JP2010178012A - Image processing system, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a technique capable of reducing image degradation caused by image processing.
A printing system includes: a pixel specifying unit that specifies a specific pixel among a plurality of pixels that constitute an original image represented by image data; and the original image in a rectangular shape smaller than the original image. Image separation unit 330 that generates specific image data 420a and 420b separated from the image, image processing unit 340 that processes the specific image data 420a and 420b, and composite image data obtained by combining the pixels in the specific image data 420a and 420b with the original image And an image composition unit 350 for generating 440.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system and an image processing method for processing image data.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image data having different image characteristics (such as personal computers (hereinafter referred to as “personal computers”), printing devices (printers), copying devices (copiers), facsimiles, multifunction devices, etc., in which image regions having different characteristics coexist. For example, various techniques for processing image data in which a character area and a photographic area coexist have been proposed. In Cited Document 1, in order to perform different image processing for each image area having different characteristics in the image data, a plurality of rectangular areas surrounding each of the character area and the photographic area are set, and each of the plurality of rectangular areas is set. Discloses a technique for designating image processing.

JP 2002-135578 A

  However, in the technique of the cited document 1, for example, in an image area in which images having different characteristics are mixed and cannot be separated into rectangular areas, such as an image area in which a character image is drawn against a photographic image, an image having one characteristic However, when image processing is performed on an image, unnecessary image processing is performed on an image having the other characteristic. For example, when edge smoothing processing is performed to smooth the edges of a character image in an image area in which a character image is drawn against a photographic image as a background, the edges of the photographic image are smoothed. When color correction processing is performed to adjust the color of a photographic image, the color of the character image is changed.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of reducing image degradation caused by image processing.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 An image processing system according to Application Example 1 is an image processing system that processes image data, and is based on characteristics of pixels that form an image having the first number of pixels that is an image of the image data. Then, a pixel specifying unit for specifying a specific pixel having a predetermined characteristic among the pixels, and a specific image having a second pixel number smaller than the first pixel number by separating the specific pixel from the image An image separation unit that generates the specific image data, an image processing unit that performs image processing on the specific image data, and composite image data obtained by combining the image data and the specific image data that has undergone the image processing And an image synthesizing unit for generating the image.

  According to the image processing system of the application example 1, even in the case of image data having an image region in which pixels having different characteristics are mixed, a specific pixel having a predetermined characteristic can be separated and processed in units of pixels. It is possible to reduce image degradation due to image processing on a specific image generated by separating specific pixels. In addition, according to the image processing system of Application Example 1, image processing can be performed without considering the influence on an image composed of pixels other than singular pixels. As compared with a case where image processing is performed on an image in which the image processing is performed in consideration of an influence on an image composed of pixels other than singular pixels, the algorithm in the image processing can be simplified. Also, according to the image processing system of Application Example 1, when image processing is performed on the specific image data of the specific image having a smaller number of pixels than the original image, the image data is processed with the same size as the original image. The processing load can be reduced compared to

  Application Example 2 In the image processing system of Application Example 1, the pixel specifying unit may specify a pixel constituting a character image as the specific pixel. According to the image processing system of the application example 2, since the pixels constituting the character image captured by the specific recognition from the human visual characteristics can be separated from the other pixels, the image of the image according to the human visual characteristics can be separated. Deterioration can be reduced.

  Application Example 3 In the image processing system of Application Example 1 or Application Example 2, the pixel specifying unit includes a first singular pixel having a first characteristic and a second characteristic having a second characteristic among the singular pixels. And the image separation unit separates the first singular pixel from the singular pixel to generate first singular image data, and separates the second singular pixel from the singular pixel. Then, the second singular image data is generated, and the image processing unit may perform different image processing on each of the first singular image data and the second singular image data. According to the image processing system of the application example 3, when a plurality of types of image processing are performed, specific image data can be generated according to each image processing, so that image degradation due to image processing can be reduced. Can do.

  Application Example 4 In the image processing system of Application Example 3, it is assumed that the image processing unit performs the image processing by parallel processing on each of the first singular image data and the second singular image data. Also good. According to the image processing system of Application Example 4, a plurality of specific image data can be stored in separate storage areas, and processing on each data can be performed by parallel processing. Therefore, compared to the case where image processing by parallel processing is performed without separating image data, processing delays caused by waiting for access to the storage area, data arrangement structure in the storage area, etc. are suppressed. Speed can be improved.

