Abstract: A method for producing high-quality photographic images in low-light conditions and in the absence of large-aperture optics. The method includes, upon photographing, first obtaining a plurality of frames of the image with exposures which either partially overlap in time or with an insignificant pause between them. The best result can be obtained in the case when the pause between the exposures represents less than 1/20 of the overall exposure time. The method further includes separating out the initial images from a group of exposures and filtering the images having the smallest exposure interval using the images having the largest exposure interval. The final image is obtained by combining initial images having different exposure intervals from the same group.

Abstract: There is a need to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a transfer portion from distorting a toner image on a sheet. Line sensors 7A through 7D are provided at least one of between secondary transfer portion 1F and a pair of registration rollers 5 and between a secondary transfer portion 1F and a fixing device 6. The line sensors 7A through 7D continuously detect one end position of a sheet and skew of the sheet with reference to a sheet conveying direction when the sheet passes through the secondary transfer portion 1F. The image forming apparatus computes a distortion amount for a toner image transferred by the secondary transfer portion 1F to a sheet based on detection information from the line sensors 7A through 7D and corrects the toner image formed on an intermediate transfer belt 106 based on a computed distortion amount for the toner image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for printing an original image indicated based on image data is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a paper feed portion that conveys, to a print position, paper having a size in a feed direction larger than a size of the original image, a region selection portion that selects, as an additional image, a band-shaped region that has a predetermined width and extends inwardly from an edge of the original image in a direction corresponding to the feed direction of the paper, and an image correction portion that adds the additional image repeatedly in such a manner that the additional image is placed adjacent to each other outwardly from the edge of the original image. A corrected image obtained by adding the additional image with the image correction portion is printed onto the paper.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a screen processing unit and a correction processing unit. The screen processing unit executes screen processing for an image to be processed. The correction processing unit performs correction processing of correcting a distortion of an output image from an original image, based on the amount of the distortion, for (i) the image before the screen processing and (ii) the image after the screen processing. The correction amount relating to the correction processing for the image after the screen processing is a small value as compared with the correction amount relating to the correction processing for the image before the screen processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for printer controller, dynamic N-UP print job imaging. An enhanced printer includes features hereof to dynamically adjust parameters of a print job at any point in a print job. In one aspect hereof, the printer configures a print job for an initial set of printing parameters without host system intervention and may reconfigure those parameters during printing of the print job. In another aspect hereof, the adjustments may include adjusting the relative position of any of the N-UP images independent of any other of the N-UP images. Another aspect hereof provides that the formatting of the print job according to printing parameters by the printer occurs after rasterizing the print job into logical page images. Since the formatting is performed after rasterizing, the printing parameters may be changed at any time during printing of the print job.

Abstract: The image reading device includes: a reading unit that includes a light source emitting light to irradiate an image on a recording medium transported in a first direction and a light receiving portion that receives light reflected by the recording medium; a transport path forming unit that forms a part of a transport path for the recording medium; a light transmitting portion that is provided in the transport path forming unit and transmits the light; and plural projection members that are provided to the light transmitting portion so as to project from the light transmitting portion toward the transport path, and that are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction while each extending in the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a duplex conveyance path where a recording medium can be reversed and re-fed; and an output image detector to detect an image or a test pattern formed on a surface of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus is configured to: detect the test pattern formed on the first side of the recording medium by the output image detector; adjust and correct image forming conditions based on the detection result of the detector; convey the recording medium the first side of which the test pattern is formed on, to a duplex conveyance path; re-feed the recording medium and form a test pattern for verifying correction effect on a backside of the recording medium after correcting and updating the image forming conditions; and detect the test pattern formed on the backside of the recording medium again by the output image detector, thereby verifying the correction effect.

