JP2003150946A - Image data recording device, method and program, and image data restoring system, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data recording device, an image data recording method and an image data recording program, capable of generating restoring data capable of recording an image for restoration capable of restoring image data by optical scanning. SOLUTION: A data part 23 for restoration expressing an image for restoration configured by dots for restoring one or two or more bits constituting the image data by optical scanning is generated from the image data. The dot means the minimum element of an image formed by printing, and it means the minimum element of an image to which color or brightness can be alloted independently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data recording device, method and program, and image data restoration system, method and program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when an image taken by a digital still camera or the like is stored, when a recording medium such as paper on which an image is printed is stored, and when image data is also stored together with the recording medium such as paper. There is.

As a means for storing a recording medium such as paper on which an image is printed, an album or the like is used. On the other hand, as a means for storing the image data, for example, a CD-
2. Description of the Related Art A data storage device that records data in an external storage medium such as an R (Compact Disk-Recordable) or a magneto-optical disk is known. An image recorded in such a data storage device can be viewed by outputting it on a display such as a personal computer.

When watching a stored image, the printed image is often viewed rather than the image data because the printed image has a higher image quality than the image displayed on the display.

[0005]

However, if only the recording medium on which the image is printed is stored, the image may be reprinted with a title added, or the gradation may be changed and reprinted. However, when it becomes necessary to perform processing such as reprinting after some processing is applied to the image data, the processing of the image data cannot be performed.

Even when both the printed image and the image data are stored, when the number of image data becomes huge and the number of external storage media such as CD-R increases, the printed image becomes large. If it is necessary to process the image data while watching the image, it takes time and time to search the stored image data for the image data representing the image.

The present invention was created in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is an image for generating restoration data capable of recording a restoration image capable of restoring image data by optical scanning. A data recording device, an image data recording method, and an image data recording program are provided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image data restoration system, an image data restoration method and an image data restoration program for restoring image data by optically scanning a restoration image.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image data recording apparatus according to the present invention is a restoration image representing a restoration image formed of dots capable of restoring one or more bits constituting image data by optical scanning. It is characterized in that it comprises a generating means for generating data from the image data. A dot is the smallest element of the image formed by printing,
It refers to the smallest element of an image to which color or brightness can be independently assigned.

According to this image data recording apparatus, since the restoration data representing the restoration image capable of restoring the image data by the optical scanning is generated, the restoration image is recorded on the paper or the like by using the printer or the like. By printing on the medium, it is possible to restore the image data from the recording medium such as paper when it is necessary to process the image data.

Further, it is desirable to further include print instruction means for printing the image represented by the image data and the restoration image represented by the restoration data on a common recording medium. By printing the image and the restoration image on a common recording medium, for example, when the image data of the image is needed while viewing the image, the restoration image printed on the same recording medium as the image is reproduced. Since the image data can be restored, the labor and time required for searching the image data can be reduced.

Further, it is desirable to further comprise a printing means for printing the image represented by the image data and the restoration image represented by the restoration data on a common recording medium. By printing the image and the restoration image on a common recording medium,
For example, when the image data of the image is needed while viewing the image, it is possible to restore the image data from the restoration image printed on the same recording medium as the image, which is a time-consuming task for searching the image data. And the time can be reduced.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the dots represent multi-valued colors. As a result, the area occupied by the restoration image on the recording medium can be reduced. The image data restoration system according to the present invention configures image data 1
Alternatively, scanning means for optically scanning a restoration image composed of dots representing two or more bits by color and outputting data representing the color of each dot by photoelectric conversion, and dots output by the scanning means. It is characterized by further comprising a restoration unit that restores image data by converting data representing each color into one or two or more bits preset according to the color.

According to this image data restoration system, when it becomes necessary to process the image data, the image data can be restored from the restoration image printed on the recording medium such as paper.

Each function of the plurality of means provided in the image data recording apparatus and the image data restoration system according to the present invention is a hardware resource whose function is specified by the configuration itself and a hardware resource whose function is specified by a program. It is realized by any combination with. The functions of the plurality of means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of each other.

