Abstract: An image interpolation method and apparatus by which to quickly generate and display motion pictures using a small amount of data. An image input unit inputs a first image and a second image. A matching processor computes a pixel matching between those images so that a corresponding point is obtained on the second image with respect to a lattice point of a mesh on the first image. The matching processor stores the matching results recorded as a corresponding point file. An intermediate image generator generates an intermediate image between the first image and the second image based on the corresponding point file. In particular, in generating the intermediate image, an attribute of the pixels on one image may be used as such without the attribute being interpolated between pixels of each image. Thus, when generating intermediate images, only one image and a smaller corresponding point file can be used.

Abstract: A border can be added to an image using pixels of a graphic piece that can be copied into or around an image. The graphic piece can be repeatedly copied around an image to form a border. A mask file identifies pixels of a graphic piece to merge with pixels of the image. The pixels of the graphic piece are merged or combined with pixels of the image according to the mask so that the image is rendered with a border.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the processing of an image, such as a document. The invention determines the location of differing content types within the document allowing specialized processing of various content types. The invention performs the identification of pixels having similar content characteristics into windows during the first scanning pass of the document by the use of an identifier equivalence table to update selected memory locations to a base identifier during processing. A second pass processing is available to enhance or alter the image by the use of the information gathered during first pass processing. The present invention benefits from a very low memory requirement while being able to determine windows extending the length or width of the image.

Abstract: A print drive is present in an electronic pre-press workflow that includes a raster image processor (“RIP”) and an output device to receive, store, combine and transmit raster data processed by the raster image processor. A prepress imposition scheme is created at the front end and processed by the RIP. Prepress imposition parameters are used to generate a press sheet template image, which is transmitted to the print drive. The print drive is capable of applying the press sheet template to page raster data on demand to form a multi-page press sheet assembly so that raster images of individual pages remain independent. Among other benefits, this improves electronic prepress workflow by eliminating the need to generate combined raster images of multi-page press sheets to correct or modify a portion of the assembly.

Abstract: An image of a picture frame photographed on a photo film is displayed on a screen of an image input device, or is printed out as a hard copy. A graphic image is written by a user in the image of the picture frame, and graphic data of the graphic image is detected from the image of the picture frame having the graphic image written therein. The graphic data is associated with the picture frame, and is transferred from the user to a photofinisher through electronic transmission, or is recorded on a data recording medium which is forwarded to the photofinisher along with the photo film. A synthetic print containing the picture frame and the graphic image is made from the picture frame and the graphic data.

Abstract: A data generating apparatus being provided with: an extracting unit that extracts text image which is a part of the text of a file stored in a storage medium and picture image which is a part of the picture of the same; a setting unit that, for each file, sets a text thumbnail arranging region to which the text image is outputted and a picture thumbnail arranging region to which the picture image is outputted in accordance with file specifying information for specifying each file; and an index data generating unit that arranges the text image and the picture image in the set text thumbnail arranging region and the picture thumbnail arranging region, respectively, as thumbnails together with the file specifying information. Therefore, generated index data can be displayed on a display unit and can be printed by a printing unit.

Abstract: A differential imaging colorimeter system and method which utilizes a RGB color camera to provide accurate differential colorimetry which can be employed as a portable, dedicated, offline system. The system utilizes a portable processor such as a laptop computer, a hand-held imaging head comprising a color camera, a lens, a plurality of white LED lights, a base plate defining an imaging region, housed in an opaque cover, wherein the imaging head provides a RGB video image to the portable processor; and a software program loaded on the portable processor for applying a geometric transform on an image obtained with the imaging head to match a stored reference image. The computer calculates differential colorimetry values to compare current images with a stored reference image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus scans an image of a document to thereby create image data, and extracts specific code data from the created image data. If the specific code data is successfully extracted, pattern data corresponding to the specific code data is deleted from the created image data. Further, pattern data corresponding to the specific code data is embedded into the image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for describing image content establish image description records which include an object set (24), an object hierarchy (26) and entity relation graphs (28). For image content, image objects can include global objects (O0 8) and local objects (O1 2 and O2 6). The image objects are further defined by a number of features of different classes (36, 38 and 40), which in turn are further defined by a number of feature descriptors. The relationships between and among the objects in the object set are defined by the object hierarchy (26) and entity relation graphs (28). The image description records provide a standard vehicle for describing the content and context of image information for subsequent access and processing by computer applications such as search engines, filters, and archive systems.

