JP2002247346A - Image processing apparatus, method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, a method, and a recording medium that can reduce the occurrence of moire. According to an image processing apparatus having a data generation unit and a printer unit, a resolution conversion unit is provided.
0g, the input resolution of the scanner 10 and the printer 3
Resolution conversion processing is performed based on the output resolution of 0 and the enlargement / reduction ratio. Then, after the resolution conversion processing is performed, the enhancement processing sections (20d and 20e) perform the enhancement processing, and after the enhancement processing, perform the printing processing with substantially the same size. Thus, the occurrence of moire can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and recording medium for performing an enhancement process after resolution conversion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a scanner / printer copy having a scanner as an input device and a printer as an output device, resolution conversion is performed twice when performing an enlarged copy. Then, when performing an enhancement process such as a black character enhancement process, resolution conversion is performed before and after the enhancement process.

[0003]

However, performing resolution conversion after the enhancement processing is one of the causes of moire.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus, method, and recording medium that can reduce the occurrence of moire.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus having a data generation unit and a printer unit, wherein an input resolution of the data generation unit and an output resolution of the printer unit are provided. And a resolution conversion unit for performing a resolution conversion process based on the enlargement / reduction ratio, and an enhancement processing unit for performing an enhancement process after the resolution conversion process. It is configured to perform.

According to the image processing apparatus having the data generation unit and the printer unit configured as described above, the resolution conversion means uses the input resolution of the data generation unit, the output resolution of the printer unit, and the enlargement / reduction ratio. , A resolution conversion process is performed. Then, after the resolution conversion processing is performed, the enhancement processing is performed by the enhancement processing means, and after the enhancement processing, the printing processing is performed with substantially the same size.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
3. The image processing device according to item 1, wherein the data generation unit includes the resolution conversion unit.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the data generation unit includes a scanner unit.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The resolution conversion process is configured to include a smoothing process.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the binarization processing in the printer unit is an error diffusion processing.

[0011] The invention according to claim 6 is the first invention.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The emphasis processing means is configured to perform a sharpness emphasis process for enhancing sharpness by correcting the element color components in a direction of decreasing density for each element color component based on the image data.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the enhancement processing means performs black enhancement processing based on the image data. Is done.

The invention described in claim 8 is the same as the claim 6.
Or the image processing device according to 7, wherein the sharpness enhancement process is a process of obtaining a difference between before and after smoothing the color image data of a predetermined area, and a process of enhancing sharpness when the difference is positive. It is comprised including.

Further, according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, the sharpness enhancing process includes a process of adjusting a degree of enhancing sharpness. It is composed.

The invention according to claim 10 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the black enhancement processing is performed on a black area. .

Further, the invention according to claim 11 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the black area is:
It is configured to be obtained based on the luminance equivalent value and the saturation equivalent value.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to any one of the seventh to eleventh aspects, wherein the black enhancement processing includes processing for enhancing a shadow portion. You.

The invention according to claim 13 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the black enhancement processing is performed after the sharpness enhancement processing is performed. Be composed.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to any one of the sixth to thirteenth aspects, wherein the sharpness enhancement processing or the black enhancement processing can be selected. Is done.

Further, the invention according to claim 15 is an image processing method using a data generation unit and a printer unit, wherein the resolution conversion is performed based on an input resolution of the data generation unit, an output resolution of the printer unit, and an enlargement / reduction ratio. , And an emphasis processing step of performing an emphasis process after the resolution conversion process. After the emphasis process, a printing process of substantially the same size is performed.

The invention according to claim 16 is a program for causing a computer to execute image processing using a data generation unit and a printer unit, wherein the input resolution of the data generation unit, the output resolution of the printer unit, and the enlargement are provided.・
A program for causing a computer to execute a resolution conversion process for performing a resolution conversion based on a reduction ratio, an enhancement process after the resolution conversion process, and a printing process for printing at substantially the same size after the enhancement process.

[0022]

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

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an image processing system to which an image processing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of a specific hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus. This is shown in the figure.

Image Processing Apparatus In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 20 performs image processing on an image input signal supplied from a scanner 10 and outputs the processed color image data to a printer 30. Here, the image input signal represents the strength of each element color while separating the color image for each predetermined element color, and is represented by gray when mixed at a predetermined ratio with a chromatic color. Color and black.