The present invention can be specified not only as an invention of an image data recording apparatus and an image data restoration system, but also as an invention of a method and an invention of a program.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image data recording apparatus 1 such as a personal computer in this embodiment. The image data recording device 1 includes a CPU 11 and a ROM as shown in the figure.
12, RAM 13, input device 14, interface 1
5, external storage device 16 and display (CRT) 17
And are connected to each other by a bus 18. CPU11
Controls the operation of the image data recording device 1 by executing a program stored in the ROM 12 and the external storage device 16. The ROM 12 is a memory that stores in advance the minimum control programs and data required for the CPU 11 to operate, and the RAM 13 is a memory that temporarily stores programs and various data. The input device 14 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like. The interface 15 is configured according to, for example, a USB or the like, and is connected to the printer 3 so as to communicate with it. The external storage device 16 is
For example, it is a hard disk (HD) and stores an operating system (OS), an image data recording program, various data, a table and the like.

The printer 3 is, for example, an inkjet printer capable of multicolor printing, and ejects seven independent printing inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, light magenta and dark yellow onto a sheet. A printing mechanism (not shown) is provided, and the ink of any one of the above colors is fixed to the paper in dot units.
A total of 8 colors, colorless and the above 7 colors, are represented by 3 bits "0
00 "," 001 "," 010 "," 011 "," 10 "
The printer 3 corresponds to eight bit patterns of 0 ”,“ 101 ”,“ 110 ”, and“ 111 ”, respectively, and the printer 3 acquires the data stored in the data portion of the print data described later by 3 bits each and The dots of the color corresponding to 3 bits are fixed on the paper.

The hardware configurations of the image data recording apparatus 1 and the printer 3 in the first embodiment have been described above. Hereinafter, various data, tables and images relating to the operation of the image data recording device 1 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a bit string constituting image data. The example of FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which bits that form image data in which pixel data is arranged in a raster are arranged. Although a blank is inserted every 3 bits in FIG. 3 for convenience, this blank has nothing to do with division of pixel data adjacent to each other.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the color table CT used for generating print data. The image data recording device 1 stores a bit pattern that specifies a color assigned to dots by the printer 3 as a color table CT, and generates printing data based on the color table CT. For example, when the printer 3 is made to print the yellow dots, the printer 3 can be made to print the yellow dots by specifying “011” in the print data.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of print data. The print data is data obtained by converting the image data, and includes a header section 20 and a data section 21. The data section 21 is composed of an image data section 22 and a restoration data section 23. The printer 3 represents a pixel, which is the minimum element represented by the image data, as a set of a plurality of dots by an area gradation method such as a dither method, and fixes the dots larger than the number of pixels of the image data on a printing paper to print an image. For this reason, the image data recording device 1 converts each pixel of the image data into an array of a plurality of dots, replaces the color of each dot with the corresponding bit pattern of the color table CT, and stores it in the image data unit 22. The decompression data unit 23 stores the bit string forming the image data as it is without converting each pixel of the image data. Restoration data portion 23 of printing data shown in FIG.
3 is an example showing how the image data shown in FIG. 3 is stored, and as shown in the figure, the bit string of the image data shown in FIG. 3 is stored as it is without any conversion.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image and a restoration image, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing only the restoration image in an enlarged manner. The restoration image 25 shown in FIG. 5 is divided into 3 bits for each bit string stored in the restoration data section 23, and is divided into 3 bits.
It is an image obtained by fixing the dots of the color corresponding to the bits on the printing paper. The image 26 is an image obtained by dividing a bit string stored in the image data portion 22 of the print data into 3 bits and fixing dots of colors corresponding to the 3 bits to the printing paper. Circle 5 in Figure 6
Indicates one dot fixed on the printing paper. One dot fixed on the printing paper is formed from ink droplets of any of the eight colors of the color table CT.

