Toner Saving Rendering Unit for White Character Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner saving processing methods often degrade the visibility of white characters when they are inside objects from which colors are removed, leading to reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that includes a toner saving rendering unit capable of discriminating between graphics and character objects, determining if a character is white, and adjusting its color or the surrounding region's density to maintain visibility, while performing toner saving processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If color removal processing is applied to inner regions surrounded by edges during toner saving processing, then toner consumption is reduced, but visibility of white characters inside the inner region is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing treatments to different regions within the inner area surrounded by edges. Specifically, white character regions are identified and preserved with original coloring, while non-character regions undergo color removal or density reduction. This local differentiation allows toner saving in background areas while maintaining character visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing method segments the inner region into character portions and non-character portions. By detecting edges and analyzing regional characteristics, the system divides the area inside edges into segments that require different handling - white characters are segmented and protected from color removal, while other areas are processed for toner saving.
2Loss of substance
If density is decreased throughout the inner region for toner saving, then printing cost is reduced, but image quality and legibility of text elements are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by applying different density adjustment strategies to different areas. White character regions maintain their original density and color characteristics, while non-character background regions have their density reduced. This selective approach preserves image quality where needed while achieving toner savings in appropriate areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and classification of regions before applying toner saving processing. By first identifying edges, then analyzing inner regions for character content, and finally determining which areas should preserve vs. reduce density, the method prepares the image data in advance to guide subsequent selective processing that maintains quality while saving toner.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus including an extraction unit (S502) configured to extract a graphics object from image data; and a conversion unit (404) configured, in a case where recording material saving processing is instructed (S501) and a character whose density is equal to or less than a predetermined density is included inside a graphics object extracted by the extraction unit (S504, S505), to convert the character so as to increase the density thereof (S506) and to convert a region other than the character inside the graphics object so as to decrease the density thereof (S507).