  Application Example 5 In the image processing system of Application Example 3 or Application Example 4, the image separation unit includes the first singular pixel overlapping the second singular image of the second singular image data, and the first singular image. When the first singular pixel that does not overlap with the second singular image is identified, the first singular pixel overlapping with the second singular image is separated from the first singular pixel to obtain a third And generating the fourth singular image data by separating the first singular pixel that does not overlap the second singular image from the first singular pixel, and generating the fourth singular image data. The different image processing may be performed on each of the third singular image data and the fourth singular image data. According to the image processing system of the application example 5, by processing a part that overlaps with another singular pixel and a part that does not overlap with another singular pixel among the singular pixels by different image processing, Image processing can be performed in accordance with the relationship between a plurality of images that are respectively configured.

  Application Example 6 In the image processing system of Application Example 5, the pixel specifying unit specifies a pixel constituting the character image as the first singular pixel, and a pixel constituting the photographic image is the second singular pixel. You may specify as. According to the image processing system of the application example 6, since it is possible to specify the singular pixel of the character image that overlaps the photographic image and the singular pixel of the character image that does not overlap the photographic image, it is possible to identify the overlapping relationship between the respective specialty pixels. In accordance with image processing according to the above, image degradation can be further reduced.

  Application Example 7 In the image processing system according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 6, the image specifying unit specifies the singular pixel according to the type of the image processing that can be performed by the image processing unit. You may do it. According to the image processing system of Application Example 7, the specific image data can be generated in consideration of the image processing in the image processing unit, so that the processing load associated with the image processing can be reduced.

  Application Example 8 The image processing system according to any one of Application Example 1 to Application Example 7 further includes a first processing device provided with the image separation unit and a second process provided with the image composition unit. After the singular image data is generated by the apparatus and the image separation unit, the singular image data in the first processing device is processed by the second processing before the synthesized image data is generated by the image synthesizing unit. You may provide the data transfer part transferred to an apparatus. According to the image processing system of the application example 8, data transfer from the first processing device to the second processing device is performed with specific image data having a data capacity smaller than that of the composite image data. The processing load required for data transfer to the second processing device can be reduced.

  Application Example 9 An image processing method according to Application Example 9 is an image processing method for processing image data, which is an image processing method for processing image data, and (a) an image of the image data, Identifying a singular pixel having a predetermined characteristic among the pixels based on a characteristic of a pixel forming an image having a pixel number of 1, and (b) separating the singular pixel from the image, Generating specific image data of a specific pixel having a second number of pixels smaller than the first number of pixels, (c) performing image processing on the specific image data, and (d) the image data And a step of generating synthesized image data obtained by synthesizing the specific image data subjected to the image processing. According to the image processing method of the application example 9, even in the case of image data having an image region in which pixels having different characteristics are mixed, the singular pixel can be separated and processed in units of pixels. Can be reduced.

  The form of the present invention is not limited to an image processing system and an image processing method. For example, an apparatus for processing image data (for example, a personal computer, a printing apparatus, a copying apparatus, a facsimile machine, a multi-function machine), an image data is processed. The present invention can also be applied to other forms such as a program for causing a computer to realize the function. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a printing system. It is a flowchart which shows the image printing process which the personal computer in a printing system performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that a specific pixel is specified in a pixel specific process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that an original image is isolate | separated in an image separation process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the mode of the image process in an image process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that synthetic image data is produced | generated in an image synthesis process. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that an original image is isolate | separated in the image separation process in a 1st modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a mode that an original image is isolate | separated in the image separation process in a 2nd modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the printing system in a 3rd modification.

  In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, an image processing system to which the present invention is applied will be described below. In the present embodiment, a printing system will be described as an example of an image processing system.

A. Example:
A1. Printing system configuration:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the printing system 10. The printing system 10 is a form of an image processing system that processes image data, and is a system that prints an image based on the image data. The printing system 10 includes a personal computer 100 and a printer 200, and printing is performed by the printer 200 based on a print request from the personal computer 100. The personal computer 100 and the printer 200 are connected so as to be able to exchange data. In this embodiment, the personal computer 100 and the printer 200 are connected via a local area network (LAN). , Internet, USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, parallel interface, Bluetooth, etc. may be used.

  The personal computer 100 of the printing system 10 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”) 110, a memory 120, a device interface 132, a user interface 134, and a print transmission interface 135.

  The CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 executes various arithmetic processes based on programs stored in the memory 120. The personal computer 100 includes a data acquisition unit 310, a pixel identification unit 320, an image separation unit 330, an image processing unit 340, and an image composition unit 350 as functional elements realized by the CPU 210 operating based on a program. And a data transmission unit 360. In the present embodiment, the functions of the data acquisition unit 310, the pixel identification unit 320, the image separation unit 330, the image processing unit 340, the image composition unit 350, and the data transmission unit 360 are based on software stored in the memory 120. However, in another embodiment, at least one of these functions may be realized by operating the electronic circuit of the personal computer 100 based on its physical circuit configuration.

