Abstract: A reference area is extracted from image data, and from the pixels included in the reference area, extracted are a plurality of small sections in which pixels are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center pixel of the reference area in the horizontal and vertical directions, and point-symmetrical with respect to the center pixel, while overlap of pixels is allowed between each of the small sections. Determination is made as to whether or not image data included in the reference area matches a predetermined pattern. A characteristic of the image data in the reference area is determined based on a number of characteristics of the plurality of small sections. Based on the results of the determination, it is judged whether or not to perform smoothing on the center pixel of the reference area. Then, the smoothing is performed on the judged center pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for converting input image data into output image data for an image forming apparatus configured to output an image with the use of coloring material, which includes a unit configured to perform a coloring-material usage amount reduction process of converting the input image data into the output image data such that an amount of the coloring material used for color-printing the input image data becomes a target coloring-material usage amount defined based on a monochrome-printing coloring-material usage amount required for monochrome-printing the input image data.

Abstract: There is provided a data processing device that includes an obtaining unit that obtains a first image data set, a second image data set generated by reading an image formed using the first image data set, and a property data set indicating the properties of a recording medium on which the image is to be reproduced. The data processing device also includes a specifying unit that determines a threshold for a density difference between the first image data set and the second image data set, wherein the threshold depends on the property data set. The specifying unit also determines an error area where the density difference between images expressed by the first and second image data sets is equal to or greater than the threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for changing the calibration of a recording apparatus (10) to adjust for geometric distortion, comprising: providing a media support (12) for receiving recording media (17); operating a recording head (16) comprising plurality of individually addressable recording channels (23) to form a first image feature (60) on the recording media while the recording media is positioned with a first orientation (50A) on the media support; operating a recording head to form a second image feature (62) on the recording media while the recording media is positioned with a second orientation (50B) on the media support, the second orientation being different from the first orientation; detecting variance in an expected separation between the first image feature and the second image feature; and making an imaging correction in accordance with the detected variance.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which processes a scanned image in which a document image is shown, and includes a reliability determining section and a display control section. The reliability determining section determines reliability of coincidences of respective first through fourth directions with a first reference direction, the first through fourth directions being perpendicular to or reverse to each other, the first reference direction being an upward direction of the document image. The display control section creates markers indicating the respective first through fourth directions, and causes a display device to display a preview image in which the markers and the scanned image overlap each other. Further, the display control section causes the markers to be displayed in respective different ways by changing respective densities in accordance with the reliability.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not color materials for image data, more than a predetermined number of color materials, are used for a rim portion of a recording medium to which an image is to be outputted; and a controller that, in correspondence with a result of determination by the determination unit, performs control so as to change the number of color materials used for at least the rim portion of the recording medium to which the image is outputted, to a predetermined or smaller number of color materials, and form the image on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image processing device including a registration unit that registers plurality pieces of style information is provided. In the device, one object or a plurality of objects is extracted from image data. By comparing the extracted objects with objects included in the plurality pieces of style information that are registered on the registration unit, style information to be output is selected. An object which is not included in the selected style information is selected among the extracted objects as an output object. An electronic file in which the selected output object is recorded on a page description part, and the selected style information is recorded on a style description part, is output.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines the attribute of a pixel block, which is composed of a prescribed number of pixels extracted from image data, and the attribute of an area in which each pixel of the pixel block belongs. Then, based upon the determined attribute of the image block and the determined attribute of the area in which each pixel belongs, the apparatus subjects the image data to processing, pixel by pixel.

Abstract: When a light source is in off state, a gray level of image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis is generated as a first black level and an average of gray levels of a portion of the image data corresponding to optical black image portions of sensor chips is generated as a second black level. After that, when an image of an original is read, an average of gray levels of the black image data on a line-by-line basis is generated as a third black level. The first black level is subtracted from a gray level of the image data on a line-by-line basis (an offset correction), and a difference between the third black level and the second black level is added to a gray level of the image data after being subjected to the subtraction on a line-by-line basis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same in which input image data is divided into blocks and color chrominance data of each block is analyzed thereby perform a print job by automatically detecting whether an image should be print in color or pure black.

