Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire image data, a generation unit configured to generate a histogram based on a signal value of each pixel in the image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a derivation unit configured to derive the number of pixels matching a first condition in the histogram generated by the generation unit, and a selection unit configured to select, according to the number of pixels derived by the derivation unit, one of a fixing processing adjustment mode for increasing a degree of gloss of a print product by adjusting fixing processing and a transparent toner mode for increasing a degree of gloss of a print product by using a transparent toner.

Abstract: A method for compensating for color variations introduced by printer hardware limitations and other factors is described. First, for each printer model or each individual printer, the extent of color variation throughout a printed page is determined. Based on this determination, each page is partitioned into a plurality of image areas. Then, in an actual printing process, the page of image is printed in a multi-pass process where each image area is printed in a separate pass. The digital image data is shifted and/or rotated for each pass, and the paper is shifted and/or rotated correspondingly, so that the different image areas printed in different passes form a complete image on the final printed page. From the standpoint of the pointer hardware, all passes involve printing the same area of a physical page, resulting in reduced color variation across the page.

Abstract: An image processing controlling unit calculates an image processing parameter to reduce an image quality difference between image data read by a first reading unit and a second reading unit depending on a reading characteristic of a reading unit indicated by attached information (reading-unit information) received together with the calculating request and a writing characteristic of a printer. The calculated image processing parameter is stored in a memory. Next, when printing the image data, a middleware unit causes a printer to print the image data based on the image processing parameter held in the memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printer and method for printing an image on a medium comprising a plurality of holes, said image enveloping at least one of said holes. According to an embodiment, the printer comprises a means for identifying the respective locations of the holes in at least a first part of the medium, a processor for adjusting at least a part of the image by removing image regions corresponding with the defined locations and at least one printer head responsive to the processor for printing the adjusted at least part of the image on the at least the first part of the medium.

Abstract: A coherent phrase model for near-duplicate image retrieval enforces coherency across multiple descriptors for every local region. Two types of visual phrase (FCP and SCP) are employed to represent feature and spatial coherency and can be utilized without increasing the computational complexity. The FCP utilizes the information of different features by enforcing the feature coherency across multiple types of descriptors for every local region, and the SCP utilizes spatial information by enforcing the spatial coherency across the spatial neighborhoods of different sizes around every local region. Moreover, the disclosed model improves the matching accuracy by reducing the number of false matches and preserves the matching efficiency because of the sparsity of the representation.

Abstract: A multifunction printer includes a scanner; a memory which stores a plurality of still image data; a printing head which prints, on a first printing medium, thumbnail images corresponding to the plurality of the still image data; an image data-extracting section which extracts a base image data and a correction image data when the first printing medium is read by the scanner after a predetermined base image selection mark has been marked by a user to one of the plurality of thumbnail images printed on the first printing medium and a predetermined correction position mark has been marked to a partial area of the thumbnail image and which cuts out, from the correction image data, correction data corresponding to the area marked with the correction position mark, and an image-combining section which combines the base image data with the correction data to generate combined image data.

Abstract: A software-controlled method for minimizing color toner use during copying of a color page by a color copier including (a) examining such a page to identify different pre-selected categories of page-contained image elements, (b) associating, with identified different-categories of such elements, specific, respective, pre-determined color-toner usage rules, and (c) following the associating step, outputting the elements to the copier along with instructions that the copier use, in the copying of such elements, the correct, respectively associated color-toner usage rule(s). From a structural point of view, the invention includes examining structure, associating structure, and output structure designed to perform the basic core methodology steps of the invention.

Abstract: Pieces of reading frequency information representing the use frequencies of first and second reading units are acquired. Read color information of a color on a document that is read by the first or second reading unit is acquired. Based on the acquired pieces of reading frequency information and the acquired read color information, one of the first and second reading units is decided as a reference reading unit serving as a reference when performing correction to make the reading characteristics of the first and second reading units relatively coincide with each other.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying images are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes incorporating a plurality of related images into an image boundary, applying the image boundary to border at least one key image, and displaying the at least one key image and the image boundary in a display area.

