JP2000106628A - Overspread processing unit for image and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form an overspread area on a border between adjacent image areas through the processing of image data, in order to prevent voids due to the deviation in print plates. SOLUTION: In the overspread processing method, when the operator selects an image area CR2 being a processing object, the processing object CR2 is wide-processed by a prescribed width (d), and the colors of overspread areas CR4, CR5 formed thereby are decided, based on a color of the processing object CR2 and original colors of the overspread areas CR4, CR5. For example, the maximum value or the mean value of each color component of the colors of the processing object area and each color component of the original colors of the overspread areas are decided as the respective color components of the colors of the overspread areas.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image fogging processing apparatus and method for forming a fog area in an image in order to prevent white spots due to misregistration during printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the process of preparing a color printing plate, usually, printing plates of four colors (Y, M, C, K) are prepared.
These printing plates are applied to a four-color printing machine to produce a color print.

[0003] A color printing press is a very precise machine. However, when high-speed rotary printing is performed, even if a high-precision printing press is used, a deviation of about ± 0.05 mm between the four printing plates (hereinafter, referred to as a printing press). , "Print misregistration"). In order to prevent deterioration of the quality of printed matter due to this misregistration,
Conventionally, various devices have been devised in a printing plate making process.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram showing an image in which two color areas CA1 and CA2 are adjacent to each other in a state where they are in contact with each other.

[0005] Here, the colors of the respective areas (referred to as colors [color areas]) are represented by dot area ratios Hy, Hm, H of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).
Expressed as follows by c, Hk (%).

Color [color area] = (Hy, Hm, Hc, Hk)

The colors of the color areas CA1 and CA2 are expressed as follows, as shown in the lower part of FIG.

Color [CA1] = (0,80,0,0) Color [CA2] = (0,0,80,0)

When a printing plate of four colors is prepared and printed by a printing machine to print the image of FIG. 22, the M plate moves in the X direction.
Assuming that the C plate is printed with a displacement of 0.05 mm and the C plate is printed with a displacement of +0.05 mm in the X direction, the printed image is as shown in FIG. That is, in addition to the color areas CA1 and CA2, two shift areas SA1 and SA2 are newly generated. The colors of the shift areas SA1 and SA2 are as follows.

Color [SA1] = (0, 0, 0, 0) Color [SA2] = (0, 80, 80, 0)

That is, the shift area SA1 is a so-called “white spot”, which results in a very prominent and poor quality as a printed matter.

In order to prevent such deterioration in quality, a process called "kabuse" is conventionally performed in the plate making process. The “fogging” process is a process of adjusting the shapes of two regions that should be adjacent to each other so as to be in contact with each other, so that the two regions partially overlap.

FIGS. 24 to 26 are explanatory diagrams showing the details of the fogging process performed on the image shown in FIG. FIG. 24 shows the first color area CA1a after the shape correction. The corrected color area CA1a is formed such that the central white portion is smaller than the original color area CA1 indicated by the broken line. FIG. 25 shows the second color area C after the shape correction.
A2a is shown. The color area CA2a after this correction is also
The outer peripheral portion is formed so that the white portion is smaller than the original color region CA2 indicated by the broken line. FIG. 26 shows an image obtained as a result of overlapping and printing the corrected color areas CA1a and CA2a.

The width of the fogging area LA is set so that "white spots" are not generated due to misregistration in the printing press. For example, when the misregistration in the printing press occurs in a range of ± 0.05 mm, the width of the overlapping area LA is set to about 0.1 mm. Thus, each color area CA1a, CA2
If a is formed, even if a misregistration occurs, only the fogging area LA is deformed, and the occurrence of “white spots” as shown in FIG. 23 is prevented.

The fog area LA is a thin area.
In addition, it is empirically known that it has a color similar to the surrounding color area CA1a or CA2a, so that it is hardly noticeable and does not deteriorate the image quality.

[0016] As a method of performing this "kabuse" processing,
Conventionally, the following two methods have been adopted.

The first method is a method for generating a fog region by an optical method. Generally, an image area of a fixed color (referred to as "flat screen" or "tint" in platemaking terms)
Can be formed using a mask and a flat sheet, and the fogging region can be formed by adjusting the size of the region of the mask. However, in such a method, a member such as a mask or a flat sheet is required in order to form the fogging region, and there is a problem that the cost is increased.

In recent years, as a second method, a method has been used in which an image processing apparatus such as a layout scanner performs arithmetic processing on image data to generate a fog area.

[0019]

However, in the conventional fogging processing method by the image processing apparatus, it is necessary for the operator to designate one fogging area for each image element such as a figure or a character. Therefore, when performing the fogging process on an image including a large number of image regions, there is a problem that the operation of specifying the fog region for each image region becomes extremely complicated, and the processing time increases accordingly. Was.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem in the prior art, and provides an image fogging processing method capable of easily performing fogging processing on an image including a large number of image areas. The purpose is to do.

