JP4106854B2 - Image processing apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to pixel binarization for image detection.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the functions and performance of color copiers have made significant progress, and high-quality color copying is possible even with commonly available scanners, computers, color printers, etc. Is needed. As one of the forgery prevention methods, there is a technique for prohibiting the generation of a faithful image when a specific pattern is detected during copying.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the input image is a color image with a large amount of information, and processing takes time. Considering practicality, the processing must be performed at a high speed. As a result, the processing circuit becomes large-scaled, complicated, and expensive. In addition, since the color of the image changes depending on the scanning conditions, a high-performance and therefore expensive processing circuit is required to detect a specific pattern in which the color is identified.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method which can be realized with a highly accurate and simple configuration.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit that inputs an image composed of a plurality of pixels each having color information, and an absolute pixel position condition for specifying a pixel among the plurality of pixels in the image. storing the relative position condition which defines the condition of the relative pixel positions for a plurality of the pixel of interest in the case of the pixel of interest one of the pixels in the inside of the pixel absolute position condition, and in the image to define the based a storage unit for, in the selection means for selecting the pixel of interest to be binarized from the pixels in the image, and the threshold value, the color information of the pixel of interest that is selected, and the color information of the relevant pixel A binarization processing unit for binarizing the target pixel, wherein the related pixel has both an absolute position condition stored in the storage unit and a relative position condition with respect to the selected target pixel. satisfaction Is a pixel in the image that the binarization processing section includes a determination unit Toto for detecting the Oite specific pattern in binary Kaga image obtained by the binarization processing section, thereby The above objective is achieved.
[0006]
The absolute position condition defines a position every N pixels from a pixel at an end of the image in a predetermined direction in the image, and the relative position condition includes the target pixel in the predetermined direction. You may prescribe | regulate the pixel on one linear line extended, and the predetermined range from the said attention pixel permitted.
[0007]
The storage unit may further store a pixel specifying condition that defines a condition for directly specifying a position from the target pixel in the predetermined direction, and the related pixel may include a pixel that satisfies the pixel specifying condition.
[0008]
The binarization processing unit may binarize the target pixel based on the threshold value and an average value of the color information of the target pixel and the color information of the related pixel.
[0009]
The color information of the target pixel and the color information of the related pixel may be at least one of luminance, density, brightness, and contrast.
[0010]
When the determination unit determines that there is an image element having a shape close to the specific pattern, the shape of the image element is examined and the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern It may further include a shape review section for determining whether or not.
[0011]
When the shape examining unit determines that the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern, the faithful processing of the image may be prohibited.
[0012]
An image processing computer program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium of the present invention inputs an image composed of a plurality of pixels each having color information, and identifies pixels in the plurality of pixels in the image absolute absolute position condition defines a condition of the pixel position, and the relative pixel position relative to the target pixel in the case where the pixel of interest one of the pixels in the plurality of pixels in the image condition for A step of storing a relative position condition to be defined ; a step of selecting a pixel of interest to be binarized from the pixels in the image; a threshold; color information of the pixel of interest; and an absolute value stored in the storage unit the color information of the related pixel is a pixel in the image that satisfies both of the relative position condition with respect to the pixel of interest are position conditions and selection A step of binarizing the selected target pixel Zui, based on the binary image composed of each pixel is binarized Rukoto in the image, there are image elements having a shape close to a particular pattern The above-mentioned purpose is achieved by this.
[0013]
The absolute position condition defines a position every N pixels from a pixel at an end of the image in a predetermined direction in the image, and the relative position condition includes the target pixel in the predetermined direction. You may prescribe | regulate the pixel on one linear line extended, and the predetermined range from the said attention pixel permitted.
[0014]
The storing step is a step of further storing a pixel specifying condition that defines a condition for directly specifying a position from the target pixel in the predetermined direction, and the related pixel is a pixel that satisfies the pixel specifying condition. May be included.
[0015]
The binarizing step may binarize the target pixel based on the threshold value and an average value of the color information of the target pixel and the color information of the related pixel.