Abstract: Image information of an original(s) is displayed, for example, after rotated to assume an easily viewable orientation for a user. The placement state of an original(s) on an original support of an image reading apparatus is detected and the image information may be displayed after rotated by 90 degrees based on the detection result. In addition, display orientation may be set, so that a thumbnail(s) is displayed in the set orientation.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus in which unevenness that may occur at the edges of printing areas can be reduced also for various printing media including unspecified printing media. In the ink jet printing apparatus which uses a print head for ejecting ink and performs printing by scanning a predetermined area on a printing medium with the print head multiple times, the multiple times of scan including a forward scan and a backward scan, the apparatus comprising: a control unit that cases the print head to print patterns each of which is printed through multiple times of scan of the print head and has different portions in a time interval between the multiple times of scan, with different printing ratios for the multiple times of scan; and a setting unit that sets the printing ratios based on the test patterns.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a first determination unit that determines whether each of an image regions is for a vector image; a color number counting unit that counts the number of colors in the pixels of high-resolution image data; a frequency counting unit that counts a number of times where the difference between the colors of each of the pixels in the high-resolution image data and the colors of at least one pixel located around each of those pixels is greater than or equal to a threshold; a second determination unit that determines that the image region is not an image region for a vector image; and a generation unit that generates image data in which a process for rendering images in the image regions determined by the first determination unit to be image regions for vector images is defined by numerical values or numerical formulas.

Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of preventing image omission caused by registration error correction, a control method therefor, and a program. Error amount information is acquired which is stored in a storage medium and represents the error amount of the scanning line of exposure light in the exposure scanning direction on an image carrier. The image data is modified on the basis of the acquired error amount information. A masked area for restricting the output position of an image visualized on the printing medium is modified on the basis of the modification amount of the modified image data.

Abstract: A system for controlling effects performed on an image includes a digital camera having a display that displays the image. Masking tools position graphical representations on the display to define a portion of the image that is altered when the effects are subsequently applied to the image. The several masking tools may be combined to form a single masking tool.

Abstract: The present invention enables a user to easily identify individual colors included in a color image. Specifically, a color image is divided into two or more areas based on colors, and based on the feature values for the individual areas obtained by division, the order of the colors is changed. Then, the colors of the individual areas are displayed in accordance with the changed order.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a first edge determination to determine whether each pixel is an edge of a black character or a thin black line based on a pixel signal of a predetermined color in each pixel included in multi-valued image data. The image processing apparatus determines whether to achromatize a pixel signal of each pixel included in the multi-valued image data based on a result of the first edge determination, and achromatizes a pixel determined to be achromatized. The image processing apparatus performs a second edge determination for determining whether each pixel is an edge based on a pixel signal of a color different from the predetermined color in each pixel included in the multi-valued image data. The image processing apparatus corrects the multi-valued image data based on a result of the second edge determination after completing achromatization of the pixel determined to be achromatized.

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

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

Abstract: In a human feature recognition system that is intended to provide substantially real-time recognition of body segments, various methods and structures are provided to facilitate real-time recognition with reduced computation requirements, including a face detection module employing an active boosting procedure and a lazy boosting procedure on a hybrid cascade structure, a human body segmentation module and a boundary matting module. The hybrid cascade structure is in the form of a tree where one type of node represents a strong classifier learned from active boosting, another type of classifier is obtained by low-computation-load lazy boosting, and weak classifiers are obtained from the previous layers.

Abstract: An image processing system utilizes an image type classification circuit to identify inputted image data as picture image data or text/graphics image data. A halftone circuit, operatively connected to the image type classification circuit, converts the inputted image data, identified as picture image data, to halftone image data. Moreover, a tile pattern circuit, operatively connected to the image type classification circuit, to replace the inputted image data, identified as text/graphics image data, with tile patterns. The tile patterns are encoded with a predetermined pattern. A bitmap rendering circuit combines the halftone image data with the encoded tile patterns to render a bitmap, wherein the bitmap can be used by a print engine to reproduce the image.

Abstract: The document read apparatus according to the present invention has a light source unit that includes a linear first light and second light sources, both light sources aligned parallel to the sub scanning direction (moving direction). When the light source unit is scanning a book document in a second region shifted toward a side of the first light source from a center position for emitting light to the center of the document, a light quantity of the second light source becomes larger than a light quantity of the first light source. When the light source unit is scanning the book document in a third region shifted toward a side of the second light source from the center position, the light quantity of the first light source becomes larger than the light quantity of the second light source. A sum of both light quantities is controlled to be constant.

