JP2001160900A - Color picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color picture processor capable of executing picture processing where the reproducibility of low-density picture such as a document written in a pencil in particular, which is suited to a monochromatic document, is improved in the case of copying in a monochromatic mode in a color picture processor where a full color mode and the monochromatic mode can be selected. SOLUTION: An image separating means is changed between the full color mode and the monochromatic mode to execute reproducing processing putting importance on resolution in the area of characters and to execute reproducing processing putting importance on gradation in the area of a photograph. Further, the image separating means to be used can be selected optionally by a user, thereby the picture can be changed by putting importance in accordance with the liking of the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus such as a digital color copying machine and a color facsimile for forming an image in a full color mode and a black and white mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a digital copying machine is a CCD.
(Charge-coupled device) An original image is read for each pixel using an image sensor or the like, and an analog electric signal obtained by an output of the image sensor is A / D-converted (analog / digital) to obtain a digital signal. Is subjected to various types of image processing, and a signal subjected to the image processing is supplied to a recording device to form a copy image.

A photo area, a halftone area,
In the case where character and line drawing areas are mixed, in order to obtain a high-quality copy image, these image areas must be automatically separated and subjected to optimal processing according to each image.

(Prior Art 1) Patent No. 2 of the present applicant
The conventional technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 617469 is a case of a black-and-white copying machine, but the image area separating unit 300 shown in FIG.
Image area separation between a photographic area and a halftone area is performed, and the non-photographic area and the non-halftone area are defined as a “character area”.
It is configured to perform a process of emphasizing resolution called a binarization process, and perform a process of emphasizing gradation by smoothing and dithering, with the remaining area being a “picture area”.

[0005] (Prior art 2)
The prior art disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,892 is for a color copier, but the image area separation unit 3 shown in FIG.
At 00, the image area is separated into a character area and a halftone area, and the character area and the non-halftone area are set as a “character area”, and a process emphasizing resolution is performed. In the "character area", color determination is further performed, and in the case of an achromatic color area, the parameter of the UCR process is changed to a "black character area" so that an image is formed in a single black color.

The algorithm of image area separation disclosed in the above two prior arts will be described in detail. Conventional technology 1
Uses a circuit as shown in FIG. 8 to determine a photograph area for separating a character area and a photograph area. The input image data is binarized in a binarization circuit 311 with a relatively low level threshold, and the six FIFOs (first-in-
First Out Memory) and Flip Flop F
Using F14 to F77, a pattern mask to be collated with the pattern mask shown in FIG. 9 is generated. FF41 to 47, FF14, 24, 34, 54 of the generated pattern mask
When the outputs of 64 and 74 are all 1, the AND circuit 312
Outputs 1 (photograph area detection signal). That is, FIG.
If all the pixels corresponding to the black pixel portions of the pattern mask are black pixels having a density equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the pixel of interest (the pixel corresponding to the FF 44) is determined to be a photographic area.

This is because a character image is a black character on a white background,
A photographic image is based on the feature that pixels having a density equal to or higher than a certain level are continuous. In this method, a background area or a density area close to the background area having a density equal to or lower than a predetermined density is not determined as a photograph area, but is determined as a character area. Therefore, even in the case of a photographic original, a highlight portion having a predetermined density or less is not determined to be a photographic region.

In prior art 2, a character area determination for separating a character area from a photograph area is performed using a circuit as shown in FIG. Here, the image data is converted to a relatively high level threshold (TH
15), the white edge detection circuit 322 converts the binarized data into the patterns 1 to 3 shown in FIG.
A white edge is detected using the template shown in FIG. That is, for example, when the high-level / non-high-level pattern in the 3 × 3 matrix with the target pixel as the center pixel matches any of the patterns shown in FIG. 15, the white edge detection circuit 322 sets the target pixel to the high level. The pixel is determined to be a pixel, and 1 is output to the counting circuit 323. The counting circuit 323 counts, for example, the number of high-level pixels in a 3 × 3 matrix centered on the target pixel from the output of the white edge detection circuit 322, and when two or more edge patterns are detected, for example, “ White edge area ".