[0016]
The color information of the target pixel and the color information of the related pixel may be at least one of luminance, density, brightness, and contrast.
[0017]
When it is determined in the determining step that there is an image element having a shape close to the specific pattern, the shape of the image element is examined, and the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern. A shape scrutiny step may be further included to determine whether or not the image element is faithfully processed when the shape scrutiny step determines that the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern. The method may further include the step of:
[0018]
An image processing method according to the present invention defines a step of inputting an image composed of a plurality of pixels each having color information, and an absolute pixel position condition for specifying pixels in the plurality of pixels in the image. storing the relative position condition which defines the absolute position condition, and the relative pixel position condition with respect to the target pixel in the case of the pixel of interest one of the pixels in the plurality of pixels in the image to Selecting a target pixel to be binarized from among pixels in the image, a threshold value, color information of the target pixel, an absolute position condition stored in the storage unit, and the selected target pixel a step of binarizing the selected target pixel based on the color information of the relevant pixel is a pixel in the image that satisfies both of the relative position condition for the picture Based on the binary image composed of Rukoto each pixel is binarized inner consists of a step of determining whether the image element having a shape close to a specific pattern is present, is thereby the object Achieved.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows a computer system 1. When the image data is input, the computer system 1 performs a process of performing color printing on the image data. In this process, as a result of determining whether or not a specific pattern having a predetermined color (reference color) and a predetermined shape (reference shape) is formed in at least a part of the image to be subjected to color printing, When a specific pattern is included, the generation of a faithful image is prohibited. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the specific pattern detection process 200. A color copying machine using the image processing apparatus 100 (FIG. 1) of the present invention performs the same processing.
[0021]
Referring to FIG. 2, the above determination is made by the following processing. First, in order to reduce the amount of data handled, an input image (hereinafter referred to as “input image”) is converted to a lower resolution (step 202). Then, in order to determine whether or not the reference color is included, the image data is binarized with respect to the reference color (step 204). Subsequently, in order to determine whether or not a specific pattern is included, the image data binarized with the reference color is scanned with an image having a size that can accommodate the reference shape, and is included in the frame. The shape is extracted (step 206). This is a process of extracting a shape that is highly likely to be a reference shape (a shape close to the reference shape). Finally, these shapes are scrutinized to determine whether the shape included in the frame is a reference shape, and a specific pattern is detected (step 208).
[0022]
In connection with the image processing apparatus 100 (FIG. 1) of the present invention, the process of binarizing the image data with respect to the reference color in step 204 will be briefly described. The color of a specific pattern printed on the printer is not limited to a single color. Specifically, when the pixel value (pixel color information) is larger than the threshold value, the value 1 is given to the pixel, and when the pixel value is smaller, the value 0 is given to the pixel. The threshold value is a criterion for determining whether or not the reference color is satisfied. The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present invention provides a plurality of threshold values in advance, selects one of the threshold values based on a predetermined criterion, and applies it when binarizing. Obtainable. A more detailed description of the binarization processing by the image processing apparatus 100 of the present invention will be described later.
[0023]
Referring to FIG. 1 again, a computer system 1 including a computer as the image processing apparatus 100 will be described. This computer is not limited to a personal computer such as a so-called desktop computer or laptop computer, and is mounted on a color copying machine. Computer. The computer system 1 includes an image processing apparatus 100, a monitor 2 for displaying the output of the image processing apparatus 100, a keyboard 3 and a mouse 4 for inputting information to the image processing apparatus 100, and a printer 7 for printing an image. And a scanner 8, floppy disk drive 5b, and CD (or DVD) drive 9b, which are means for inputting image data to the image processing apparatus 100. In addition, the image data input means inputs image data from a hard disk built in the image processing apparatus 100, a network interface that receives image data from another computer 6 or the like via a network, a digital camera, or the like. For example, an IEEE 1394 interface (not shown) is also included.
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing apparatus 100. The image processing apparatus 100 includes an image input unit 10, a storage unit 20, an image processing unit 30, a printer interface 40, and a video interface 50.