As described above, the bit string stored in the restoration data section 23 is the bit string which constitutes the image data and is stored as it is without any conversion. Therefore, in the restoration image, the bit string forming the image data is 3
It is an image printed with dots of corresponding colors bit by bit.
Therefore, the image data can be restored by optically scanning the image for restoration, determining the color of each dot, and converting it to 3 bits.

For example, a dot printed in black is recognized as black by optical scanning and is restored to the bit pattern "100". From this, each dot that composes the restoration image is "000" to "1" depending on its color.
This means that multi-values up to 11 ″, that is, 0 to 7 in decimal notation are expressed.

In the example of FIG. 1, the image and the restoration image are printed on the same side, but the restoration image may be printed on the back side.

The various data, tables and images relating to the operation of the image data recording apparatus 1 have been described above.
The configuration and operation of the program relating to the printing of the image and the restoration image of the image data recording device 1 will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of a program relating to printing of images and restoration images of the image data recording device 1 and the printer 3. The image data recording program DD is configured as a device driver, receives an instruction from the OS, converts the image data into print data, and instructs the printer control program PC of the printer 3 to print the image. The printer control program PC controls each unit of the printer 3 to print the print data.

Next, the image data recording device 1 is replaced by the printer 3
The operation of printing the image and the restoration image on the common print medium will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation in which the image data recording device 1 causes the printer 3 to print an image and a restoration image on a common recording medium. This flowchart is started when the user designates the target image data with the input device 14 and instructs the OS to print, and the OS starts printing using the image data recording program DD.

The image data recording program DD first generates a header and stores it in the header portion 20 of the print data (step S105). Next, each pixel of the image data is converted into an array of a plurality of dots, and the color of each dot is replaced with the corresponding bit pattern of the color table CT and stored in the image data unit 22 (step S110). Next, the bit string forming the image data is stored in the restoring data section 23 as it is without any conversion (step S115).
Next, the generated print data is output to the printer 3, and the printer control program PC is instructed to print the print data (step S120). The printer control program PC of the printer 3 acquires the data stored in the image data section 22 and the restoration data section 23 of the output print data for each 3 bits, and prints the dots of the color corresponding to the 3 bits on the paper. Fix it. As a result, the image and the restoration image are printed on the common recording medium.

The configuration and operation of the program relating to the printing of the image and the restoration image of the image data recording apparatus 1 have been described above. The effects of the image data recording apparatus 1 in the first embodiment will be described below.

According to the image data recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the bit string forming the image data is directly restored without the conversion of each pixel of the image data.
Stored as a part of the print data, and instruct the printer control program PC to print. Accordingly, the image represented by the restoration data section 23 can be printed by the printer 3, and the restoration image can be recorded.

Furthermore, the image data recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment
According to the above, the image data recording program DD stores the image data portion 22 and the restoration data portion 23, which have converted and stored the image data, in the common print data and instructs the printer 3 to print. Accordingly, the image and the restoration image can be printed on the common recording medium. For example, if the image data of the image is needed while watching the image printed on the recording medium, the user can reproduce the image data from the restoration image printed on the recording medium, It is not necessary to search for the image data to be searched from the huge number of image data stored in the data storage device or the like, and the convenience of the user can be improved.

Furthermore, the image data recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment
According to the above, each 3 bits of the restoration data section 23 is printed by one dot of the printer 3 by changing the dot color. Therefore, the dots forming the image for restoration represent multivalues of "000" to "111", that is, 0 to 7 in decimal notation depending on the color. As a result, as compared with the case where each 1 bit of the restoration data section 23 is printed with 1 dot of the printer, the restoration image can be recorded with 1/3 the area.

The effects of the image data recording apparatus 1 in the first embodiment have been described above. In the first embodiment, the image and the restoration image are included in the common print data and printed at the same time, but the image and the restoration image may be printed separately.