Abstract: The color and tone of an image of an object are changed to a color and tone desired by a user. Image data including an image of an object is input to image processing means and displayed on a monitor. The user observes the image displayed on the monitor and selects an area including an image of an object having the desired color and tone, and an area including the image of an object whose color and tone are to be changed to the desired color and tone. The image processing means extracts color pixels from each respective specified area and generates cumulative histograms of the color pixels as characteristic quantitative data representing the color and tone. Based on the cumulative histograms, the color-tone of the area including the image of the latter object is changed, and processed image data whose color and tone have been changed is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for transforming an object image, e.g., using a rotation and/or scaling, for showing it on a display unit having a matrix-shaped array of target image points. In order to achieve a rapid and exact representation of the rotated object at relatively low expenditure, the present invention provides, for at least a portion of the target image points, determining source image points by an inverse transformation, and comparing the source image points to pre-stored object image points. From this comparison, the target image point data of the target image points are ascertained. Furthermore, a suitable image of such a transformation is created.

Abstract: An image processing device method and system that enables overprint reproduction even for a composite output, despite its simple configuration. In a print server, when a construction command of a path is detected, if a trap width is set, object information is extracted from a drawing command and saved, and when the path is constructed, information which can specify the constructed path is extracted and saved with the object information. Moreover, when a drawing process is executed, a trapping process is executed on the path using saved object information. As a result, a corresponding object can be drawn by overprinting.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for semantically classifying areas of an image (and/or the images themselves) as one of a number of multiple discriminating categories. More particularly, the technology employs one or more hierarchical, probabilistic techniques for performing such classification. Such technology is particularly useful in fields of image classification and image retrieval. The architecture of such technology employs multiple hierarchical layers. The architecture is based on modeling class likelihoods at each of such layers separately and then combining these to form an overall estimate of the posterior, conditioned on the data. The task of combining the estimated class likelihoods at each layer is made more efficient by assuming statistical independence between layers. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: There are provided an image coding method and apparatus and image compression method and apparatus which can properly compress a color document image with a high compression efficiency. First of all, a color reduction processing unit (102) converts each pixel of a color document image into an index assigned in correspondence with a color value, and generates color information (103) containing the number of pixels for each indexed color and an index color image (104). A color information sort unit (105) and the like determine, for example, a color value corresponding to an index of the maximum number of pixels as a background color. An order determination unit (113) determines an order. A binary image generation compression unit (109) generates a partial binary image for each index and compresses the binary image according to the order. A data integrating unit (111) generates compressed image (112) by integrating background data (108) and the compressed data of the partial binary image.

Abstract: A parallel, non-iterative, memory efficient method of determining image skew. A document skew angle is determined from a fast scan second order moment data set and a slow scan second order moment data set. A slow scan second order moment data set can be generated by receiving a current scanline of image data, updating columns sums for a set of rotation angles using scanlines within a buffer comprising a band having a predetermined number B of scanlines, and updating the buffer with the current scanline.

Abstract: A document management device obtains thumbnail information as to a requested document out of an image transmitted via a public network, judges as to whether the thumbnail information is correct with respect to the requested document, and returns the requested document when correct. This prevents a person having no knowledge of the thumbnail information from obtaining a document from a device main body, thereby tightening security for document management in the main body and providing the document management device capable of fully managing even a document requiring higher security.

Abstract: An image capture device electronically captures and selects a desired text portion. A visible light image is projected onto text on a document to enable a user to position the light image relative to the desired text portion. At least some of the text is captured in accordance with a position of the light image. A text selector selects the desired text portion from the captured text.

