JP2007174317A - Image processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a code image from deteriorating when scanning or copying an original including the code image such as a two-dimensional code. <P>SOLUTION: A two-dimensional code image is extracted from an image read by a scanner part 1, a two-dimensional code image representing information obtained by decrypting the extracted two-dimensional code image is regenerated, the two-dimensional code image included in the image read by the scanner part 1 is erased, and the regenerated two-dimensional code image is subsequently combined with the image. Since image quality hardly deteriorates in the regenerated two-dimensional code image, high recognizing accuracy is attained with respect to a two-dimensional code image even if, for example, generation copying is performed, and information contents represented by the two-dimensional code image can be maintained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for handling a code image included in an image read by an image reading device such as a scanner device.

The use of two-dimensional codes (including bar codes) expressing information by two-dimensional graphic patterns is rapidly progressing. The most typical usage form of a two-dimensional code is to print a two-dimensional code representing a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) on an advertisement sheet, and a user who is interested in the advertisement downloads the two-dimensional code on the sheet. It is read by a mobile phone with a digital camera, and the URL is accessed from the mobile phone to view details of the advertising object. Also, there are many usage forms in which a two-dimensional code is printed or pasted on a standard entry form, and the entry contents are automatically classified in units of two-dimensional codes by scanning after filling in the necessary items on the form. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique for combining a two-dimensional code representing arbitrary information so as not to overlap an image portion of a document.
JP-A-8-016689

  By the way, the resolution of general copying machines and scanners used in offices and homes is increasing. Therefore, it is possible to faithfully reproduce a two-dimensional code read by scanning a document at the time of copying. However, even though the resolution has been improved, the images are not exactly the same before and after copying, and do not match completely. For example, when a so-called generation copy is performed such that a copy obtained by copying is further copied, the reproducibility of the two-dimensional code inevitably deteriorates as copying is repeated. Therefore, the recognition accuracy for a two-dimensional code that has undergone generational copy is lowered.

Also, in a printed matter such as a magazine, a photograph and a two-dimensional code are often mixed on the same page. When copying such a printed matter, if the reproduction is made with emphasis on the reproducibility of the photographic image, the reproducibility of the gradation is prioritized, and the color of the printed paper surface enters the bright part (figure) of the two-dimensional code, The outline of the dark part is blurred, and the recognition accuracy for the two-dimensional code after copying is lowered. On the other hand, when copying with priority given to the reproducibility of characters, the deterioration of the two-dimensional code can be suppressed, but there is a problem that the reproducibility of a photographic image is lowered. Further, when a reduced copy is designated when copying a document in which a two-dimensional code is embedded by a copying machine, the actual resolution is lowered, and it is difficult to decode the two-dimensional code from a copy.
As described above, when a document including a two-dimensional code is copied, the two-dimensional code may not be accurately read from the copy.

The same kind of problem as described above also occurs when scanning a document.
In general, it is rare for a scanner to be instructed to scan at a high resolution of 600 dpi, and in many cases, a relatively low resolution of 200 dpi to 300 dpi is often designated. This is because when the resolution is about 600 dpi, the data size of the image data obtained by scanning becomes extremely large and is not suitable for practical use. As described above, when a document image is scanned at a low resolution and the scanned image is further reduced and used, the two-dimensional code embedded in the document can hardly be decoded. Further, in this case, since it can be understood that the two-dimensional code outputted as an image cannot be decoded for the first time, for example, an image file containing the two-dimensional code is distributed by e-mail and the original manuscript cannot be obtained immediately. When the original manuscript has already been discarded, the convenience is remarkably impaired. On the other hand, it is difficult for an operator to accurately grasp the minimum resolution at which a two-dimensional code can be recognized. In order to avoid this problem, a document must always be scanned at a high resolution. It will be. For this reason, scanning with an unnecessarily high resolution often occurs, which causes secondary problems such as waste of storage resources and the fact that the scanned image data size is too large to be attached to an email.