Abstract: When image data of an original document is detected to include specific information indicating outputting of the original document is prohibited, a selected color component of the image data is applied with concealing processing to make image data of the selected color component to be solid image data. The selected color component is determined based on whether outputting of the original document as a monochrome image is allowed or prohibited.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which sends attribute information to an output correction unit configured to determine based on the attribute information whether to print with only a black coloring material (K) or to print with a plurality of coloring materials (CMYK), includes an attribute change unit configured to make a determination to perform processing for changing the attribute information of compressed data, whose rendering color is monochrome and which is compressed by a compression format (MMR) for compressing a monochromatic image, from an attribute which is printed with a plurality of coloring materials to an attribute which is printed with only a black coloring material, and to perform the processing for changing the attribute information based on the determination.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a form management system that generates a form ID of the form to be created, on the basis of a form data ID, which is generated based on a template ID generated from a form template and form data to be overlaid thereon. In addition, the form management system may be capable of identifying and managing the form template and the form data for the generated form.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a preference designating unit and a printer. The preference designating unit is configured to designate one or more preferential print pages from pages included in a print job so as to be color printed preferentially to non-designated pages included in the print job. The printer performs color printing of the one or more preferential print pages.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a printer supports transparency operations by generating mask data at interpretation stage which indicates whether each bit of a page content would be determined by the result of a raster operation or a prior destination value. The mask data can be used to complete quickly rendering of a page image once the rendering starts. Another aspect enables color fills of objects to be performed efficiently. A raster operations engine may determine whether all the points (pixels) of the object would have the same value if the raster operation is performed. If all pixels would have the same value, the value for only one pixel is computed and used for multiple pixels of the object. According to another aspect, when a pattern is to be tiled on an entire image portion, the pattern data is stored in a memory and provided as an input to rendering operation multiple times.

Abstract: A printer including a printing section with a printing head is disclosed. The printer head includes a plurality of nozzles configured to discharge liquid on a medium at a pass resolution. The printing section being configured to determine the maximum pass number N required to repeatedly move the printing head to print on a section of the medium at a desired resolution. The desired resolution is greater than the pass resolution. The printing section is further configured to determine which passes of N will be designated to discharge the liquid from each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, and whether or not an idle pass is required for each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. When an idle pass is required for each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, the printing section is configured to modify the maximum divided pass number N to divided pass number M, M being less than N.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to execute a layout setting on first image data, a determination unit configured to determine an image type of second image data, an image processing unit configured, if it is determined, as a result of determination by the determination unit, that the image type of the second image data is an image type for applying a layout setting set for the first image data, to execute image processing on the second image data according to the layout setting set for the first image data, and an output unit configured to form an image of the first image data on a printing sheet by using color toners, to form an image of the second image data on the printing sheet by using a transparent toner.

Abstract: A print controller controls a print process in which black ink having permeability to a recording medium and chromatic color ink having permeability to the recording medium different from the permeability of the black ink are used to form an image on the recording medium. The subject pixel setting unit sets, as a subject pixel, one pixel that satisfies a first condition that the pixel is a black pixel, a second condition that a plurality of peripheral pixels that are located adjacent to the pixel and that surround the pixel include at least one chromatic pixel, and a third condition that gradation level of black changes discontinuously between the pixel and at least one of the at least one chromatic pixel. The bleed suppressing unit executes a bleed suppression process to a set of pixel data corresponding to the subject pixel to suppress bleeding of the black ink on the recording medium.

Abstract: A method for compensating for color variations introduced by printer hardware limitations and other factors is described. First, the extent of color variation throughout a printed page is determined. Based on this determination, each page is partitioned into a plurality of image areas. A color profile is generated for each image area. The partition and the multiple color profiles are stored in the printer. In an actual printing process, the page of image to be printed is divided into a plurality of image areas based on the paper size and the stored partition, and the respective stored color profiles for the image areas are retrieved and used to process the digital image for printing.

Abstract: An image scanning unit scans a mark-sense sheet to read editing information for specifying edit modes for editing image data to be output as one page of print data. On the basis of the read editing information, print data is generated from the image data. The editing information is read from grouping marks for grouping photo images, rotation marks, and the like. Photo images divided into groups by marking the grouping marks are output on one page of print data in orientations specified by marking the rotation marks.