[0025]
Hereinafter, each component of the image processing apparatus 100 described above will be described. The image input unit 10 is used to input image data to the image processing apparatus 100. The image data is composed of a plurality of pixels, and each pixel has color information as a pixel value. The larger the number of pixels and the larger the number of colors represented by the color information, the higher the resolution. The smaller the number of pixels and the smaller the number of colors represented by the color information, the lower the resolution. The input image has, for example, a resolution of 600 dpi or a resolution of 300 dpi.
[0026]
The storage unit 20 is a memory, a hard disk, or the like that stores input image data. The storage unit 20 includes absolute values that define thresholds used in connection with the binarization processing of the image processing unit 30 to be described later, and absolute position conditions in the input image for selecting related pixels. And a relative position condition that defines a relative position condition with respect to the target pixel. Further, a pixel designation condition that defines a condition for directly designating a position from the target pixel is stored. Details of the binarization process using the absolute position condition, the relative position condition, and the pixel designation condition will be described later.
[0027]
The image processing unit 30 performs image processing on the image data. That is, the image processing unit 30 performs the processing described in steps 202 to 208 in FIG. In particular, in connection with step 204 in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 30 gives the pixel a value of 1 or 0 based on the color information of the pixel and one selected from a plurality of threshold values. A detailed description of this process will be described later.
[0028]
The printer interface 40 is an interface used when outputting image data to the printer 7 (FIG. 1), and includes a function as a printer controller.
[0029]
The video interface 50 is an interface used when outputting image data to the monitor 2 (FIG. 1), and includes a function as a general video card.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing of the image processing apparatus 100 (FIG. 3). First, the image processing apparatus 100 (FIG. 3) receives image data of an input image from the input unit 10 (FIG. 3) (step 402) and stores it in the storage unit 20 (FIG. 3). In this example, the resolution of the image is set to a relatively low 300 dpi, and resolution conversion (step 202 in FIG. 2) for reducing the processing amount is not particularly performed. However, when the input image has a relatively high resolution such as 600 dpi, the processing amount can be reduced by converting the resolution to 300 dpi or the like. When resolution conversion is performed, the image processing unit 30 (FIG. 3) may thin out pixels of image data.
[0031]
Processes (steps 404 to 410) performed by the image processing unit 30 (FIG. 3) subsequent to step 402 are processes related to the binarization process for the reference color. In general, the binarization process is a process for giving a value of 0 or 1 to a pixel based on the color information and threshold value of the pixel. For example, assume that binarization is performed for yellow. Yellow can be expressed quantitatively with RGB values. On the other hand, all pixels constituting the image can also be expressed by RGB values (color information). Therefore, on the basis of each of the yellow R value, G value, and B value, a pixel having RGB values that fall within a certain range from these values is determined to be yellow, and 1 is given. If even one of the RGB values falls outside the certain range, it is determined that the color is not yellow and 0 is given. As can be understood from this example, for one reference color, there are reference values for the three elements R, G, and B (hereinafter referred to as “element threshold values”). In the present specification, the “threshold value” refers to an element threshold value of each set of elements. It can be said that the binarized image generated in this manner is obtained by extracting only pixels having a reference color. By this binarization, subsequent processing is performed based on pixel values of 0 or 1, so that the amount of data to be handled can be greatly reduced compared to processing using color information as it is.
[0032]
The image processing unit 30 (FIG. 3) performs appropriate binarization in consideration of related pixel information. Therefore, binarization color information of the target pixel is generated based on the color information of the target pixel and the color information of a predetermined related pixel, and binarization is performed based on the binarization color information and the threshold value. . The related pixel is a pixel in the image that satisfies an absolute position condition that defines an absolute position condition in the image and a relative position condition that defines a relative position condition with respect to the target pixel. Further, as will be described later, a pixel in the image that satisfies the pixel designation condition may be included.
[0033]
Hereinafter, the binarization process will be described. First, the image processing unit 30 (FIG. 3) selects a pixel of interest that is a pixel to be binarized (step 404). Since binarization is performed for all the pixels in the input image, the target pixel may be selected sequentially from the upper left pixel of the image in the right direction, for example.