The image processing device 20 performs a desired resolution conversion based on an instruction from the instruction unit 20f.
g; a color correction process of performing a desired color correction process based on an instruction from the instruction unit 20f and converting input RGB tone data (the image input signal) into R′G′B ′ tone data. A part 20a; the R'G'B 'gradation data
A color conversion unit 20b for converting into Y ((cyan, magenta, yellow) or CMYK with black added thereto, or CMYKcm with light cyan (c) and light magenta (m) added thereto); Converted CMY
(Or CMYK or CMYKcm) gradation conversion unit 20c for converting gradation data into binary data. In this embodiment, the binarization processing is performed by an error diffusion method. In the binarization processing by the error diffusion method, the density error generated for each pixel is diffused to the surrounding unprocessed pixels, and the density error diffused from the processed pixel is calculated for each pixel. This is a method of determining dot on / off by reflecting it in data. According to this method, the density error can be minimized, high-quality halftone processing can be realized, interference can be suppressed as compared with the case where dither processing is used, and moire can be generated. Can be reduced.

Further, the color correction processing section 20a includes an instruction section 2
0f, an unsharp masking processing unit 20d for performing unsharp masking processing based on an instruction from
And a black enhancement processing unit 20e that performs black enhancement processing based on an instruction from 0f. The details of the processing of the unsharp masking processing section 20d and the black enhancement processing section 20e will be described later.

Hardware Configuration In this embodiment, the scanner 11a or the digital still camera 11b as an image input device outputs RGB (green, blue, red) gradation data as image data, and the image output device 30 Printer 17b as
CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) as gradation data, CMYK with black added thereto, or CM with light cyan (c) light magenta (m) added thereto
Requires YKcm binary data as input. Also,
The display 17a requires RGB gradation data as an input. On the other hand, the computer 12 includes an operating system 12a, a printer 17b, and a printer driver 12c and a display driver 12b corresponding to the display 17a. The execution of the image processing application 12d is controlled by the operating system 12a, and the printer driver 12c and the display driver 12c
A predetermined image processing is executed jointly with b. Therefore,
The specific role of the computer 12 as the image processing device 20 is that RGB gradation data obtained by performing desired resolution conversion processing on input RGB gradation data and then performing high-speed and high-quality black character enhancement processing The printer 1 creates data, converts it into binary data of CMY (or CMYK or CMYKcm) via the printer driver 12c, and
7b.

Image Processing Control Program The image processing control program according to the present invention is usually a floppy (registered trademark) in a form readable by the computer 12.
It is recorded on a recording medium such as a disk or CD-ROM and distributed. The program is a media reader (CD-
ROM drive 13c, floppy disk drive 1
3a) and read by the hard disk 13b
Installed in The CPU is configured to read a desired program from the hard disk 13b and execute a desired process. Note that the image processing control program itself according to the present invention also constitutes a part of the present invention.

The modem 14a is connected to a public telephone line and is connected to an external network via the public communication line to download software and data.

Hereinafter, an image processing control program executed by the image processing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a case where the image input device is a scanner and the image output device is a printer will be described.

First Embodiment A first embodiment of an image processing control program executed by the image processing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the resolution conversion unit 20g executes a resolution conversion process, which will be described in detail later, based on the value input via the instruction unit 20f of the image processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 (step 40).

Then, after the resolution conversion processing, when the unsharp masking processing is instructed via the instruction section 20f of the image processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 (step 42, Ye
s) The unsharp masking processing unit 20d of the color correction processing unit 20a executes an unsharp masking process described later in detail (step 44). The unsharp masking process is a process of outputting one pixel for a pixel input in a 3 × 3 range. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining neighboring pixels to be subjected to the unsharp masking process. As described above, in the present embodiment, by setting the values of i and j to integers in the range of −1 ≦ i ≦ 1 and −1 ≦ j ≦ 1, and setting the number of reference pixels to 9, further faster calculation processing is possible. And the capacity of the memory used for the calculation can be further reduced.

On the other hand, when the unsharp masking processing is not instructed via the instructing section 20f (step 42, N
o), the unsharp masking processing unit 20d of the color correction processing unit 20a outputs the pixel located at the center of the pixel in the 3 × 3 range shown in FIG. 4 without performing the unsharp masking processing (step 46). ).

Next, when black enhancement processing is instructed via the instruction section 20f (step 48, Yes), the black enhancement processing section 20e of the color correction processing section 20a executes black enhancement processing which will be described in detail later. (Step 50). The black enhancement process is a process of outputting one pixel for one pixel input.