Abstract: A region of a latent image and that of a background image in a first dot image are converted into binary data so as to have different binary data, and a region of the latent image in the binary data is converted into dot data by expressing that region as dots. A second dot image is converted into outline data by removing dots of a region corresponding to the region of the latent image to form an outline region. The converted dot data and converted outline data are composited to generate a dot image including the outline data as a latent image and the dot data as a background image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus scans an original and generates image data of the original, sequentially transmits the image data while scanning the original, detects a predetermined particular image from the image data, and transmits a detection result of detecting the particular image. An image processing apparatus receives the image data and the detection result from the image reading apparatus, stores the image data in a storage unit, determines whether the detection result is received, and when it is determined that the detection result is received, restricts usage of the image data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores an image forming information including an image type information indicative of a type of an image for each image, an index value to be a decision source related to a suppression in a consumption of a recording material, and a print setting information; a discriminating unit that discriminates a type of an image to be an image forming target; a calculating unit that calculates the index value; and a selecting unit that selects any of the image forming information which is stored in the storing unit and takes top priority based on a result of the discrimination obtained by the discriminating unit and a result of the calculation obtained by the calculating unit.

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: An image forming apparatus capable of minimizing degradation in density correction as a part of skew correction includes a noise-occurrence determining unit, a correction-target-pixel selecting unit, a density correcting unit, and a phase correcting unit. When the noise-occurrence determining unit determines that noise would appear, the density correcting unit performs density correction on a correction target pixel that is determined by the correction-target-pixel selecting unit. The phase correcting unit corrects an output point in time of image data of the density-corrected correction target pixel in a pixel period during which the image data can be output so as to output the image data at a position displaced away from a shift position or toward a shift position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print data receiving unit that receives print data designating black as a color material for printing a code information portion; a discriminating unit that discriminates as to whether or not black as a color material is in a usable state; a print data generation unit that generates, when the discriminating unit discriminates that the color material of black is not the usable state, the print data that changes a designation of the color material of black as to the code information portion of the print data received by the print data receiving portion into a designation of other color material enabling the code information to be read by a code information reading apparatus; and an image forming unit that forms an image by the print data thus changed by the print data generation unit.

Abstract: This invention is directed to provide a method capable of performing filter processing suitable for each of different image reading methods. This method includes the steps of causing a light emitting unit to sequentially irradiate an image original with light components of three primary colors and read the image original, and causing the light emitting unit to simultaneously irradiate the image original with one of three different color combinations, which includes two of the light components of three primary colors, and read the image original. The method further includes the step of processing image data obtained based on the reflected light received by the light receiving unit after changing a filter to be used for image processing depending on whether reading of the image original is primary color reading or complementary color reading.

Abstract: Upon receiving information that indicates the type of printing medium from an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus determines whether a parameter corresponding to the type of printing medium indicated by the information is stored. When it is determined that the parameter is stored, the printing apparatus transmits the parameter to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus performs color correction for image data using the parameter received from the printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus transmits the color-corrected image data to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus prints an image based on the color-corrected image data.

Abstract: Even when image processing such as halftone processing and zoom processing is performed, it is enabled to execute image processing at high speed. When controlling image processing which is performed by each of a first image processing portion and a second image processing portion in parallel and independently from each other for image data including a plurality of pages, a control portion performs execution control by selecting any of the first image processing portion and the second image processing portion for each page of the image data and causing the first image processing portion or the second image processing portion which is selected to execute the image processing for the page.

Abstract: A detecting unit detects output-prohibit area information indicating an output-prohibit area from image data. An identifying unit identifies the output-prohibit area in the image data based on the output-prohibit area information detected by the detecting unit. A masking unit performs a masking on the output-prohibit area identified by the identifying unit. A rearranging unit rearranges an image of an area other than the output-prohibit area over the output-prohibit area on which the masking is performed by the masking unit. An outputting unit outputs image data obtained by rearranging the image by the rearranging unit.

Abstract: A control device includes a toner-density-related value identifying unit, a supply-amount-related value identifying unit, and a correcting unit. The toner-density-related value identifying unit identifies a toner-density-related value indicating the ratio of toner in developer including toner and carrier and contained in a developing unit that contains and agitates the developer. The supply-amount-related value identifying unit identifies the supply-amount-related value of developer to the developing unit. The correcting unit corrects the toner-density-related value identified by the toner-density-related value identifying unit in accordance with the supply-amount-related value identified by the supply-amount-related value identifying unit. The supply-amount-related value identifying unit estimates the supply-amount-related value on the basis of the consumption-amount-related value of developer.