Similarly, in the binarizing circuit (2) 324, the black edge detecting circuit 325 applies the binary-coded data using a relatively low level threshold (THB).
Black edges are detected using the templates shown in patterns 9 to 16 in FIG. That is, the black edge detection circuit 325
For example, when a low-level / non-low-level pattern in a 3 × 3 matrix with the target pixel as the center pixel matches any of the patterns shown in FIG. 15, the target pixel is determined to be a low-level pixel, and the counting circuit 326 is output as 1. The counting circuit 326 counts the number of low-level pixels in, for example, a 3 × 3 matrix centered on the pixel of interest from the output of the black edge detection circuit 325, and when a predetermined number or more edge patterns are detected, Black Edge Area "
And

The ANN circuit 327 includes counter circuits 323, 3
26, and outputs a logical product signal of both output signals. That is,
When both output signals are 1, 1 is output to the character area determination circuit. The character area determination unit 328 determines the area where the output signal is input as a “character area”, and expands the area. This detection method is based on the characteristic that the density of a character on a white background is sharp, and a portion where white pixels are continuous (white edge) is adjacent to a portion where black pixels are continuous (black edge).

In this method, the black edge is not detected in the background area having a density equal to or lower than the predetermined density or in the density area close to the background, so that it is determined that “non-character area” = “photograph area”. In particular, in the case of a character having a relatively low density, such as a pencil-written character with a weak writing pressure, a black edge is difficult to be detected, and may not be determined as a “character area”. Conversely, in a low-density region such as a highlight portion of a photographic document, a black edge is not detected, so that the region is determined to be a photographic region.

As described above, the black-and-white copying machine emphasizes the quality of character images including characters written in pencil relatively, and the full-color copying machine emphasizes reproducibility of photographic images including highlights. .

[0013]

However, even a full-color copying machine does not always copy in the full-color mode. For a black-and-white document or when there is no need for a full-color copy, a low-cost monochromatic copy is used. (Or other single color). Conventionally, when copying in a monochrome mode in a full-color copying machine, the image area separating process uses the same circuit as in the copying in the full-color mode. For this reason, image processing is performed with priority on photographs, and in particular, reproducibility of a pencil manuscript is sacrificed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a color copying machine.
An object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus capable of performing image processing suitable for a black-and-white original when copying in a black-and-white mode.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus which places importance on the reproducibility of a low-density character image such as a pencil original, particularly in a monochrome mode.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus capable of changing an image to be emphasized in a full color mode and a monochrome mode according to preference.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus which can reproduce a photographic original in the full color mode.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus capable of satisfactorily reproducing a pencil document in a monochrome mode.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading an image by separating a document into R, G, and B, and an image reading means for reading the image. A photograph region determining unit that determines a photograph region and a non-photographic region of the read image data; a character region determining unit that determines a character region and a non-character region of the image data read by the image reading unit; And a comprehensive determination unit for performing an area determination based on a determination result by the determination unit and the character region determination unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dot area determining means for determining a halftone area and a non-halftone area of image data read by the image reading means; Color determination means for determining a chromatic color area and an achromatic color area of the image data read by the means, and the comprehensive determination means further includes a halftone dot area determination means and a color determination means in addition to the determination element. The determination is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a first selecting means for selecting one of a full-color mode and a black-and-white mode. When the full color mode is selected, the area determination is performed using the determination results by the character area determination means, the halftone area determination means and the color determination means as elements,
When the black-and-white mode is selected by the first selection means, the area determination is performed using the determination results by the photograph area determination means and the halftone dot area determination means as elements.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 3.
In the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a second selection is made to select whether to perform the area determination by the photograph area determination means or the area determination by the character area determination means for the image data read by the image reading means. Means, wherein the comprehensive determining means adds one of the photograph area determining means and the character area determining means selected by the second selecting means to the determining element, and selects the photograph area not selected by the second selecting means. It is characterized in that one of the judgment means and the character area judgment means is excluded from the judgment elements.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, when a halftone area is determined by the determination by the comprehensive determination means, the halftone area is smoothed. A spatial filtering means for performing edge enhancement processing on the character area when the character area is determined as a character area by the determination by the comprehensive determination means; Under color removal means for performing maximum under color removal on the character area, and when the character area is determined by the determination by the comprehensive determination means, binarization processing is performed on the character area. And a gradation processing means for performing dither processing on the region when the region is determined to be either a photograph region or a halftone dot region.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the photographic region determining means detects any one of continuity and density in the colored pixels to determine the photographic region. It is characterized by determining.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the character area determining means detects presence or absence of edge information to determine a character area. I have.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing section of the color image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image processing unit in the present embodiment includes an image area separation unit 3
00, spatial filter processing unit 400, color correction processing unit 500
And a gradation processing unit 600. Image area separation unit 3
00 is a photograph area determination circuit 310 and a character area determination circuit 3
20, a dot area determination circuit 330, a color determination circuit 340,
And an overall determination circuit 350 that determines an image area by comprehensively determining from the image area separation results.