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

Abstract: Even if there are many printed images similar to a query image, this invention can effectively use a display window with a limited size and support to specify the print request source of each similar image by classifying and displaying the images according to additional information containing information indicating the print request source which has issued a print request for the image. Therefore, when a query image is input and images similar to the query image are found, the similar images are classified according to the user names of users who have printed them. The numbers of times of printing of the similar images and maximum similarities are displayed for the respective user names.

Abstract: When a processed image obtained by performing image processing on an original image is presented, an option desired by a user is presented. A plurality of object regions is detected from an original image to detect the imaged state of each of the object regions when the original image was obtained. Then, an attention level for each object region is calculated based on the imaged state of the object region, and an output condition and an image processing condition are set based on the calculated attention level. Thereafter, a processed image is generated by performing image processing according to the image processing condition, and the processed image is outputted according to the output condition.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a counting section for counting pixels belonging to a chromatic text component and chromatic pixels belonging to a component other than the text component among pixels composing image data obtained by reading a document, a comparison section for comparing the counted numbers with respective predetermined values, a determination section for determining that the document contains a chromatic color when either one of the number of the pixels belonging to the text component and the number of the chromatic pixels belonging to the component other than the chromatic text component is not less than the corresponding predetermined value, and an image processing section for performing a process with respect to the image data in accordance with a determination result by the determination section.

Abstract: A printing machine includes a high-speed print device configured to receive a print media and discharge a printed product that includes a printed image. An image capturing device is positioned adjacent the print device and is configured to capture an image of the printed image on the printed product. A computer includes a monitor, a processor, an input device, and a communication device configured to communicate with the print device. The monitor is configured to display the captured image, the input device is configured to allow a user to vary the displayed image, and the processor is configured to calculate an adjustment to the print device in response to the varied image.

Abstract: In forming an image including a spot color, when an image for which a trapping process is performed does not include information of a spot color, the trapping process sometimes functions ineffectively. To solve this problem, image data having information of colors less in number than the colors included in the image is input and two adjacent regions are detected from the input image data. When the color information is color-separated into the colors, it is determined if the two regions share the color, and trapping for an adjacent portion of the two regions is controlled.

Abstract: A method of registering a print between print stages in a printing system is provided. The method comprises: printing a first part of a digital image on a substrate with a first print engine, wherein the first part of the digital image includes a plurality of reference features; scanning image content on the substrate as it is readied for the second print engine; determining the actual positions of the reference features; using the actual positions of the reference features to determine desired adjustments for the second part of the digital image; applying electronic registration according to the desired adjustments to modify image content of the second print to be aligned with content already on the substrate; and printing a second part of the digital image on the substrate.

Abstract: If a pixel of interest on a line of interest is located in an attribute region different from that in which a pixel immediately preceding the pixel of interest is located, the luminance value and color difference values of the pixel of interest are recorded in this order adjacent to data recorded in a data packet set for the line of interest (S811). If the pixel of interest is located in the same attribute region as that in which the preceding pixel is located, the luminance value of the pixel of interest is recorded adjacent to the data recorded in the data packet (S812). The data packet generated by executing the above recording process on each pixel forming the line is output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image processing program for dealing with inverted characters (outlined characters) constituted by white pixels on a black ground in a tree structure same as that of normal characters constituted by black pixels on a white ground. In the present invention, black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks are sampled recursively from a binary image, tree structure data indicating a positional relation between the sampled black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks is created, an inverted image is created by white-black-inverting the insides of black pixel blocks that can include inverted characters, of black pixel blocks included in the tree structure data, white pixel blocks and black pixel blacks are sampled from the created inverted image, and data regarding the sampled white pixel blocks and black pixel blocs is added to corresponding nodes of the tree structure data.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for characterization of background regions of substantially-uniform color in a digital image. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a histogram of the first-channel values of a plurality of image pixels may be formed, and a peak region in the first-channel histogram may be detected. Subsequently a histogram of image values of a second channel may be formed accumulating second-channel values for only those image pixels with first-channel values within the peak region of the first-channel histogram, and a peak region in the second-channel histogram may be detected. An image characteristic may be associated with image pixels with first-channel and second-channel values within the first-channel peak and the second-channel peak regions, respectively.