  For example, when an original is enlarged and copied, the two-dimensional code included in the original is also enlarged. When the two-dimensional code is enlarged, for example, when the two-dimensional code is read by a mobile phone, it must be taken with a digital camera of the mobile phone from a position considerably away from the two-dimensional code, which is complicated. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code is lowered due to a problem of blurring at the time of photographing or insufficient light quantity.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an object thereof is to prevent deterioration of a code image when a document including a code image such as a two-dimensional code is scanned or copied.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an extraction means for extracting a code image expressing information by a graphic pattern from an image read by an image reading means, and decoding the code image extracted by the extraction means. A decoding means for obtaining the information, a code regenerating means for generating a code image expressing the information obtained by the decoding means by a graphic pattern, and a code included in the image read by the image reading means An image is erased, and a synthesizing unit for synthesizing the code image generated by the code regenerating unit with an image read by the image reading unit, and image data representing an image obtained by synthesizing the code image by the synthesizing unit are output. And an output means for providing the image processing apparatus.

  Further, the present invention provides a computer with a function of extracting a code image expressing information from a graphic pattern from an image read by the image reading means, a function of decoding the extracted code image and obtaining the information, A function of generating a code image representing the information obtained by the decoding by a graphic pattern, and erasing the code image included in the image read by the image reading means, and generating by the code regeneration means There is provided a program for realizing a function of synthesizing the coded image with the image read by the image reading means and a function of outputting image data representing the image synthesized with the code image.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the “two-dimensional code image” means a code image expressing information by various graphic patterns, and includes, for example, a bar code in addition to a QR code, PDF417, Data Matrix, and Maxi Code.

(1) Description of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 is built in a multi-function peripheral having a plurality of devices such as a scanner device and a printer device. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a scanner unit 1 that reads an image on a document by a CCD or the like and outputs an image signal, an operation unit 2 that includes various keys, a touch panel, and the like, A storage unit 3 for storing a control program, a memory 4 that functions as a work memory, a CPU 5 that controls the entire image processing apparatus 10, a display unit 6 such as a liquid crystal display device, and various types of image processing. An image processing unit 7 configured by processing blocks realized by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and the like, and an image forming unit 8 that forms an image on a sheet are provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus 10.
Step S0 is executed by the scanner unit 1, steps S1 to S3, S5 to S7, S10, and S11 are executed by the image processing unit, steps S4, S8, and S9 are executed by the CPU, and step S12 is executed by the image forming unit 8. Executed. In the following description, a document to be processed is referred to as a document D1 in FIG. This document D1 includes a two-dimensional code image C1 in addition to characters. In addition, a margin area B1 having at least a predetermined width is provided around the two-dimensional code image C1 in order to read the two-dimensional code image cheaply.

  The user first sets the document D on the scanner unit 1 and instructs the reading of the document using the operation unit 2. In response to this operation, the CPU 5 reads the control program from the storage unit 3 and loads it into the memory 4 and starts processing according to the procedure described in this program. First, the CPU 5 instructs the scanner unit 1 to read a document. In response to this instruction, the scanner unit 1 irradiates the set document with light, optically reads the image of the document, generates image signals R, G, and B, and performs a pre-processing block of the image processing unit 7. (Step S0).

  The pre-processing block of the image processing unit 7 performs pre-processing on the image signals R, G, and B to generate image data L, a, and b (step S1). This pre-stage processing includes ENL correction and color conversion processing from the color space RGB to the color space Lab. The image data that has undergone the previous stage processing is stored in the memory 4 (step S2).

  On the other hand, in parallel with the processing from step S1 to step S2 described above, the following processing is performed based on the image data L of the image data L, a, and b generated through the previous processing. The code extraction block of the image processing unit 7 extracts a two-dimensional code image from the image data L (step S3). For example, when the position where the two-dimensional code image is arranged on the document is determined in advance, the code extraction block of the image processing unit 7 may extract the two-dimensional code image from the position. Even when the position where the two-dimensional code image is arranged on the document is not determined, there is already a technique for recognizing the two-dimensional code image from the image and extracting it. The code extraction block of the unit 7 may extract a two-dimensional code image using the technique. The code extraction block of the image processing unit 7 notifies the CPU 5 of the position coordinates of the rectangle (position coordinates in the document image) surrounding the extracted two-dimensional code image. When a plurality of two-dimensional code images are extracted, the code extraction block of the image processing unit 7 may notify the CPU 5 of the position coordinates of the rectangle surrounding each two-dimensional code image.

