screen frequency of the color separation is calculated as the product of the lenticular frequency and the square root of the sum of the squares of the two whole numbers.

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: An information processor is provided that can maintain security in the entire network and use recording media resources efficiently. An image forming apparatus includes a user information memorizing portion for memorizing local user data of users who have ever used the image forming apparatus, a user information deleting portion for deleting any one or more of the local user data when the local user data memorized in the user information memorizing portion has an amount greater than a predetermined value, an authentication request portion for requesting an authentication server to authenticate a user who desires to use the image forming apparatus, and a user information generating portion, when local user data of the user authenticated by the authentication server are not memorized in the user information memorizing portion, for generating local user data of the user in the user information memorizing portion to let the same memorize the generated data.

Abstract: A print defect management device that supports job-specific print defect management automatically assesses print job pages to determine the severity of image quality defects likely to occur on one or more selected printers. Views of identified troubled pages may be rendered to include approximations of color and image quality defects based on the original page image data, and each printer's color rendition data and defect data, thereby allowing troubled pages for one or more selected printers to be viewed prior to printing. Suggested changes may be automatically or manually applied. Once satisfied with the image quality of print job pages rendered for a specific printer, a user may submit the print job to the same printer, thereby assuring that the user's image quality expectations are met in the printed product. The device may support job-specific print defect management with both local and/or remote printers via LAN, WAN and/or Internet based connectivity.

Abstract: In performing multi-pass printing by using a printhead having a plurality of nozzles, a print data setting unit sets a printing amount for each nozzle for each main scan of the printhead based on a print data setting LUT. This print data setting LUT reflects the information of the number of passes and the number of nozzles to be used which are arbitrarily set. A halftoning unit generates a dot pattern as a formation target by performing binarization processing for the print amounts set in this manner.

Abstract: A circuit dithers pixel data on a display, and includes a lookup table module, a dithering parameter decoder, a first adder, a second adder, and an overflow handling module. A lookup table of the lookup table module stores dithering parameters generated by encoding odd and even pixel dithering parameters. The dithering parameter decoder generates second and third dithering parameters corresponding to odd and even pixels from a first dithering parameter. The first adder generates a dithered odd pixel parameter according to the odd pixel parameter and the second dithering parameter. The second adder generates a dithered even pixel parameter according to the even pixel parameter and the third dithering parameter. The overflow handling module checks for overflow, and generates an output odd pixel parameter according to the dithered odd pixel parameter, and generates an output even pixel parameter according to the dithered even pixel parameter.

Abstract: In order to prevent illegal copying more effectively in an image forming apparatus, when a specified ground pattern for preventing copying is detected in input image data, the detected ground pattern is emphasized in the image data. Alternatively, information for detecting the specified ground pattern is stored in a storage device, in order to detect the ground pattern with the stored information. When the ground pattern is not detected, a ground region in the image data is analyzed further to determine whether a different ground pattern exits or not. When a ground pattern is detected, information for detecting the ground pattern is stored in the storing device.

Abstract: A method receives a print job and analyzes the complexity of the print job to generate complexity factors. The method performs raster image processing (RIP) on the print job and records the time taken to perform the raster image processing of each page of the print job. This generates “RIP times.” In addition, the method records the size of each page of the print job to generate “page sizes.” Then the method prints the print job and records the time it took to process the print job. Then the method determines how each of the complexity factors, the RIP times, and the page sizes contributed to the time it took to process the print job. This generates “complexity factor time values.” The method prints a report of the complexity factor time values detailing how each of the complexity factors contributed to the time it took to process the print job.

Abstract: A method includes dividing an input range of color values of a first color space into a plurality of sub-ranges, wherein at least one of the sub-ranges comprises an over-range color value. The method also includes determining for each sub-range a level of accuracy in converting color values within each sub-range. The method further includes determining a processing step to be applied to input color values in each sub-range based on the determined level of accuracy.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method capable of performing appropriate under color removal in image original reading. According to this method, under color removal of the original is performed as follows. A printing medium without any printed image is read by primary and complementary color readings. A brightness signal distribution is generated by converting, using a provisional table, each of image data generated by the reading methods. The lowest one of signal levels is selected from each of the distributions. In correspondence with each of the primary and complementary color readings, a conversion table is formed, which converts the image data to make a pixel value corresponding to the selected lowest one of the signal levels to a value representing white. Under color removal of the image data is performed using a corresponding conversion table in accordance with the reading method of the image original.