Abstract: A computer implemented method transforms an image comprised of pixels into a vectorized image specified by a plurality of polygons that can be subsequently used to aid in image processing and understanding. The pixelated image is processed to extract edge pixels that separate different colors and a constrained Delaunay triangulation of the edge pixels forms a plurality of triangles having edges that cover the pixelated image. A color for each one of the plurality of triangles is determined from the color pixels within each triangle. A filter is formed with a set of grouping rules related to features of the pixelated image and applied to the plurality of triangle edges to merge adjacent triangles consistent with the filter into polygons having a plurality of vertices. The pixelated image may be then reformed into an array of the polygons, that can be represented collectively and efficiently by standard vector image.

Abstract: An imaging system scanning device preview-scans an image and generates image data that is used to generate a scanned image preview. The scanned image preview is displayed in a viewing region of a user interface and represents the image in an electronic form. An image region of the scanned image preview can be defined and selected, and a final-scan of the image region emulated with a software or firmware component that generates a final scanned image. An emulated final-scan of the image region includes interpolating the image data corresponding to the image region to improve the resolution of the image region when generating the final scanned image. The final scanned image can be communicated to a destination location such as a data storage component, or to an image reproduction device.

Abstract: A method for printing documents containing transparent graphics objects includes creating a transparency list containing the transparent graphics objects of said document, and printing only objects contained in said transparency list as bitmaps.

Abstract: An annotated digital photograph processing system that forms a plurality of composite image files from a plurality of corresponding digital images, annotation information and process control information, and prints them as a plurality of composite images on a roll of photographic medium. Each composite image file may be generated by a server computer, which also receives the components thereof, the file comprising the image and a first symbol. The first symbol includes process control information, and may optionally include annotation information. A roll containing the composite images is processed by a novel printing apparatus that comprises a scanner and inkjet print-heads connected to a control computer, to print the annotation and a second symbol, which includes process control information, directly behind the image to which they correspond after the destructive effects of photo-processing chemicals occur. Then, the first barcode is severed from the medium for each printed image.

Abstract: Halftone pixels are distinguished from non-halftone pixels in pixels making up an image according to a predetermined algorithm based on a result of edge detection for determining whether the pixels are edge pixels. The pixels which have been determined to be non-halftone pixels according to the predetermined algorithm, are continuous to the pixels determined to be halftone pixels according to the predetermined algorithm including those which have been redetermined to be halftone pixels and are not lower than a predetermined threshold density in density are all redetermined to be halftone pixels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising image capturing means for capturing a plurality of images, adjacent ones of which partially overlap with each other, overlap region determining means for determining an overlap region, first region determining means for determining a first region within the overlap region determined, first pixel value determining means for determining a pixel value in the first region based on a pixel value of one of the two adjacent images, second pixel value determining means for determining a pixel value in a second region within the overlap region based on respective pixel values of the two adjacent images, and image joining means for joining the two adjacent images with each other by utilizing the determined pixel value in the first region and the determined pixel value in the second region as pixel values in respective regions of the overlap region.

Abstract: A printing system simultaneously prints both images and related information which is recorded together with the images. The print output may be unsuitable for use, depending on the combination of the image layout and positions where the related information is printed. To obviate this problem, an image processing apparatus lays out, on a recording medium, a plurality of images and information related to each of the images. The image processing apparatus has an image layout changing unit and an image layout controlling unit. The image layout changing unit changes a layout method for laying out the plurality of images. The image layout controlling unit determines, in accordance with the layout method changed by the layout changing unit, whether the related information is to be located within or outside areas of the associated images.