  The image data L among the image data L, a, and b generated through the preceding process is also supplied to the CPU 5. The CPU 5 extracts a two-dimensional code image from the image represented by the image data L based on the position coordinates notified from the code extraction block of the image processing unit 7. Then, the extracted two-dimensional code image is decoded according to a predetermined code decoding algorithm to obtain information (for example, URL) represented by the two-dimensional code image (step S4). At the same time, the CPU 5 notifies the code erasure block of the image processing unit 7 of the position coordinates notified from the code extraction block of the image processing unit 7. The code erasure block of the image processing unit 7 erases the image in the rectangle represented by the notified position coordinates from the image represented by the image data L, a, and b (step S5). At this time, a specific erasing method is not particularly limited. For example, the density average value of pixels (that is, the background portion) around the dark portion (region portion where the graphic pattern exists) of the two-dimensional code image is used. A method such as replacing a pixel value can be considered. As a result, the image of the document D1 in FIG. 3 becomes the document image D2. Next, the subsequent processing block of the image processing unit 7 performs the subsequent processing on the image data L, a, and b stored in the memory 4 (step S6). This subsequent processing includes edge detection processing, processing for selecting a filter according to the detection result, enlargement / reduction processing, color conversion processing from the color space Lab to the color space YMCK, tone correction processing, and the like. It is. The screen processing block of the image processing unit 7 executes screen processing such as error diffusion and dither processing on the image data from which the two-dimensional code image has been deleted (step S7).

  On the other hand, the CPU 5 encodes the information obtained by the decoding process in step S4 (step S8). Specifically, since each graphic module constituting the two-dimensional code image is assigned a model number, the CPU 5 uses the model number attached to the graphic module having a size necessary to represent the information. Encode information. Next, the CPU 5 generates a two-dimensional code image using the graphic module of the model number obtained by encoding (step S9). Then, the CPU 5 supplies the generated two-dimensional code image and the position coordinates notified from the code extraction block of the image processing unit 7 to the synthesis block of the image processing unit 7.

  The synthesis block of the image processing unit 7 synthesizes the code image supplied from the CPU 5 with the image data that has undergone screen processing (step S10). Thereby, it is possible to obtain a document image D3 in which the two-dimensional code image C2 is added to the image D2 in FIG. As a specific synthesis method, for example, only a dark part of a two-dimensional code image is added to an image from which the two-dimensional code image has been deleted, or both a dark part and a bright part are added to an image from which the two-dimensional code image has been deleted. There is a method to do. Adding the dark and bright parts erases the color of the background area of the image from which the two-dimensional code image has been erased by the code erasure block, so that the contrast between the dark and bright parts becomes clearer and the recognition accuracy is improved. Will improve. Then, the image data obtained by the synthesis process is buffered in the memory 4 (step S11). The buffered image data is read at an appropriate process formation timing and output to the image forming unit 8, and the image forming unit 8 executes an image forming process based on the image data (step S12).

As described above, a two-dimensional code image is extracted from an image read by the scanner unit 1, a two-dimensional code image representing information obtained by decoding the extracted two-dimensional code image is regenerated, and the scanner After deleting the two-dimensional code image included in the image read by the unit 1, the regenerated two-dimensional code image is synthesized with the image. Since the image quality is hardly deteriorated in the regenerated two-dimensional code image, for example, even if generation copying is performed, high recognition accuracy can be realized for the two-dimensional code image. It is possible to maintain the content of the information represented by.
Thus, since there is no possibility that the information of the two-dimensional code image is lost, for example, even when copying a document in which a photographic image and a two-dimensional code image are mixed, the user accurately copies the two-dimensional code image. There is no need to worry about whether or not it can be performed, and it is possible to select an image quality mode such as character priority or picture priority according to the content of the image as if making a normal copy. That is, it is possible to obtain the same image quality as that of a normal copy without reducing the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code image only by selecting the image quality mode with an operation procedure familiar to the user.

