Image Processing Apparatus Selective Kickback for Character Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional kickback processing in image processing for color printing results in uneven background images, causing characters with low K-color density to appear bold, as color components other than K-color are removed uniformly, leading to undesirable image appearance.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that decides whether to remove sub color components based on the density value of the main color component at each position around the figure, allowing kickback processing only where the density value of the main color component meets a predetermined condition, and cancels removal processing if the density value is low to maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If color components other than K-color are removed uniformly in the region around the blank character, then misregistration is prevented, but the blank character appears bold in low density regions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different kickback processing strategies to different regions around the blank character based on the background density value. In high density regions (where main color component density exceeds threshold), sub color components are removed to prevent misregistration issues. In low density regions, sub color components are preserved to maintain natural character appearance. This localized approach resolves the contradiction by adapting the processing intensity to local image characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically changes the kickback processing parameters based on the background density value. When the main color component density is high, aggressive removal of sub color components is applied. When the main color component density is low, minimal or no removal is applied. This parameter adaptation based on local density conditions allows the system to prevent misregistration where needed while preserving character appearance where not needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If sub color components are removed to prevent misregistration, then printing accuracy is improved, but image appearance quality deteriorates in uneven background regions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the kickback processing effect local by conditioning it on the background density value. In regions where the main color component has high density, sub color component removal provides printing accuracy benefits without harming appearance. In regions where the main color component has low density, the removal is avoided or reduced to preserve appearance quality. This spatially varying approach resolves the contradiction between printing accuracy and appearance quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies partial kickback processing rather than uniform full processing. By evaluating the background density and selectively removing sub color components only where necessary (in high density regions), the system achieves sufficient misregistration prevention without the excessive removal that would degrade appearance quality in low density regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus of the present invention compares the density value of K-color at each position around a blank character with a reference density value, thereby deciding whether it is necessary to remove other color components. Based on the result of a decision, the apparatus removes the color components. Thus, other color components can be removed only in the region where the density value of K-color is high. Hence, when a background image is an uneven image, a kickback processing can be performed suitably around the blank character.