[0034]
Subsequently, among the pixels that satisfy the absolute position condition, a pixel that satisfies the relative position condition with respect to the target pixel is selected as a related pixel (step 406). Here, the absolute position condition is described as follows. That is, the absolute position condition can be defined as “a condition for defining the position of every N pixels from the pixel at the end of the image in a predetermined direction in the image”. More specifically, assuming that the image is a rectangle composed of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, the “absolute position condition” is, for example, the position of the pixel from the pixel at the end of the image in the horizontal direction of the image (for example, This is a condition that defines the 3Nth (N: natural number) position from the end pixel. FIG. 5 shows a pixel group in the partial region 500 of the image where the absolute position condition is the 3Nth (N: natural number) position from the pixel at the end of the image. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the horizontal direction is parallel to the horizontal direction of the image. The pixel at the 3N-th position in the horizontal direction is indicated by “◯”. In the horizontal direction, rows a, b and c are shown, but this is merely exemplary. The display about lines other than these is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 5 also shows a pixel of interest 510, which is merely a reference. The absolute position condition is a condition that does not depend on the position of the target pixel 510.
[0035]
On the other hand, the “relative position condition” can be defined as “a condition that defines a condition of a relative position with respect to the target pixel”. More specifically, the “relative position condition”
Condition (1): Pixels on one straight line including a target pixel and extending in a predetermined direction defined by the absolute position condition. Condition (2): A predetermined range from the target pixel is defined. Condition (1) is a condition provided for speeding up the processing and reducing the amount of information. That is, when both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of an image are referred to when selecting related pixels, the amount of information to be held increases, and processing takes time. In the case of this example, it refers to the direction (horizontal direction) of the pixel row including the target pixel, and only the pixel on the row b in FIG. 5 satisfies this condition (1). That is, the amount of information can be reduced by excluding rows a and c in FIG. 5 and other rows according to the condition (1). Condition (2) is that the selection of related pixels over a wide range only increases the amount of calculation, and the relationship with the target pixel becomes too weak over a wide range, so the position of the related pixel is within a certain range from the target pixel. It is a condition for limiting to. For example, when “within 15 pixels” from the target pixel, pixels within 15 pixels from the target pixel satisfy this condition (2).
[0036]
A “pixel designation condition” similar to the “relative position condition” can also be provided. The “pixel designation condition” is a condition for directly designating a position from the target pixel in a predetermined direction, and is a condition provided for directly selecting a pixel considered to have a deep relationship with the target pixel. For example, the left, right, third, sixth, seventh, and ninth pixels from the target pixel, or the first, third and right pixels from the target pixel. The pixel designation condition may be designated at random.
[0037]
FIG. 6 shows pixels that satisfy the pixel designation condition in addition to the pixels that satisfy the absolute position condition and the relative position conditions (1) and (2) described above. In FIG. 6, the condition (1) is “left-right direction”, the condition (2) is “within 15 pixels from the target pixel 510”, and the pixel designation condition is “third, sixth, seventh, ninth from the left and right from the target pixel 510”. This is an example, and only the right direction is shown. Pixels at positions where at least one of “◯” and “Δ” in FIG. 6 are attached are used as related pixels. In some cases, the target pixel satisfies the absolute position condition. In this case, the target pixel is treated as one of the related pixels, and the color information is used for later processing.
[0038]
Next, the image processing unit 30 (FIG. 3) generates binarization color information of the target pixel based on the color information of the target pixel and the color information of the related pixel (step 408). This process is a process for generating color information for binarizing the target pixel. Appropriate binarization may be difficult in the binarization based only on general color information of the pixel of interest, and therefore the color information of the pixel of interest is generated in consideration of the color information of the related pixel. For example, when RGB values of a pixel are used as the color information of the target pixel and the related pixel, an average value of the RGB values of the related pixel is generated as the RGB value of the target pixel. In addition to the average value of each RGB value, the pixel contrast, brightness, brightness, density average, difference, and the like can be used. In this way, binarized color information of the target pixel is generated.