  The data acquisition unit 310 of the personal computer 100 acquires image data 410 to be printed and stores the image data 410 in a storage area of the memory 120 for preparation. The pixel specifying unit 320 of the personal computer 100 selects an image having a characteristic different from that of an image formed by other pixels among a plurality of pixels forming the original image represented by the image data 410 acquired by the data acquisition unit 310. The peculiar pixels to be configured are specified, and in this embodiment, the pixels constituting the character and the photograph are specified as peculiar pixels. The image separating unit 330 of the personal computer 100 generates singular image data obtained by separating the singular pixels identified by the pixel identifying unit 320 from the original image into a rectangular shape smaller than the original image. Specific image data 420a to be expressed and specific image data 420b to express a specific pixel of a photograph are generated.

  The image processing unit 340 of the personal computer 100 processes the specific image data 420 a and 420 b generated by the image separation unit 330. The image composition unit 350 of the personal computer 100 generates composite image data 440 in which the pixels in the specific image data 420a and 420b processed by the image processing unit 340 are combined with the original image. The data transmission unit 360 of the personal computer 100 transmits a print request including the composite image data 440 generated by the image composition unit 350 to the printer 200 via the print transmission interface 135.

  In the present embodiment, the image data 410, the specific image data 420a and 420b, and the composite image data 440 handled by the personal computer 100 are raster data based on the RGB color system. Raster data is data that represents an image by enumerating a plurality of pixel values having pixel color information. In the RGB color system, red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue). Various colors are expressed by mixing these three colors. In other embodiments, other different color systems such as the RGBA color system may be used instead of the RGB color system.

  The memory 120 of the personal computer 100 stores data processed by the CPU 110 in addition to a program defining the arithmetic processing performed by the CPU 110, and also stores data such as image data 410, specific image data 420a and 420b, and composite image data 440. In this embodiment, the memory 120 of the personal computer 100 includes a read only memory (hereinafter referred to as “ROM”) and a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as “RAM”). In this case, a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) may be virtually used as a part of the memory 120.

  The print transmission interface 135 of the personal computer 100 exchanges data with external devices of the personal computer 100 (for example, an external hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”), a USB memory, a digital camera, the Internet, etc.). The user interface 134 exchanges information with the user of the personal computer 100 via a display, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. A print transmission interface 135 of the personal computer 100 exchanges data with the printer 200. Details of the operation of the personal computer 100 will be described later.

  The printer 200 of the printing system 10 is an ink jet printer that prints characters and images by ejecting ink droplets onto a print medium such as paper or a label. The printer 200 may include various functions such as a scanner and a copy as a so-called multifunction machine. good. The printer 200 includes a CPU 210, a memory 220, a print reception interface 235, and a printing mechanism unit 240.

  The CPU 210 of the printer 200 executes various arithmetic processes based on programs stored in the memory 220. The printer 200 includes a data receiving unit 370 and a print control unit 380 as functional elements realized by the CPU 210 operating based on a program. In this embodiment, the functions of the data reception unit 370 and the print control unit 380 are realized by the CPU 210 operating based on software stored in the memory 220. However, in other embodiments, the electronic functions of the printer 200 are implemented. At least one of these functions may be realized by the circuit operating based on its physical circuit configuration.

  The data reception unit 370 of the printer 200 receives a print request including the composite image data 440 from the personal computer 100 via the print reception interface 235. The print control unit 380 of the printer 200 prints an image based on the composite image data 440 by controlling the print mechanism unit 240 based on the print request received by the data reception unit 370.

  In this embodiment, the composite image data 440 transferred from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200 is RGB color system raster data, and is converted into CMYK color system raster data by the printer 200 prior to printing. In the CMYK color system, various colors are expressed by mixing four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In other embodiments, other different color systems such as the YCbCr color system may be used instead of the CMYK color system.

  The memory 220 of the printer 200 stores data processed by the CPU 210 and data such as the composite image data 440 in addition to a program that defines the arithmetic processing performed by the CPU 210. In this embodiment, the memory 220 of the printer 200 includes a ROM and a RAM. In other embodiments, the HDD may be used virtually as a part of the memory 220.

  A print reception interface 235 of the printer 200 exchanges data with the personal computer 100. The printing mechanism unit 240 of the printer 200 executes printing by ejecting four colors of ink of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black onto the printing medium based on an instruction from the CPU 210.