In the present embodiment, the photographic area determination circuit 310 for a black-and-white machine disclosed in the prior art 1 is used as the photographic area determination circuit 310, and an area near the background density level of highlight is used as a non-photographic area. Is determined. Also,
As the character area determination circuit 320, the character area determination circuit 320 for a color copying machine disclosed in the related art 2 is used, and the background density level is determined to be a non-character area. The halftone area determination by the halftone area determination circuit 330 can be used in both the full color mode and the black and white mode.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the halftone dot area determination circuit 330. The binarization circuit 331 binarizes the image data at an appropriate density level,
Using the IFOs 1 to 6 and the FFs 11 to 77, a signal of each pixel of a 7 × 7 pixel matrix composed of 7 pixels in the main scanning direction and 7 pixels in the sub scanning direction is output to the pattern matching dot detection circuit 332 at the same timing. . The pattern matching halftone dot detection circuit 332 detects halftone dots of various sizes by a pattern matching method using the template shown in FIG. 11 as a pixel having a higher density than a predetermined threshold value as a black pixel and a pixel having a lower density as a white pixel. . The determination of the halftone dot region is made based on how many halftone dots are detected in an arbitrary area. In order to increase the determination accuracy, the determination is performed in three stages of region determination.

This determination processing will be described with reference to FIG.
As a first step, the halftone dot area 1 determination circuit 333 determines that the 8 × 8
If one or more halftone dots are detected in a pixel unit area (E1 = first area), it is determined to be a halftone dot area. After that, 8 × 8
The first area composed of pixels is determined as one unit. However, what is determined here is the E1 block. In the second stage, the halftone area 2 determination circuit 334
When three or more blocks among four adjacent first areas (E1 to E4) are determined to be halftone areas in the first determination, they are determined to be halftone areas. In the third stage, the halftone dot area 3 determination circuit 335 determines that one or more blocks in the four first areas (E1, E2, E5, E6) connected in the main scanning direction are halftone dot areas in the second determination. If it is determined, it is determined to be a dot area. The determination result of the third stage is finally determined to be a halftone area, and a halftone area signal is output to the comprehensive determination circuit 350.

In this case, halftone dots are detected by the pattern matching method for binary data. However, for 3 × 3 multi-valued data, the center pixel is compared with four adjacent pixels or eight adjacent pixels. Then, a method of judging whether the level is lower (valley peak) or higher (peak peak) than a predetermined level and detecting an extreme value (peak) may be used.

Next, the color judgment circuit 340 will be described. This image area separation circuit is not an essential element in the configuration of the present invention, but can be used in the full color mode to reproduce a black character in a single black color with high quality.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the color determination circuit 340. Here, it is determined whether a certain pixel is an achromatic color or a chromatic color.

Since achromatic pixels have the same level of R, G, and B data, achromatic and chromatic colors can be distinguished by the following processing. The ΔRGB calculation circuit 341 is
The difference ΔRGB between the R, G, and B data, ie, max (R,
G, B) -min (R, G, B) is calculated. The achromatic pixel detection circuit 342 compares the calculated value with a predetermined value, and outputs an achromatic pixel detection signal to the counting unit 343 when the calculated value is small. The counting unit 343 is 3 × 3
The number of achromatic pixels in a pixel area is counted. The achromatic region determination unit 344 determines an achromatic region based on the number of pixels counted by the counting unit 343 and outputs the result to the overall determination circuit 350.

Next, an image processing circuit for reproducing an image will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing circuit includes a spatial filter processing unit 400, a color correction processing unit 500, and a gradation processing unit 600.