[0021]

Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions / Effects To solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides:
In a fogging processing apparatus for an image which forms a fuzzy region at a boundary between the image regions by processing image data of a color image including two adjacent image regions, the image region is represented by a plurality of color components. A fogging area forming means for forming a fogging area having a predetermined width along a contour line of the image area by expanding the one image area; and Setting means for setting each color component value of the color based on each color component value of the color of the one image area and each color component value of the color of the other image area.

According to the present invention, by expanding one image area, a fog area having a predetermined width is formed along the outline of the image area, and each color component value of the color of the fog area is calculated as follows. Since the setting is made based on the respective color component values of the colors of the two adjacent image areas, the shape and color of the overlapping area can be automatically determined.

In the present invention, the setting means may determine, for each of the color component values constituting the color of the fog region, a color component value of the color of the one image region and a color component value of a color of the other image region. Are preferably set by averaging by a predetermined calculation.

According to this, it is possible to prevent whitening due to misregistration at the time of printing, and to make the color of the fogging area close to the color of the image area adjacent to each other, making the fogging area less noticeable. Can be color.

In the present invention, the setting means may include, as each color component value constituting the color of the fog region, each color component value of the color of the one image region and each color component value of the color of the other image region. It is preferable to set a maximum value with the value.

According to this, it is possible to prevent whitening due to misregistration at the time of printing, and to make the color of the fogged area close to the color of the image area adjacent to each other, so that the fogged area is less noticeable. Can be color.

In order to solve at least a part of the problems described above, another invention is to form a fuzzy region at a boundary between adjacent image regions by processing image data of a color image including a plurality of image regions. In the fogging processing device for an image to be processed, the image area has a color represented by a plurality of color components, and a selection unit that selects one image area from among the plurality of image areas as a processing target area A fog area forming means for forming a fog area having a predetermined width along the contour of the processing area by expanding the processing area; and each color component value of the color of each pixel of the fog area. Setting means for setting based on each color component value of the color of the processing target area and each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming the fog area. That.

According to this invention, each color component value of the color of the processing area obtained by expanding the processing area selected from the plurality of image areas is converted into each color component value of the color of the processing area by the processing of the correction. Since the setting is made based on the color component value of the pixel before forming the region, the shape and color of the fog region can be automatically determined for the selected processing target region.

In the present invention, for each of the color component values constituting the color of the fuzzy region, the setting means may include the color component values of the color of the processing target region and the color of the pixel before the fuzzy region is formed. It is preferable to set each color component value by averaging them by a predetermined calculation.

According to this, the whitening caused by the misregistration at the time of printing is prevented, and the color of the fogging region is made to be close to the color of the region to be processed and the color of the image region adjacent to the region. This makes it possible to make the fogging area a color that is less noticeable.

In the present invention, the setting means may include, as each color component value constituting the color of the fog region, each color component value of the color of the processing target region and the pixel before forming the fog region. It is preferable to set the maximum value of each color component value of the color.

According to this, the whitening caused by the misregistration at the time of printing is prevented, and the color of the fogging area is set to be close to the color of the area to be processed and the color of the image area adjacent to the area. This makes it possible to make the fogging area a color that is less noticeable.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, another invention is to process a color image including two adjacent image areas to form a fog area at a boundary between the image areas. In the fogging processing method for an image to be formed, the image area has a color represented by a plurality of color components, and is extended along the contour of the image area by expanding the one image area. Forming a fog region having a predetermined width; and setting each color component value of the color of the fog region based on each color component value of the color of the one image region and each color component value of the color of the other image region. And a step of performing

According to the present invention, by expanding one image area, a fog area having a predetermined width is formed along the contour of the image area, and each color component value of the color of the fog area is calculated as follows. Since the setting is made based on the respective color component values of the colors of the two adjacent image areas, the shape and color of the overlapping area can be automatically determined.

In this method invention, the setting step includes:
For each color component value that constitutes the color of the fog region, setting is performed by averaging each color component value of the color of the one image region and each color component value of the color of the other image region by a predetermined calculation. Is preferred.

According to this, it is possible to prevent whitening caused by misregistration at the time of printing, and to make the color of the fogged area close to the color of the image area adjacent to each other, so that the fogged area is less noticeable. Can be color.

[0037] In the method invention, the setting step may include, as each color component value constituting the color of the fog region, each color component value of the color of the one image region and each color component value of the color of the other image region. It is preferable to set a maximum value with the component value.