A2. Printing system operation:
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the image printing process (step S10) executed by the personal computer 100 in the printing system 10. The image printing process (step S10) in FIG. 2 is a process for transmitting a print request from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200. In this embodiment, when an instruction to print the image data 410 by the printer 200 is received from the user of the personal computer 100 via the user interface 134, the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 performs the image printing process (step S10). Start. In this embodiment, the image printing process (step S10) is realized by the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 operating based on software. In other embodiments, the electronic circuit of the personal computer 100 has its physical circuit configuration. It may be realized by operating based on the above.

  When starting the image printing process (step S10), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 executes the data acquisition process (step S100) by operating as the data acquisition unit 310. In the data acquisition process (step S100), the CPU 110 acquires the image data 410 to be printed, stores the image data 410 in the storage area of the memory 120, and prepares it. The image data 410 prepared in the data acquisition process (step S100) may be data obtained by reading image data stored in another storage area of the memory 120, or via the device interface 132 or the user interface 134. May be acquired data.

  After the data acquisition process (step S100), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 executes the pixel specifying process (step S200) by operating as the pixel specifying unit 320. In the pixel specifying process (step S200), the CPU 110 is an image formed by other pixels among a plurality of pixels forming the original image represented by the image data 410 acquired by the data acquisition process (step S100). Specific pixels constituting an image having different characteristics are specified.

  In this embodiment, by recognizing a character in the image data 410 using a known optical character recognition technique, the pixels constituting the character image among the plurality of pixels in the image data 410 are specified as singular pixels and are known. By recognizing the photograph in the image data 410 using the image recognition technique, the pixels constituting the photograph image among the plurality of pixels in the image data 410 are specified as specific pixels. In another embodiment, the specific pixels related to the character image may be subdivided by classifying the character image into a plurality of types by character color, character size, numbers, hiragana, katakana, kanji, alphabet, etc. In addition, the singular pixels related to the photographic image may be subdivided by classifying the photographic image into a plurality of types based on a human face, a landscape, a region filled with a monochrome system (solid painting), or the like. Thus, the singular pixels separated from the original image 510 in units of pixels can be classified and processed in more detail, so that image degradation due to image processing can be further reduced. In another embodiment, a pixel constituting an image such as an illustration (illustration, illustration) or a pixel constituting a margin may be specified as a unique pixel.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how a singular pixel is specified in the pixel specifying process (step S200). The upper part of FIG. 3 shows the original image 510 represented by the image data 410, and the lower part of FIG. 3 shows how the pixels in the original image 510 are classified by performing the pixel specifying process (step S200). An original image 510 shown in FIG. 3 is a rectangular image. A sunflower photographic image 516 is pasted on the lower right side of the original image 510, and a margin 512 is provided around the photographic image 516. On the left side, characters 514 are written across the margin 512 and the photographic image 516. In the example of the original image 510 in FIG. 3, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, in the pixel specifying process (step S <b> 200), the pixels forming the character 514 are specified as the singular pixels 614 and the pixels forming the photographic image 516. Is identified as a singular pixel 616. In the present embodiment, the margin 512 is specified as a pixel 612 other than the singular pixel.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, after the pixel specifying process (step S <b> 200), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 performs the image separation process (step S <b> 300) by operating as the image separation unit 330. In the image separation process (step S300), the CPU 110 separates the specific pixels 614 and 616 specified by the pixel specifying process (step S200) from the original image 510 into a rectangular shape smaller than the original image 510. Is generated. The singular image data 420a is data representing the singular pixel 614 extracted from the image data 410, and the singular image data 420b is data representing the singular pixel 616 extracted from the image data 410.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how the original image 510 is separated in the image separation process (step S300). FIG. 4 shows an original image 510 expressed by the image data 410, a specific image 520a expressed by the specific image data 420a, and a specific image 520b expressed by the specific image data 420b.

  4 includes the character 514 specified as the specific pixel 614 in the pixel specifying process (step S200), the pixel to which the photographic image 516 is pasted in the original image 510 is replaced with a blank, and the character 514 is replaced. The surrounding shape is shaped into a rectangular shape smaller than the original image 510. The singular image data 420a includes, in addition to data representing the singular image 520a, positional information Pa indicating the original position where the singular image 520a is separated from the original image 510. In this embodiment, the positional information Pa is the singular image. The coordinates at which the pixel at the upper left corner in 520a is located on the original image 510 are shown.

