Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for dynamically halftoning image data, substantially in real-time. Halftone threshold values are calculated and stored in memory, and halftone output values are calculated for the portions of the image data that will be displayed on a display device. Halftone screen parameters may be modified, and new halftone screen threshold values may be calculated for any affected halftone screens. For unaffected halftone screens, the previously stored threshold values may be retrieved from memory. In addition, the portion of the image to be displayed may be modified, and the halftone output values of the new portion may be calculated and then displayed.

Abstract: A method for generating transposed image data for use in an imaging apparatus having access to a memory includes (a) generating a set of data blocks corresponding to at least a portion of image data representing an image to be printed; (b) performing a combined format and transpose operation on the set of data blocks; and (c) storing a result of the combined format and transpose operation in the memory.

Abstract: When a halftone dot region includes a character or line drawing, high extraction performance of a halftone dot region cannot be obtained. Hence, the isolation amount of a pixel of interest is calculated, and the isolation amounts are integrated in a plurality of areas having different sizes. Thresholds set for respective areas are compared with the integration result to determine whether or not the pixel of interest belongs to a halftone dot region.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a photosensitive member, the image formed on the photosensitive member is classified by a respective kind of the image. The image forming apparatus comprises a storage unit which stores a cumulative value of a pixel value by a respective kind of the image; adding means for adding the pixel value of a respective pixel of the image formed on the photosensitive member, to the cumulative value stored in the storage unit and corresponding to the kind of the image; and toner consumption calculating means for calculating a toner consumption based on the cumulative value stored in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus capable of totaling the pixel value by a respective kind of the image and calculating the toner consumption by a respective kind of the image is realized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of generating information embedded halftone screen code. According to this method, massive digital information can be stored through printing on at least one type of print media. The information embedded can be read and recognized simply and reliably. The quality of the images will not be reduced after information embedded. The information printed on the media includes a predetermined array of halftone dots with different morphology including physical and geometrical characteristics, which forms the computer codes to embed information into printed content. The advantages of this invention are: the maximum similarity value can be reduced to under the threshold value according to this method; the recognition performance of the halftone screen code can be improved; and robustness can still be maintained at a high level even though the paper is defected or polluted.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods, systems and apparatus to manage spot colors for an image marking device. Specifically, disclosed is a spot color control method including selecting a gain matrix K from a plurality of gain matrices, the gain matrix K being selected to satisfy performance criteria associated with the rendering of the target spot color, the performance criteria including an acceptable spot color error associated with the rendered spot color relative to the target color, an acceptable actuator energy utilized to achieve the acceptable spot color error and a total toner/ink usage acceptable to render the spot color.

Abstract: In order to form a high-quality image, upon execution of multi-pass printing using a printing head with a plurality of nozzles, an image processing apparatus calculates, using a scan duty setting unit, scan duty data for respective nozzles for each scan of the printing head in accordance with input image data. A halftone processor generates a dot pattern to be formed by applying N-ary processing based on predetermined constraining condition information to the calculated scan duty data. A constraining condition information calculation unit generates constraining condition information to be referred to by the halftone processor at the time of the next scan. The constraining condition information is set so that the phase of a next dot pattern to be generated has an opposite phase relationship in a low frequency region with respect to the already printed dot pattern.

Abstract: A method for multi-toning an input digital image having input pixels with two or more color channels to form an output digital image having modified output levels. The method includes determining modified output levels using a combined error signal formed from intermediate error signals for each color channel together with an error signal offset value, and adjusting the input levels for the nearby pixels responsive to weighted error signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide for an efficient method for print job compression. In some embodiments, threshold halftone lookup tables directed to specific object types are used to compare pixel data for specific detected objects. Pixel data for such specified objects may be encoded using the appropriate object-specific threshold halftone lookup table into one of two multi-bit values, which serve to increase the frequency of repetitive or redundant encoded data and permit efficient compression by algorithms that exploit data repetition and/or redundancy. The methods described herein are applicable to a variety of printers, including raster and PDL printers.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus and image processing method for formation of high quality image by high-speed error diffusion processing by execution of more complicated threshold condition processing in a simple manner. When error diffusion processing is performed on multivalued image data having plural density components and the result of processing is outputted, upon execution of error diffusion processing on a first density component among the plural density components, a threshold value used in the error diffusion processing is determined based on a density value of a second density component, then the error diffusion processing is performed on the first density component based on the determined threshold value, and the result of execution of the error diffusion processing is outputted.