In the filter (1) 410, the spatial filter processing section 400 performs a smoothing process on the halftone image in order to prevent the occurrence of moire, and obtains an image such as a character or a line image which requires a high resolution. , The filter (3) 430 performs edge enhancement processing. In the case of a photographic image that is a continuous tone image, strong smoothing is not necessary like a halftone image, but the image becomes noisy and rough even if edge enhancement is applied too much like a character image, The filter (2) 420 may be selected from weak smoothing through (no filtering) or weak edge emphasis processing according to preference.

In the full-color mode, the color correction processing section 500 corrects the distortion of the color separation characteristics of the scanner 100 and the deviation of the spectral characteristics of the color materials used in the printer 700 from the ideal to secure appropriate color reproducibility. Masking circuit 5
10 and U for replacing equivalent parts of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) with K (black).
It comprises a CR (under color removal, under color removal) circuit 520.

The masking circuit 510 usually has X = a ×
R + b × G + c × B + d (X = Y, M, C) is calculated in the form of a linear combination of R, G, and B data. However, the coefficients a, b, c, and d are different depending on the calculation target color X for Y, M, and C, respectively. Further, the masking circuit 510 not only sets the UCR rate to 100% for a black character image, but also has a function of positively converting the data of the color components Y, M, and C to zero. Make it possible to reproduce only with K.

The UCR circuit 520 calculates X '= X-min
It is calculated as (Y, M, C) × α (X = Y, M, C). Here, the coefficient α indicates the UCR rate. When the coefficient is 100%, it is full black, and among the overlapping portions of Y, M, and C,
This is a case where all the components replaced with K are replaced with K.

In an image such as a photograph or a halftone dot image where importance is placed on the gradation, setting the UCR rate to 100% eliminates the color depth and gives a blackish impression. Like that. Conversely, in the case of a character image, particularly a black character image, if the Y, M, and C color components remain, the reproduced image becomes thicker, and if there is a shift between color plates, the color becomes blurred and the image quality deteriorates. U for character images
The CR rate is set to 100%.

The gradation processing section 600 uses a dither processing circuit 610 to generate a pseudo-intermediate dot-dithered dither pattern for a photograph or a halftone image in order to secure the number of gradations and stabilize the gradation. Performs tone adjustment processing. In addition, dither processing is not performed on an image such as a character or line drawing image that emphasizes resolution, and the simple binarization processing circuit 620 executes the simple binary processing.
Perform value conversion processing.

In this embodiment, the printer 700
Has been described for the case where one dot can be reproduced only at the binary level of white or black, but when multi-value output such as ternary to 256 values is possible, instead of simple binarization,
It is also possible to use a simple multi-value processing or a dot-dispersion type dither pattern so as to perform processing that leaves some gradation. In addition, if the processing by the error diffusion method is used as the gradation processing with emphasis on gradation, moire on the halftone dot image is reduced, so that the spatial filter processing unit 400 does not need to perform strong smoothing processing, and Can be shared with the filter processing for

Next, the overall judgment of the result of the image area separation processing will be described. In FIG. 1, the comprehensive judgment circuit 350 includes:
Four types of area determination signals are input. The integrated judgment circuit 350 to which the area judgment signal is input selects an area judgment signal to be used from the four types according to the color mode selection signal. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the comprehensive judgment processing by the comprehensive judgment circuit 350 when the full color mode is selected by the color mode selection signal. Here, the character area determination circuit 320 is used for image area separation between the character area and the photograph area, and the photograph area determination circuit 310 is not used. Therefore, the photographic area determination signal is Don't care.

In FIG. 2, an image area determined by a combination of area signals is shown at the top of the graph. The spatial filter processing unit 400 selects the filter (1) 410 for the halftone dot region and performs the smoothing process, and selects the filter (3) 420 for the character region and performs the edge enhancement process. The filter (2) 4
30 is selected, and an intermediate filtering process between the above two processes is performed. However, when the character area signal = 1 and the halftone area signal = 1, the halftone area signal is prioritized, and it is determined that the area is the halftone area.