  4 includes the photographic image 516 specified as the singular pixel 616 in the pixel specifying process (step S200), and the pixel in which the character 514 is described in the original image 510 is replaced with a blank space. And is shaped into a rectangular shape smaller than the original image 510. The singular image data 420b includes position information Pb indicating an original position where the singular image 520b is separated from the original image 510, in addition to data representing the singular image 520b. In the present embodiment, the position information Pb includes the singular image 520b. The coordinates at which the pixel at the upper left corner in 520b is located on the original image 510 are shown.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, after the image separation process (step S <b> 300), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 performs the image processing process (step S <b> 400) by operating as the image processing unit 340. In the image processing process (step S400), the CPU 110 processes the specific image data 420a and 420b by processing each of the specific image data 420a and 420b generated by the image separation process (step S300) by different image processing. .

  Image processing in the image processing (step S400) may include at least one of sharpness processing, smoothing processing, gradation correction processing, density correction processing, color correction processing, resolution conversion processing, and compression processing. The sharpness process is a process for sharpening the contour (edge). The smoothing process is a process that smoothly shows slanted lines and curved lines. The gradation correction process is a process for correcting to a smooth color gradation so that a pseudo contour does not occur. The density correction process is a process for correcting the color density. The color correction process is a process for correcting the color. The resolution conversion process is a process for converting the resolution. The compression process is a process for reducing the data capacity.

  Note that the image in both the specific image data 420a and 420b may be processed by the image processing in the image processing (step S400), or one of the specific image data 420a and 420b is processed, and the other image is The original image may be left as it is. For example, in a resolution conversion process in which the resolution before and after conversion is the same or a compression process using lossless compression, the image does not change before and after these processes.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state of image processing in the image processing processing (step S400). FIG. 5 shows a conversion singular image 525a obtained by processing the singular image 520a in the singular image data 420a by the image processing (step S400), and a conversion obtained by processing the singular image 520b in the singular image data 420b by the image processing (step S400). A unique image 525b is shown.

  In the image processing shown in FIG. 5 (step S400), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 performs resolution conversion processing (step S422) on the singular image 520a and performs resolution conversion processing (step S432) on the singular image 520b. carry out. In the present embodiment, the resolution set in the resolution conversion process (step S422) for the singular image 520a based on the human visual characteristics that can obtain a sufficient image quality even if the photographic image has a lower resolution than the character image. Is set higher than the resolution set in the resolution conversion process (step S432) for the unique image 520b. For example, when the resolution of the original image 510 is “2400 × 2400 dpi (dot per inch)”, the resolution of the singular image 520a is set to “2400 × 2400 dpi”, which is the same as that of the original image 510, and the resolution of the singular image 520b is singular. It may be set to “600 × 600 dpi” lower than the image 520a. In another embodiment, the resolution set in the resolution conversion process (step S422) for the singular image 520a may be set lower than the resolution set in the resolution conversion process (step S432) for the singular image 520b. However, the same resolution may be set.

  After the resolution conversion processing (steps S422 and S434), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 performs character image processing (step S424) on the singular image 520a and performs photographic image processing (step S434) on the singular image 520b. To do. The character image processing (step S424) is different from the photographic image processing (step S434) in terms of the type of image processing, the degree of conversion, the target range, and the like. In the present embodiment, the character image processing (step S424) includes sharpness processing for sharpening the edge portion of the character and smoothing processing for smoothly showing the jaggy of the hatched portion and the curved portion of the character. In this embodiment, the photographic image processing (step S434) includes gradation correction processing for correcting a photographic image to smooth color gradation, density correction processing for correcting the color density of the photographic image, and color tone of the photographic image. Color correction processing for correction, and sharpness processing for sharpening the blur of a photographic image.

  After the character image processing (step S424) and the photographic image processing (step S434), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 performs compression processing (step S426) on the singular image 520a and compression processing (step S426) on the singular image 520b. S436) is performed. In the present embodiment, the compression process for the singular image 520a (step S426) is more effective than the compression process for the singular image 520b (step S436), based on the human visual characteristics that the image quality of the character image is more conspicuous than the photographic image. Implemented with a highly reproducible compression algorithm. For example, the compression process (step S426) for the singular image 520a may be lossless compression, and the compression process (step S436) for the singular image 520b may be irreversible compression. In other embodiments, the compression process (step S426) for the singular image 520a may be performed with a compression algorithm having a lower reproducibility than the compression process (step S436) for the singular image 520b, or the same compression algorithm. May be implemented.

  After the compression process (steps S426 and S436), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 ends the image processing process (step S400). When the image processing (step S400) is completed, the singular image 520a of the singular image data 420a has been converted into the converted singular image 525a, and the singular image 520b of the singular image data 420b has been converted into the converted singular image 525b. ing.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, after the image processing process (step S <b> 400), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 executes the image composition process (step S <b> 500) by operating as the image composition unit 350. In the image composition process (step S500), the CPU 110 generates composite image data 440 obtained by combining the original image 510 with the specific pixels in the specific image data 420a and 420b processed by the image processing process (step S400).

