Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Takuya Shimahashi

Tomohiko Hasegawa

Shota Morikawa

Akidi Yoshida

Kazuyuki Miyaki

Ryohei Ozawa

An image processing apparatus performs: classifying a plurality of pixels including a plurality of first and second pixels into respective ones of first and second types, the plurality of first pixels constituting an edge; and smoothing a target pixel, the smoothing including: designating the target pixel from the plurality of second pixels; and changing a target pixel value to a smoothed target pixel value using at least one of a plurality of peripheral pixel values. In the smoothing, a first contribution of a first specific peripheral pixel to a first smoothed target pixel value is smaller than a second contribution of a second specific peripheral pixel to a second smoothed target pixel value, the first and second specific peripheral pixels being classified into respective ones of the first and second types and being positioned at a specific position relative to respective ones of first and second target pixels.

Image processing apparatus that smooths image using classification result of pixels included therein

In an image processing apparatus a controller acquires target image data representing an image including first and second type of objects. The controller specifies, as a specific type color material, one of first and second type of color materials whose remaining amount is smaller than that of the other, and determines a first reduction index value indicating a first degree of reduction in an amount of the specific type color material for printing the first type of object. The controller creates processed data by performing a reduction process on the target image data to reduce an amount of the specific type of color material for printing the first type of object on the basis of the first reduction index value. An amount of the specific type color material for printing the second type object is not reduced on the basis of the first reduction index value.

Image processing apparatus for performing reduction process to reduce amount of specific color material to be used

A method includes generating color correspondence information correlating L number of first reference color specification values in a first color space with L number of determined second color specification values in a second color space on a one-to-one basis. The L number of determined second color specification values includes (L&#x2212;Q) number of unmodified second reference color specification values, (Q&#x2212;N) number of modified second reference color specification values modified in a first modification process but not in the second modification process, and N number of remodified second reference color specification values which are modified in both the first modification process and the second modification process, where L is an integer greater than or equal to two, Q is an integer greater than or equal to one and smaller than or equal to L, and N is an integer greater than or equal to one and smaller than or equal to Q.

Method for generating color correspondence information capable of reducing consumption amount of colorant consumed in printing

An image processing apparatus includes a controller configured to perform: setting characteristic information including first characteristic information and second characteristic information; and converting a target image data using the characteristic information. The first and second characteristic information correlate input values with output values in a specific color space. The input values includes a specific input value within a specific range. The specific input value is correlated with a first specific output value by the first characteristic information, and is correlated with a second specific output value by the second characteristic information. The first specific output value indicates that a colorant consumption quantity for the specific input value is changed from an original colorant consumption quantity by a first colorant quantity. The second specific output value indicates that the colorant consumption quantity is changed from the original colorant consumption quantity by a second colorant quantity different from the first colorant quantity.

Image processing apparatus capable of setting characteristic information for converting target image data

In a print data generation apparatus, a print data generation apparatus generates print data. The print data includes post-replacement data obtained by the color replacement on pre-replacement data. The post-replacement data includes a plurality of post-replacement pixel values. Each post-replacement pixel value includes a plurality of post-replacement color components. In a case where a first residual amount of a first colorant is smaller than a second residual amount of a second colorant and a first consumption amount concerning the first colorant is larger than a second consumption amount concerning the second colorant, the color replacement on the pre-replacement data is performed so that a second post-replacement component corresponding to the second colorant is set to a first pre-replacement component value corresponding to the first colorant and the first post-replacement component corresponding to the first colorant is set to a pre-replacement component value other than the first pre-replacement component value.

Print data generation apparatus performing color replacement on image data

An image processing device acquires first image data representing a first image and second image data representing a second image. The first image shows a part of a target object and the second image showing another part of the target object. The first image includes a first edge. The image processing device generates a plurality of first pixels so as to be arranged outside the first image and along the first edge by using a plurality of pixels that are arranged inside the first image and along the first edge. The image processing device determines a relative position between the first image and the second image by using the plurality of first pixels. The image processing device generates arranged image data representing an arranged image in which the first image and the second image are arranged according to the relative position so that the arranged image shows the target object.

Image processing device generating arranged image data representing arranged image in which images are arranged according to determined relative position

An image processing apparatus acquires first and second image data respectively representing first and second image. The first and second image respectively includes first and second target image. The apparatus generates, based on the first image data, corrected image data representing a corrected image including a first corrected target image having a slant end. The apparatus identifies a blank region in contact with the slant end from the corrected image and generates complemented image data representing a complement image by performing, on the corrected image data, a complement process in which pixel values of pixels in the blank region are determined. The apparatus generates arranged image data representing an arranged image in which a first arrangement target image and a second arrangement target image are arranged, by using the complemented image data. The first and second arrangement target images concern the first and second target images, respectively.