Abstract: In transmitting image data from multiple cameras to an image processing section to produce a synthesized image from respective camera images, the amount of data transmitted through a transmission path can be cut down without sacrificing the quality of the synthesized image. In accordance with a correspondence between the synthesized and camera images as described on a mapping table, a resolution specifier specifies resolutions, which should be necessary for image synthesis, for respective areas of each camera image. A compressor, provided for each of the cameras, compresses the associated camera image data according to the resolutions specified. In this manner, the image data, which has been compressed in accordance with the correspondence between the synthesized and camera images, is transmitted through the transmission path.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus including an input color chip making unit for making a color chip of the selected color signal as an input color chip, an output color chip making unit for subjecting the selected color signal to the under color removal processing carried out in an UCR processing unit with two or more parameters different from one another, thereby making a color chip of the obtained color signal as an output color chip for each parameter, and a parameter determining unit for selecting among the parameters a parameter which provides the minimum difference between the input color chip and the output color chip, wherein the UCR processing unit subjects the input color signal to the UCR processing by using the parameter selected by the parameter determining unit. With this, a color image desired by a user can be created.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for color correction for images, in particular for digital still camera images, including the following steps: an image is analyzed with respect to particular features assigned to a variety of image classes, each class having particular characteristics; the analysis based on a comparison of the image data of said image with a data base including data for assigning said image to a particular image class; said particular image class is associated with at least one color correction process adapted to implement color correction for the assigned image class.

Abstract: A CCD camera 10 picks up multiple adjacent targeted portions on a document 2, and to obtain distance information, a distance measurement unit 11 calculates the distances to the targeted portions of the document 2. Based on the distance information, a synthesization controller 16 prepares perspective information for the images, adjusts the sizes of the multiple obtained plane images so they correspond, and synthesizes the resultant plane images to form a single image.

Abstract: Frames such as boxes or rectangles are recognized in image document data. A first determination process initially screens frames by applying a first set of criteria to select frame candidates. The first set of criteria includes a comparison of a dimension to a predetermined threshold value. A second determination process then further determines whether or not the selected frame candidates are true frames based upon a second set of criteria. For each frame candidate, a pair of a black pixel rectangle and a white pixel rectangle is determined. The second set of criteria includes at least some information on the black pixel rectangle and the white pixel rectangle.

Abstract: A method of determining image skew in a scanned document includes scanning the image and determining on a pixel-by-pixel basis whether or not pixels are ON or OFF on scan lines and columns along both the fast and slow scan directions for a particular document rotation angle. Through one read of the image, image data is sampled simultaneously at a plurality of predetermined document rotation angles From the sampled data, the second order moment of the number of ON pixels is calculated as a function of document rotation angle for scan lines along both the fast and slow scan directions, yielding two independent skew angle estimates Skew angle estimates corresponding to valid second order moment data sets are compared and combined to provide a resultant skew angle estimate for the document.

Abstract: Appropriate color correction is carried out when image data obtained by a digital camera are printed. Correction degrees for lightness, chroma, and hue are set for specific colors R, G, B, C, M, Y, YG, BS, SK(HL), SK(MD), SK(SD) in an image represented by the image data. In an L*a*b* color space, a distance between a center color of each of the specific colors and a color comprising the image represented by the image data is found. Based on the distance, the correction degrees for lightness, chroma and hue of the specific colors are subjected to weighted addition, and correction values for lightness, chroma and hue are obtained. Based on the correction values, lightness, chroma and hue of the image represented by the image data are corrected, and processed image data are obtained.

Abstract: Methods are provided for use with a computing device and an image scanning device. One method includes performing a scan to produce a preview scanned image, selecting a portion of the preview scanned image for final scanning, and scanning the selected portion of the preview scanned image to produce a final scanned image. Performing the scan to produce the preview scanned image may include performing an autocrop process and a deskew process before displaying the preview scanned image to the user. Once the preview scanned image is displayed, then the user may decide to selectively rotate the preview scanned image, for example, about an anchor point that was used in the deskew process. The user may also select a portion of interest within the image. Once the user is satisfied with the user selected rotation, if any, and the user selected portion of interest, then a final scan will be performed. As part of the final scan process, the method includes calculating an effective portion of the preview scanned image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of identification of sky in a digital image made up of a set of points that can be located in the plane of the image. Each point of an image being associated with a color and a brightness. According to the invention process the image is filtered and the filtered image is then segmented into several portions. A mosaic image is then produced for which a color is associated with each portion. Portions having at least one point on the image edges are then selected and identified as sky. The portions have colors varying within a color range containing at least blue colors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of shadow identification in a digital image. The digital image comprises a set of image points that can be located in a plane of the image, with each image point being associated with a color and brightness. The color is defined by chromatic components that can be located in the color space of an acquisition system, and the brightness is determinable from the chromatic components. According to the process of the present invention, for each image point, the brightness is determined; color standardization is carried out, leading to standardized chromatic components r, g, b; a chromatic brightness is determined from the standardized chromatic components r, g, b; and the chromatic brightness is compared with the brightness, to identify the presence of a shadow on the relevant image point.