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how the composite image data 440 is generated in the image composition processing (step S500). FIG. 6 shows a combination of the converted singular image 525a of the singular image data 420a processed by the image processing (step S400) and the converted singular image 525b of the singular image data 420b processed by the image processing (step S400). A composite image 540 of the image data 440 is shown.

  In the image synthesis process (step S500), the transformed singular image 525a of the singular image data 420a is synthesized with the original image 510 of the image data 410 according to the coordinates indicated by the position information Pa included in the singular image data 420a, and the singular image data. The converted singular image 525b of 420b is synthesized with the original image 510 of the image data 410 in accordance with the coordinates indicated by the position information Pb included in the singular image data 420b. In the present embodiment, in the image composition process (step S500), the margins in the converted singular images 525a and 525b are handled as transparent colors, and the pixels in the converted singular image 525a are superimposed on the pixels in the converted singular image 525b. A composite image 540 is formed. That is, when there is an effective pixel that is not a margin at the same position in the converted singular image 525a and the converted singular image 525b, the pixel of the converted singular image 525a is selected as the pixel of the composite image 540. As a result, it is possible to prevent loss of the unique pixels 614 constituting the characters 514 in the composite image data 440.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, after the image composition process (step S <b> 500), the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 executes the data transmission process (step S <b> 600) by operating as the data transmission unit 360. In the data transmission process (step S600), the CPU 110 transmits a print request including the composite image data 440 generated by the image composition process (step S500) to the printer 200 via the print transmission interface 135. In the data transmission process (step S600), when a print request is transmitted from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200, the printer 200 prints a composite image 540 based on the composite image data 440.

A3. effect:
According to the printing system 10 described above, even in the case of the image data 410 having an image region in which images having different characteristics are mixed, the unique pixels 614 and 616 constituting the image having characteristics different from those of other images are arranged in units of pixels. Since they can be processed separately (steps S300 and S400), image degradation due to image processing can be reduced. Further, according to the printing system 10, image processing can be performed without considering the influence on other images having different characteristics (step S400), and therefore the influence on other images having different characteristics is taken into consideration. Compared to the case, the algorithm in the image processing can be simplified. Further, according to the printing system 10, the singular pixels 614 and 616 constituting the image having different characteristics from other images are separated into a rectangular shape smaller than the original image 510 and processed (steps S300 and S400). The processing load can be reduced compared to the case where the image data 410 is subjected to image processing with the same size as the original image 510.

  Further, in the pixel specifying process (step S200), among the plurality of pixels in the image data 410, the pixels constituting the character 514 and the photographic image 516 are specified as the specific pixels 614 and 616. Since pixels constituting a character captured by recognition can be separated from other pixels, image degradation can be reduced according to human visual characteristics.

  In the image separation process (step S300), each of the singular pixels 614 and 616 constituting the character 514 and the photographic image 516 is generated as a plurality of singular image data 420a and 420b. Since the singular pixels 614 and 616 to be processed can be classified and processed in more detail, image deterioration due to image processing can be further reduced.

  In the image specifying process (step S200), the character 514 and the photographic image process (step S434) corresponding to the character image process (step S424) and the photographic image process (step S434), which are the types of image processing that can be performed in the image processing process (step S400). Since the singular pixels 614 and 616 constituting the photographic image 516 are specified, the singular image data 420a and 420b can be generated in consideration of the image processing in the image processing (step S400). The load can be reduced.

A4. First modification:
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how the original image 510 is separated in the image separation process (step S300) in the first modification. In the first modification, in the image separation process (step S300), the singular pixels 614 constituting the character 514 are divided into a plurality of rectangular shapes to generate a plurality of singular image data separated from the original image 510, This is the same as the printing system 10 of the above-described embodiment. In FIG. 7, an original image 510 represented by the image data 410, two singular images 520c and 520d represented by two singular image data obtained by separating the singular pixels 614 constituting the characters 514 from the original image 510, The singular image 520b which isolate | separated the singular pixel 616 which comprises the photograph image 516 from the original image 510 is shown.

  The unique image 520c of FIG. 7 includes an upper character 514c adjacent to the margin 514s among the characters 514 identified as the unique pixel 614 in the pixel identification process (step S200), and surrounds the character 514c by excluding the margin 514s. It is shaped into a ward shape. The singular image 520d of FIG. 7 includes a character 514d located in the lower stage of the character 514c and the margin 514s among the characters 514 identified as the singular pixel 614 in the pixel identification process (step S200), and excludes the character 514c and the margin 514s. Thus, the character 514c is shaped into a section surrounding the character 514c.