According to this, it is possible to prevent whitening caused by misregistration at the time of printing, and to make the color of the fogging area close to the color of the image area adjacent to each other, so that the fogging area is less noticeable. Can be color.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, another invention is to process a color image including a plurality of image areas to form a fog area at a boundary between adjacent image areas. In the fogging processing method for an image to be processed, the image area has a color represented by a plurality of color components, and a step of selecting one image area from among the plurality of image areas as a processing target area; Forming a fuzzy region having a predetermined width along the contour line of the processing target region by expanding the processing target region, and processing each color component value of a color of each pixel of the fuzzy region by the processing. Setting based on each color component value of the color of the target area and each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming the fog area.

According to the present invention, each color component value of the color of the processing area obtained by expanding the processing area selected from the plurality of image areas is converted to each color component value of the color of the processing area by the processing. Since the setting is made based on the color component value of the pixel before forming the region, the shape and color of the fog region can be automatically determined for the selected processing target region.

In this method invention, the setting step includes:
For each color component value constituting the color of the fog region, the respective color component values of the color of the processing target region and each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming the fog region are averaged by a predetermined calculation. It is preferable to set by making.

According to this, whitening due to misregistration at the time of printing is prevented, and the color of the fogging area is made to be close to the color of the processing target area and the color of the image area adjacent to the processing area. This makes it possible to make the fogging area a color that is less noticeable.

In the method invention, the setting step may include, as each color component value constituting the color of the fog region, the color component value of the color of the processing target region and the color component value before forming the fog region. It is preferable to set the maximum value of each color component value of the pixel color.

According to this, whitening due to misregistration at the time of printing is prevented, and the color of the fogging area is made to be close to the color of the processing target area and the color of the image area adjacent to the processing area. This makes it possible to make the fogging area a color that is less noticeable.

[0045]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Configuration of Apparatus: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus that performs fogging processing of an image by applying an embodiment of the present invention. This image processing apparatus has the following components.

(A) Image input device 1: A device for reading an underprint image and obtaining a binary image thereof, and is composed of, for example, a flat scanner.

(B) Image memory 2: a memory for storing image data of an image to be processed as bitmap data. Also, for each pixel, fog information (color number, processed flag, fog color reference number) to be described later is stored.

(C) Display memory 3: A memory for storing bitmap data of an image to be displayed on a color monitor. This image data is composed of a color number (a number representing a color) given to each pixel, and is regenerated every time the display state is changed.

(D) Color pallet 4: Converts the color number (described later) of each pixel provided from the display memory 3 into R (red), G (green), and B (blue) display color data.

(E) Color monitor 5: A display for displaying an image to be processed. The display of the image after the fog processing is also performed.

(F) Control operation section 6: controls each section of the image processing apparatus, and performs a fattening process, management of a color number table, calculation of a fog color, etc. which will be described later.

(G) Display control section 7: It controls display of an image on the color monitor 5. The color monitor 5
The position of the upper display cursor is controlled to correspond to the movement of the mouse.

(H) Mouse 8: Used for designating a processing target area on an image displayed on the color monitor 5.

(I) Color number table 9: A table for storing the dot area ratios of Y, M, C, and K corresponding to the color numbers. (J) Auxiliary memory 10: a memory for storing the value of the maximum misregistration width and temporary information required in various processes.

(K) Image output device 11: A device for recording an image after the fog processing on a recording medium such as a film.

B. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the fogging process. In step S1, characters and graphics are first arranged on a mount to prepare a composition. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the composition image BC to be processed. In the composition image, a circle C and line segments L1 and L2 drawn above and below the circle C are drawn in black, and the other portions are white.

In step S2, the image input device 1 reads the binary image data Db of the block image BC. The binary image data Db is data indicating whether each pixel in the composition image is black or white.

In step S3, a coloring process is performed on the entire composition image. The coloring process is a process of distinguishing mutually independent regions separated from each other by a boundary line between a black portion and a white portion, and assigning a color number Nc representing a different color to each of the distinguished regions. In the example of FIG.
The area is divided into a black C-line portion of the circle C and the line segments L1 and L2, a white inner region R1 in the circle C, and two concave white regions R2 and R3 on both sides of the circle C. Each area is separated from each other by the control operation unit 6, and thereafter, the color of each area is designated by the operator. The details of the coloring process will be described later.

In step S4, the black key lines C and L
A thinning process is performed on 1 and L2 to remove the key line portion and leave only the color region. The details of the thinning processing are described in, for example, JP-A-1-170169 and JP-A-1-181279 disclosed by the present applicant.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image obtained in this manner. The color regions CR1 to CR3 are in direct contact with each other without interposing a key line, and for example, the following colors are designated respectively.

Color [CR1] = (80, 0, 0, 0) Color [CR2] = (0, 80, 0, 0) Color [CR3] = (0, 0, 80, 0)

The following data is given to each of the color regions CR1 to CR3 as shown in the lower part of FIG.