Abstract: There is provided an image printer having a display unit, in which a predetermined image can be set as a background picture of the display unit. The image printer includes an image processing unit processing an image selected by a user in accordance with a predetermined image processing technique so as to set the selected image as a background picture of the display unit; and a setting unit setting the processed image as the background picture of the display unit, wherein the display unit displays the processed image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes n line buffer circuits and a delay adjustment section. In a case of a filter process, (i) image data corresponding to n lines stored in the n line buffer circuits and (ii) image data corresponding to one line supplied to the delay adjustment section are outputted to a spatial filter process section in synchronization with each other. In a case of a dilation process, (i) image data corresponding to m lines stored in m line buffer circuits of the n line buffer circuits and (ii) image data corresponding to one line supplied to the delay adjustment section are outputted to a dilation process section in synchronization with each other. This reduces the size of a circuit of an image processing device including a plurality of types of image process sections for carrying out image processes by using image data with different numbers of lines.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a pixel extracting unit, a correction quantity calculating unit, a selection image storage unit, a selection receiving unit, and a color correction executing unit. The pixel extracting unit extracts a pixel from predetermined image data. The correction quantity calculating unit calculates a color correction quantity based on a color difference between a color of the pixel extracted by the pixel extracting unit and a target color. The selection image storage unit stores data of a selection image representing an external appearance of each image data obtained by executing color correction on the pixel according to the color correction quantity. The selection receiving unit receives selection of a color correction type. The color correction executing unit executes color correction on the extracted pixel in image data of a correction object according to a color correction quantity corresponding to the color correction type.

Abstract: Devices and methods herein receive a command into a computerized device to perform a printing draft operation of a printable item using a reduced amount of marking material (a reduced amount of ink, toner, etc.). The methods herein evaluate at least two different regions of the printable item to determine spatial frequencies of the different regions, and calculate at least two marking material reduction values for the different regions of the printable item based on the spatial frequencies of the different regions. Then, the methods herein apply the marking material reduction values to the printable item to produce a file containing reduced marking material printing commands for a printing device to print the printable item.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for generating a basic template utilized to form a screening mask. The method includes adjusting lines per inch or minimum pattern (such as cluster size or density) of a testing template, printing the adjusted testing template by an outputting device, determining if the gray level of the printing result matches a specific gray level, and continuously adjusting the setting of the lines per inch or the minimum pattern when it does not match the specific gray level, otherwise selecting the adjusted testing template as a basic template. The basic template is optimized according to the printing ability of the outputting device, so the printing performance of the outputting device when using the screening mask formed from the basic template can also be optimized, and the minimum color points can be printed faithfully thereby avoiding dropping of the carbon powder.

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 image file representing at least a portion of a printed document is processed to highlight the differences between foreground material (e.g., text or other characters) from background. The method includes selecting a neighborhood of pixels, determining a weighted average of an attribute values (e.g., luminance) for each pixel, and modifying each pixel's value based on the weighted average. Graylevel scaling, error diffusion, and a bit level conversion are also performed each pixel ends up with either a first attribute value level (e.g., luminance of 0) or a second attribute value level (e.g., luminance of 255).

Abstract: In order to improve read stability, a printing condition is set based on not visual read of a user, but read with an optical information reading apparatus. A printing quality evaluation apparatus includes: an image acquiring section that acquires an image; a symbol extracting section that extracts the symbol in which the printing quality can be evaluated from the captured images acquired by the image acquiring section; a printing quality evaluation section that evaluates the printing quality of the symbol extracted by the symbol extracting section; an identification information recognition section that recognizes the identification information identifying each printing condition of the symbol; and an evaluation output section that outputs the identification information, which is recognized by the identification information recognition section, and an evaluation result of the printing quality of the printing quality evaluation section according to the symbol extracted by the symbol extracting section.

