Image Processing Apparatus Clear Toner Boundary Gradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies face challenges in generating a natural image output when the boundary of a target object is blurred, as they struggle to appropriately adjust the amount of clear toner in response to the degree of unclearness and create a gradation pattern for featured regions.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that calculates the feature amount of an image data in the boundary region, determines the degree of color change, and adjusts the gradation of the recording material pattern accordingly to ensure a natural image output by applying clear toner smoothly across blurred boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If clear toner is applied to edge regions to emphasize the target object, then the target object is highlighted, but the concavity and convexity of the recording sheet become uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the clear toner application based on region characteristics. Boundary regions receive reduced clear toner amounts to maintain surface flatness, while non-boundary regions receive normal clear toner application for emphasis. This spatially varying approach allows simultaneous achievement of image quality enhancement and surface flatness preservation.
2Shape
If clear toner amount is reduced in boundary regions to smooth the recording sheet, then surface flatness is improved, but the target object boundary becomes less distinct
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies boundary regions through feature amount calculation and applies different clear toner amounts accordingly. Boundary regions receive reduced clear toner to prevent surface irregularities, while maintaining sufficient toner in non-boundary regions to preserve object distinctness and image quality.
3Ease of manufacture
If clear toner is selectively applied to featured regions, then image emphasis is achieved, but the boundary blur problem persists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces local quality differentiation based on boundary detection. By calculating feature amounts and identifying boundary regions, the system applies reduced clear toner specifically where boundaries exist, while maintaining normal application in non-boundary featured regions. This resolves the boundary blur issue while preserving image emphasis capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus for generating a pattern of a recording material to be overlapped on an original image for forming an image of a target region extracted from the original image, includes an arithmetic unit calculating a feature amount of an image data included in a boundary region of the target region; a determination unit determining a degree of change of color in the boundary region based on the feature amount; and a pattern generation unit determining a gradation of the pattern of the recording material for the boundary region in accordance with the degree of change of color in the boundary region.