Abstract: A color signal processing apparatus includes a total amount calculating unit, a limit value calculating unit and a correcting unit. The total amount calculating unit calculates a total amount value of an input color signal in an output device color space which has, as color components, colors of coloring materials used in an output device. The limit value calculating unit calculates a limit value for limiting a total amount of a color signal, in accordance with the calculated total amount value. The correcting unit corrects the input color signal in the output device color space so that the total amount value of the input color signal becomes the calculated limit value or less.

Abstract: In order to prevent illegal copying more effectively in an image forming apparatus, when a specified ground pattern for preventing copying is detected in input image data, the detected ground pattern is emphasized in the image data. Alternatively, information for detecting the specified ground pattern is stored in a storage device, in order to detect the ground pattern with the stored information. When the ground pattern is not detected, a ground region in the image data is analyzed further to determine whether a different ground pattern exits or not. When a ground pattern is detected, information for detecting the ground pattern is stored in the storing device.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes an image-forming part, forming an auxiliary layer on a base material by ejecting droplets of auxiliary ink and forming an image on the auxiliary layer by ejecting droplets of image-forming ink, the auxiliary ink changing a dot formation state of droplets of the image-forming ink. In a storage part, a reference table that associates each of a plurality of types of base materials with a proper dot area rate to be used when forming the auxiliary layer is stored. In a dot-area-rate determination part, a dot area rate to be used when forming the auxiliary layer on a target base material is determined as an auxiliary ink dot area rate by referencing the reference table using the type of the target base material. This enables the inkjet printer to form a highly precise image on various base materials.

Abstract: An image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a component data acquiring unit that acquires a component from color lookup table data; a verifying unit that determines whether or not the component of the color lookup table data acquired by the component data acquiring unit has been generated according to a predetermined generating rule; and a download data generating unit that downloads the color lookup table data and generates download data to be used in image forming processing from the color lookup table data after the verifying unit determines that the component has been generated according to the generating rule.

Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.

Abstract: This disclosure provides printer profiling methods, apparatus and systems for determining device and gain matrix values. Specifically, a method is disclosed for generating a multidimensional printer profile look-up table (LUT) for color correction. The method includes generating an initial LUT associating a plurality of colorimetric nodes with respective initial estimates of their respective device dependent color space representations and their respective gain matrix.

Abstract: A printing system is provided for enabling a consistent color job re-print comprising a plurality of image marking engines. The system includes printing a master test image document printed by at least a first image marking engine. The master test image can have a data glyph and a plurality of reference patches. The data glyph can record distinct job attributes and the plurality of reference patches can record color parameters of a desired output. The system further provides a scanner for scanning the master test image document. The data glyph can provide the job attributes of the master test image document and can generate set-up data therefrom. The reference patches can provide the color parameters of the master test image document and can generate set-up data therefrom.

Abstract: A method for improving printing quality of a digital image using error diffusion screening including the steps for each pixel in a digital image: a) initialize weighted error diffusion value; b) translate first value (220) of each pixel of the digital image to a second value (916); c) translate the second value of each pixel of the digital image to create a third value (920); d) translate the third value of each pixel of the digital image by adding the error diffusion value (216) to create a fourth value (224); e) generate a quantization value for each pixel in the digital image by using at least one threshold value; f) perform geometrical distribution in space of the first quantization (924) utilizing a first pixel mask (1604) and possibly a second pixel mask for setting pixels in designated areas defined by the pixel masks; and g) update said error diffusion value and go to step (b) till all the pixels of the digital image are treated.