Abstract: When generating an origin signal of an encoder having a scale on which an incremental pattern and the origin pattern are formed, an origin signal having a necessary position and width is generated by software based on an origin waveform obtained from the origin pattern. This enables origin detection with excellent repeatability, S/N ratio (pulse width), and bidirectionality while maintaining ease of mounting and adjustment.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a preview generating unit configured to generate, based on image data, a preview image that is expected to be output; an attribute extracting unit configured to extract an attribute of at least one portion in the image data; a display unit configured to display the preview image; a position-information obtaining unit configured to obtain position information indicative of a position of a specified portion in the preview image; and a processing unit configured to perform, on the image data, a process according to an attribute that corresponds to the position.

Abstract: A printer, scanner device and methods for using same are described herein. A printer device may include a dedicated input that, when actuated, generates and sends a request to a computer for known data or a predetermined print job, e.g., schedule information from a personal information management (PIM) application. A scanner device may include another dedicated input that, when actuated, automatically scans a document fed to the device by the user and sends the scanned image to IM (or other) software on a computer, bypassing the need to manipulate the scanned image using scanner software. The device may be used with printed metapaper, which includes a barcode or other indicia identifying the metapaper and corresponds to a stored template image of the metapaper. When the metapaper is rescanned, the scan can be compared to the stored template information to identify changes and synchronize the changes with the IM software.

Abstract: In printing an electronic document on a paper, an MFP prints a code image created by encoding a paper ID including a local ID issued to the paper and stores paper information with the paper ID. The MFP determines a type of data format, creates a paper ID in the data format, and prints a code image created by encoding the paper ID. In copying a printed paper, the MFP decodes the code image printed on the paper to acquire the paper ID and retrieves paper information associated with the paper ID according to the data format. The MFP specifies the electronic document as a print source from retrieved paper information and performs printing using the electronic document.

Abstract: A scanner device may create original data in an internal storage unit. The original data may include header information and actual image data representing a scan target object. The header information may include a first value as size information. The size information may indicate a size of image data corresponding to a scanning direction. In a case where the size of the actual image data is smaller than the first value, the original data may further include specific image data such that the size of entire image data including the actual image data and the specific image data is identical to the first value. The scanner device may calculate a digest value by utilizing the original data so as to create purpose data in an external storage unit by utilizing the original data and the digest value.

Abstract: Segmentation of foreground from background layers in an image may be provided by a segmentation process which may be based on one or more factors including motion, color, contrast, and the like. Color, motion, and optionally contrast information may be probabilistically fused to infer foreground and/or background layers accurately and efficiently. A likelihood of motion vs. non-motion may be automatically learned from training data and then fused with a contrast-sensitive color model. Segmentation may then be solved efficiently by an optimization algorithm such as a graph cut. Motion events in image sequences may be detected without explicit velocity computation.

Abstract: Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.

Abstract: It is made possible to determine image characteristics in a reading image while the image of an original is being read. A first line sensor (9R2, 9G2, 9B2) is arranged on a board and reads the original image. A second line sensor (9K1) has a larger number of pixels than the first line sensor and is arranged on the board to read the original image earlier than the first line sensor. An image signal processing characteristic control unit (46) uses an output of the second line sensor as a control signal to control the processing characteristic of the image signal read by the first line sensor.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: (i) a capturing device for capturing an original image of a source document; (ii) a moving device for moving one of the capturing device and the source document relative to the other; (iii) a first region processor for causing the moving device to position the capturing device in a first capturing position, so as to obtain a first pixel-related data relating to pixels present in a first region of the source document; (iv) a background-color-basis correcting-value determiner for determining a background-color-basis correcting value, based on the first pixel-related data; and (v) a second region processor for causing the moving device to position the capturing device in a second capturing position, so as to obtain a second pixel-related data relating to pixels present in a second region of the source document.

Abstract: An image forming system includes: a resource information storage unit that previously stores resource information to be combined with input print information; a first setting unit that sets an image characteristic of the resource information stored in the resource information storage unit; a second setting unit that sets an image characteristic of the input print information; and a color conversion unit that, when the image characteristic set by the first setting unit and the image characteristic set by the second setting unit are different, performs color conversion on the resource information based on the image characteristic set by the first setting unit, and performs color conversion on the print information based on the image characteristic set by the second setting unit.