On the other hand, if the black enhancement processing is not instructed via the instruction section 20f (step 48, No), the black enhancement processing section 20e of the color correction processing section 20a does not perform the black enhancement processing and leaves one pixel as it is. Output (Step 52).

The unsharp masking process in steps 42 to 46 and the black enhancement process in steps 48 to 52 are independent processes. For example, when the load of the entire process is large, only one of the processes is used. You can also. However, it is preferable to perform both processes in view of the effect of the black character enhancement process. Step 4
It is possible to perform the unsharp masking processing in steps 2 to 46 and the black enhancement processing in steps 48 to 52 in the reverse order. However, in the unsharp masking processing, pixels in a 3 × 3 range are secured and unsharp processing is performed. In view of performing the masking process, performing the black enhancement process after the unsharp masking process as shown in FIG.
It is preferable in terms of hardware configuration.

According to this embodiment, since the unsharp masking process and the black enhancement process are performed after the resolution conversion process, the occurrence of moire can be reduced.

In performing the processing of steps 42 to 52, the above processing is performed for all the pixels while moving the target pixel as shown in FIG.

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the image processing control program executed by the image processing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first embodiment, the unsharp masking process and the black enhancement process can be selected.
In the second embodiment, when the adjustment amount of the intensity of the unsharp masking process is set after the resolution conversion process is completed, the unsharp masking process and the black enhancement process are automatically performed.

As shown in FIG. 18, first, based on the value input via the instruction unit 20f of the image processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1, the resolution conversion unit 20g executes a resolution conversion process described in detail later. (Step 53).

[0043] Then, after the resolution conversion process, via the instructing unit 20f of the image processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1, the adjustment amount of the intensity of the unsharp masking process will be described later in detail when C _{US M} is set (Step 54), the unsharp masking processing unit 20d of the color correction processing unit 20a executes an unsharp masking process described in detail later (Step 56). As in the first embodiment, the unsharp masking process is performed for one pixel input in a 3 × 3 range.
This is a process of outputting pixels, and by setting the number of reference pixels to 9 as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to perform a higher-speed calculation process and further reduce the capacity of a memory used for calculation.

After the unsharp masking processing, the black enhancement processing section 20e of the color correction processing section 20a executes the black enhancement processing described later in detail (step 5).
8). As in the first embodiment, the black enhancement process is a process of outputting one pixel for one pixel input.

As in the first embodiment, the unsharp masking process in step 56 and the black enhancement process in step 56 are independent processes. For example, when the overall processing load is large, only one of the processes is performed. The configuration used may be used. However, it is preferable to perform both processes in view of the effect of the black character enhancement process. It is also possible to perform the unsharp masking process in step 56 and the black enhancement process in step 58 in reverse order. However, in the unsharp masking process, the unsharp masking process is performed by securing pixels in a 3 × 3 range. In view of performing the processing, it is better to perform the black enhancement processing after the unsharp masking processing as shown in FIG.
There is no need to provide a memory for storing black enhancement pixels, which is preferable in terms of hardware configuration.

When performing the processing of steps 56 and 58, the above processing is performed for all the pixels while moving the target pixel as shown in FIG.

Next, a resolution conversion control program executed by the resolution converter 20g will be described with reference to FIG.
In this embodiment, the output resolution A [dp
i] can be selected from 360 dpi and 720 dpi, and the input resolution C [dpi] of the scanner 10 is set to 400 dpi.
pi and 800 dpi.

As shown in FIG. 15, first, the instruction unit 20f
, The output resolution A [dpi] is selected from 360 dpi or 720 dpi (step 90), and the original enlargement / reduction ratio B [%] is input (step 92).

Then, 400 dp through the instruction section 20f.
When the input resolution C [dpi] is selected from i or 800 dpi (step 94), the bilinear enlargement / reduction ratio D
[Dpi] is calculated by D [dpi] = (A [dpi] / C [dpi]) × B [%] (step 96), and the process ends.

In this way, when converting the input image size to the output image size, the image size conversion can be performed by one conversion process. The reason that the bilinear is used for the resolution conversion processing is that the image after the resolution conversion by the bilinear is smoother than the image obtained by the other resolution conversion processing, and as a result of this smooth resolution conversion, the occurrence of moire can be reduced. Because.

