JPH03146996A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the capability of an external storage device for computer processing by making figures and gradation indication values by gradation levels which are obtained by gradation decomposition independent of one another and generating vectors of picture element image data. CONSTITUTION:A vector device 300 inputs the picture element image data 101 which are decomposed by gradations, substitutes figures 301 and 311, etc., with a contour line 302, and outputs vector data, gradation level data, etc., on the contour line figure to a file 200. Further, a raster dot output device 400 reads data out of the file 200 and converts vector data 402 into a raster dot image 403. Then a dot processor 500 reads a gradation output level 206 out of the file 200 and data on a specific dot pattern out of a dot cell data group and the data is ANDed with the image 403 to generate a dot image 501; and dot images generated by the device 400 in sequence are synthesized as to the remaining figures by gradation levels to output a dot image 801. Thus, picture element images are represented by vectors and processed to reduce the capacity of the storage device.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a pixel image processing device that processes images such as photographs for printing or display, and in particular image processing suitable for gradation correction, image reduction/enlargement, etc. Regarding equipment.

[Conventional technology]

When printing photographs, etc., it is possible to create an atmosphere different from that of the original image, which requires processing such as gradation correction related to density, edge enhancement, and changing the image size by changing the area during printing. Conventional techniques for carrying out such processing include reading the original picture again and then re-instructing it at this point, or carrying out the above-mentioned change processing on a computer while maintaining the pixel image.

FIG. 5 shows an example of conventional change processing performed by a computer.

In FIG. 5, a multilevel scanner (or color scanner) 7
00 reads the original image and converts it to raster dots (pixels),
At the same time, tone-decomposed image data 101 is output to a pixel image file 100 by decomposing the brightness and darkness seen in a photograph or the like. In the case of a color scanner, color separation is performed and the above processing is performed for each separated color. Image control processing device 800
receives an instruction to correct the gradation, change the output size, etc., and converts the pixel image data 1 stored in the pixel image file 100.
01 is read out, the pixel image data 101 is halftone-dotted, and the halftone-processed pixel image data 801 is output. In the case of color, a large-capacity external storage device is required in order to perform each modification process on the pixel image data, which undergoes the above processing for each separated color.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

With the conventional image processing method described above, there is a problem in that it takes a long processing time to start from re-inputting the original image each time the print image is changed. Since a large storage device is required, the manufacturing cost is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that reduces the capacity of a storage device for computer processing and reduces manufacturing costs.

[Means to solve the problem]

The image processing device of the present invention includes a vector means for converting the outline of a figure obtained from pixels of each gradation from pixel image data gradation-decomposed according to the density of the original image into vector data, and a vector means for converting the outline of a figure into vector data from the vector data of the outline. It has vector means for converting dot images into vector data, and halftone processing means for receiving raster dots and performing halftone processing for gradation restoration.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure shows the configuration of vector data, and FIG. 3 shows image processing in each block of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the vector means 300 inputs tone-decomposed pixel image data 101 and converts figures 301, 311, etc. created for each tone level into outlines 302, Vector data, gradation level data, etc. are saved in file 200 with the data structure shown in Figure 2.
Output to. The raster dot output means 400 is file 2
The data shown in FIG. 2 is read from 00 and converted from graphic vector data 402 to raster dot image 403. The halftone processing means 500 reads the gradation output level 206 from the file 200, and thereby selects a specific halftone dot from the halftone cell data (small pattern image data of a halftone dot pattern that can be repeatedly arranged) prepared by the present means 500. Read the pattern data, create a halftone image 501 by ANDing it with the raster dot image 403, and further,
For the remaining figures for each gradation level, the raster dot output means 400 repeats the process to synthesize the sequentially created halftone dot images and output the halftone dot image 801. Gradation correction can be performed by changing the value of the gradation output level 206.

FIG. 4 shows that a change processing means 600 is added to the front stage of the raster dot output means 400 of FIG. 1, which receives each change data of the output size 208 and trimming (cutting) 209 shown in FIG. This is an example. If the output densities of the printers are different, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can be used by setting data modified by the density ratio to the output size 208 and gradation output level 206.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention makes the figure and gradation instruction value for each gradation level obtained by gradation decomposition independent, and vectorizes pixel image data, thereby (1) halftone dots even after gradation decomposition. The gradation can be changed by changing the screen data. (2) It is easy to trim and change the output size. (3) The bitmap information representing the gradation decomposition of a multivalued image is replaced with gradation level indication values. Since the number of data for the decomposed hierarchical bones is reduced, the capacity of the external storage device can be reduced, and (4) it is possible to cope with changes in the dot density of an image output device such as a printer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of vector data, and Fig. 3 shows the progress of image processing in an embodiment of the present invention for each block in Fig. 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment corresponding to changes in output size, output density, etc., and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional technique. 100... Pixel image file, 101... Pixel image data subjected to gradation decomposition, 200... File, 201
...Data in Figure 2, 300...Vector means, 3
01,311...Graphic data for each gradation level, 302
... Contour figure data, 400... Raster dot output means, 402, 412... Contour figure vector data,
403, 413... Raster dot data of figures for each gradation level, 500... Halftone processing means, 501.502
...Figure data subjected to halftone dot processing for each gradation level, 60
0... Change processing means, 700... Multi-value scanner (or color scanner), 800... Image control processing device,
801... Halftone image.

Claims (1)

[Claims] vector means for converting into vector data the outline of a figure obtained from pixels for each gradation from pixel image data gradation-decomposed according to the density of the original image; and raster dots for outputting a binary raster dot image from the vector data of the outline. An image processing apparatus comprising: an output means; and a halftone processing means for receiving the raster dot image and performing halftone processing for restoring gradation.