(2) Modifications The embodiment described above may be modified as follows.
(2-1) Modification 1
For example, when the above embodiment is applied to a scanner device, the operation is as follows. It is rare for a scanner device to be instructed to scan at a high resolution of 600 dpi, and in many cases, a relatively low resolution of 200 dpi to 300 dpi is often designated. This is because when the resolution is about 600 dpi, the data size of the image data obtained by scanning becomes extremely large and is not suitable for practical use. In this case, the reading resolution itself of the scanner device does not change, and the scanner device converts the image read at 600 dpi into a designated resolution and outputs it. On the other hand, there are many cases in which an image read by the scanner device is formed on a sheet at 600 dpi. This is because even if the amount of data at the time of image formation increases, the convenience for the user does not deteriorate.

  For example, as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 4, when an image output by the scanner unit 1 at a high resolution (600 dpi) is output at the time of image reading, and the image is formed at a high resolution (600 dpi), the image quality does not deteriorate. It is possible to recognize the two-dimensional code image C10 included in the formed image. On the other hand, as shown by an arrow B, even if an image read by the scanner unit 1 is converted into a low resolution (300 dpi) and then formed into an image with a high resolution (600 dpi), the image quality of the scanner unit 1 Depends on the output resolution (300 dpi) of the image, the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code image C20 ′ is equivalent to 300 dpi and may not be recognized.

Therefore, the following may be performed.
The storage unit 3 stores in advance a minimum resolution (here, 600 dpi) at which a two-dimensional code image can be recognized. This resolution is a value that is obtained in advance as the minimum resolution that can be recognized by the scanner device from the performance of a general scanner device and the performance of the image forming device. Then, the user designates the resolution (hereinafter referred to as output resolution, for example, 300 dpi) when the image read by the scanner unit 1 is output by the operation unit 2. The scanner unit 1 reads an image at a predetermined resolution (600 dpi), converts the resolution of the image into the output resolution (300 dpi), and outputs the image. The extraction block of the image processing unit 7 extracts a two-dimensional code image C20 corresponding to 600 dpi from the image read by the scanner unit 1, and also extracts a blank area B20 around the two-dimensional code image C20. When the resolution specified by the user via the operation unit 2 is lower than the resolution stored in the storage unit 3, the CPU 5 notifies the composite block of the image processing unit 7 to that effect. The synthesized block is regenerated 2 so as to have the number of pixels corresponding to the resolution (600 dpi) stored in the storage unit 3 at the position of the blank area B20 ″ (the area after the resolution conversion) extracted by the extraction block. A dimension code image C20 ″ is arranged. At this time, images other than the two-dimensional code image C20 ″ remain the number of pixels corresponding to the designated resolution (300 dpi). By doing so, the output of the scanner unit 1 is output as indicated by an arrow C in FIG. Even when the resolution is 300 dpi, it is possible to form a two-dimensional code image C20 ″ having a resolution corresponding to the lowest resolution (600 dpi) at which the two-dimensional code image can be recognized. Therefore, the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code image can be maintained.

(2-2) Modification 2
For example, when an original is enlarged and copied, if the two-dimensional code included in the original is also enlarged, the work for reading the two-dimensional code becomes complicated. Further, when a document is reduced and copied, if the two-dimensional code included in the document is also reduced, the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code is lowered. Therefore, the following may be performed.
The user designates a reduction magnification or an enlargement magnification when copying an image using the operation unit 2. The extraction block of the image processing unit extracts a two-dimensional code image from the image read by the scanner unit 1 and also extracts a blank area around the two-dimensional code image. The composite block of the image processing unit reduces or enlarges the image after the two-dimensional code image included in the image read by the scanner unit 1 is erased at a specified magnification. On the other hand, the two-dimensional code image generated by the CPU 5 is synthesized at the position of the blank area extracted by the extraction block without being reduced or enlarged (that is, with the same size as the image before image reading). In this way, the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code image can be maintained.

(2-3) Modification 3
However, in particular, when copying at a reduced size, there may be a case where the two-dimensional code image of the same size as before the reduction cannot fit in the blank area of the two-dimensional code image in the reduced image. In this case, the CPU 5 determines whether or not the generated two-dimensional code image fits in the blank area extracted by the extraction block. If it cannot fit, the composite block of the image processing unit 7 reduces or enlarges the image after the two-dimensional code image included in the image read by the scanner unit 1 is erased at a specified magnification. . Then, the composite block is a two-dimensional code image that has a reduction magnification that is as large as possible (that is, not reduced as much as possible) so that the two-dimensional code image generated by the CPU 5 fits in the blank space area. Is placed in the margin area. In this way, the recognition accuracy of the two-dimensional code image can be maintained as high as possible.