Abstract: A printing method includes: providing a print head that includes a plurality of nozzle arrays for ejecting at least 3 colors of inks; performing a halftone process with a dither matrix on image data to generate dot data that represents a state of dot formation at each pixel. The dither matrix includes a single reference matrix that is set by determining threshold values in the reference matrix based on a predetermined index value being calculated based on an arrangement pattern of at least two colors of dot groups among M colors (M is an integer of at least 3 and less or equal to N) of dot groups among the at least N colors of dot groups, with respect to at least some tone values among the input tone values.

Abstract: The invention provides printing method of printing on a printing medium. The method includes: generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, by performing a halftone process on image data representing, a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image; providing a print head having a plurality of nozzle groups that eject inks of mutually different colors; and generating the print image by mutually combining dot groups of multiple colors formed in at least one scan in a common print area, by forming each dot group with each of the plurality of nozzle groups during each scan of the print head in response to the dot data, the each of the dot groups being mutually different in color.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for modeling S-distortion in an image intensifier. In an embodiment, the method may include identifying a reference coordinate on an input screen of the image intensifier. The method also includes computing a set of charged particle velocity vectors. The method also includes computing a set of magnetic field vectors. The method also includes computing the force exerted on the charged particle in an image intensifier. Certain embodiments of the present invention include an iterative method for calibrating an image acquisition system with an analytic S-distortion model. In an embodiment, the method may include comparing the difference between the measured fiducial shadow positions and the model fiducial positions with a threshold value. If the difference is less than the threshold value, the optical distortion parameters are used for linearizing the set of acquired images.

Abstract: A method for generating an authenticable color image, the color image including a plurality of color separations, wherein an authentication image inserted in the multicolor image is not readily visually perceptible, includes halftoning image data corresponding to a first color separation using a single halftone screen, wherein the halftone screen includes means for generating an authentication image in a color image; and halftoning image data corresponding to a second color separation using the halftone screen and dot placement information for the image data corresponding to the first color separation to form a multicolor image; wherein halftoning of image data corresponding to the second color separation includes placing dots for the second color separation in thresholds of the halftone screen relative to those thresholds occupied by the first color separation in the halftone screen in accordance with a predetermined relationship.

Abstract: A halftoning device that converts an input pixel signal of 8 bits per pixel into an output pixel signal of r bits per pixel(r<8), the halftoning device includes: a gradation correction unit that expands the input pixel signal into an expanded pixel signal of n bits per pixel(n>8); a threshold value array storage that stores a threshold value array having a threshold value of 8 bits; and a threshold value expansion unit that expands the threshold value of 8 bits to expanded threshold value of n bits per pixel. A range of the expanded pixel signal output from the gradation correction unit is matched with a range of the expanded threshold value. The output pixel signal is set according to a comparison of the expanded pixel signal with the expanded threshold value corresponding to the threshold value that is selected for each input pixel signal.

Abstract: When executing a color conversion process, a CPU determines whether a CMYK conversion indication flag Fc has been set. If the flag Fc has been set, then the CPU reads data of an RGB-CMYK conversion table and performs a cube interpolation process by using the RGB-CMYK conversion table. On the other hand, if the flag Fc has not been set, then the CPU reads data of an RGB-RGB conversion table and performs a triangular pyramid interpolation process by using the RGB-RGB conversion table.

