Abstract: A method of compressing text and graphic images for storage on a computer memory device. The first step of the invention is the importation of a TIFF or EPS file to be compressed into a conversion program where it is converted to a JPEG or PICT filt type. The next step is to import the converted file into a basic authoring program that is written to allow importation of JPEG or PICT files. Once the file has been inserted into the authoring program, a standard compressor is selected and used to perform compression, such compressors being preferably "CINEPAK" of JPEG. Once the file-images have been compressed to a level desired, the images are then stored or fixed or transmitted in their compressed form in their new file-type. The next step is the decompression of the file-images and the viewing thereof.

Abstract: Developed photographic film is mounted in a scanner block, and then a film image is picked up. The picked-up film image is memorized in an image memory via a scanner I/F. At the same time, information relating a print format being recorded as magnetic information in the film is read by a magnetic regenerating part. A CPU instructs a print control block to feed a sheet of print paper corresponding to the print format of each frame from the information relating a print format, and selects a paper tray containing the desired print paper among a plurality of paper trays so as to make a printing part feed the print paper. The printing part makes a print of the frame image being memorized in the image memory.

Abstract: A film image processing apparatus that is capable of displaying a correct screen image at all times by taking into consideration aspect ratios of a print and the monitor screen is provided. In order to achieve this, the film image processing apparatus comprises a CCD that picks up a photographic image formed on developed film, a screen image signal output circuit that outputs a screen image signal so that an image thus picked up can be displayed as a screen image on a monitor screen, a zoom lens that changes the magnification of a screen image to be displayed on the monitor screen, a read magnetic head that reads information related to the aspect ratio of a print when a photographic image is printed and a control circuit that controls the zoom lens to change the magnification of the screen image of the photographic frame in correspondence to the aspect ratio of the print that has been read.

Abstract: A system converts a source image into destination image pixels that are binary. The system includes a memory which stores at least a portion of a row of source grey level pixels, and a corresponding row of a threshold matrix of plural rows of grey level pixel values, each row including at least W pixel values. A scale register stores N source grey level pixel values that have been scaled to match N grey level destination image pixel locations. A threshold register outputs, in parallel, up to N of the W threshold pixel values. Alignment logic controllably enters the threshold pixel values into the threshold register. A controller operates the alignment logic to enter the W threshold pixel values into N contiguous storage positions in the threshold register, and if W greater than N, enables entry of excess ones of the W threshold pixel values into contiguous storage positions in the threshold register after the (W-N) previously entered threshold pixel values have been outputted.

Abstract: When an magnified and synthesized image is finally printed on a printing medium based on an original image and a character font data, linear magnifying processing is executed with the aid of a software on the host computer side for the original image optically read by a scanner. In addition, vector magnifying processing is executed for font data likewise with the aid of a software, and moreover, synthesizing processing is executed for the font data. At this time, forming processing such as edge emphasizing or the like can be executed after completion of the vector magnifying processing. Synthesizing data are additionally magnified in a printer with the aid of a hardware, and subsequently, the magnified and synthesized image is outputted to the printer for performing a printing operation by the latter. An magnifying rate applicable to the host computer and the printer can be determined such that productivity of the image forming system is maximized.

Abstract: An averaging circuit for sequentially calculating an average of an original pixel data and a delayed pixel data to output a correction data and a multiplexer for selecting one of the pixel data and the correction data cooperate with each other, under control of a timing generator for generating a control signal, to output a pixel data on a contracted picture with a reduced distortion, permitting use of a relatively small-scale circuit.

Abstract: A method of magnifying a digital image based on an edge map. The image has many original pixels, with each pixel having a level, and the locations of the pixels having a resolution. The method to magnify the image includes the steps of producing an edge map with many boundaries from the digital image, projecting the edge map onto the digital image, generating one or more additional pixels in locations among the original pixels by manipulating the levels of one or more original pixels without crossing any boundaries set by the edge map, and expanding the distances between the pixels so that the resolution of the locations of the pixels becomes the same as the original pixels. In another preferred embodiment, the original digital image is enlarged to the size of the magnified image by extending proportionally the locations of the original pixels. Then the edge map is produced and projected onto the enlarged image to generate additional pixels.