Abstract: A relevance based print integrity method includes comparing current raster image data that define a document to be printed with golden raster image data that define a previous version of said document with a known (perfect) quality. A plurality of differences between said current raster image data and said golden raster image data are calculated, and each of the differences is processed to determine a relevance value of the difference and to assign the relevance value to the difference. The method includes generating and storing a list of the differences, wherein the list is ordered in terms of the relevance value assigned to each difference. The difference list is presented to a user textually or graphically and/or is used to control or interrupt printing operations.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. A characteristic value calculator calculates characteristic values of a preset area set around a pixel of interest. A trapping determining unit determines, for each color plane of an N-valued image, on the basis of the calculated characteristic values, whether the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing. A pixel value calculator sets, for each color plane, a position of a reference pixel in a reference area, and calculates a pixel value for changing the pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of a pixel value of each color plane at the position of the reference pixel. A pixel-of-interest value changing unit changes the pixel value of the pixel of interest into the calculated pixel value when the trapping determining unit determines that the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing.

Abstract: There is provided a decoloring device including a decoloring unit, a first sheet conveying unit, a pre-decoloring reading unit, a type determining unit, a second sheet conveying unit, a post-decoloring reading unit, a decoloring success or failure determining unit, and a determination criterion setting unit. The type determining unit determines the type of image on the sheet conveyed to the decoloring unit based on the reading result in the pre-decoloring reading unit. The post-decoloring reading unit reads an image on the sheet after the decoloring, which is conveyed by the second sheet conveying unit. The decoloring success or failure determining unit determines whether or not the decoloring in the decoloring unit is successful based on the reading result in the post-decoloring reading unit. The determination criterion setting unit sets a determination criterion in the decoloring success or failure determining unit, based on the type of image, which is determined by the type determining unit.

Abstract: Acquiring image data for each color component by guiding the reflected light from a read position on a contact glass, to a line sensor for each color component, detecting a provisional foreign matter region in one image data, determining a first condition on the basis of the number of pixels constituting the provisional foreign matter region, determining a second condition on the basis of the average value of the density values of all of the pixels within the provisional foreign matter region when the first condition is satisfied, and determining whether or not foreign matter is present at a read position corresponding to the one color component when the second condition is satisfied on the basis of the density value of the pixel corresponding to the provisional foreign matter region in one other image data and the fourth reference value that has been set in advance.

Abstract: For image processing for printing an original, first and second ground patterns are generated. The first ground pattern can be recognized with naked eyes in the original but cannot be recognized with naked eyes in a reproduction of the original obtained by an image forming apparatus, while the second ground pattern has a latent image which cannot be recognized in the original but can be recognized in the reproduction of the original. The first ground pattern and the second ground pattern are synthesized, and print data to be printed by the image forming apparatus is created. The print data has an image of the original, and the synthesized first and second ground patterns.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that includes a scanning unit for scanning a document to obtain scanning data and a control unit. The control unit is configured to specify a shadow region to be modified in the scanning data, execute a first adjusting operation for selecting a gray-scale level of a portion of the scanning data corresponding to the specified shadow region, and modify the scanning data according to the selected gray-scale level.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating an image filter is described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first plurality of images captured by an at least one camera with a same setting as a first camera. The method further includes creating an averaged image from the plurality of captured images, wherein the averaged image comprises a measurement value of intensity for each pixel in the averaged image. The method also includes determining an image imperfection in the averaged image. The method further includes creating the image filter to reduce the image imperfection.

Abstract: A print controller controls a printing unit to print an image on a recording medium by using a black ink and M chromatic color inks. The print controller stores a part of image data having a plurality of sets of pixel data and determines whether one pixel data set is subject pixel data to be subjected to bleed suppression and includes: setting the one pixel data set as target pixel data; setting, as peripheral pixel data, pixel data set corresponding to a pixel located within a prescribed range from a target pixel; acquiring the N color value set of the target pixel data; acquiring the N color value set of the peripheral pixel data; and determining whether the target pixel data is the subject pixel data based on the N color value sets.