Abstract: According to a fine line detection processing, when for a subject pixel to be subjected to the fine line detection processing, a 3×3 matrix area centered on this subject pixel is set as a subject area. Point values “0” to “8” are assigned to the matrix elements constituting this 3×3 matrix subject area. Then, three pixels with the first, second, and third lowest brightness values are extracted from the subject area. When the total point value of the three extracted pixels is equal to “12”, the extracted pixels are determined as being in a connected state. Then, an intermediate value is calculated from the minimum and maximum values of brightness (Y) of pixels in the subject area. When the number of pixels with a brightness (Y) value smaller than the intermediate value is less than 4, the subject pixel is determined as being a fine-line pixel. A fine-line code is added to the subject pixel that is determined as being a fine-line pixel.

Abstract: A type detecting part detects types of drawing objects included in a printing job. A rate detecting part detects a rate of each type of drawing object. A storing part stores the rate of each type of drawing object as a count value of a statistics counter which counts predetermined units of drawing objects for each type of drawing object. A comparing part compares a previously set printing quality with a recommended printing quality which is derived from count values of statistics counters. A changing part changes the previously set printing quality to the recommended printing quality when the previously set printing quality is different from the recommended printing quality.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image with a colored toner and a transparent toner based on image data of a read document, including a dispersion calculation unit that calculates a dispersion of a target pixel and a group of pixels including the target pixel and peripheral pixels of the target pixel; an applying area determining unit that determines whether to apply the transparent toner on the target pixel based on the dispersion of the target pixel; and an amount determining unit that determines an amount of the transparent toner to be applied on the target pixel for which the transparent toner is determined to be applied based on the dispersion of the target pixel.

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: A color difference ?E between a target color value expressed by color measurement data MD obtained by measuring colors of a target TG under plural light sources and an estimation color value obtained when a printer performs printing on the basis of an ink amount set ? is calculated for each of the light sources. When the color difference can be calculated for each of the light sources, an evaluation value E (?) obtained by linear combination of the color differences is calculated. In addition, the ink amount set ? is calculated as an optimum solution for minimizing the evaluation value E (?).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same in which input image data is divided into blocks and color chrominance data of each block is analyzed thereby perform a print job by automatically detecting whether an image should be print in color or pure black.

Abstract: A printing system includes: a camera unit for performing an electro-optic conversion on an image from a subject, generating image data storable in a storage unit, and storing print instruction information as associated with the image data according to the capture information relating to the capture of the image; an image editing unit for performing image editing on the image data; an information rewriting unit for rewriting the print instruction information stored as associated with the image data corresponding to the contents of image editing by the image editing unit; and a printing unit for performing a printing process after performing a predetermined image processing on the image data corresponding to the print instruction information.

Abstract: An image processing device includes an original image inputting unit, an original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit, an outputting unit, a selecting unit, and a correcting unit. The original image inputting unit is configured so as to be capable of inputting an original image. The original-image characteristic quantity data determining unit determines original-image characteristic quantity data expressing a characteristic of the original image inputted by the original image inputting unit. The outputting unit outputs at least one set of image data or indication concerning at least one set among a plurality of sets of sample-image characteristic quantity data. The selecting unit enables a user to select one set of image data among the at least one set of image data. The correcting unit corrects the original image based on one set of sample-image characteristic quantity data corresponding to the selected set of image data and the original-image characteristic quantity data.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a recording head having plural recording elements; a characteristics information acquisition device; a correction calculation device which corrects image data using recording point positional deviation information within acquired characteristics information, and generates image data suppressing a non-uniformity streak in an output image; a nearest recording point specifying device specifying, when image density is outside an output image density range, a second recording element concerning a recording position nearest to a recording position of a first recording element corresponding to first image data outside the output image density range; a sum density calculation device calculating sum density of the first image data and second image data; an image data modification device which preserves the calculated slim density; and a drive control device controlling driving of the recording head in accordance with the corrected image data and modified image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of accurately compensating an increase or decrease of a toner area coverage resulting from shifting that is performed to correct skew is provided. A color density of image data represented by a correction target pixel is corrected such that the increase or decrease in the toner area coverage on the correction target pixel is compensated excluding a toner area coverage on the correction target pixel covered by a toner image that would be formed based on a color density of image data to be represented by a neighboring pixel of the correction target pixel. This effectively reduces banding noise on an output of the image data and prevents degradation in image quality.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a decision unit which decides a color selection threshold based on received compressed data from external apparatus, and a determination unit which determines according to the color selection threshold if a pixel included in the compressed data is a chromatic color pixel or an achromatic color pixel.