Image Processing Apparatus Reducing Ink Consumption for 3D Shapes

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing techniques for forming unevenness on a recording medium consume a large amount of ink in proportion to the height of the unevenness, leading to increased ink consumption and time required for formation.

Innovation Solution

An image-processing apparatus that generates data to form a three-dimensionally shaped article by reproducing edge portions and reducing the amplitude of unevenness, using edge detection and tone conversion to minimize ink usage and scanning times, while maintaining the stereoscopic effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If ink is superimposed on the recording medium to form unevenness, then a stereoscopic effect is produced, but a large amount of ink is consumed in proportion to the height of the unevenness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunevenness heightVSAvoidink consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the edge portions of the unevenness shape data and uses them for inkjet recording. By taking out the essential edge features from the complete shape data and recording only these extracted portions, the system produces recognizable three-dimensional shapes while significantly reducing ink consumption compared to recording the entire unevenness surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different treatment to different parts of the shape data: edge portions are preserved and recorded with full amplitude to maintain the stereoscopic effect, while non-edge portions are excluded from recording. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain visual effectiveness where needed while reducing ink usage in areas that would not contribute to the three-dimensional perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If ink is superimposed to form high unevenness, then the stereoscopic effect is enhanced, but the time required for formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunevenness heightVSAvoidformation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the edge portions of the unevenness shape data and uses them for inkjet recording. By taking out the essential edge features from the complete shape data and recording only these extracted portions, the system produces recognizable three-dimensional shapes while significantly reducing ink consumption compared to recording the entire unevenness surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different treatment to different parts of the shape data: edge portions are preserved and recorded with full amplitude to maintain the stereoscopic effect, while non-edge portions are excluded from recording. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain visual effectiveness where needed while reducing ink usage in areas that would not contribute to the three-dimensional perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11496648B2Image-processing apparatus, image-forming apparatus, method of processing image, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 CANON KK

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more memories including one or more programs. The one or more programs cause the one or more processors (a) to acquire first shape data that represents a three-dimensional shape of unevenness, (b) to generate edge data for specifying a first area that corresponds to an edge of a convex portion and a second area that does not correspond to the edge of the convex potion in the unevenness, based on the first shape data, and (c) to generate, based on the edge data, data to form the first area and not the second area on a recording medium.