Abstract: An image processing module performs efficient image enhancement according to a multi-scale energy minimization process. One or more input images are progressively downsampled to generate a pyramid of downsampled images of varying resolution. Starting with the coarsest downsampled image, a label map is generated that maps output pixel positions to pixel positions in the downsampled input images. The label map is then progressively upsampled. At each upsampling stage, the labels are refined according to an energy function configured to produce the desired enhancements. Using the multi-scale energy minimization, the image processing module enhances image via hole-filling and/or super-resolution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing isolated dots of an image to be printed by a printer. The method includes detecting whether pixels corresponding to an isolated dot in the image are in an on state. A first sum of pixels that are in an on state in a first pixel ring surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated dot when the pixels in the isolated dot are detected to be in the on state is determined. The first sum of pixels in the first pixel ring that are in the on state is compared with a first threshold sum. A first number of pixels in at least a second pixel ring either comprising of or surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated dot are turned on when the first sum of pixels in the on state is less than the first threshold sum.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing isolated holes in an image to be printed or displayed. The method includes detecting whether pixels corresponding to an isolated hole in the image are in an off state, determining a sum of pixels that are in an on state in a first pixel ring surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated hole when the one or more pixels in the isolated hole are detected to be in the off state, comparing the sum of pixels in the pixel ring that are in the on state with a threshold sum, turning off a number of pixels in at least another pixel ring either comprising of or surrounding the pixels when the first sum of pixels in the on state is greater than the threshold sum, and outputting the isolated hole including the turned off first number of pixels.

Abstract: A system for halftone processing is provided. The system includes a programmable halftone segmentation system having one or more programmable parameters to accommodate different input image parameters, such as different printer or scanner parameters, and configured to generate output control data as a function of image input data. A programmable output processor receives the output control data and the image input data and generates image output data that compensates for halftone regions in the image input data.

Abstract: In a prior art, since the wavelengths of R, G, and B LEDs serving as the light sources of a CIS scanner vary, read colors vary between individual scanners. Since the behavior of metamerism also changes due to the same reason, measures against the metamerism are hard to take. To solve this problem, a color patch is irradiated with light from an LED, and its spectral reflectivity is measured using a spectroreflectometer, thereby estimating the emission wavelength of the light source LED. A signal change characteristic representing the relationship to the output signals of three LEDs obtained from the spectral reflectivity of the patch is stored in a memory. In actual image reading, color correction is performed based on the signal change characteristic stored in the memory.

Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus, a program, and a method to easily form a three-dimensional image at a reduced cost. Such an image forming apparatus includes an image obtaining section that obtains a source image, a region identifying section that identifies a region, in the source image, that is to be subjected to sharpness enhancement, and an image forming section that forms an image whose region corresponding to the region identified by the region identifying section is raised. Being saved from the process of measuring the distances to the subjects, the image forming apparatus can be constituted without a distance measuring sensor and the like, thereby reducing the cost. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus can easily form a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image interpolation unit to compute a correct pixel value of a target pixel subject to interpolation of a halftone image. The image interpolation unit includes a base pattern setting unit to set a base pattern including the target pixel, a reference pattern setting unit to set reference pattern in a region peripheral to the target pixel, an analogous pattern acquisition unit to acquire at least one analogous pattern analogous to the base pattern from the reference pattern, a high-resolution pattern creating unit to create a high-resolution pattern having a predetermined resolution or higher by synthesizing the acquired analogous pattern, a pixel value estimating unit to compute an estimated pixel value of the target pixel based on the created high-resolution pattern, and a pixel value determination unit to determine the correct pixel value of the target pixel based on the computed estimated pixel value.

Abstract: A signal processing device first decomposes an input signal into a plurality of frequency components in different frequency ranges, then causes a higher harmonic wave generating section to generate a higher harmonic for each of a part or all of frequency components obtained by removing a frequency component in the lowest frequency range from frequency components obtained by the decomposition, and finally composes (i) the higher harmonic thus generated and (ii) a frequency component for which no higher harmonic has been generated. The higher harmonic wave generating section adds the frequency component and a nonlinear process signal (i) in which positive and negative signs of a frequency component for which the higher harmonic is to be generated are retained and (ii) which broadly monotonically increases nonlinearly with respect to the frequency component when the frequency component is located at least in the vicinity of zero.