In the scanner hardware,
When configured to perform the above-described resolution conversion processing, the load on other hardware (image processing apparatus, printer) can be reduced.

Next, an unsharp masking processing control program executed by the unsharp masking processing section 20d will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows an unsharp masking processing section 2
9 is a flowchart illustrating an unsharp masking process control program executed by Od.
7 to 11 are views for explaining the concept of the unsharp masking process.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the unsharp masking process (the process in step 44 in FIG. 3) in this embodiment, the processes for RGB are sequentially performed. In the present embodiment, processing is performed in the order of R → G → B, but this order is an example, and processing may be performed in another order. Further, since the processing contents are the same, R will be described as a representative in the following description.

Here, the pixel to be processed is {Rin (0,0), Gin (0,0), Bin (0,0)} (1), and the range to be processed is {Rin (i, j) ), Gin (i, j), Bin (i, j)｝ (2) Here, i and j are integers in the range of −1 ≦ i ≦ 1 and −1 ≦ j ≦ 1. The pixels after the end of the unsharp masking process are represented by {R _USM (0,0), G _USM (0,0), B _USM (0,0)} (3).

When the unsharp masking process is started in step 44, first, the process flag is set to red (step 60), and the processing target range (3 × 3 range) shown in FIG. Are smoothed (step 62). Assuming that the pixel after smoothing is R _SM (0,0), the smoothing process is as follows:

[0057]

(Equation 1) Becomes

Here, h (-1, -1) = 1/16, h (-1,0) = 2/16, h (-1,1) = 1/16 h (0, -1) = 2/16, h (0,0) = 4/16, h (0,1) = 2/16 h (1, -1) = 1/16, h (1,0) = 2/16, h ( 1,1) = 1/16. h (K, L) is a coefficient of a filter for performing smoothing. The coefficient of this filter can be arbitrarily set as long as the smoothing characteristic is shown. However, in this embodiment, the coefficient is set to a coefficient which can be expressed by a power of 2 in a 3 × 3 range in consideration of processing by hardware.

Assuming that the elementary color density distribution of the original image is as shown in FIG. 7, the rate of change in density of the image after smoothing becomes smaller as a whole as shown in FIG.

Next, the difference between Diff of pixels before and after smoothing is calculated from _{Diff = Rin (0,0) -R SM} (0,0) ... (5) ( step 64).

Then, the corrected difference Diff ′ is set to Diff ′ = Diff... (6) when Diff ≧ 0, and is set to Diff ′ = 0... (7) when Diff ′ <0 (step) 66). Di using Equations (6) and (7)
The reason for correcting ff is to limit the difference Diff to a positive value. By limiting Diff to positive values in this way,
Only the emphasis in the direction in which the density becomes lighter (the value becomes larger) can be performed.

When ordinary unsharp masking processing is performed, the edges of characters and the like become sharp,
Moire occurs in the case of a dot image. However, according to the unsharp masking process according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of moire in the case of a halftone image. That is, the change in the pattern in the halftone image due to the decrease in the density is less noticeable to human senses than the change in the pattern due to the increase in the density.

FIG. 9 shows the element color density distribution before and after smoothing, and FIG. 10 shows the element color density distribution after correction.

The final unsharp masking process is as follows:
The corrected difference Diff 'is added to the original image, and R _USM (0,0) = R _in (0,0) + C _USM · Diff' (8) In the equation (8), C _USM is a constant for controlling the strength of the unsharp masking process, and is set in advance. In the present embodiment, C _USM = 2 as an example. If overflow occurs in R _USM (0,0) as a result, the maximum value of R _USM (0,0) is set to 2
A process limited to 55 is provided. FIG. 11 shows the element color density distribution after the final unsharp masking processing.

Next, referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, the black enhancement processing section 20
The black enhancement processing control program executed by e will be described.