(2-4) Modification 4
When the two-dimensional code image having the same size as before the reduction cannot be accommodated in the blank area after the reduction as described above, the CPU 5 displays the image read by the scanner unit 1 on the display unit 6. Then, a message prompting the user to designate the position where the two-dimensional code image is synthesized on the image is displayed. When there is a margin part of a certain size on the displayed image, the user designates that part and instructs to place the two-dimensional code image. The synthesis block of the image processing unit 7 synthesizes a two-dimensional code image placed in a blank area at a designated position. If the CPU 5 determines that the two-dimensional code image of the same size as before the reduction cannot be accommodated in the blank area after the reduction, the CPU 5 notifies the display unit 6 of the fact, A message that prompts the user to re-specify the reduction ratio at the time of copying may be displayed on the display unit 6. When the user designates the reduction magnification again, the above processing is performed again based on the designated reduction magnification.

(2-5) Modification 5
It should be noted that even if the two-dimensional code image of the same size as before the reduction does not fit in the blank area after reduction as described above, the user can specify the synthesis position of the two-dimensional code image. Good. That is, the CPU 5 displays an image read by the scanner unit 1 on the display unit 6 and displays a message that prompts the user to specify a position where the two-dimensional code image is synthesized on the image. When there is a margin part of a certain size on the displayed image, the user designates that part and instructs to place the two-dimensional code image. The synthesis block of the image processing unit 7 synthesizes a two-dimensional code image placed in a blank area at a designated position.

(2-6) Modification 6
For example, a document file format standard such as PDF (Portable Document Format) defines image data having a hierarchical structure called a stencil mask. In this image data, the image data is separated in hierarchical units corresponding to the respective image objects. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the document image M has a hierarchy of image data m1 corresponding to the graphic object at the center of the image, image data m2 corresponding to the text object, and image data m3 corresponding to the two-dimensional code image object. Separated. When the present invention is applied to image data having such a hierarchical structure, the following may be performed.

  First, the storage unit 3 stores a plurality of sizes of one graphic module included in the two-dimensional code image and the corresponding resolution in association with each other. This is because the level of resolution necessary for recognizing the two-dimensional code image made up of the graphic module is roughly determined by the size of the graphic module. The user designates the resolution of the image data output from the image processing apparatus 10 using the operation unit 2 (hereinafter referred to as designated resolution). The CPU 5 extracts an image object from the image read by the scanner unit 1 and generates image data having a hierarchy corresponding to each image object. Then, the CPU 5 specifies the size of one graphic module included in the two-dimensional code image extracted by the extraction block of the image processing unit 7. Then, the CPU 5 reads the resolution stored in the storage unit in association with the specified size, and compares it with the specified resolution. When the designated resolution is lower than the resolution read from the storage unit 3, the composite block of the image processing unit 7 stores the image data of the hierarchy corresponding to the two-dimensional code image in the image data generated by the CPU 5. 3 is generated at the resolution read from 3. Then, the image data of the hierarchy corresponding to the two-dimensional code image is synthesized with the image data of the other hierarchy. At this time, the image data of the hierarchy not including the two-dimensional code image is converted to the designated resolution. In this way, the present invention can be applied to image data having a hierarchical structure.

(2-7) Modification 7
The program executed by the CPU 5 can be recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium, or a ROM readable by a computer and provided to the image processing apparatus 10. It is also possible to download the image processing apparatus 10 via a network such as the Internet.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the image processing apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the execution procedure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure explaining the process of the process in the image processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure explaining the process of the process in the image processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a figure explaining the process of the process in the image processing apparatus which concerns on a modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Scanner part, 2 ... Operation part, 3 ... Memory | storage part, 4 ... Memory, 5 ... CPU, 6 ... Display part, 7 ... Image processing part, 8 ... Image formation part.