Abstract: A color conversion table creating device includes a gray data creating unit, light and dark area data creating unit, first grid point correspondence relationship determining unit, second grid point correspondence relationship determining unit including gray-dark auxiliary line setting unit, intersecting point setting and signal determining units, interpolation coefficient determining unit, and second grid point interpolation unit, and color conversion table creating unit.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a memory in which a color correction data is stored. The memory stores a first color correction data having the same number of bits as an input image data and a second color correction data having fewer number of bits than the input image data. The number of color correction data corresponding to a low gray-scale range increases and the number of color correction data corresponding to a high gray-scale range decreases by the same amount that the number of the color correction data corresponding to the low gray-scale range increased. Thus, a color characteristic corresponding to the low gray-scale range may be improved without changing the total number of color correction data.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image reading apparatus which reads images in a front side and a back side of a document by passing the document through the image reading apparatus once including a first reading section to read the front side of the document, a second reading section to read the back side of the document and an image process section to calculate a first standard value for carrying out a first shading correction to the first reading section and a second standard value for carrying out a second shading correction to the second reading section, respectively, and to carry out the first shading correction to a first image data read by the first reading section based on the calculated first standard value and to carry out the second shading correction to a second image data read by the second reading section based on the calculated second standard value.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for adjusting the gray balance of a multifunction color marking device in order to change the device's neutral behavior to a desired level of acceptability. The gray balance aim curve is specified by: L*, L*(aim), a*(aim) and b*(aim), where L*(aim)=f1(L*), a*(aim)=f2(L*), and b*(aim)=f3(L*). After receiving the user-modified gray balance aim curve, the target color device constructs a 3-D N×N×N L*a*b* to L*a*b* pre-LUT to reflect the neutral aim change by transforming a neutral axis input of L*, a*=0 and b*=0 to L*(aim), a*(aim) and b*(aim). Colors further away from the neutral axis are shifted by a lesser amount. The pre-LUT is then concatenated with the current color LUT to produce an updated color LUT which is applied to the device to achieve the desired neutral behavior. The gray balance aim curve can also be based upon a pre-determined user preference.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to color calibration for digital imaging devices. Color correction may be performed for digital imaging devices. A response of a device to known colors may be obtained. The response may be obtained at least in part through an image that may include one or more color patches. One or more linearization curves may be determined by fitting values from one or more color patches within the image to reference data. In addition, a color correction matrix may be determined by estimating local minimum values utilizing one or more pairs of high-chroma color patches within the image.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an image path that advantageously uses halftone classification to select appropriate mappings in gray-scale management and color management operations. The tags generated in the scanner help identify different classes of halftones. One is selected from several pixel-value mappings to provide proper compensation. That is, the one-dimensional and multi-dimensional pixel-value mappings within the color management module are selected based on halftone classification tags from the scanner. The tagging is either one bit that indicates “Low Frequency Halftone” and “Not LFHT”, or, more preferably, the tag is multi-bit indicating a frequency bin that contains the frequency of the input halftone. Additionally, the multi-bit tag can indicate particular halftone screen types, such as dot screens, line screens, stochastic screens or error diffusion.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document feeding unit, a reading unit, and a control unit configured to operate in a first reading mode in which the control unit causes the reading unit to move to read the document while holding the document in a stationary state and in a second reading mode in which the control unit causes the reading unit in a stationary state to read the document while causing the document feeding unit to convey the document. The control unit causes the reading unit to read the paper fingerprint information from the document in one of the first reading mode and the second reading mode. After completing reading of the paper fingerprint information, the control unit causes the reading unit to read the image from the document in the other of the first reading mode and the second reading mode.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to display a color by sufficiently utilizing a color space capable of being displayed by a display. In order to attain the above described object, a color conversion apparatus according to the present invention includes unit that reads an original in which a whole reproducible color gamut is discretely expressed, and acquires color coordinates of a first color space, and color conversion unit that converts the acquired color coordinates of the first color space into a second color space, wherein the color conversion unit converts the color coordinates in the first color space to be substantially the same as color coordinates in the second color space.