Abstract: A computer program for, or method of, generating 1-bit image data from multiple-bit image data, by a process which comprises the steps of: receiving multiple-bit image data comprising multiple-bit pixel values; and deriving from the multiple-bit pixel values 1-bit image data comprising “on” and “off pixel values, each pixel value of the 1-bit image data corresponding to a pixel of an output medium, which pixel an output device would attempt to mark when printing the 1-bit image data if the pixel value were “on”, the 1-bit image data producing when printed an image constituted by dots, each dot corresponding to a plurality of pixel values of the 1-bit image data, which pixel values correspond to a block of M*N horizontally and/or vertically adjacent pixels of an output is medium, at least one of M and N being greater than one, wherein for at least some of the dots, where M or N is equal to one, a pixel value corresponding to a first or last pixel of a row of horizontally adjacent pixels, or to a first or last

Abstract: An image processor and an image processing method are provided which can suppress both a bronzing phenomenon and a color rolling in an inkjet printing apparatus and produce high-quality monochrome pictures. To that end, a monochrome image is processed by generating the multivalued density data for a chromatic ink having a hue component opposite that of the achromatic ink in a low to medium density region and, in a high density region, generating the multivalued density data for a chromatic ink having a reflection light with a hue component opposite that of a reflection light of the achromatic ink. With this arrangement, a high-quality monochrome image can be produced which has hardly noticeable hue deviations and bronzing phenomenon in the entire density grayscale or density range.

Abstract: A process for receiving data comprising multiple-bit pixel values and deriving therefrom 1-bit image data comprising “on” and “off” pixel values, each corresponding to a pixel on an output medium, which an output device would attempt to mark when printing the 1-bit image data if the pixel value were “on”, the 1-bit image data producing when printed an image constituted by a plurality of densities of dots, the dots being arranged such that, at least for densities of dots greater than a first threshold density, at least a majority of dots form a pair with at least one horizontally or vertically adjacent dot, and for densities of dots less than a second threshold density, the image is substantially free of blocks of 2*2 horizontally and vertically adjacent dots, the second threshold density being greater than the first threshold density. Additionally or alternatively dot arrangements are disclosed.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, generating intrinsic images corresponding to the image, and performing a relationship maintenance process to correct artifacts in the intrinsic images.

Abstract: An automated printout inspection system identifies glyphs in an image by calculating a connectedness score for each foreground pixel, and comparing this score with a specified threshold. The system further generates training images by simulating printouts from an impact printer, including the specifying of specific error types and their magnitudes. The simulated printouts are combined with scan images of real-world printout to train an automated printout inspection system. The inspection results of the automated system are compared with inspection results from human inspectors, and test parameters of the automated system are adjusted so that it renders inspection results within a specified range of the average human inspector.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, augmenting a preselected area of the image in a manner to decrease a number of token regions representing the preselected area, and identifying token regions in the augmented image.

Abstract: A method of printing an image by a printer having an asymmetric printer resolution includes multi-level halftoning the image by assigning a level out of a number of levels to each pixel of the image. The method further includes determining the number of levels on the basis of the asymmetric printer resolution, selecting for each level a collection of at least one binary pattern, each binary pattern consisting of a plurality of sub-pixels the number of which is determined by the number of levels, selecting for each pixel of the halftoned image a binary pattern from the collection selected for the level assigned to the pixel, transforming each pixel of the halftoned image into the selected binary pattern, and printing the binary patterns of the transformed pixels using the asymmetric printer resolution. A printer is configured to perform the method.

Abstract: A framework is provided for reducing the number of locations modified when hiding data, such as a digital watermark, in binary data. The framework complements data hiding techniques, such as digital watermarking techniques. After determining potential embedding locations according to an underlying technique, a data structure is created with values associated with those locations. A parity calculation is performed on the values in the data structure. The calculated parity is compared with hidden data to determine locations for modifications. Manipulations are then performed to reduce the total number of modifications needed to represent the hidden data. Modifications are made to the binary data according to the underlying technique. During decoding of the hidden data, the same locations can be determined, the same data structure can be created with the modified values, and a parity calculation is then performed to decode the hidden data.

Abstract: Systems and methods systems and methods for calibrating field uniformity are disclosed. An exemplary method includes scanning the imaging area including a first media to obtain optical data for a specular reflectance map. The method also includes scanning the imaging area including a second media to obtain optical data for a diffuse reflective map. The method also includes storing the specular reflectance map and the diffuse reflective map for adjusting actual pixel values during an imaging operation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first halftone processor, a first filtering processor, a second filtering processor, and an evaluator. The first halftone processor generates first halftone image data from input image data using thresholds. The first filtering processor smoothes the first halftone image data using a first filter having a size corresponding to a cycle of the thresholds. The second filtering processor smoothes the input image data using a second filter having a characteristic corresponding to the first filter. The evaluator evaluates a moiré caused in the first halftone image data based on a difference between the first halftone image data smoothed by the first filtering processor and the image data smoothed by the second filtering processor.