A. Color number Nc: a number representing a color,
For example, it is 10-bit data. Each color area CR1 to C
R3 is assigned a value of 1 to 3, respectively.

B. Processed flag Fp: a flag indicating whether or not the area is formed by performing the fog processing, and is, for example, 1-bit data. Since the image in FIG. 4 has not been subjected to the fog processing, the flags of the color regions CR1 to CR3 are all off.

C. Fog color reference number Nr: a color number of the area formed by the fog processing before the fog processing, for example, 10-bit data. In the image of FIG. 4, it has not been assigned to any area yet.

The image shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the color monitor 5.

In step S 5, the operator uses the mouse 8 to specify an area where the fogging processing is to be performed (processing target area) while observing the image displayed on the color monitor 5. Here, the color area CR2 is specified.

In step S6, the fogging process is performed on the processing target area (color area CR2) specified in step S5, and an image shown in FIG. 5 is created. As shown in the figure, the color processing (fogging area) CR4, CR5 having a predetermined width d is formed around the color area CR2 by the fogging processing (this method will be described in detail later). This width d is set equal to the maximum width of the misregistration in the printing press,
It is stored in the auxiliary memory 10 in advance.

The processing flag Fp is turned on in these fog areas CR4 and CR5, and the fog color reference numbers are 1 and 3, respectively.

The colors of the fog regions CR4 and CR5 are Y,
For each of the color components M, C, and K, it is determined by adopting a larger value between the dot area ratio of the processing target region CR2 and the dot area ratio of the color represented by the Kabse color reference number Nr. Is done. That is, the color regions CR4, CR
5 are set to the following colors, respectively.

Color [CR4] = (80,80,0,0) Color [CR5] = (0,80,80,0)

The details of the fogging process will be described later.

The image obtained after the fogging processing thus obtained is displayed on the color monitor 5, and in step S7, the operator checks the quality of the image.

When it is necessary to correct the displayed image, in step S8, the operator performs image correction processing such as brush processing and partial color change.

Further, if there is another color area to be subjected to the fogging process, the process proceeds from step S9 to step S5,
Steps S5 to S8 are repeated. Thereafter, in step S10, the processed image is recorded on the halftone film or the printing plate by the image output device 11.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the fog regions CR4 and CR5 having a predetermined width are formed around the processing target region CR2, and the fog regions CR4 and CR5 are formed.
The color of R5 is set based on the color of the processing target area CR2 and the color of the image portion of the fogging areas CR4 and CR5 before the fogging processing. Therefore, there is an advantage that the shape and color of the fogging regions CR4 and CR5 can be automatically determined by processing the image data, and fogging processing can be easily performed on an image including a large number of image regions.

C. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the details of step S6 of the fogging process. In step S61, the number m of pixels corresponding to the width d of the overlapping area is determined. As described above, in this embodiment, the width d is set equal to the maximum value of the misregistration in the printing press, and is stored in the auxiliary memory 10 in advance. The number m of pixels corresponding to the width d is obtained by dividing the value of the width d by the reading resolution (pixel width) of the image input device 1. For example, when the width d is 0.1 mm and the reading resolution is 0.05 mm, m = 2 is calculated. This calculation is performed by the control calculation unit 6.

In step S62, the processing target area CR2
Is expanded by the number of pixels m.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of the fattening process. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third example used for the fattening process.
9 shows an x3 mask Mp, and FIG. 9 generally shows the pixel coordinates of an image (the image of FIG. 4 in this embodiment) which is the target of the fog processing. Coordinate j of the image in FIG. 9 in the main scanning direction
Is in the range of 1 to J, and the value of the coordinate i in the sub-scanning direction is 1 to I.
Range.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a color number Nc for each pixel in the image of FIG. In this figure, the size of one pixel is exaggerated for convenience of illustration.

Prior to the fattening process, each pixel P (i,
The following data is stored in the auxiliary memory 10 as the image memory information of j).

A. Color number Nc (i, j); b. Processed flag Fp (i, j); c. Kabuse color reference number Nr (i, j) In step S201, the 3 × 3 mask Mp is arranged at the start position on the image (in the example of FIG. 9, the end of the pixel coordinates).

The following steps S202 to S209 are processing for forming an area having a width of one pixel around the processing target area CR2, and rewriting the pixel memory information of each pixel in the area.

In step S202, a 3 × 3 mask Mp
It is determined whether or not the processed flag Fp is turned on for the central pixel P of. If the processed flag Fp is on, the processing of steps S203 to S208 is omitted, and if not, the processing of steps S203 to S208 is executed.

In step S203, it is determined whether or not the center pixel P is a pixel in the processing target region CR2. This determination is made by comparing the color number Nc (P) of the center pixel P with the color number Nc (CR2) of the processing target region CR2. When Nc (P) is equal to Nc (CR2), step S204 is executed to initialize the value of the pointer n to 1. The pointer n is a pointer used when inspecting peripheral pixels of the 3 × 3 mask Mp in the following steps.