[0039]
Then, the pixel of interest is binarized based on the binarized color information and threshold value of the pixel of interest (step 410). The binarized color information of the target pixel is the color information obtained in step 408. The binarization is as described above.
[0040]
Thus, among the pixels that satisfy the absolute position condition, a pixel that satisfies the relative position condition with respect to the target pixel is selected as a related pixel, and the target pixel is binarized based on the color information. It is possible to obtain a binarized image in which target areas are appropriately extracted rather than binarizing uniformly using. For example, from the viewpoint of prevention of counterfeit bills, it is necessary to detect the specific pattern at the time of printing, whether it is a new bill or a bill discolored due to use or the like. Therefore, even if there are a portion that is discolored and a portion that is not discolored in the banknote, the color information of surrounding pixels as related pixels is used, so that uniform binarization can be performed as a whole.
[0041]
Furthermore, since a related pixel is selected using a pixel designation condition, a pixel that is considered to have a deeper relationship with the target pixel can be reflected in the binarization of the target pixel.
[0042]
The binarization process described with reference to FIG. 4 is the process of step 204 described with reference to FIG. For processes other than this process, steps 202 and 206 to 208 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 are performed. That is, in step 202 in FIG. 2, resolution conversion is performed by a resolution conversion unit (not shown) of the image processing unit 30. In step 206 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not an image element close to the specific pattern is included by a determination unit (not shown) of the image processing unit 30, and a shape close to the reference shape of the specific pattern is extracted. . In step 208 of FIG. 2, a shape review unit (not shown) of the image processing unit 30 performs a shape review of the extracted shape, and determines whether or not the shape is the same as the shape of the specific pattern. The If the shape is the same as the shape of the specific pattern, the image processing unit 30 prohibits the generation of a faithful image, assuming that the specific pattern is detected.
[0043]
The processing of the image processing apparatus 100 (FIG. 3) described above is described as a computer program that causes the image processing apparatus 100 to perform the processing, and can be stored in a recording medium. The recording medium is a hard disk drive, a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy disk 5a (FIG. 1), an optical recording medium such as an optical disk 9a (FIG. 1), a semiconductor recording medium such as a flash ROM, or the like. Here, the concept of “recording medium” includes a storage device such as a computer that provides content via a telecommunication line such as the Internet. Therefore, a server or the like for storing a computer program for realizing the operation of the present invention and transmitting the program to another terminal is included in the category of a recording medium recording the computer program.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, among the pixels that satisfy the absolute position condition, a pixel that satisfies the relative position condition with respect to the target pixel is selected as the related pixel, and the target pixel is binarized based on the color information. A binarized image in which target areas are appropriately extracted can be obtained rather than binarizing uniformly using a single threshold.
[0045]
Further, since the related pixel is selected using the pixel designation condition, a pixel that is considered to be more closely related to the target pixel can be reflected in the binarization of the target pixel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a computer system.
