Image Processing Apparatus Edge Correction Screen Dot Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming techniques fail to effectively reduce jaggies in the edge portions of images due to the ruggedness of pixels caused by low-resolution printers and screen processing, leading to incomplete removal of jaggies and loss of continuity in the edge portions.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that determines edges in input image data, generates edge correction data, performs screen processing, and shifts screen dots into the interior of objects, ensuring that edge correction data and screen data are combined to maintain the continuity of the edge portion while reducing jaggies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If corrected data consisting mainly of half dots is combined with image data after screen processing consisting mainly of full dots, then edge correction is performed, but half dots are absorbed by nearby full dots during development, resulting in incomplete jaggies reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of dot depth by performing edge correction processing before screen processing. This ensures that half dots created during edge correction are not absorbed by full dots during subsequent development, as the screen processing converts them to appropriate dot depths. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by making the corrected edge data compatible with the screen processed data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies edge correction processing as a preliminary step before screen processing. By performing the edge correction first and then immediately followed by screen processing, the half dots generated during edge correction are converted to full dots or appropriate dot depths before development occurs. This preliminary action sequence prevents the absorption problem and ensures effective jaggies reduction.
2Manufacturing precision
If edge correction processing is performed by combining corrected data and screen processed data, then some jaggies are reduced, but the continuity of screen dots is lost and edge portion quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs edge correction processing as a preliminary step before screen processing, rather than combining data after both processes are complete. This sequential approach ensures that the edge correction results are preserved through the screen processing stage, maintaining screen dot continuity while still achieving jaggies reduction in the final output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity by performing edge correction followed immediately by screen processing in a continuous workflow. This ensures that the corrected edge data flows through the screen processing stage without interruption or loss of information, preserving both the edge smoothness and screen dot continuity in the final image.
Data Source
AI summary
Jaggies in an edge portion are reduced while suppressing deterioration of an image to a minimum. There are provided a determination unit configured to determine an edge of an object from input image data, a unit configured to generate edge correction data used to correct a pixel value of a pixel constituting the edge, a screen data generation unit configured to generate screen data by performing screen processing on the input image dada, and an image combination unit configured to generate output image in which a screen dot existing in the edge in the screen data is shifted into the inside of the object.