Further, in the first embodiment, 3 bits correspond to one dot, but a plurality of dots may correspond to printing. For example, it may be printed in correspondence with 4 dots of the same color, or may be printed with a plurality of dots as a character recognizable by a person such as 0-7.

Further, in the first embodiment, one dot is printed in eight colors, but the number of colors and the number of colors are not limited to the above-mentioned eight colors, and the printer can print and identify at the time of restoration. Possible colors may be used as appropriate.

Further, the restoration image may be superimposed on the image and watermark printed by using a special ink readable by ultraviolet rays or the like. Further, error correction data may be added to the restoration data in order to improve reliability.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment is an example in which an image data recording device 2 such as a printer having a printing means generates print data from image data and prints it. In the following description, the description of the substantially same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image data recording device 2 such as a printer in the second embodiment. The image data recording device 2 includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an interface 35, and a printing unit 36 as shown in the drawing, and they are mutually connected by a bus 37. The CPU 31 executes the program stored in the ROM 32 so that the image data recording device 2
Control the behavior of. The ROM 32 is a memory that stores in advance a printer control program, an image data recording program, various data, a table, and the like that are minimum necessary for the CPU 31 to operate, and the RAM 33 temporarily stores the program, data, and the like. Memory. The interface 35 is configured according to USB, for example, and is communicatively connected to the external control device 4 such as a personal computer or a digital still camera. Printing unit 36
Conveys a sheet from a sheet conveyance port (not shown) to the sheet ejection port, and multi-color prints an image on the sheet by, for example, an inkjet method.

Next, the structure of the program relating to the printing of the image and the restoration image of the image data recording device 2 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a program relating to printing of the image and the restoration image of the image data recording device 2. A program relating to printing of an image and a restoration image is composed of an image data recording program PP and a printer control program PC. The image data recording program PP generates print data from the image data and instructs the printer control program PC to print the image. The printer control program PC controls each unit of the image data recording device 2 to print the print data.

Next, the operation of the image data recording device 2 for generating printing data from the image data and printing the image and the restoration image on a common recording medium will be described. Figure 11
6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow in which the image data recording device 2 generates print data from image data and prints the image and the restoration image on a common recording medium. This flowchart is started by the external control device 4 transmitting image data. When the operation is started, the image data recording program PP generates print data from the received image data. The details of the generation are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and will be omitted (step S205). After the generation is completed, the image data recording program PP causes the printer control program PC to print the image and the restoration image based on the generated printing data (step S210). The printer control program PC acquires the data stored in the image data portion 22 and the restoration data portion 23 of the output printing data for every 3 bits, and fixes the dots of the color corresponding to the 3 bits on the paper. As a result, the image and the restoration image are printed on the common recording medium (step S
215).

The operation of printing the image and the restoration image from the image data has been described above. The effects of the image data recording device 2 in the second embodiment will be described below.
According to the image data recording device 2 of the second embodiment, the image data recording device 2 itself is provided with the generating means and the printing means. As a result, the external control device 4 causes the restoration data unit 23
The image and the restoration image can be printed by using any device capable of transmitting the image data to the image data recording device 2 without the need to have a special device driver for generating the image data.

(Third Embodiment) The third embodiment is an example of a case where image data is restored from a restoration image printed by the image data recording device 1 or the image data recording device 2.
In addition, in the third embodiment, a case will be described as an example in which the image data is restored from the restoration image printed on the white paper by using the seven colors described in the first embodiment and the eight colors in total.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image data restoration system according to the third embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image data restoration system controls an image scanner 42 as an image reading device that scans a restoration image and creates data representing a color of each dot, and controls the image scanner 42. The control device 41 for restoring the image data from the data representing the color of each dot output from the control device 41 and the image scanner 42 are communicably connected to each other.