Abstract: An image correction process that suppresses image deterioration in a printed image is provided. An image correction processing apparatus includes an area setting unit which sets an area comprising a plurality of pixels including an interest pixel, a first correction strength setting unit which adaptively sets a first correction strength for at least the interest pixel in the area based on the number of changes and the changing amount, a first correction unit which executes image correction for a pixel, for which the first correction strength is set, by the first correction strength, a second correction strength setting unit which adaptively sets a second correction strength for at least the interest pixel in the area based on the number of changes and the changing amount, and a second correction unit which executes image correction for a pixel, for which the first correction strength is set, by the second correction strength.

Abstract: A dithering method includes: utilizing a plurality of large dithering masks to perform dithering on a first set of Least Significant Bits (LSBs) of M-bit video data, utilizing a plurality of small dithering masks to perform dithering on a second set of LSBs of the M-bit video data, and adjusting the content of at least one of the plurality of large dithering masks and/or the content of at least one of the plurality of small dithering masks on a frame-by-frame basis. Each of the plurality of large dithering masks includes a plurality of sub-dithering masks. Each of the plurality of sub-dithering masks includes a plurality of dithering thresholds. Each of the plurality of small dithering masks includes a plurality of dithering thresholds.

Abstract: In an image output control system of the invention, an image processing device makes image data subjected to a preset series of image processing and supplies the processed image data to an image output device, which then outputs a resulting processed image. The image processing device determines the number of dots to be created in each pixel group, which has a preset number of multiple pixels included in an image, and outputs the determined number of dots as dot number data to the image output device. The image output device stores multiple options for a priority order of individual pixels included in each pixel group for dot formation. In response to reception of the dot number data, the image output device selects one among the multiple options for the priority order, determines the positions of dot-on pixels in the pixel group, and actually creates dots at the determined positions of the dot-on pixels to output a resulting image.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image generating section that generates an image including a plurality of screen types, an image processing section that performs a grayscale screen process on the image and generates grayscale data and screen type data for each pixel, a line head to which the grayscale data for each pixel section is sequentially transmitted, and a light intensity correction circuit that corrects light intensity of each pixel. The image processing section transmits the screen type data for each pixel to the light intensity correction circuit. The light intensity correction circuit transmits a light intensity correction value for each pixel to the line head. The light intensity correction value for each pixel is obtained based on the corresponding screen type data so that pixels of different screen types of the image are corrected in accordance with the corresponding screen types.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing a document by remaining color toner or ink information is provided.

Abstract: A method for encryption of a digital watermark by intelligent halftoning includes receiving image data that define at least a portion of a document to be printed in terms of at least three halftone images corresponding respectively to three printing colorants, each of the three halftone images comprising a plurality of halftone cells. The image data are modified by phase-shifting some of the halftone cells of at least one of the halftone images relative to the other halftone images to encode a watermark within the portion of the document such that the at least one phase-shifted halftone image includes a phase-shifted region and a non-phase-shifted region. The modified image data are used to print the portion of the document on a substrate that will fluoresce when subjected to UV illumination. The printed portion of the document includes a first printed pattern resulting from the phase-shifted region and a second printed pattern resulting from the non-phase-shifted region.

Abstract: An image data conversion apparatus for embedding a second image into image data corresponding to a first image, comprising an embedded image acquisition unit that acquires a second image for embedding in the first image, an embedment area acquisition unit that receives a location of an embedment area where the second image may be embedded in the first image, an ink set memory unit that stores a first and second set of inks and associated quantities, wherein the second set of inks and may be substituted for the first set of inks, and an ink amount data conversion unit that converts the image data into converted ink quantity data that corresponds to the image data such that the second image embedded in the first image can be observed by making a differentiation between portions of the first image where the first and second set of ink are used.