  According to the first modification, the margin 514s other than the specific pixel 614 in the specific image data is reduced, and the processing load in the image processing (step S400) can be further reduced. In the first modification, the singular pixels 614 constituting the character 514 are divided into a plurality of rectangular shapes to reduce the margin 514s in the character 514. However, in other embodiments, the singular pixels 616 constituting the photographic image 516 are used. May be divided into a plurality of rectangular shapes to reduce the margin in the photographic image 516.

A5. Second modification:
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how the original image 510 is separated in the image separation process (step S300) in the second modification. In the second modified example, in the image separation process (step S300), the character 514 is configured so as to be separated into a part overlapping the specific pixel 616 constituting the photographic image 516 and a part not overlapping the specific pixel 616. Except for the point that the singular pixel 614 is divided into a plurality of rectangular shapes and a plurality of singular image data separated from the original image 510 is generated, it is the same as the printing system 10 of the above-described embodiment. In FIG. 8, an original image 510 represented by the image data 410, two singular images 520e and 520f represented by two singular image data obtained by separating the singular pixels 614 constituting the character 514 from the original image 510, The singular image 520b which isolate | separated the singular pixel 616 which comprises the photograph image 516 from the original image 510 is shown.

  The singular image 520e in FIG. 8 includes a character region 514e that does not overlap with the singular pixel 616 constituting the photographic image 516 among the characters 514 identified as the singular pixel 614 in the pixel identification process (step S200). The non-overlapping character area 514f is replaced with a blank space and shaped into a rectangular shape surrounding the character area 514e. The singular image 520f of FIG. 8 includes a character region 514f that overlaps the singular pixel 616 constituting the photographic image 516 among the characters 514 identified as the singular pixel 614 in the pixel identification process (step S200). The overlapping character region 514e is replaced with a blank space, and is shaped into a rectangle surrounding the character region 514f.

  According to the second modification, among the singular pixels 614 constituting the character 514, the character region 514f overlapping with the singular pixel 616 constituting the photographic image 516 and the character region 514e not overlapping the singular pixel 616 are subjected to image processing. By performing different image processing in (Step S400), image processing according to the relationship between the character 514 and the photographic image 516 can be performed. In the second modification, the singular pixel 614 constituting the character 514 is divided according to the overlapping relationship with the singular pixel 616 constituting the photographic image 516. However, in another embodiment, the photographic image 516 is configured. The singular pixel 616 may be divided according to the overlapping relationship with the singular pixel 614 constituting the character 514.

A6. Third modification:
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the printing system 12 in the third modification. The printing system 12 of the third modified example is the same as the printing system 10 described above except that the configuration of the printer 200 is different and that the specific image data 420a and 420b are transferred from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200.

  The printer 200 in the third modified example includes an image processing unit 340 and an image composition unit 350 as functional elements realized by the CPU 210 operating based on a program, in addition to the data reception unit 370 and the print control unit 380. In the third modified example, the data receiving unit 370 of the printer 200 receives a print request including the specific image data 420a and 420b from the personal computer 100 via the print reception interface 235. The image processing unit 340 of the printer 200 processes the specific image data 420a and 420b included in the print request received by the data receiving unit 370. The image composition unit 350 of the printer 200 generates composite image data 440 obtained by combining the specific image data 420 a and 420 b processed by the image processing unit 340 with the image data 410. The print control unit 380 of the printer 200 prints an image based on the composite image data 440 generated by the image composition unit 350 by controlling the print mechanism unit 240 based on the print request received by the data reception unit 370. .

  According to the third modification, data transfer from the personal computer 100 as the first processing device to the printer 200 as the second processing device is performed with the specific image data 420a and 420b having a data capacity smaller than that of the composite image data 440. Therefore, the processing load required for data transfer from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200 can be reduced. In the third modification, the specific image data 420a and 420b before being processed in the image processing process (step S400) is transferred from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200. However, in other embodiments, the image processing process (step S400) is performed. The specific image data 420a and 420b processed in step) may be transferred from the personal computer 100 to the printer 200.

B. Other embodiments:
The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a printing system has been described. In another embodiment, for example, an image in an electronic device that handles image data, such as a personal computer, a printer, a digital camera, a viewer, and a mobile phone. The invention may be applied to the processing function.