The black enhancement process includes (1) a process for extracting a black region and (2) a process for enhancing an extracted region.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a black area to be extracted. The region surrounded by the oblique lines of the cube in FIG. 12 is a black region, and when viewed as an RGB space, is a region in which both luminance and chroma are small. RG by B is constant plane
Considering the cut surface of the B space, when B is small, the black region exists at the upper left, and as B increases, the black region gradually decreases. Using the fact that an area having low luminance and saturation in the RGB space is a black area, the luminance and the saturation are calculated for the original image, and the black amount is calculated using the weighted average of the luminance and the saturation. Extract the black area. As shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 12, it can be confirmed that as B increases, the black area existing as a triangle gradually decreases.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining a black enhancement processing control program executed by the black enhancement processing section 20e. Here, the target pixels for black enhancement processing are {Rin '(0,0), Gin' (0,0), Bin '(0,0)} (9), and the pixels after the black enhancement processing are {R _BK (0,0), G _BK (0,0), B _BK (0,0)} (10)

As shown in FIG. 13, in the black enhancement processing (the processing in step 50 in FIG. 3) in the present embodiment, the luminance I (0,0) and the saturation equivalent amount are calculated from the RGB values of the black enhancement processing target pixel. Let S (0,0) be I (0,0) = max {Rin '(0,0), Gin' (0,0), Bin '(0,0)} ... (11) S (0,0) = Max ｛Rin '(0,0), Gin' (0,0), Bin '(0,0)｝ -min ｛Rin' (0,0), Gin '(0,0), Bin' (0 , 0)｝ (12) (steps 80 and 82). In equation (12), since the saturation equivalent amount is calculated without performing division, the load on hardware can be reduced.

Next, from the luminance I (0,0) and the saturation equivalent S (0,0) calculated from the equations (11) and (12), the following equation (13) is obtained.
And Expression (14): Dr (0,0) = 255-I (0,0) (13) Gr (0,0) = 255-S (0,0) (14) , 0) and the degree of gray Gr (0,0). Then, using the calculated darkness Dr (0,0) and grayness Gr (0,0), the following equation (15): BK (0,0) = C _BK ｛α · Dr (0,0 ) + (1−α) · Gr (0,0)｝ (15) The black amount BK (0,0) is calculated from 0 ≦ α ≦ 1 (step 8)
4). In Expression (15), C _BK is a constant for controlling the extraction of the black amount, and the larger the value, the more the black amount is extracted. Α is a constant for controlling the relative weight between the darkness and the gray level in the black amount. The larger the value, the more the black amount is calculated with emphasis on luminance (darkness). Both of these two constants are set in advance. In the present embodiment, as an example, C _BK = 1 and α = 0.75.

After calculating the black amount, the shadow portion is emphasized (step 86), and the RGB value of the processing end pixel is calculated by mixing the RGB value of the pixel whose shadow portion is emphasized and the RGB value of the processing target pixel. (Step 88). At this time, the mixing ratio is changed according to the extracted black amount. Since this process is performed equally for RGB, R will be described as a representative in the following description.

A pixel R _SHD in which a shadow portion is emphasized with respect to R
(0,0) is R _SHD (0,0) = (2 · Rin ′ (0,0) / 255) ² · 128, 0 ≦ Rin ′ (0,0) ≦ 128 (16) R _SHD (0,0) = Rin '(0,0), 128 ≦ Rin ′ (0,0) ≦ 255 (17) In the conversion by the equations (16) and (17), the input value is converted and output using the γ function when 0 ≦ Rin ′ (0,0) ≦ 128, and 128 ≦ Rin ′ (0,0) ≦ 255 In this case, the input value is output as it is, and the shadow portion can be emphasized. FIG. 14 shows the conversion by the equations (16) and (17). Note that when implemented as hardware, formula (16) and _{R SHD (0,0) = (Rin} '(0,0)) 2/128, 0 ≦ Rin' (0,0) ≦ 128 ... ( 18) is approximated. This is because equation (16) includes a division by 255, which is not desirable because it imposes a burden on hardware.
This is so as not to include division by 255. Expression (1
Using the black amount of 5) and the shadow enhancement pixels of equations (16) and (17), the final processing pixel R _BK (0,0) of the black enhancement processing is R _BK (0,0) = {BK (0,0) · R _SHD (0,0)} / 255+ {1-BK (0,0) / 255} · Rin '(0,0)… Expression (19) that approximates R _BK (0,0 ) = {BK (0,0) ・ R _SHD (0,0) + (255−BK (0,0)) ・ Rin ′ (0,0)} / 256 (20) Equation (20) calculates the processing end pixel by mixing the shadow emphasized pixel and the black enhancement processing target pixel.At this time, the mixing ratio is changed according to the extracted black amount. I have. Equation (20) uses an approximation because equation (19) includes division by 255,
The reason for this is that the division by 255 is not included because the load on the hardware is not preferable.