Abstract: The preferred method wavelet filters a digital image. The digital image comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and rows. The method processes one or more bands of pixels of the image in turn, where each band comprises a plurality of rows. The method performs the following steps for each column in each one of the one or more bands of pixels. The method retrieves (316) a last pixel and last high pass coefficient previously stored in local storage. The method also inputs (306) a current group of adjacent pixels. The method then computes (308) the low and high pass wavelet coefficients utilizing the current group of adjacent pixels and the previous last pixel and last high pass coefficient. The method then outputs the low and high pass coefficients, and stores (312, 318) a current last pixel and high pass coefficient in either the local storage or external memory.

Abstract: The invention intends, in preparing so-called ID photograph by cutting out an area from the image of a person, to obtain an appropriate area with simple operations. The method the invention comprises a designation step s201 of designating a rectangle circumscribed about a face area on an original image including a human face, an acquisition step s202 of acquiring the vertical length and the horizontal length of the rectangle designated by the designation step, and a determination step s203 of determining a cutout area including the face area, based on the vertical length and the horizontal length.

Abstract: A method for detecting an image area in a digital image includes identifying in the digital image a first image region indicative of a background area and a second image region indicative of the image area, computing gradient values using the pixel values of the digital image, defining a list of strokes based on the gradient values, merging the list of strokes, defining a list of corners using the list of strokes, and defining an image area rectangle delimiting the image area using the list of corners and the list of strokes. The image area rectangle can be used to define a binding box for extracting the image area from the digital image. The method enables the automatic detection of multiple image areas in a digital image. Moreover, the method implements a robust algorithm for image area detection such that even imperfect image areas can be detected without errors.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to convert a low-quality original image into a high-quality fractal-interpolated image. From a low-quality original image, original image blocks of n×n size, which are mutually overlapping and each centered on each pixel of the original image, are acquired. Also, similar image blocks of 2n×2n size, which are each similar to each of the original image blocks, are detected from the original image by affine transformation. The detected similar image blocks are reduced to the same size as the original image blocks, and then substituted for the original image blocks respectively. Then, overlapping portions of the substituted similar image blocks are adjusted by averaging. As a result, a high-quality fractal-interpolated image is generated.

Abstract: An input section performs a color conversion process, etc. for image data from a color scanner section. A discrimination section generates a discrimination signal representative of “character”, “non-character”, etc. on the basis of an image signal from the input section. A first processing section performs a filtering process, etc. for the image signal from the input section, and switches the method of such a process on the basis of the discrimination signal from the discrimination section. An enlargement/reduction section enlarges or reduces the discrimination signal from the discrimination section and the image signal from the first processing section. A second processing section subjects the enlarged/reduced image signal form the enlargement/reduction section to a black-added printing process, a gamma conversion process, etc., and switches the method of such a process on the basis of the enlarged/reduced discrimination signal from the enlargement/reduction section.

Abstract: An image read controller for extracting an original portion from an image read by an image reader. The image read controller includes means for extracting a rectangular area containing the area in which the original exists from the read image, inclination detection means for detecting the inclination of the rectangular area, inclination correction means for correcting the inclination of the rectangle in response to the detected inclination, cut width setting means for setting the cut width of each side of the rectangle in response to the detected inclination, and cutting means for cutting the margins of the rectangular area based on the setup cut width of each side to extract the original image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an editing apparatus using a thumbnail image, including: an image processing means for processing a broadcasting stream and an image signal to permit the processed broadcasting stream and image signal to be displayed; a display means for displaying an image; an image extracting means for extracting the thumbnail image of the recorded broadcasting stream; a storing means for storing the broadcasting stream and the thumbnail image; and a control means for allowing a plurality of thumbnail images displayed on the display means according to a user's control command and thereby allowing the broadcasting stream represented by the thumbnail image to be edited.