Abstract: A color transformation method which accounts for colorant interactions includes establishing a plurality of tone reproduction curves (TRCs), for one or more of the color separations forming a digital image. Each TRC accounts for colorant interactions between a primary colorant with which the first color separation is to be rendered and at least one secondary colorant with which at least a second of the plurality of color separations is to be rendered. The TRCs include input values and their corresponding modified input values. In a given TRC, the input values of the second and optionally other color separations are fixed. For a pixel of the digital image having a given input values for the first and second color separation one or more of the TRCs are selected which bound the fixed input value for the second color separation and a modified input value is determined therefrom.

Abstract: A second printing control unit is provided. If the setting information is the information of setting for avoiding the use of Cl ink (uncolored ink), the second printing control unit refers to the same color conversion table as is used by a first printing control unit. Thereby the second printing control unit color-converts input image data into image data comprising gradation data corresponding to at least the amounts of colored inks in C, M, Y, R, V, and K consumed. The second printing control unit can carry out such control as to cause a printer (printing device) to use only the C, M, Y, R, V, and K colored ink and print a print image, using the image data.

Abstract: In a line by line image forming apparatus, line switching information which depends on scan line curve and an overlap data length to be read that overlaps across a plurality of lines before and after a switching position instructed by line switching information are set in a register. If switching to the line above or below is instructed by the line switching information, an address generating unit, when reading image data from an image memory, generates the read address and read data length of the image memory in accordance with the line switching information and the overlap data length, and reads image data corresponding to a current line and the line above or below the current line in accordance with the generated data.

Abstract: When text is taken in with a scanner, the reflection of the light from a sheet of paper, etc. causes a tinge on the sheet of paper. The tinge around each letter is printed as minute dots, and the outlines of printed letters are blurred and the clearness or distinctness of the letters are decreased. When printing text taken in through a scanner unit 30, by reducing (or reducing to zero) the ratios of occurrence of small dots in a gradient range “n” or “m” of the data for printing (CMYK signals) generated from image data (RGB signals), or converting such ratios of occurrence of small dots into the ratios of occurrence of large dots based on the weight ratio, the blur of each letter that may be caused by the small dots can be reduced, and the clearness and distinctness of each letter can be improved.

Abstract: Image processing apparatus and image processing method for formation of high quality image by high-speed error diffusion processing by execution of more complicated threshold condition processing in a simple manner. When error diffusion processing is performed on multivalued image data having plural density components and the result of processing is outputted, upon execution of error diffusion processing on a first density component among the plural density components, a threshold value used in the error diffusion processing is determined based on a density value of a second density component, then the error diffusion processing is performed on the first density component based on the determined threshold value, and the result of execution of the error diffusion processing is outputted.

Abstract: A method for avoiding objectionable moiré in a color image can include identifying a problematic excitation angle associated with a problematic excitation in a marking process or in the color image and selecting a set of at least two halftone screens for rendering at least two separations of the color image wherein the set of screens is selected to avoid including significant screen fundamental, harmonic and beat frequencies at angles closer than about 1 degree of the identified problematic excitation angle. Halftoning the color image according to the selected set of screens avoids objectionable moiré associated with the problematic excitation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing image data representing a color separation or mono-color image includes processing the color separation image data or mono-color image data in accordance with first and second or more halftone screen processings at different screen angles and obtaining results of the processings and combining the results of the processings to generate composite image data of the first and second or more halftone screen processings. The resulting print of the composite image data forms relatively pleasing rosettes or diamond structures in the particular color.

Abstract: A spectral reflectance, corresponding to multiple quantities of coloring materials, is obtained, and a target spectral reflectance, corresponding to data of a color of interest, calculated based on the spectral reflectance. The target spectral reflectance is calculated in a manner that makes the spectral reflectance change contiguously, across an interval of multiple colors that are reproduced by the quantities of coloring materials in question. A decision of the quantities of coloring materials in question is thus made that corresponds to the target spectral reflectance.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a first processing unit for executing color conversion processing and halftoning processing of data before composition processing of data, a second processing unit for executing color conversion processing and halftoning processing of data after composition processing of data, and a selector for selecting one of the first and second processing units.