Abstract: In order to correct image files to be printed in a printing device, there is provided a printing device including: an inputting unit that is configured to be capable of inputting an image file representing a motion image; a generating unit that is configured to extract a plurality of frame images from the image file and to generate a first output image in which the plurality of extracted frame images are laid out on a single page; correcting unit that is configured to correct the first output image and to generate a first corrected output image; and a printing unit that is configured to be capable of printing the first corrected output image.

Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a reference position determining unit configured to, in a state where a bright area and a dark area are formed on a reflection surface when a light projecting unit projects light toward a part of the reflection surface, receive the light reflected from the reflection surface with a light receiving portion of a reading unit while restricting a light emitting portion of the reading unit from emitting light, detect a position of the bright area and a position of the dark area in a main scanning direction, and determine a reference position in the main scanning direction based on the detected positions of the bright area and the dark area.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing isolated holes in an image to be printed or displayed. The method includes generating a random number lying in a finite range of numbers, determining whether a target pixel is to be turned off and enabled for printing as a hole, determining a sum of pixels surrounding a target pixel in a plurality of pixels in a scanline of the image, the target pixel corresponding to an isolated hole in an input image, that are in an on state, the on state defined by a higher binary logic level relative to a binary logic level corresponding to a turned off pixel, determining a numerical value stored in a lookup table in a memory unit coupled to the processor using the determined number of pixels that are in the turned on state surrounding the target pixel.

Abstract: The problem of the present invention is to be capable of executing color shift correction processing also in consideration of a mechanical inclination component in an image forming device. For solving the problem, the image forming device according to the present invention comprises information processing unit, first measurement requesting unit, holding unit of curve information, notifying unit of curve information, receiving unit of a measurement pattern image, measurement processing unit, determining unit of a result of the measurement processing, and second measurement requesting unit.

Abstract: An image adjusting method is adapted to an image adjusting circuit. The image adjusting method includes following steps. An image signal is received and up-sampled to generate a first up-sampled image signal and a second up-sampled image signal. The first up-sampled image signal includes interpolated pixels and original pixels. Values of the interpolated pixels and the original pixels are detected, and a weight value is outputted according to the detection result. Whether the values of the interpolated pixels are adjusted or not is determined based on the detection result. According to the weight value, the second up-sampled image signal and the adjusted first up-sampled image signal are mixed to output a mixed image signal. An image adjusting circuit is also provided.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus, when image data is transferred from an LCD controller to an LCD through a transmission cable having a plurality of signal lines and is displayed on a screen, the image data is divided sequentially by a plurality of lines from a front line so as to correspond to the number of signal lines and allocates the divided image data to the signal lines such that image data of which signal change is larger is allocated to a signal line which is closer to the ground line to transfer the image data. Therefore, the entire radiation noise which is generated can be reduced while maintaining quality of signals.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a chart creation section, an input section, and a color shift correction section. The image forming section includes a plurality of image forming units that individually form images of different colors. The chart creation section inputs, to the image forming section, the image data of a chart including first lines containing a reference color and a stepped image located between the first lines and that has second lines containing an adjustment color. The input section receives the input of an adjustment value selected based on a chart formed by the image forming section. In response to the adjustment value, the color shift correction section moves the image forming position of the image forming unit forming the image of the adjustment color with respect to the image forming position of the image forming unit forming the image of the reference color.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image, a charging unit charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit forming an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light onto the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing unit developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier using a developing material, and a transfer unit transferring a developer image onto a printing material. The apparatus has also an image correction unit correcting image data inputted to the exposure unit so as to compensate for deformation in the developer image originating in a form of the exposure unit, and a smoothing processing unit carrying out smoothing of an image by controlling the exposure unit so that dots of a size smaller than one pixel are filled with respect to a white image region of the corrected image data.