The control device 41 has the same hardware configuration as the image data recording device 1 of the first embodiment, and includes a CPU,
A ROM, a RAM, an input device, an interface, an external storage device, and a display (CRT) are provided, and they are mutually connected by a bus. The CPU controls the operation of the image scanner 42 by executing the programs stored in the ROM and the external storage device, and also controls the image scanner 42.
The image data is restored from the data representing the color of each dot output from. The external storage device is an operating system (OS), an image data restoration program,
It stores various data and tables. ROM
Stores in advance a minimum control program for the CPU to operate, data such as the color table CT, and the like.

The image scanner 42 includes a document table on which a recording medium on which an image is printed is placed, an optical system 43 having a light source for irradiating the recording medium, a condenser lens, etc., and a main scanning line input by the optical system. An image sensor 44 that scans an optical image, accumulates charges obtained by photoelectrically converting received light for a certain period of time, and outputs an electric signal according to the amount of light received by each photoelectric conversion element, an electric signal output from the image sensor 44 The analog front end (AFE) unit 45 which performs predetermined processing to output digital data, and the digital data output from the AFE unit 45 is subjected to predetermined processing to obtain data representing the color of each dot forming the image. The digital image processing unit 46 for creating is provided. The image sensor is a linear sensor in which a color filter array including primary color filters of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) is formed on-chip.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the RGB correspondence table RT used for determining the color represented by the data representing the dot color. As shown in the figure, the RGB correspondence table RT stores a combination of R, G, and B values when cyan, magenta, yellow, black, light cyan, light magenta, dark yellow, and white are expressed in RGB in the color table CT. It is stored in association with the stored color. Here, white in the RGB correspondence table RT corresponds to colorless in the color table CT.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of data representing the color of each dot. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the color for one dot is represented by 3 bytes, and each byte is R, G, and
The color B is represented by 256 gradations from 0 to 255.

The process of restoring the image data from the restoration image will be described below. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which the image data restoration system restores image data from a restoration image. This flowchart is
The operation is started by the operator placing the sheet on which the image for restoration is printed on the document table of the image scanner 42 and instructing the reading from the control device 41.

When the processing is started, the image scanner 4
Reference numeral 2 optically scans the restoration image, performs processing such as photoelectric conversion, and outputs data representing the color of each dot to the control device 41 (step S305). The control device 41 first secures an area T for writing a bit string in the RAM (step S310). The control device 41 acquires the data representing the color of one dot from the data representing the color of each dot output, and the data representing the color of the one dot is closest to any of the eight colors described above. To determine. In particular,
When the value represented by each byte of RGB is R or G, it is 0 if the value is 0 to 50, 100 if it is 51 to 150, and 200, 226 if it is 151 to 225.
If it is up to 255, it is converted to 255. In the case of B, if the value is 0 to 127, 0, 128 to 25
If it is up to 5, it is converted to 255. It is determined which combination shown in the RGB correspondence table RT matches the combination of converted RGB values, and the color corresponding to the matching combination is determined to be the color closest to the color represented by the data representing the one dot. judge. For example, if the data representing the color for one dot is (96, 248, 253), (100,
255, 255), and thus the color closest to the color represented by the data representing the color for one dot is determined to be light cyan (step S315). Next, the bit pattern corresponding to the closest color is acquired from the color table CT, converted into bits, and the bit pattern is written in the area T. If the process of step S320 is the second time or later, writing is performed next to the previously written bit (step S320). This processing is repeated until processing of all data representing the color of the dot is completed (step S32).
5). As a result, the image data is restored in the area T.

The process for restoring the image data from the restoration image has been described above. The effects of the image data restoration system in the third embodiment will be described below. According to the image data restoration system of the third embodiment, the image for restoration is optically scanned by the image scanner 42, and processing such as photoelectric conversion is performed to create data representing the color of each dot.
Output to the control device 41. The control device 41 includes an RGB correspondence table RT and a color table CT, and converts the data representing the dot color into one or more bits. Thereby, the image data can be restored from the restoration image.

Further, according to the image data restoration system of the third embodiment, the control device 41 converts each value of RGB of the data representing the dot color even if the values do not completely match the RGB correspondence table RT. By doing so, the closest color can be specified. As a result, even if there is an error in the color identification of the image scanner 42, the control device 41 can accurately convert into bits.