UCR circuit 5 in color correction processing section 500
Reference numeral 20 selects the UCR rate of 100% only in the case of the character area, and further inhibits the output of the color component in the case of the achromatic area, that is, in the case of the black character area. In other areas, a low UCR rate is selected, and output of color components is not prohibited.

The gradation processing section 600 selects the simple binarization processing circuit 620 only in the case of a character area and performs simple binarization processing, and selects the dither processing circuit 610 in the case of a photograph and halftone area. Perform processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the comprehensive judgment processing when the color mode selection signal is the monochrome mode. Here, the photograph area determination circuit 310 is used for separating the image area between the character area and the photograph area, and the character area determination circuit 320 is not used. Therefore, the character area signal is Don't care. In the black-and-white mode, an achromatic color area signal is not required, so that it is “don't care”. Here, when the photographic area signal = 1 and the halftone area signal = 1, the photographic area signal is given priority and determined as a photographic area.

As in the case of full color, the spatial filter processing section 400 performs filter 1 (410) for a halftone dot area,
Filter 3 (430) is selected for the character area, and Filter 2 (420) is selected for the photographic area.

In the black-and-white mode, since the UCR processing by the UCR circuit 520 in the color correction processing section 500 is unnecessary,
This circuit is set to be through.

The gradation processing section 600 selects the simple binarization processing circuit 620 only in the character mode and performs the simple binarization processing, and performs the dither processing circuit 610 in the photograph and halftone area.
Is selected and dither processing is performed.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. 4 is different from the first embodiment in FIG. 1 in that the overall judgment of the image area separation processing result can be changed by the priority document selection signal. The priority document selection signal indicates whether the priority should be given to the reproducibility of a text document or to the reproducibility of a photo document even in the full color mode.
Alternatively, even in the black and white mode, this is a selection signal for selecting whether to give priority to the reproducibility of a photo document or to the reproducibility of a text document. The priority area selection signal selects an image area separation circuit that determines whether the area is a character area or a photograph area.

FIG. 2 corresponds to a case where the priority document selection is a photo document in the full-color mode. FIG. 3 corresponds to the case where the priority document selection is a character document in the monochrome mode. FIG. 5 shows the reverse in the full color mode.
This shows a comprehensive determination process when the priority document selection is a text document. Here, a photograph area determination circuit 310 is employed as a circuit for separating a character area and a photograph area. Similarly, FIG. 6 shows a comprehensive determination process when the priority document selection is a photo document in the black and white mode. The character region determination circuit 32 serves as an image area separation circuit for the character region and the photograph region.
0 is adopted. By employing the priority document selection function in this way, the image quality can be adjusted according to the user's preference.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of image area separating means are provided for separating read original data into a character area and a photograph area. It is possible to perform accurate and intended user image area separation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a halftone area determining means and a color determining means are further added as image area separating means, so that a photographic area and a character area can be determined. By being able to discriminate the halftone dot area in addition to the discrimination, and by being able to discriminate between the achromatic color area and the chromatic color area, it is possible to perform finer processing in image processing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the image area separating means used in the full color mode and the black and white mode is changed, and the reproduction processing which emphasizes the resolution in the character area is performed. In the photographic area, reproduction processing with emphasis on gradation is performed, so that even in a color image processing apparatus, image processing suitable for a black and white original can be performed when copying in the black and white mode. In particular, a low-density character image such as a pencil document can be reproduced favorably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image area separating means used in the full color mode and the image area separating means used in the black and white mode are provided by the user. Can be arbitrarily selected, so that an important image can be changed in the full-color mode and the black-and-white mode according to the user's preference.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the second to fourth aspects, image processing is performed on the image data in accordance with the image area determination determined by the comprehensive determination means. It is possible to obtain a high quality image.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the first to fifth aspects, edge information is used as image area separating means for determining a background area or a density area close to the background area as a photographic area. By providing the character area determining means for detecting the presence or absence of the image, it is possible to reproduce the photographic original satisfactorily in the full color mode.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a colored pixel is used as image area separating means for determining a background area or a density area close to the background area as a character area. Since the photographic area determination means is used to detect and determine any one of the continuity and density of the original, it is possible to satisfactorily reproduce the pencil original in the black and white mode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a full-color image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image area determination performed by a comprehensive determination circuit in a full-color mode and image processing corresponding to the determination in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a determination of an image area performed by a comprehensive determination circuit in a monochrome / single color mode and image processing corresponding to the determination according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a full-color image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a determination of an image area performed by a comprehensive determination circuit in a full-color mode according to a second embodiment and image processing corresponding to the determination.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image area determination performed by a comprehensive determination circuit in a monochrome / single color mode according to a second embodiment and image processing corresponding to the determination.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a black-and-white digital copying machine according to Prior Art 1.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photograph area determination circuit 310.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a pattern mask for photographic area detection.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a dot area determination circuit 330.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a pattern mask for halftone dot detection.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a halftone dot area determination circuit.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first area, a second area, and a third area assumed by the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color digital copying machine according to a conventional technique 2.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character area determination circuit 320.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an edge detection pattern mask for character area detection.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color determination circuit 340.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 scanner 200 delay memory 300 image area separating section 310 photograph area determining circuit 320 character area determining circuit 330 halftone area determining circuit 340 color determining circuit 350 comprehensive determining circuit 400 spatial filter processing section 500 color correction processing section 510 masking circuit 520 UCR circuit 600 gradation processing unit 610 dither processing circuit 620 simple binarization processing circuit 700 printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/46 H04N 1/40 D 1/46 Z F term (Reference) 2C087 AA03 AA15 AA16 BB10 BC05 CA02 CB03 DA02 5B057 AA11 BA11 CA01 CA02 CA06 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB02 CB06 CB07 CB08 CB12 CB16 CE03 CE05 CE06 CE12 CE13 CE16 DA08 DB02 DB05 DB06 DB08 DB09 DC16 DC22 DC25 5C077 LL19 MP07 MP08 NN04 NN08 NP01 PP02 PP03 PP27 PP13 PP27 PP13 HB01 LA03 LA06 LA15 LA21 LA31 LC04 NA05 PA01 PA02 5L096 AA02 AA03 AA06 AA07 BA17 CA14 EA06 EA43 FA06 FA14 FA15 FA42 FA43 FA44 FA45 GA40 GA51