In the following description and FIG. 7, the relationship between the pointer n and the coordinates (i, j) is as follows, assuming that the coordinates of the center pixel P are (Pi, Pj).

When n = 1, (i, j) = (Pi−1, Pj−1); When n = 2, (i, j) = (Pi−1, Pj); When n = 3, (i , J) = (Pi−1, Pj + 1); When n = 4, (i, j) = (Pi, Pj + 1); When n = 5, (i, j) = (Pi + 1, Pj + 1); When n = 6 When (i, j) = (Pi + 1, Pj); When n = 7, (i, j) = (Pi + 1, Pj-1); When n = 8, (i, j) = (Pi, Pj-1)

Therefore, for example, in FIG.
Is (2,2), when n = 1, (i, j) = (1,1); When n = 2, (i, j) = (1,2); When n = 3 When (i, j) = (1,3); When n = 4 (i, j) = (2,3); When n = 5 (i, j) = (3,3); n = 6 When (i, j) = (3,2); When n = 7, (i, j) = (3,1); When n = 8, (i, j) = (2,1).

In step S205, a 3 × 3 mask Mp
It is determined whether or not the peripheral pixel An indicated by the pointer n among the eight peripheral pixels An (n = 1 to 8) is a pixel in the processing target region CR2. This determination is based on the peripheral pixels An
Of the color number Nc (An) of the target area CR2
This is performed by comparing with c (CR2).

If Nc (An) is different from Nc (CR2), first in step S206a, the pixel An
The color number of (i, j) is stored in Nc0 (i, j) before rewriting the image memory information. Then, in step S206b, the image memory information of the peripheral pixel An (i, j) is rewritten as follows.

Color number: Nc (i, j) = Nc (CR
2); Processed flag: Fp (i, j) = “on”; Kaze color reference number: Nr (i, j) = Nc0 (i,
j)

In the present embodiment, step S206a
In step S206b, the color number of the peripheral pixel An (i, j) before being rewritten is temporarily stored in Nc0 (i, j), and then the execution order of step S206b is changed as follows. Step S206a
Can be omitted.

Nr (i, j) = Nc (i, j); Fp (i, j) = “on”; Nc (i, j) = Nc (CR2)

If the color number of the peripheral pixel An (i, j) is not equal to the color number of the processing target region CR2 in step S205, steps S206a and S206 are executed.
The process of step 206b is omitted, and the routine goes to the next step S207.

In step S207, the pointer n is incremented by one, and the process returns from step S208 to S205. In this way, step S is sequentially performed for the eight peripheral pixels A1 to A8.
The processing from 205 to S208 is performed.

In step S202, when the processed flag Fp of the central pixel P is on, the process proceeds to step S2.
Steps S03 to S208 are omitted, and the process proceeds to step S209 described later. In step S203, the central pixel P
Is the color number Nc of the processing target region CR2
Steps S204 to S204 even when not equal to (CR2)
The process moves to step S209 omitting step 208.

In steps S209 and S210, 3 × 3
When the mask Mp is not at the end point of the last scanning line of the image, the 3 × 3 mask Mp is advanced by one pixel in the main scanning direction. When the 3 × 3 mask Mp is located at the end point of the main scanning line, it moves to the starting point position of the next main scanning line.

Thus, the processing of steps S202 to S208 is repeated until the 3 × 3 mask Mp moves to the end point position on the image, and an area having a width of one pixel is formed around the processing target area CR2.

Thereafter, in step S211, the value of the number m of pixels in the fog region is decreased by one. In this embodiment, since the initial value of the number of pixels m is determined to be 2 in step S61 of FIG. 6, the number of pixels m = 1 in this step.
Becomes

If the value of the number m of pixels is not zero, the process returns from step S212 to step S201, and returns to step S2.
The processing of 01 to S212 is executed again.

Thus, around the processing target region CR2,
An area (fogging area) having a width of m pixels is formed. That is, the processing target region CR2 is expanded by the number of pixels m. FIG. 11 shows a case area C formed in this manner.
9 shows a distribution of color numbers of an image including R4 and CR5,
FIG. 12 shows the reference numbers of the fog colors of the fog regions CR4 and CR5. The widths of the fog regions CR4 and CR5 correspond to two pixels as described above, but are drawn here as having a width of one pixel for convenience of illustration.

As described above, when the thickening process of the processing target region CR2 is completed, step S63 in FIG. 6 is executed, and the overlapping region CR4 formed in step S62.
A new color number is set in CR5.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of step S63.

In step S301, a new color number Nnew (= 4) is obtained by adding 1 to the maximum value Nmax (here, Nmax = 3) of the color number Nc. In addition, the value of the pixel coordinates (i, j) and the value of the new color number pointer k are initialized to 1.