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: An image processing system is provided and includes a first receiving unit, a print control unit, a second receiving unit, a read control unit, and a composition unit. The first receiving unit receives an order-sheet request, and the print control unit causes a printer unit to print an area notation indicating a free rendering area on paper in accordance with the order-sheet request. The second receiving unit receives a scan request, and the read control unit causes an scan unit to read the paper on which a subject is recorded in the free rendering area in accordance with the scan request. Also, the composition unit composites an image of the free rendering area read by the scan unit in accordance with the scan request and the other image or images. A method that the system performs is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a color adjustment apparatus, including: a color information storage section configured to store color information regarding an arbitrary region designated through a pointer in an editing image region; and a color coordinate explicitly displaying section configured to explicitly display a mark, which specifies color coordinates corresponding to the color information, at a pertaining position on a hue ring or a hue bar chart prepared for color adjustment.

Abstract: Apparatuses, computer media, and methods for altering a submitted image of a person. The submitted image is transformed in accordance with associated data regarding the person's condition. Global data may be processed by a statistical process to obtain cluster information, and the transformation parameter is then determined from cluster information. The transformation parameter is then applied to a portion of the submitted image to render a transformed image. A transformation parameter may include a texture alteration parameter, a hair descriptive parameter, or a reshaping parameter. An error measure may be determined that gauges a discrepancy between a transformed image and an actual image. A transformation model is subsequently reconfigured with a modified model in order to reduce the error measure. Also, the transformation model may be trained to reduce an error measure for the transformed image.

Abstract: A method to generate a plurality of image panels for assembly as a poster includes determining an individual image boundary for each of a plurality of image data portions; associating a corresponding incising boundary with each individual image boundary, wherein at least a portion of each individual image boundary is coincident with the corresponding incising boundary; printing an image portion at a location on a sheet of media in accordance with the individual image boundary of an image data portion that corresponds to the image portion; incising the sheet of media with the incising unit along the corresponding incising boundary to form an individual image panel of the plurality of image panels; and repeating the printing and the incising until all of the plurality of image data portions are processed to form the plurality of image panels.

Abstract: Bleed widths are set for finishing pages. An imposition method that requires to execute binding processing of sheets is set. Bleed regions including the finishing pages are determined based on the set bleed widths for the finishing pages, and the size of the finishing page. The allocation of manuscript data is so determined as to align the center of the manuscript data to be allocated to that of a bleed region on the side to undergo the binding processing of the determined bleed regions, based on the setting contents.

Abstract: Detection of inadequately trimmed images can be carried out promptly and accurately among a large amount of trimmed images obtained through automatic trimming. The trimmed images generated through the automatic trimming are reproduced three times at an image display rate of 30 images per second. Order of reproduction is changed randomly in each time of reproduction. When an operator carries out input for indicating finding of an inadequately trimmed image in each time of reproduction, 10 images arranged 6 to 15 images backward in a display sequence from the image being displayed at the time of input are marked as an image group including the inadequately trimmed image, in response to the input. Only the trimmed images marked in all the rounds of reproduction are extracted as candidates for the inadequately trimmed image.

Abstract: A method of rotating a digital image includes performing a first pass to process a selected image tile of a source image. The first pass includes copying a set of pixels of the selected image tile from a first memory to a processor memory, where the set of pixels comprises a portion of the selected image tile. The first pass further includes grouping the set of pixels into blocks of pixels and writing each of the blocks of pixels to a memory location. The method further includes repeating the first pass until each of the pixels of the selected image tile is processed, performing a second pass to process the blocks of pixels, and repeating the second pass until each of the blocks of pixels is processed. The second pass includes copying blocks of pixels, regrouping the blocks of pixels, and writing the regrouped pixels to a destination image location.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a binarizing unit, a determining unit, a counting unit, and a correcting unit. The binarizing unit binarizes image data based on density of the image data. The determining unit determines a pixel with high density as a character pixel and a pixel with low density as a non-character pixel in the binarized image data. The counting unit counts the number of a sequence of character pixels in a scanning direction. The correcting unit corrects, when the number of the sequence of the character pixels exceeds a threshold value, the character pixels to non-character pixels.