The effects of the image data restoration system in the third embodiment have been described above. Although the image scanner is described as an example of the image reading device in the third embodiment, the image reading device may be a digital still camera or a digital video camera.

In the third embodiment, the image data restoration system is composed of the control device 41 and the image scanner 42. By providing the image scanner 42 with the function of restoring the image data from the data representing the color of each dot. The image scanner 42 may be used alone.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing print data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image data recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention (first embodiment).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a bit string of image data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a color table included in the image data recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an image and a restoration image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a restoration image according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a program configuration of an image data recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (first embodiment).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for causing an image data recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention to print an image and a restoration image (first embodiment).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image data recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (second embodiment).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a program configuration of an image data recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (second embodiment).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for printing a restoration image by the image data recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention (second embodiment).

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image data restoration system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a table used by an image data restoration system according to an embodiment of the present invention to determine a color represented by data representing a dot color (third embodiment).

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing data representing a color for each dot output by an image reading apparatus which constitutes an image data restoration system according to an embodiment of the present invention (third embodiment).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of restoring image data from a restoration image by the image data restoration system according to the embodiment of the present invention (third embodiment).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image data recording device 2 Image data recording device 3 printers 4 External control device 5 dots 18 bus 20 header 21 Data Division 22 Image data section 23 Data section for restoration 25 Restoration image 26 images 37 bus

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A generation means for generating from the image data restoration data representing a restoration image composed of dots capable of restoring one or more bits constituting the image data by optical scanning. An image data recording device characterized by: 2. The image data recording according to claim 1, further comprising print instruction means for printing an image represented by the image data and the restoration image represented by the restoration data on a common recording medium. apparatus. 3. A printing means for printing the image represented by the image data and the restoration image represented by the restoration data on a common recording medium.
The image data recording device described. 4. The image data recording apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the dots represent multi-valued colors. 5. A generating step of generating from the image data restoration data representing a restoration image composed of dots capable of restoring one or more bits constituting the image data by optical scanning. An image data recording method characterized by the above. 6. The image data recording method according to claim 5, further comprising a printing step of printing an image represented by the image data and the restoration image represented by the restoration data on a common recording medium. . 7. The image data recording method according to claim 5, wherein the dots represent multi-valued colors. 8. A computer is provided with a generation procedure for generating from the image data restoration data representing a restoration image composed of dots capable of restoring one or more bits constituting the image data by optical scanning. An image data recording program characterized by being executed. 9. The computer according to claim 8, further comprising a print instruction procedure for printing the image represented by the image data and the restoration image represented by the restoration data on a common recording medium. Image data recording program. 10. The image data recording program according to claim 8, wherein the dots represent multi-valued colors. 11. A computer-readable recording medium on which the image data recording program according to claim 8, 9, or 10 is recorded. 12. The image for restoration which is composed of dots representing one or more bits constituting image data by color is optically scanned and the data representing the color of each dot is outputted by photoelectric conversion. Scanning means, and restoring means for restoring the image data by converting the data representing the color of each dot output by the scanning means into one or more bits preset according to the color, An image data restoration system comprising: 13. A reconstruction image formed of dots representing one or more bits constituting image data by color is optically scanned, and data representing the color of each dot is output by photoelectric conversion. A scanning step, and a restoring step of restoring the image data by converting the data representing the color of each dot output in the scanning step into one or more bits preset according to the color, An image data restoration method comprising: 14. An image for restoration, which is composed of dots representing one or more bits constituting image data by color, is optically scanned, and data representing the color of each dot is output by photoelectric conversion. A scanning procedure, and a restoration procedure for restoring the image data by converting the data representing the color of each dot output in the scanning procedure into one or more bits preset according to the color, An image data restoration program characterized by including 15. A computer-readable recording medium on which the image data restoration program according to claim 14 is recorded.