Abstract: Representative pixel data is extracted for each predetermined region in an original image according to priority of color codes representing colors. The representative pixel data constitute a reduced image. The reduced image is a clear and complete reproduction of the original image without line omissions and distortion of a desired linework. M pieces of pixel data on each scanning line are successively read until the pixel data reaches a maximum value Xmax in a main scanning direction. One pixel data having a color code with the highest priority is selected from the read pixel data according to a priority code table TBL. If the color code is not in the priority table, pixel data at a predetermined position in the region of the read pixel data is selected. The results of selection for two adjacent scanning lines are compared based on the priority code table TBL, and final representative pixel data is selected.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting a plurality of color component signals, and a processing unit for executing processing for some color component signals of the plurality of color component signals, which processing is different from that for the remaining color component signals, in accordance with spatial frequency gain characteristics of the plurality of color component signals input by the input unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reconstructing a spectrum realizable in a medium from signals of a color scanner, includes the steps of obtaining an initial spectrum using a linear vector-space representation of the medium spectra, projecting the initial spectrum onto a logarithmic vector-space representation of the medium spectra to obtain an initial set of coordinates in the logarithmic vector-space and modifying the initial coordinates in an iterative convergence loop until a solution criterion is met. The solved coordinates are then transformed into spectrum using the logarithmic vector-space representation and subsequently may be transformed into colorimetric values. The method and apparatus of this invention thus enable conversion of color scanner signals into colorimetric values. This is accomplished without modification of the prevailing scanner elements.

Abstract: A color space data conversion formula corresponding to the input and output conditions can be selected from basic profiles which consists of a plurality of the conversion formulas for color reproduction processes. A plurality of parameters or a plurality of variable conversion formulas can be selected from subprofiles, in accordance with the input and output conditions and on the ground of the color space data conversion formula selected from the basic profiles. Basic profiles or subprofiles can be added or modified. The color image data are processed highly accurately to obtain color images of high reproducibility, for thereby facilitating the setting of the input and output conditions.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus are used for generating image data including characters or symbols in a color on the basis of a designated size. The brightness at which the image data is generated is changed in accordance with the designated size of a character or symbol. Thus, when printing a character or symbol on a printer, the difference in visual impression which is felt when the character or symbol has been printed in a different size, is reduced.

Abstract: An image reduction apparatus includes a smoothing unit for smoothing binary image data, a binarization unit for binarizing an output from the smoothing unit, a detection unit for detecting an attribute of the binary image data smoothed by the smoothing unit, a plurality of correction units corresponding to a plurality of attributes, and a selector for selecting one of the correction units in accordance with the attribute detected by the detection unit. An output from the binarization unit is corrected by the correction unit selected by the selector.

Abstract: A method of magnifying a digital image based on an edge map. The image has many original pixels, with each pixel having a level, and the locations of the pixels having a resolution. The method to magnify the image includes the steps of producing an edge map with many boundaries from the digital image, projecting the edge map onto the digital image, generating one or more additional pixels in locations among the original pixels by manipulating the levels of one or more original pixels without crossing any boundaries set by the edge map, and expanding the distances between the pixels so that the resolution of the locations of the pixels becomes the same as the original pixels. In another preferred embodiment, the original digital image is enlarged to the size of the magnified image by extending proportionally the locations of the original pixels. Then the edge map is produced and projected onto the enlarged image to generate additional pixels.

Abstract: An electrophotographic color image forming machine registers which a second color toner image on a first color toner image which has been previously formed on an image carrier to form a color image. The registered images are then transferred onto a recording sheet. The machine includes control apparatus that includes first and second exposure control modulators which respectively control an exposure amount of at least one of the first color toner images and the second color toner image. A smoothing processor controls at least one of a size and a position of at least one of the first and second color toner dot images within each of a plurality of pixels and a discriminator determines whether one of the size and the position of the dot image should be controlled.

Abstract: A color image reading system in which an input color image signal is converted into color data signals. The color data signals are indicative of a combination of data of reference stimuli represented by vertices of a triangle of which one side circumscribes a pure purple locus, and of which the remaining two sides circumscribes two points of a spectral locus of a color degree diagram, the two points representing substantially middle colors between a color represented by one vertex of the triangle at which the remaining two sides intersect and each of two colors represented by the remaining two sides of the triangle, respectively. The input color image signal is reproduced on a color image output device in response to the provision of the color data signals.

Abstract: Image data is processed to enlarge and contract an original image, represented by the data, by P times in an X-axis direction while the data is subjected to interpolation. The letter P denotes an arbitrary positive rational number. It is supposed that each of regions among pixels of the original image is divided into sub areas having a number of N by M, that is, N in the X-axis direction and M in a Y-axis direction. The letter N denotes an arbitrary integer equal to or greater than 2. The letter M denotes an arbitrary integer equal to or greater than 1. An N-time interpolation enlarging device or step serves to execute an interpolation process determined by an original-image sub area corresponding to a pixel of an enlargement/contraction-resultant image while simultaneously generating a plurality of pieces of process-resultant data representing a part of an image enlarged from the original image by N times in the X-axis direction.