Abstract: A three-dimensional halftone screen is provided that is suited for multilevel printing. The three-dimensional halftone screen includes a plurality of planes each corresponding to one or more input intensity levels of an input RIPped pixel. Within the planes are screen dots, each associated with one or more output exposure intensity values representing an intensity of an exposure dot corresponding to the input RIPped pixel.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for performing a CMYK to CMYKKpRGB color transform which helps reduce engine-specific halftone artifacts in diverse printing devices capable of dot-on-dot printing. The present method lends adaptive color overlapping control to local color regions depending on the engine behaviors and imaging artifacts to be addressed. With such a transform, an added degree of flexibility is provided to a variety of halftoning algorithms to reduce engine-specific halftone artifacts. Advantageously, increased halftone image quality is effectuated for different engine behaviors in a computationally efficient manner. Various embodiments have been disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expanding the range of image densities over which the manipulation of differential gloss as may be inherent in halftoned images may be achieved. By selectively applying halftones with anisotropic structure characteristics which are significantly different in orientation while remaining identical in density, a gloss image may be superimposed within an image without the need for special toners or paper. This technique may be enhanced across low and high density areas by application of clear toner to expand the range of image densities over which a desired glossmark image will bear an effect.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a determining device, a mode setting device, a storage device, and a dither matrix selecting device that selects a dither matrix corresponding to the one of the plurality of image output modes set by the mode setting device as a dither matrix used by the determining device, wherein when a predetermined image output mode is set by the mode setting device, the dither matrix selecting device selects a dither matrix for higher levels than those of the input image data.

Abstract: A method is provided for decoding an image of a pattern associated with an object to determine a digital identifier and to obtain data. The method comprises receiving a image of a pattern associated with the object. The pattern comprises a sub-image and a data tag. The image comprising a plurality of pixels. The method further comprises associating a first sub-set of the pixels with the sub-image and a second sub-set of the pixels with the data tag, determining a digital identifier of the sub-image based on the first sub-set of the pixels, and determining a tag value of the data tag based on the second sub-set of the pixels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a processor for quantizing multi-gradation image data with regard to each of R, G and B to convert it into pseudo halftone output image data. First, the processor performs a first quantization for deciding a dot appearance pattern C(B)i,j[k] with respect to an observed pixel of the multi-gradation image data with regard to blue. After that, the processor performs a second quantization for deciding the dot appearance pattern of green with respect to the observed pixel so as to make an anti-correlation with the dot appearance pattern C(B)i,j[k] decided by the first quantization.

Abstract: To generate a threshold matrix which is compared with an original image in creating a halftone dot image for each color component, in a matrix area for one color component, dot centers are arranged almost uniformly in a random fashion at a predetermined density and in a matrix area for another color component, dot centers are arranged almost uniformly in a random fashion at a density about 0.7 times the predetermined density. Then, threshold values are set so that dots should grow around the dot centers in accordance with an increase in gray level of the original image, to generate the threshold matrix for each color component. In creating the halftone dot images by using these threshold matrixes, characteristics of spatial frequency of the halftone dot images of these color components can be represented in a frequency space as areas (75K, 75C) in a shape of concentric rings.

Abstract: A multi-bit halftone generating system provides for halftone intergeneration in printers which can print dots of plural gray scale levels. Input image data includes information for more gray scale levels than can be handled by those associated with a printing device. Higher order bits of the pixels of the electronic document are used to select a gray scale level from those available from the printer. Remaining bits are used to generate a halftone pattern which is superimposed upon this selected gray scale. Thus, improved dither rendering is quickly and efficiently accomplished and improved image generation results from using the gray scales available from the printing device.