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image reading means for separating an original into R, G, and B colors and reading an image, and a photographic area determining means for determining a photographic area and a non-photographic area of image data read by the image reading means. Character area determination means for determining a character area and a non-character area of image data read by the image reading means; and area determination based on the determination results by the photograph area determination means and the character area determination means. A color image processing apparatus comprising: 2. A halftone area determining means for determining a halftone area and a non-halftone area of image data read by the image reading means; and a chromatic color area of the image data read by the image reading means. The image processing apparatus further includes a color determination unit that determines an achromatic region, wherein the comprehensive determination unit performs the region determination by further adding the halftone dot region determination unit and the color determination unit to a determination element. 2. The color image processing apparatus according to 1. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first selection unit that selects one of a full-color mode and a black-and-white mode, wherein the comprehensive determination unit determines the character area when a full-color mode is selected by the first selection unit. Judgment means,
The area determination is performed using the determination result by the halftone dot area determination means and the color determination means as an element, and when the monochrome mode is selected by the first selection means, the determination result by the photograph area determination means and the halftone area determination means is determined. 3. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a region is determined as an element. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second selection unit configured to select whether to perform the area determination by the photograph area determination unit or the area determination by the character region determination unit on the image data read by the image reading unit. Wherein the comprehensive determination means adds any one of the photograph area determination means and the character area determination means selected by the second selection means to a determination element, and selects a photo area not selected by the second selection means. 4. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the determination unit and the character area determination unit is excluded from the determination element. 5. A smoothing process is performed on the halftone dot region when it is determined by the comprehensive determination unit that the character is a character region. A spatial filtering unit that performs edge enhancement processing on the character region, and an undercolor removal unit that performs maximum undercolor removal on the character region when it is determined that the character region is determined by the comprehensive determination unit. When it is determined that the character area is a character area by the determination by the comprehensive determination unit, the binarization process is performed on the character area. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a gradation processing unit that performs dither processing on the region. 6. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic area determination unit detects one of continuity and density in the colored pixels and determines the photographic area as a photographic area. apparatus. 7. The color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character area determination unit detects the presence / absence of edge information to determine a character area.