Abstract: A device for creating print data utilized by a printer is disclosed. The print data includes a coordinate at which a dot is to be formed on a print medium by the printer. The print data creating device is provided with a first device and a second device. The first device chooses a first coordinate from bit-mapped data. The bit-mapped data includes a plurality of combinations of the first coordinate and color information. The first device chooses the first coordinate based on the color information being combined with the first coordinate. The second device creates the print data by converting the first coordinate chosen by the first device into at least two second coordinates which are randomly chosen from at least three second coordinates located in the neighborhood of the first coordinate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus, including: a comparing and detecting section for comparing two image data, which respectively obtained by nearly simultaneously reading both sides of a document, on a pixel to pixel basis and detecting a pixel, on which off-set arises, from the two image data based on a comparison result obtained by comparing the two image data; and a correcting section for correcting at least any one of brightness, hue and chroma based on information including brightness and hue of the detected pixel.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, apparatus and systems for generating a profile for a printing device. Specifically, the profile is generated by selecting a GCR profile from a plurality of GCR profiles and mapping a plurality of nodes to a device dependent color space as a function of the selected GCR profiles.

Abstract: A color correction method includes for each of a plurality of color separations of a digital image, establishing a tone reproduction curve in the form of a vector. The vector is a function of a plurality of basis vectors. The basis vectors account for colorant interactions between a primary colorant with which the color separation is to be rendered and at least one secondary colorant with which at least a second of the plurality of color separations is to be rendered. The vector includes modified input values corresponding to input values for the color separation which vary, depending on the input values of at least the second color separation. For a pixel of interest in the digital image, a modified input value for the color separation which corresponds to the input value of the given color separation is identified from the vector.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can be connected to an image-forming apparatus, a method, and a program used for the information processing apparatus are disclosed. The information processing apparatus comprises a control unit for controlling print-setting information set for document data to be printed, a recognition unit for recognizing information about a first function specified by the print-setting information by translating the print-setting information controlled by the control unit, an obtaining unit for obtaining information about a second function of the image-forming apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether or not the image-forming apparatus can perform the first function recognized by the recognition unit based on the second-function information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a modification unit for modifying the print-setting information controlled by the control unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: A method of operating a color printer including using a first set of one-dimensional TRCs or a second set of one-dimensional TRCs with a single set of color tables.

Abstract: A method for printing on transparent medium using an ink-jet printer. The method includes providing a grayscale image having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a pixel value corresponding to a brightness of the pixel; converting each pixel value to an ink output value for the ink-jet printer using a conversion function, wherein the conversion function maps the darkest pixel value to an optical density of greater than 2.5 and maps all other pixel values to an appropriate output pixel value such that a resulting printed image is perceived to be linearly bright across the image.

Abstract: Values at nodes of a LUT which is arranged as a rectangular grid of cells are populated, wherein the populated values model an underlying process that transforms from a first color space to a second color space, and some of the cells of the LUT are completely inside a constraint boundary of the underlying process and some of the cells are not completely inside the constraint boundary. The cells are indexed in a certain order. Samples of the underlying process are accessed. Values of nodes for cells whose nodes are all within the constraint boundary are populated first by using the samples of the underlying process. Values of nodes for cells whose nodes are not all within the constraint boundary are populated second by visiting such cells in the indexed order and populating values for the unpopulated nodes using populated ones of the nodes of such cells and the accessed samples.

Abstract: A color document is scanned using sensors of two color components, and monochrome image data is generated by performing a color conversion process on color image data made up of two color components obtained through the scanning.

Abstract: An image data processing apparatus including: a reader that reads image data included an image file from an external storage medium, the image data being variable-length coded data of image blocks The reader performs a first reading processing for reading the image data in an arrangement order thereof from a storage medium and the data processor performs a boundary information derivation processing based on the image data for obtaining boundary information representing a boundary in a data arrangement in the storage medium between the image data belonging to two image blocks located adjacent in the data arrangement in the storage medium and at mutually different positions in the sub scanning direction. The reader performs a second reading processing for reading the image data from the storage medium in an order determined based on the boundary information and saving them in the storage.

Abstract: A print control device that controls a printing process using registered color conversion information includes: a generating unit that, when a user edits the registered color conversion information, adds access authority information indicating that the color conversion information is user color conversion information used by only a predetermined user or common color conversion information that can be used by all users to the color conversion information to generate new edited color conversion information; and a registration unit that determines whether the edited color conversion information generated by the generating unit can be registered and whether the edited color conversion information is registered as the user color conversion information or the common color conversion information, on the basis of the access authority information and the registration state of the color conversion information, and registers the edited color conversion information on the basis of the determination result.