Claims (10)

An extraction means for extracting a code image representing information by a graphic pattern from an image read by the image reading means;
Decoding means for decoding the code image extracted by the extracting means to obtain the information;
Code regenerating means for generating a code image representing the information obtained by the decoding means by a graphic pattern;
A synthesizing unit for erasing the code image included in the image read by the image reading unit and synthesizing the code image generated by the code regenerating unit with the image read by the image reading unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting image data representing an image obtained by synthesizing a code image by the synthesizing means. Resolution storage means for storing a predetermined resolution;
A resolution designating unit for designating a resolution when the image reading unit reads an image;
Extracting means for extracting a blank area existing within a predetermined range of the code image in the image read by the image reading means;
If the resolution specified by the resolution specifying means is lower than the resolution stored in the resolution storing means, the synthesizing means stores the margin storage area extracted by the extracting means in the resolution storing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the code image regenerated so as to have a number of pixels corresponding to the resolution is synthesized. Magnification designating means for designating a reduction magnification or an enlargement magnification when copying an image based on image data output by the output means;
Extracting means for extracting a blank area existing within a predetermined range of the code image in the image read by the image reading means;
The synthesizing unit reduces or enlarges the image from which the code image included in the image read by the image reading unit is erased at a magnification specified by the magnification specifying unit, and is extracted by the extraction unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the code image generated by the code regenerating unit is synthesized at the position of the margin area without being reduced or enlarged. Magnification designating means for designating a reduction magnification for copying an image based on image data output by the output means;
Extracting means for extracting a blank area existing within a predetermined range of the code image in the image read by the image reading means;
The synthesizing unit reduces the image from which the code image included in the image read by the image reading unit is erased at a magnification specified by the magnification specifying unit, and also extracts a blank area extracted by the extracting unit. 2. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the code image generated by the code regenerating unit is synthesized with a reduction ratio larger than the reduction ratio designated by the magnification designation unit so as to fit in the position of apparatus. Extraction means for extracting a blank area existing within a predetermined range of the code image in the image read by the image reading means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the code image generated by the code regenerating means fits in a margin area extracted by the extracting means;
If it is determined by the determining means that the code image does not fit in the margin area, the image read by the image reading means is displayed, and a position for synthesizing the code image on the image is designated to the user. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: instruction means for prompting Extraction means for extracting a blank area existing within a predetermined range of the code image in the image read by the image reading means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the code image generated by the code regenerating means fits in a margin area extracted by the extracting means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a notifying unit that notifies that when the determination unit determines that the code image does not fit in the blank area.   If it is determined by the determining means that the code image does not fit in the margin area, the reduction magnification when copying the image based on the image data output by the output means, or the image reading means 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising instruction means for prompting the user to respecify the resolution for reading the image. Display means for displaying an image read by the image reading means;
2. The image according to claim 1, further comprising: designation means for the user to designate a position where the code image generated by the code regeneration means is combined with the image read by the image reading means. Processing equipment. Pattern size storage means for storing a plurality of sizes of one figure pattern included in the code image and the corresponding resolution, and
Data generating means for generating image data having a hierarchy corresponding to each of the image objects included in the image read by the image reading means;
A resolution designating unit for designating a resolution when the image reading unit reads an image;
A magnification designation means for designating a magnification for copying an image based on the image data output by the output means;
Specifying means for specifying the size of one figure pattern included in the code image extracted by the extracting means;
The resolution stored in the pattern size storage means in association with the size specified by the specifying means is read out, and the read resolution, the resolution specified by the resolution specifying means and the magnification specified by the magnification specifying means are set. Comparing means for comparing with the actual resolution required by multiplying,
When the actual resolution is lower than the resolution read from the storage unit, the synthesizing unit generates a hierarchy corresponding to the object of the code image in the image data with the resolution read from the storage unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: On the computer,
A function of extracting a code image expressing information by a graphic pattern from an image read by the image reading means;
A function of obtaining the information by decoding the extracted code image;
A function of generating a code image expressing the information obtained by the decoding by a graphic pattern;
A function of erasing the code image included in the image read by the image reading unit and combining the code image generated by the code regenerating unit with the image read by the image reading unit;
And a function of outputting image data representing an image obtained by combining the code images.

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