Abstract: In an image processor, a data corrector corrects input image data, a determining unit determines an output tone value of a target pixel from the corrected image data and threshold, and a calculator calculates a difference between the output tone value and the corrected image data as an error value. The threshold is set in such manner that a rate of change of the mean error of the error values with respect to a change in the input tone value is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: The invention relates to picture color tone control for a printing press. A target color mixture halftone density for each ink supplying unit width when a printing picture is divided with an ink supplying unit width of ink supplying apparatus 6, 7 is set, and an actual color mixture halftone density for each ink supplying unit width of an actually printed sheet obtained by printing is measured using an IRGB densitometer 1. The color mixture halftone densities are individually converted into tone values. A changing ratio for the converted target tone values is set suitably and is reflected on the target tone values and then converted into a monochromatic halftone density. Then, a solid density difference corresponding to a difference between the target monochromatic halftone density and an actual monochromatic halftone density is determined, and the ink supplying amount is adjusted for each ink supplying unit width in response to the solid density difference.

Abstract: In a picture color tone control method and apparatus for a printing press, in order to make it possible to use an IRGB densitometer to perform color tone control even when printing is performed with a density which exceeds an estimated maximum color space, a target color mixture halftone density for each ink supplying unit width when a printing picture is divided with an ink supplying unit width of ink supplying apparatus 6, 7 is set, and an actual color mixture halftone density for each ink supplying unit width of an actually printed sheet obtained by printing is measured using an IRGB densitometer 1. The color mixture halftone densities are individually converted into tone values. Thereupon, for the conversion into actual tone values, the publicly known Neugebauer expression wherein the Yule-Nielsen coefficient n is set to such a value that the tone values and the color mixture halftone density value have a substantially linear relationship to each other is used.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an image reading apparatus. In the apparatus, reading an original by irradiating it with light of three primary colors, respectively, and by receiving the reflected light is performed as follows. More specifically, an operation mode is designated, and conditions used to perform image reading are set in accordance with the designated mode. Under the set conditions, the image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original sequentially with beams of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Alternatively, under the set conditions, image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original simultaneously with beams of two primary colors in each of three different combinations of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Instead, image reading is executed twice according to these two methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for electronically communicating, coordinating and disseminating product designs, specifications and production-related data between a plurality of parties. More particularly, the invention relates to the coordination of parties that create color and graphic designs, including manufacturers, designers, suppliers and printers for new or existing color products.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, has: a conversion unit that converts input image information including a first color component and a second color component into output image information in which, with regard to each of the color components, the number of gray levels per pixel is smaller than the number of gray levels per pixel in the input image information and a gray level of the input image information is expressed by a gray level value of each pixel and a dot density and in which the size of a dot is different between the first color component and the second color component; and an output unit that outputs the output image information obtained by the conversion unit.

Abstract: A method of gray component replacement receives a current pixel color value. A highlight likelihood and color neutrality is determined for the current pixel color value. An output pixel color value depending upon the color neutrality and the highlight likelihood is generated. The input pixel color value is obtained from an image acquisition system and the output color pixel value is used by an output engine to render the pixel.

Abstract: An image processing method processes image data to be output to an image forming apparatus that is capable of making a two-way recording to form an image on a recording medium by recording in a forward path and a return path of a scan by an ink-jet recording head. The image processing method includes a halftone process that is based on an inclined line-group keytone and maintains keytone continuity, including a dither process in which the inclined line-group keytone appears at a stage where the recording in the forward path is made.

Abstract: A technique for profiling a color printing device employs a modified Neugebauer color mixing model. The modeling technique makes use of a variable dot gain value and “n factor.” The variable dot gain adjustment value may vary according to the particular tristimulus channel under evaluation. In addition, the variable dot gain value may vary according to the particular Neugebauer primary over which a halftone dot is printed. Accordingly, the technique may rely on an array of different dot gain values and n factors that correspond to different combinations of color channels and overprint conditions. As a further feature, the techniques may rely on a dot gain formula that relates halftone dot variation, i.e., fringe thickness, to the size of the halftone dot. This relationship tends to produce a dot gain model that more closely resembles the actual dot gain behavior on a printing press.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for context-based adaptive image processing wherein print job elements are processed according to context, which may be determined by segmentation and analysis of print job elements.