The following two tables are used as data tables for use in the processing of FIG.
It is prepared in 0.

New color number table Tcol: Stores a new color number assigned to the fog area.

Reference number table Tkbs: Stores a reference color reference number corresponding to a new color number in the reference area.

In step S302, the processed flag F
Select the pixel for which p is on. For the selected pixel, a process of rewriting the image memory information is performed in the following steps S303 to S306.

In step S303, it is determined whether or not the same fog color reference number Nr as the fog color reference number Nr (i, j) for the pixel at the coordinates (i, j) is registered in the reference number table Tkbs. You. If registered, step S306 described later is executed, and if not registered, the following steps S304 and S305 are executed.

In step S304, the reference color number Nr (i, j) of the pixel at the coordinates (i, j) is registered in the reference number table Tkbs (k). Further, the new color number Nnew calculated in step S301 is registered in the new color number table Tcol (k). Further, the same new color number Nnew is set as the color number Nc of the pixel at the coordinates (i, j). As a result, a new color number is assigned to the pixel in the fog region formed in the thickening process (step S62). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a color number Nc = 4 is assigned to the pixels in the first overlapping area CR4.

In step S305, a new color number Nne
The value of w and the value of the new color number pointer k are incremented by one. Here, Nnew = 5 and k = 2.

In step S303, if the fog color reference number Nr has been registered as the data Tkbs (kk) of the pointer kk in the reference number table Tkbs by the processing of step S304 executed earlier. Step S306 is executed. As a result, the color number corresponding to the pointer kk is read from the new color number table Tcol (kk), and the coordinates (i,
The color number Nc (i, j) of the pixel j) is set.

In step S307, the value of the coordinate (i, j) is updated by one, and the position of the pixel to be processed is moved by one pixel in the main scanning direction.

If the pixel (i, j) is not at the end point of the scanning line, the processing of steps S302 to S307 is repeated. On the other hand, if the pixel (i, j) is at the end point of the scanning line, the pixel (i, j) is moved to the start point of the next main scanning line according to steps S309 and S310. However, if the pixel (i, j) is located at the end point of the last scanning line in step S309, the entire process ends.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the distribution of the color numbers Nc in the image at the time when the above-mentioned processing is completed. As can be seen from the figure, the color number of the first fog region CR4 is set to 4, and the color number of the second fog region CR5 is set to 5.

Returning to FIG. 6, after step S63 is completed as described above, in step S64, a color number table for each of the overlapping areas CR4 and CR5 is created. This color number table is a table that stores Y, M, C, and K color components corresponding to the color numbers Nc (= 4, 5) of the respective overlapping areas CR4 and CR5.

When step S63 is completed, the temporary storage table TT stored in the auxiliary memory 10
Is as shown in FIG. In the temporary storage table TT, the number K0 of the color areas in the image is calculated in step S63 (steps S301 to S3) as shown by the following equation.
The value is obtained by subtracting 1 from the value of the new color number pointer k at the time when 10) is completed.

K0 = k−1 (1)

In step S64, referring to the temporary storage table TT, the halftone dot area ratio of each of the colors Y, M, C, and K corresponding to the color number Nc (= 4, 5) of each of the overlapping regions CR4, CR5 is determined. The value is determined according to the following formula:

Y (Nmax + k) = MAX (Y (CR2), Y (Tkbs (k))... (2a) M (Nmax + k) = MAX (M (CR2), M (Tkbs (k))... (2b) C (Nmax + k) = MAX (C (CR2), C (Tkbs (k)) ... (2c) K (Nmax + k) = MAX (K (CR2), K (Tkbs (k)) ... (2d)

Here, k is a pointer used in the procedure of FIG. 14, and specifies each overlapping area. In this embodiment, the first fog region CR
4 for k = 1, k for second fog region CR5
= 2.

Y (CR2): Yellow dot area ratio of the processing target region CR2.

Y (Tkbs (k)): fog color reference number Tkbs (k) of fog area specified by pointer k
Is the area ratio of yellow dot.

Note that the operator MAX indicates that a larger value is adopted among the two values in parentheses.
The above definition is the same for magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

As described above, in this embodiment, each of the overlapping regions CR4 and CR5 is formed with a predetermined width d, and the halftone dot area ratio of each color component of each of the overlapping regions CR4 and CR5 is calculated as follows. The determination is made using the maximum value of the halftone dot area ratio of the processing target region CR2 and the halftone dot area ratio of the original image region overlapping the fog region. That is, the operator only needs to specify the fog region, and the shape and color of the fog region for the specified processing target region are automatically determined. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fogging region can be easily formed even when the number of processing target regions is large or the shape of the processing target region is complicated.

