Image Processing for Concave-Convex Ink Brightness Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording technologies face issues with image quality on concave-convex areas due to uneven brightness caused by stacked ink droplets, leading to differences in color tone and decreased image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that acquires shape and image data of concave-convex areas, identifies uneven areas, and corrects image data to ensure equal brightness between areas with multiple dots and adjacent areas, using a system with an acquiring unit, identifying unit, and correcting unit to adjust color information and gradation values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ink droplets are stacked in several layers from the base of the uneven area to color wall surfaces continuous with convex surfaces, then the coverage and color depth are improved, but the brightness of the uneven area decreases, causing color tone differences and decreased image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing methods to different areas of the concave-convex structure. Specifically, it identifies uneven areas (where wall surfaces are continuous with convex surfaces) and applies special brightness correction only to these local regions, while other areas are processed normally. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain high ink coverage where needed while preventing brightness degradation in specific problem areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the brightness parameter of image data for uneven areas through computational processing. By detecting the concave-convex shape and identifying uneven areas, the system adjusts the brightness values of pixels in these regions to compensate for the light absorption caused by stacked ink droplets. This parameter adjustment restores uniform brightness across the entire surface while maintaining the necessary ink coverage.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple layers of ink droplets are applied to ensure sufficient color depth in concave areas, then the color saturation is improved, but the brightness uniformity across different areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection and analysis of the concave-convex shape and image data before final ink application. By pre-identifying uneven areas and predicting brightness variations, the system can adjust image data parameters in advance to compensate for the light absorption that will occur when multiple ink layers are applied. This preliminary correction ensures brightness uniformity is maintained even when high ink coverage is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses detected image data and concave-convex shape information as feedback to adjust the brightness parameters of uneven areas. The detection unit analyzes the actual image data and compares it with the expected appearance, then the correction unit adjusts brightness values based on this feedback. This closed-loop approach ensures that brightness uniformity is maintained while allowing sufficient ink layering for color depth.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit, an identifying unit, and a correcting unit. The acquiring unit acquires input data including shape data on a concave-convex area having a convex part and a concave part and image data of an image formed on the concave-convex area. The identifying unit identifies an uneven area which is within a bottom surface of the concave part and is continuous with a wall surface connecting the bottom surface and a convex surface of the convex part. The correcting unit corrects the image data so that the brightness of a first image area in the uneven area stacked with multiple dots and the brightness of a second image area continuous with the first image area become about the same.