Abstract: A method of recording a color image in such a manner that two toner images of different colors are formed on the basis of video signals supplied from an information processor for producing different colors, and the toner images are transferred to a sheet of recording paper so that the toner images overlap each other, is disclosed, in which method video signal portions for forming contiguous toner images of different colors at a recording position are extracted from the video signals, and one of the video signal portions is extended so that the toner image based upon the video signal portion is enlarged in the direction of the boundary between the contiguous toner images based upon the video signal portions, to prevent a gap having the ground color of the recording paper from generating between the contiguous toner images even when one of the contiguous toner images is spaced apart from the other toner image.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for descreening and for performing resolution changes and correction of misregistration on a color half-tone image in order to produce a color continuous tone image. The apparatus includes filter apparatus for removing screen information from the half-tone image including a plurality of different filters each providing interpolation and screen removal functions and a controller for selecting per pixel of the continuous tone image and in accordance with sensed misregistration and as a function of desired resolution changes, one of the filters for operation on a neighborhood of the pixel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing color values in the reproduction of color originals. Color values (R.sub.0, G.sub.0, B.sub.0) are acquired from original pixels (P.sub.0) arranged in an original raster network by pixel-by-pixel and line-by-line, optoelectronic scanning of color originals. For modifying the reproduction scale, an output raster network is generated for output pixels (P.sub.A) to be reproduced and the color values (R.sub.A, G.sub.A, B.sub.A) of the output pixels (P.sub.A) are respectively calculated from the color values (R.sub.0, G.sub.0, B.sub.0) of the original pixels (P.sub.0) within an interpolation window shiftable across the original raster network, being calculated by weighting the color values (R.sub.0, G.sub.0, B.sub.0) with previously calculated weighting coefficients (k.sub.M) for the scale modification and by addition of the weighted color values.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for changing an image size wherein the document is marked with two kinds of color markers differing in color so as to be designated a pre-change region in which an image size is to be changed and a post-change region indicating a region after the image size has been changed. The apparatus comprises a condition detector to detect the pre-change region and the post-change region and obtains a magnification of the image size change on the basis of the pre-change region and the post-change region.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for descreening and for performing resolution changes on a half-tone image in order to produce a continuous tone image. The apparatus includes filter apparatus for removing screen information from the half-tone image including a plurality of different filters each providing interpolation and screen removal functions and a controller for selecting per pixel of the continuous tone image and as a function of desired resolution changes, one of the filters for operation on a neighborhood of the pixel.

Abstract: It is determined whether an object pixel in entered image data resides on (a) part of a black character or line, (b) not on part of a black character or line but in close proximity thereto, (c) neither part of nor in close proximity to a black character or line. When it is determined that (a) holds, the object pixel is recorded using dark black ink only. When it is determined that (b) holds, a pixel comprising various color components is recorded using ink whose density is lower that that of ink having a designated density. When it is determined that (c) holds, namely that the object pixel is remote from a black character or line, the object pixel is recorded using the ink of the designated density.

Abstract: Color outputting method and apparatus are disclosed. A size of character to be generated is discriminated. Ratios of coloring materials constructing the color to be generated are corrected when the size of character is smaller than a predetermined value. When the coloring materials are corrected, the ratio of the coloring material of the highest ratio is set into 100% and the ratios of the other coloring materials are increased by only the same value as the highest ratio. Thus, a permanent visible color image can be formed at any size and in any color.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system (100, 100') provides a wide aspect ratio view at each site utilizing a single NTSC camera (250, 350) and projector (260,360). At the transmitting end of a teleconference, a transformation element (280, 380, 510, 610) maps a wide aspect ratio field of view into the field of view of an NTSC camera. The transformation is reversed at the receiving end of the teleconferencing system.

Abstract: An overlapping image area is produced on the border between adjacent image areas by processing of image data so as to eliminate a dropout due to registering mismatch. A target image area CR2, specified by an operator, is expanded by a predetermined width d to produce overlapping image areas CR4 and CR5. The color of the overlapping image area CR4 or CR5 is determined based on the color of the target area CR2 and the original color of the overlapping image area CR4 or CR5. For example, the larger value between each color component of the original color of the overlapping image area and that of the color of the target area is selected as the new color component of the overlapping image area.