D. Details of the coloring process: The coloring process is performed, for example, as follows. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a processing window W used for the coloring processing. The pixel Pa indicated by hatching indicates a pixel to be processed, and the other pixels Pb to Pe are peripheral pixels of the pixel Pa.

The processing window W is sequentially moved along the main scanning direction Y from the smaller one in the sub scanning direction X.
When the pixel Pa is black, for example, the peripheral pixels Pb to Pb
If there is no black pixel in e, a new system color number Ns is assigned to the pixel Pa. On the other hand, the peripheral pixels Pb to Pb
e is a black pixel, the system color number N already assigned to the black peripheral pixel
Let s be the system color number Ns of the pixel Pa.

The same applies to the case where the pixel Pa to be processed is white. However, when the pixel Pa is white, and when the pixels Pc and Pe adjacent in the oblique direction are white and the other pixels Pb and Pd are black, the pixel Pc and Pe and the pixel
Are assigned different system color numbers Ns. In this way, when the white pixels are adjacent only in the oblique direction, it is recognized that these pixels form different areas. In this way, it is possible to avoid the area separation in which the black independent area and the white independent area cross each other.

The number assigned to each area is called a system color number because this number is automatically assigned by the control operation unit 6 and can be used as a number representing a color.

As described above, in the process of moving the processing window W and sequentially giving different system color numbers Ns to independent regions, two or more system color numbers Ns may be given to the same region. . FIG. 17 to FIG. 20 are explanatory diagrams showing the procedure of processing in such a case.

First, it is assumed that the composition image is composed of a black region Ra and three white regions Rb, Rc and Rd separated from each other by this region Ra as shown in FIG.

When the processing window W is sequentially moved along the main scanning direction Y from the smaller one in the sub-scanning direction X, different system color numbers Ns are assigned to the regions Ra to Rd as shown in FIG. It is being done.

In FIG. 18, the number written in each pixel is the system color number N assigned to that pixel.
s. Pixels to which no numeral is written indicate that the system color number Ns has not been assigned yet. As shown in FIG. 18, in a black region Ra, a pixel assigned a system color number Ns = 2,
There is a pixel to which Ns = 4 is assigned. When the processing window W comes to the position of FIG.
Among the pixels adjacent to the system color number Ns of the pixel Pa
Is 2, the system color number Ns of the pixels Pd and Pe
Is 4. In this case, the fact that "Ns = 2 and Ns = 4 represent the same system color" is temporarily stored in the auxiliary memory 10, and the smaller system color number Ns = 2 is assigned to the processing target pixel Pa. assign. When this is performed on all the pixels in FIG. 17, a system color image (an image painted in different colors) in FIG. 19 and the same system color table IST in FIG. 21 are obtained.

In the same system color table IST, the system color numbers Ns = 2 and Ns = 4 represent the same system color (that is, assigned to the same image area), and Ns = 5. It is shown that Ns = 6 also represents the same system color. The same system color table IST is stored in the auxiliary memory 10.

Next, the control operation unit 6 refers to the same system color table IST stored in the auxiliary memory 10 and assigns different system color numbers even though they are in the same image area. The process of reassigning a common system color number (for example, the smallest system color number among the same system color numbers) to pixels is shown in FIG.
9 for the 9 images. As a result, as shown in FIG. 20, an image is obtained in which different system color numbers Ns are assigned to all the regions Ra to Rd one by one.

After different system colors are assigned to the respective image areas, the operator may specify a desired color (display color) for each image area. At this time, the above-mentioned fogging process is performed using one of the color numbers of the display color and the system color.

E. Modifications: The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof.
For example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) In the fattening process in the above embodiment, bitmap expanded image data is prepared and 3x
The processing target area is expanded while determining whether to make each pixel thicker using the three masks Mp. However, the method of expanding the processing target area is not limited to this, and for example, a method of obtaining a new contour vector that expands the processing target area by a predetermined width d based on the contour vector of the processing target area is adopted. May be.

(2) In the above embodiment, various calculations were performed using the halftone dot area ratio as the color component, but any other value quantitatively indicating the color, such as the density, may be used.

As described above, according to these embodiments, the overlap region is formed with a predetermined width along the contour of the processing target region, and the color of each pixel in the overlap region is formed as the overlap region. Since it is set based on the color of the pixel and the color of the processing target area before performing, the width and color of the fog area can be automatically determined, and even for an image including a large number of image areas,
There is an effect that the fogging process can be easily performed.

Further, if the color of the fogging area is set by averaging the respective color components of the color of the pixel before forming the fog area and the respective color components of the color of the processing target area by a predetermined calculation, respectively. The color of the fogging area can be made close to the color of the processing target area and the color of the image area adjacent thereto, and the fogging area can be made less noticeable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus that performs a fogging process on an image by applying an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall procedure of a fogging process.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an image to be processed.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an image to be processed.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an image to be processed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a fogging process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a detailed procedure of a fattening process.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a 3 × 3 mask Mp used for a fattening process.