Abstract: A method for registering color deviations on printing materials produced in machines processing printing material, includes using a computer to analyze image data from a prepress stage with regard to coloring in a printed image on the printing materials. During the analysis in the computer, the image data from the prepress stage are organized into image types, the image types are allocated set points and the set points are compared with actual values registered by a color measuring instrument on the printing materials being produced.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus that improves the visibility of a character and its background in different colors or of outline characters is provided. Specifically, outline character bold data is inverted and each of the pixels in the data is expanded to adjacent eight pixels. Then, the expanded outline character is processed into expanded inverted data. The logical AND of the inverted expanded data and K data on a background image is then calculated to generate K data with the outline character expanded. This results in an image with the outline character expanded. That is, the present invention enables characters with improved visibility and free from blurredness to be printed while preventing the adverse effect of bleeding on the outline character.

Abstract: Upon setting of a halftone process of an initial setting, there is such a problem that graininess deteriorates due to an aging change or an environmental change. To solve this problem, an image processing apparatus executes a halftone process on a test image for tone correction and prints the processed test image; forms a tone correction table in accordance with read values from the printed test image; obtains graininess from a read value of a low density portion of a tone correction patch of the test image for the tone correction; discriminates whether the obtained graininess exceeds a predetermined reference level; and changes a setting of the halftone process so as to reduce the graininess when it is discriminated that the obtained graininess exceeds the predetermined reference level.

Abstract: A method of detecting displacement with sub-pixel accuracy includes the steps of: capturing a first array image and a second array image; interpolating the first array image to form a reference image; interpolating the second array image to form a comparison image; comparing the reference image with the comparison image so as to obtain a displacement. The present invention also provides an apparatus for detecting displacement with sub-pixel accuracy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a positioning unit that acquires a misalignment amount of a pixel in a main-scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, the pixel as a reference pixel for zooming image data, and decides a position of a pixel as a correction target, based on the misalignment amount; a correcting unit that corrects the pixel; a zooming unit that controls the positioning unit and the correcting unit so as to repeatedly perform the positioning process and the correction process on a pixel line; a pattern recognition unit that performs pattern matching on a predetermined pattern and a predetermined pixel line; and a pixel position changing unit that shifts the decided pixel position in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the zooming unit performs the zooming process on the pixel line of the sub-scanning direction including the pixel that is located at shifted pixel position.

Abstract: This application provides a method for trapping. The method comprises: vectorizing a bitmap in a PDF file to retrieve a description regarding paths of the bitmap; intersecting the retrieved paths with other primitives in the PDF file; and trapping results of intersection. This application further provides a device for trapping. The device comprises: a vectorizing module configured to vectorize a bitmap in a PDF file to retrieve description regarding paths of the bitmap; an intersecting module configured to intersect the paths with other primitives in the PDF file; and a trapping module configured to trap results of intersection. The invention in this application can ensure the accuracy of bitmap trapping.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processing unit configured to perform halftone processing for input image data and output halftone image data, a determination unit configured to determine a mixing ratio based on a difference value between a low frequency component of the halftone image data and a low frequency component of the input image data, and a mixing unit configured to mix the input image data and the halftone image data based on the mixing ratio.

Abstract: Directional data is generated representing a pattern that indicates a growing direction of a dot on a scanning line. Coefficients used to distribute the image data of a pixel of interest are set. An edge of an input image is detected. The image data of the pixel of interest of the input image is distributed to the interest pixel and a pixel adjacent to the interest pixel based on the coefficients. Image data distributed from the adjacent pixel is added to image data of the interest pixel on which the distribution is performed, and the sum of the image data is as corrected image data of the interest pixel. The corrected image data and the generated directional data are selected for an edge, and the image data of the interest pixel and input directional data are selected for a non-edge to generate an image signal pulse-width modulated.

Abstract: Apparatus for interpolating or dispersing effects over a video frame, useful for chroma keying of an image comprising a foreground including a part to remove, such as a background or spill from the background. The apparatus handles pixels of the image one by one and includes an interpolation unit for applying an interpolation of attributes at a respective pixel and then applies a function based on the attributes. For example in chroma keying an opaqueness assigner may compare the local color with a color of the part to remove using the interpolation. Based on the comparison, keying is used to set at the respective pixel a level of opaqueness for the pixel.