  In the above-described embodiment, the pixels constituting the character image and the photographic image are specified as the singular pixels. However, by using a known image recognition technique, the character image and the photographic image are added to the character image and the photographic image. Instead, a pixel constituting an image having other characteristics such as an illustration or a vector image (vector image) may be specified as a specific pixel.

  In addition, the CPU 110 of the personal computer 100 is configured as a multiprocessor or multi-core having a plurality of arithmetic processing devices, and the image processing (step S400) is performed in parallel, whereby the first arithmetic processing device in the plurality of arithmetic processing devices. Image processing may be performed on the singular image data 420a, and image processing on the singular image data 420b may be performed by a second arithmetic processing device in a plurality of arithmetic processing devices. Accordingly, the unique image data 420a and 420b can be stored in different storage areas in the memory 120, and different image processing can be performed on each data by parallel processing. Therefore, compared with the case where image processing by parallel processing is performed without separating the image data 410, the delay of the arithmetic processing due to the waiting for access to the storage area or the data arrangement structure in the storage area is suppressed, The processing speed can be improved.

10 ... Printing system 12 ... Printing system 100 ... Personal computer 110 ... CPU
120 ... Memory 132 ... Device interface 134 ... User interface 135 ... Print transmission interface 200 ... Printer 210 ... CPU
220 ... Memory 235 ... Print reception interface 240 ... Print mechanism 310 ... Data acquisition unit 320 ... Pixel identification unit 330 ... Image separation unit 340 ... Image processing unit 350 .. .Image composition unit 360 ... Data transmission unit 370 ... Data reception unit 380 ... Print control unit 410 ... Image data 420a ... Unique image data 420b ... Uniform image data 440 ... Composition Image data 510 ... Original image 512 ... Margin 514 ... Character 514c ... Character 514d ... Character 514e ... Character area 514f ... Character area 514s ... Margin 516 ... Photo Image 520a ... Singular image 520b ... Singular image 520c ... Singular image 520d ... Singular image 520e ... Singular image 520f ... Singular image 525a ... Singing specific image 525b ... Singing specific Image 540 ... Composite image 612 ... Other pixels 614 ... Singular pixels 616 .. Singular pixels

Claims (9)

An image processing system for processing image data,
A pixel specifying unit that specifies a specific pixel having a predetermined characteristic among the pixels based on characteristics of a pixel that forms an image having the first number of pixels and is an image of the image data;
An image separation unit that separates the singular pixels from the image and generates singular image data of a singular image having a second number of pixels smaller than the first number of pixels;
An image processing unit that performs image processing on the specific image data;
An image processing system comprising: an image synthesis unit that generates synthesized image data obtained by synthesizing the image data and the specific image data subjected to the image processing.   The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the pixel specifying unit specifies a pixel constituting a character image as the specific pixel. The pixel specifying unit specifies a first singular pixel having a first characteristic and a second singular pixel having a second characteristic among the singular pixels,
The image separation unit separates the first singular pixel from the singular pixel to generate first singular image data, separates the second singular pixel from the singular pixel, and generates second singular image data. And generate
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit performs different image processing on each of the first singular image data and the second singular image data.   The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the image processing unit performs the image processing on each of the first singular image data and the second singular image data by parallel processing. The image separation unit identifies the first singular pixel that overlaps the second singular image of the second singular image data and the first singular pixel that does not overlap the second singular image. In this case, the first singular pixel overlapping the second singular image is separated from the first singular pixel to generate third singular image data, and from the first singular pixel, the first singular pixel Separating the first singular pixels that do not overlap with the two singular images to generate fourth singular image data;
The image processing system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the image processing unit performs different image processing on each of the third singular image data and the fourth singular image data.   The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the pixel specifying unit specifies a pixel constituting a character image as the first singular pixel and a pixel constituting a photographic image as the second singular pixel.   The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image specifying unit specifies the specific pixel according to a type of the image processing that can be performed by the image processing unit. The image processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
A first processing device provided with the image separation unit;
A second processing device provided with the image composition unit;
After the specific image data is generated by the image separation unit, before the composite image data is generated by the image combining unit, the specific image data in the first processing device is transferred to the second processing device. An image processing system comprising a data transfer unit. An image processing method for processing image data,
(A) identifying a singular pixel having a predetermined characteristic among the pixels based on a characteristic of a pixel that forms an image having the first number of pixels and is an image of the image data;
(B) separating the singular pixels from the image to generate singular image data of singular pixels having a second number of pixels smaller than the first number of pixels;
(C) performing image processing on the specific image data;
(D) An image processing method comprising: generating synthesized image data obtained by synthesizing the image data and the specific image data subjected to the image processing.

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