FIG. 9 shows pixel coordinates and 3x of an image to be subjected to the fog processing.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing three masks.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a distribution of color numbers of respective pixels in the fog processing.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a distribution of color numbers of respective pixels in the fog processing.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a distribution of color numbers of each pixel in the fog processing.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a distribution of color numbers of each pixel in the fog processing.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of a process of assigning a new color number to a fog region.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a temporary storage table TT created by the processing of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a processing window W used for coloring processing.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a coloring process.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure of a coloring process.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a procedure of a coloring process.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure of a coloring process.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the same system color table IST used for coloring processing.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in an image due to misregistration.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in an image due to misregistration.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the details of a fogging process performed on the image of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the details of the fogging process performed on the image of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the details of a fogging process performed on the image of FIG. 22;

[Explanation of symbols]

 CR1 to CR3: color area CR2: processing target area CR4, CR5: fog area Nc: color number Fp: processed flag Nr: fog color reference number

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image fogging processing apparatus for processing a color image including two adjacent image areas to form a fuzzy area at a boundary between the image areas, wherein the image area includes a plurality of image areas. A fog region forming means for forming a fog region having a predetermined width along an outline of the image region by expanding the one image region, Setting means for setting each color component value of the color of the fogging area based on each color component value of the color of the one image area and each color component value of the color of the other image area. apparatus. 2. The image fogging processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets each color component value of the color of the one image area and the other color component value of each color component value forming the color of the fog area. A fogging processing device for an image, which is set by averaging the respective color component values of the colors of the image area by a predetermined calculation. 3. The image fogging processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets each color component value of the color of the one image region as the other color component value forming the color of the fuzz region. An image fogging processing apparatus for setting the maximum value of each color component value of the color of the image area. 4. An image fogging processing apparatus for processing a color image including a plurality of image areas to form a fuzzy area at a boundary between adjacent image areas, wherein the image area includes a plurality of image areas. A selection unit that has a color represented by a color component and selects one image region from among the plurality of image regions as a processing target region; and A fogging region forming means for forming a fogging region having a predetermined width along the outline of the region; each color component value of the color of each pixel of the fogging region; each color component value of the color of the processing target region; And a setting unit for setting based on each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming the image. 5. The image fogging processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit is configured to, for each color component value forming a color of the fuzzy area, determine each color component value of the color of the processing target area and the fog value. A fogging processing device for an image, which is set by averaging respective color component values of the color of the pixel before forming an area by a predetermined calculation. 6. The image fogging processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting means sets each color component value of the color of the processing target area and the color fog value as each color component value constituting the color of the fuzzy area. A fogging processing device for an image, which sets a maximum value of each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming an area. 7. A fogging processing method for an image in which a fog area is formed at a boundary between the image areas by processing image data of a color image including two adjacent image areas, the image area includes a plurality of image areas. Forming a fog area having a predetermined width along a contour line of the image area by expanding the one image area; and Setting each color component value of the color of the area based on each color component value of the color of the one image area and each color component value of the color of the other image area. 8. The image fogging processing method according to claim 7, wherein, in the setting step, for each color component value constituting a color of the fog region, each color component value of the color of the one image region is compared with the other color component value. A fog processing method for an image, which is set by averaging the respective color component values of the colors of the image area by a predetermined calculation. 9. The image fogging processing method according to claim 7, wherein, in the setting step, each color component value of the color of the one image area and the other color component value of the color of the one image area are set as the respective color component values constituting the color of the fog area. A fog processing method for an image in which the maximum value of each color component value of the color of the image area is set. 10. A fogging processing method for an image in which a fog area is formed at a boundary between adjacent image areas by processing image data of a color image including a plurality of image areas, wherein the image area includes a plurality of image areas. Selecting a single image area from among the plurality of image areas as a processing target area, and expanding the processing target area to obtain the processing target area. Forming a fuzzy region having a predetermined width along the contour line, and forming each color component value of the color of each pixel of the fog region with each color component value of the color of the processing target region before forming the fog region. Setting based on each color component value of the color of the pixel of
Processing method for an image, comprising: 11. The image fogging processing method according to claim 10, wherein, in the setting step, for each color component value constituting the color of the fuzzy region, each color component value of the color of the processing target region and the fog value are set. A fogging processing method for an image which is set by averaging each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming an area by a predetermined calculation. 12. The image fogging processing method according to claim 10, wherein, in the setting step, each color component value of the color of the processing target area and the fog value are set as each color component value constituting the color of the fuzzy area. A fogging processing method for an image in which a maximum value of each color component value of the color of the pixel before forming an area is set.