Abstract: Image data can be corrected in the same manner as by retouching work using a photograph finishing system in a laboratory. Sub-image data generating means generates sub-image data representing density information or the like of an original image from main image data representing the original image. The sub-image data are displayed on a monitor as a sub-image, and an operator carries out correction using input means while viewing the sub-image. In this manner, corrected sub-image data are obtained by retouching means. Correction means corrects the main image data based on the corrected sub-image data, and processed image data are obtained. The processed image data are reproduced as a printed image by a printer.

Abstract: A designating picture plane for designating image data to be registered on the basis of specific information read out from a detachable memory for storing image data and the specific information which specifies the image data is displayed. An area in which the image data is registered is designated. The image data designated by the designating picture plane is registered in the designated memory area.

Abstract: Original digital data stored in a memory is searched for on the basis of an input image, difference information is extracted by comprising the retrieved original digital data and the input image, and the difference information is composited to the original digital data. Furthermore, digital data generated by composition is stored in the memory. Also, original digital data stored in a memory is searched for on the basis of an input image, and when no original digital data is retrieved, the input image is converted into vector data, and the image that has been converted into the vector data is stored as digital data in the memory. Moreover, region segmentation information obtained in a block selection step and an input image are composited, the composite image is displayed on an operation screen of an MFP, and a rectangular block to be vectorized is designated as a specific region from the displayed region segmentation information.

Abstract: In the retrieval of images that resemble a target image from a plurality of images, the image feature quantity of the target image is calculated when the target image is specified. The feature quantity is calculated upon removing an unnecessary area from the specified target image, and retrieval of resembling images is performed using the feature quantity that has been calculated. The unnecessary area is determined automatically based upon a change in luminance in directions vertically and horizontally of the periphery of the target image. Thus, the calculation of feature quantities from which unnecessary portions in an image have been eliminated can be executed with ease and more effective retrieval of resembling images can be carried out.

Abstract: An image editing apparatus capable of accurately registering a texture pattern from a document has the following configuration. The image data of a read document is displayed on a liquid crystal display. A user designates a point C therein and designates a range P2 for incorporating texture pattern around the point. The user also designates the size and range of the texture pattern used for displaying the texture using cursors S and E so that the texture patterns can be displayed smoothly connected when displayed serially in the vertical and horizontal direction.

Abstract: An image of the information of a plurality of images is obtained from each kind of image information source, and the plurality of images are arranged and displayed on the preview screen, the image quality adjustment is conducted for each image.

Abstract: An image reading and processing apparatus which reads an original image photographed on a film, and performs image processing on the read image to obtain output data. This apparatus is used in a digital printing apparatus based on an image reading and processing method which prevents or reduces occurrence of a failure to output an image portion actually recorded on the film to a printer or the like, i.e., chipping off the image. From a picture frame of an original image, first image data is read so that the first image data includes data on a picture area and a non-picture area around the picture area. Boundaries of the picture area is determined from the first image data obtained by reading, and second image data is extracted within an image data extraction area which is set according to the determined boundaries of the picture area. Image processing is performed on the extracted second image to obtain output data.

Abstract: Disclosed is method of detecting a predetermined mark (30) forming part of an image. A digitized form (48, 49) of the image (21) comprising a plurality of picture elements is provided and within a current region of the image a set of features is determined. The features typically comprise a dominant color feature (44) within the current region; and at least one moment feature (111) based on picture elements pertaining to the predetermined mark within the current region. Each determined feature is compared (113) with a corresponding predetermined feature (114) of the predetermined mark. Using the comparison, a confidence level for a detection of said predetermined mark within the current region calculated. Based on the confidence level, whether or not said predetermined mark is detected in the current region can then be determined.

Abstract: A preview method of color processing on input images is disclosed, which enabling users to select a block of a preview image in image processing software, to apply various image processing functions in a WYSIWYG way. The disclosed method saves time, and doesn't need repeated input or too many system resources.