Monochrome Image Density Control for Color Emphasis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-color density color materials, such as blue, used in printing result in low output density images that are difficult to read, requiring repeated adjustments to achieve legible prints and often confuse notes and stains with the printed color, especially when converted to monochrome.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus that includes a controller and acquisition unit to convert color images to monochrome, emphasizing specific colors like blue by adjusting density scales, allowing for simple one-touch operation through a touch panel to enhance the specific color without emphasizing notes and stains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a document printed with low-color density color material (e.g., blue) is scanned and printed in monochrome, then the reproduced color matches the original color material, but the output density becomes low and the image is hard to read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the density scale specifically for detected color materials. When the scanner detects a color material like blue toner, the system automatically modifies the density parameters to enhance output density, ensuring the printed image is legible without requiring manual user adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the presence of color materials in the scanned document and autonomously adjusting the density scale and other parameters. This eliminates the need for user intervention through touch panel adjustments or serviceman diagnostic settings, allowing the system to self-optimize for readable output.
2Reliability
If the density of the image is increased to make the print results legible, then the specific color becomes more visible, but notes and stains on the sheet are also emphasized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by applying different density scaling to different color components. When a specific color material is detected, the system enhances only the density range corresponding to that color while maintaining or reducing the emphasis on other colors. This selective enhancement makes the specific color legible while minimizing the visibility of notes and stains in other color ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters selectively based on detected color materials. By modifying the density scale specifically for the detected color (e.g., blue) while leaving other density ranges unchanged or reduced, the system achieves legible output for the target color without simultaneously emphasizing unwanted elements like notes and stains.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of image quality is performed through touch panel or self-diagnostic adjustment, then the desired print results can be obtained, but repeated printing and checking are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting color materials and adjusting image quality parameters without user intervention. This eliminates the iterative process of manual touch panel adjustments and repeated printing, as the system autonomously optimizes the settings based on the detected document characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting the presence of color materials during the scanning phase and pre-adjusting the density scale and other parameters before printing. This preliminary optimization eliminates the need for subsequent manual adjustments and repeated printing to achieve desired results.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus of an embodiment includes an acquisition unit and a controller. The acquisition unit scans a sheet to acquire the color image of the sheet. The controller converts, using parameters stored in a storage unit, the color image acquired by the acquisition unit to a monochrome image with at least one specific color being darker than the other colors.