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a specific pattern detection process.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing of the image processing apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a pixel whose absolute position condition is a 3Nth (N: natural number) position from a pixel at an end portion of an image.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing pixels that satisfy a pixel designation condition in addition to pixels that satisfy the absolute position condition and the relative position conditions (1) and (2) described above.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Input part 20 Storage part 30 Image processing part 40 Printer interface 50 Image | video interface 100 Image processing apparatus

Claims (15)

An input unit for inputting an image composed of a plurality of pixels each having color information;
An absolute position condition for defining a condition of an absolute pixel position for specifying a pixel in the plurality of pixels in the image , and any pixel in the plurality of pixels in the image as a target pixel A storage unit that stores a relative position condition that defines a condition of a relative pixel position with respect to the target pixel in the case ;
Selecting means for selecting the pixel of interest to be binarized from the pixels in the image;
A threshold, the color information of the pixel of interest that is selected, a binarization processing section for binarizing the pixel of interest on the basis of the color information of related pixels, the associated pixel is in said storage unit it is a pixel in the image that satisfies both of the relative position condition with respect to the pixel of interest which is absolute position condition and selected stored, and binarization processing unit,
And a determination section for detecting a Oite specific pattern in binary Kaga image obtained by the binarization processing section, the image processing apparatus. The absolute position condition defines a position every N pixels from a pixel at an end of the image in a predetermined direction in the image;
The relative position condition defines a pixel on one straight line including the target pixel and extending in the predetermined direction, and a predetermined range from the allowable target pixel. Image processing device. The storage unit further stores a pixel designation condition that defines a condition for directly designating a position from the target pixel in the predetermined direction,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the related pixel includes a pixel that satisfies the pixel designation condition.   The binarization processing unit binarizes the target pixel based on the threshold value and an average value of color information of the target pixel and color information of the related pixel. The image processing apparatus described.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the color information of the target pixel and the color information of the related pixel are at least one of luminance, density, brightness, and contrast.   When the determination unit determines that there is an image element having a shape close to the specific pattern, the shape of the image element is examined and the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shape scrutinizing unit that determines whether or not.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the shape scrutinizing unit determines that the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern, the image processing apparatus prohibits faithful processing of the image. Inputting an image composed of a plurality of pixels each having color information;
An absolute position condition that defines a condition of an absolute pixel position for specifying a predetermined pixel in the plurality of pixels in the image , and any pixel in the plurality of pixels in the image as a target pixel Storing a relative position condition that defines a condition of a relative pixel position with respect to the target pixel in the case of
Selecting a pixel of interest to be binarized from among the pixels in the image;
The related pixel that is a pixel in the image that satisfies both the threshold value, the color information of the target pixel, the absolute position condition stored in the storage unit, and the relative position condition with respect to the selected target pixel. Binarizing the selected pixel of interest based on color information;
The binary image processing computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program comprising the step of detecting the Oite specific pattern in binary Kaga image obtained by the step. The absolute position condition defines a position every N pixels from a pixel at an end of the image in a predetermined direction in the image;
The said relative position condition prescribes | regulates the pixel on one straight line extended in the said predetermined direction including the said attention pixel, and the predetermined | prescribed range from the said attention pixel permitted. A recording medium on which an image processing computer program is recorded. The storing step is a step of further storing a pixel designation condition that defines a condition for directly designating a position from the target pixel in the predetermined direction.
The recording medium on which the image processing computer program according to claim 8 or 9 is recorded, wherein the related pixel includes a pixel that satisfies the pixel designation condition.   The binarization step binarizes the pixel of interest based on the threshold value and an average value of color information of the pixel of interest and color information of the related pixel. The recording medium which recorded the image processing computer program of description.   The recording medium on which the image processing computer program according to claim 11 is recorded, wherein the color information of the pixel of interest and the color information of the related pixel are at least one of luminance, density, brightness, and contrast.   When it is determined in the determining step that there is an image element having a shape close to the specific pattern, the shape of the image element is examined, and the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern. The recording medium which recorded the image processing computer program in any one of Claims 8-12 further including the shape examination step which judges whether it exists.   The image processing computer according to claim 13, further comprising a step of prohibiting faithful processing of the image when it is determined that the shape of the image element is the same as the shape of the specific pattern by the shape inspection step. A recording medium that records the program. Inputting an image composed of a plurality of pixels each having color information;
An absolute position condition that defines a condition of an absolute pixel position for specifying a predetermined pixel in the plurality of pixels in the image , and any pixel in the plurality of pixels in the image as a target pixel Storing a relative position condition that defines a condition of a relative pixel position with respect to the target pixel in the case of
Selecting a pixel of interest to be binarized from among the pixels in the image;
The related pixel that is a pixel in the image that satisfies both the threshold value, the color information of the target pixel, the absolute position condition stored in the storage unit, and the relative position condition with respect to the selected target pixel. Binarizing the selected pixel of interest based on color information;
An image processing method comprising the step of detecting the Oite specific pattern in binary Kaga image obtained by said step of binarizing.

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