Image processing apparatus generating arranged image data representing arranged image in which images are arranged by using complemented image data

An image processing device acquires first and second image data respectively representing first and second images. The first image includes an object image showing a part of an object. The second image shows another part of the object. The first image and the object image respectively include an edge and an object-image edge with respect to a direction. The first image includes first pixels that is located between the edge and the object-image edge and not included in the first object image. The device selects one of arrangement methods according to a condition that the number of first pixels continuously arranged in the direction is larger than a prescribed level. The device determines a relative position between the first and second images using the selected method. The device generates arranged image data representing an arranged image in which the first and second images are arranged according to the relative position.

Image processing device selecting arrangement method for generating arranged image data

An image processing apparatus performs: determining a reference region that is a part region of a first image; calculating, for at least one of candidate regions, a degree of similarity between the reference region and each of the at least one candidate regions; identifying a corresponding region from among the plurality of candidate regions based on at least one degree of similarity; and generating combined image data by using the first image data and the second image data. The combined image data represents a combined image in which the first image is combined with the second image by overlapping the reference region with the identified corresponding region.

Image processing apparatus for generating combined image data by determining reference region

An image processing device acquires first image data representing a first image and second image data representing a second image. The first image includes a first edge and a first region. The second image includes a second edge and a second region. The image processing device generates, when a first condition is met, first combined image data representing a first combined image by using the first image data and the second image data so that the first region is overlapped with the second region. The image processing device generates, when a second condition different from the first condition is met, second combined image data representing a second combined image by using the first image data and the second image data so that the first edge adjoins the second edge.

Image processing device generating combined imaged data by using first image data and second image data

An image processing device performs: generating intermediate image data representing an intermediate image in which a first image is combined with a second image; and generating rectangular image data representing a rectangular image by executing at least one of addition of at least one pixel to the intermediate image and deletion of at least one pixel from the intermediate image such that number of pixels aligned in the first direction of the rectangular image is brought into coincidence with a third pixel number and number of pixels aligned in the second direction of the rectangular image is brought into coincidence with a fourth pixel number. A ratio of the third pixel number to the fourth pixel number is equal to a ratio of the first pixel number to the second pixel number.

Image processing device generating rectangular image data from intermediate image data

An image processing device performs: calculating a degree of similarity between a reference region in a first image and a candidate region in a second image; identifying a corresponding region in the second image; determining whether a first variance condition is met; and generating combined image data representing a combined image in which the first image is combined with the second image by overlapping the reference region with the corresponding region. In a first case where the first variance condition is met, once the calculating finds the degree of similarity greater than or equal to a reference value, the candidate region corresponding to the degree of similarity is identified with the corresponding region. In a second case where the first condition is not met, the identifying identifies a candidate region having a maximum degree of similarity with the corresponding region.

Image processing device generating combined image data by calculating degree of similarity between two images

In an image forming device, an edge expansion unit executes an edge expansion process on an edge of an object by modifying image data so as to expand at least a first toner layer at the edge by a predetermined number of pixels' worth of width so that a surface area occupied by the first toner layer is larger than that occupied by a second toner layer along a recording surface, the first toner layer being made up of toner of a first color that is transferred onto the recording surface among a plurality of colors, the second toner layer being made up of toner of remaining color other than the first color, the edge expansion unit supplying the modified image data to an image forming unit, thereby causing the image forming unit to form an image represented by the modified image data.

Image forming device that expands the size of selected objects using toner of plural colors

A control device includes a first dither matrix having threshold values assigned to a plurality of cells. The control device converts image data into binary data by using the first dither matrix. The control device converts an input value into ON-pixel or OFF-pixel based on the threshold value. The threshold values in the first dither matrix are arranged such that the ON-pixels grow from a first group of ON-pixels to a second group of ON-pixels as the input value increases. The first group corresponds to cells arranged in M rows and N columns. The second group corresponds to cells arranged in (M+1) rows and (N+1) columns. The second group consists of the first group and a third group corresponding to (M+N+1) number of cells. At least two of the (M+N+1) number of cells are adjacent to each other and have same threshold values.

Control device capable of generating binary image data expressing suitable gradation levels

In a control apparatus, first type binary image data representing density of pixels arranged along a first image direction at a first resolution is acquired, and a first determining process is executed to determine an exposure pattern used to execute exposures of exposure lines at a second resolution lower than the first resolution along a first exposure direction. In the first determining process, a partial exposure pattern for exposing an output partial area that is correlated with a binary partial area and that overlaps N successive exposure lines is determined such that distribution of exposure amounts in the output partial area along the first exposure direction differs according to layout of second-value pixels in the binary partial area at least in the first image direction, thereby enabling an image of color material to be formed through development at a resolution higher than the second resolution in the first exposure direction.

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Nagoya, Japan

Takuya Shimahashi