Another Embodiment As shown in FIG. 16, a scanner printer copy (SPC) having an image processing unit 20a, a scanner unit 10a, and a printer unit 30a comprising the image processing apparatus shown in FIG.
The image processing according to the present invention can also be applied to. If the resolution conversion process is performed in the hardware of the scanner unit 10a, other hardware (the image processing unit 20a and the printer unit 30a) may be used.
The burden of a) can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the image processing according to the present invention can be applied to image data generated from the application 10a.

[0075]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an image processing system to which an image processing control method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a specific hardware configuration example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of an image processing control program executed by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining neighboring pixels to be subjected to unsharp masking processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where a processing target pixel is moved.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an unsharp masking processing control program executed by an unsharp masking processing unit 20d.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (1) for explaining the concept of unsharp masking processing;

FIG. 8 is a diagram (2) for explaining the concept of unsharp masking processing;

FIG. 9 is a diagram (3) for explaining the concept of unsharp masking processing;

FIG. 10 is a diagram (4) for explaining the concept of the unsharp masking process;

FIG. 11 is a diagram (5) for explaining the concept of the unsharp masking process;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a black area.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a black enhancement processing control program executed by a black enhancement processing unit 20e.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conversion curve for enhancing a shadow portion.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a resolution conversion processing control program executed by a resolution conversion unit 20g.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing an image processing system to which an image processing control method according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing an image processing system to which an image processing control method according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining a second embodiment of the color correction processing control program executed by the image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Image input device 11a Scanner 11b Digital still camera 11c Video camera 12 Computer body 12a Operating system 12b Display driver 12c Printer driver 12d Application 13a Floppy disk drive 13b Hard disk 13c CD-ROM drive 14a Modem 15a Keyboard 15b Mouse 17a Display 17b Color printer 20 Image processing device 20a Color correction processing unit 20b Color conversion unit 20c Binarization unit 20d Unsharp masking processing unit 20e Black enhancement processing unit 20f Instruction unit 30 Image output device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06T 5/20 B41J 3/12 L H04N 1/405 H04N 1/40 B 1/409 101D 1/46 1 / 46 Z F term (reference) 2C062 AA24 AA52 5B057 AA11 BA02 BA23 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB07 CB12 CB16 CC02 CD06 CE03 CE05 CE06 CH08 CH09 CH18 5C076 AA21 AA22 AA26 AA27 AA31 AA32 BA02 BA06 BB40 PP03 CB40 PP03 PP03 PP33 PP47 SS01 TT02 5C079 HB01 HB03 HB12 LA14 LA15 LA31 LA34 LA37 LB01 LC09 NA02 PA03

Claims (16)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus having a data generation unit and a printer unit, comprising: a resolution conversion unit for performing a resolution conversion process based on an input resolution of the data generation unit, an output resolution of the printer unit, and an enlargement / reduction ratio. And an emphasis processing means for performing an emphasis process after the resolution conversion process, and an image processing device that performs a printing process with substantially the same size after the emphasis process. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data generation unit includes the resolution conversion unit. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data generation unit includes a scanner unit. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resolution conversion processing includes a smoothing processing. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binarization processing in the printer unit is an error diffusion processing. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emphasis processing unit is configured to, based on the image data, determine, for each element color component, an element color component in a direction in which a density decreases. An image processing apparatus that performs sharpness enhancement processing to enhance sharpness by correcting. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enhancement processing unit performs black enhancement processing based on the image data. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sharpness enhancement process includes a process of obtaining a difference before and after smoothing the color image data in a predetermined area, and the difference is positive. An image processing device comprising: a process for enhancing sharpness. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sharpness enhancement processing includes processing for adjusting a degree of sharpness enhancement. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the black enhancement processing is performed on a black area. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the black area is obtained based on a luminance equivalent value and a saturation equivalent value. 12. The image processing device according to claim 7, wherein the black enhancement process includes a process of enhancing a shadow portion. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the black enhancement processing is performed after the sharpness enhancement processing is performed. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sharpness enhancement processing or the black enhancement processing can be selected. 15. An image processing method using a data generation unit and a printer unit, comprising: a resolution conversion step for performing a resolution conversion based on an input resolution of the data generation unit, an output resolution of the printer unit, and an enlargement / reduction ratio; An image processing method comprising: an emphasis processing step of performing an emphasis processing after a resolution conversion processing; 16. A program for causing a computer to execute image processing using a data generation unit and a printer unit, and performs resolution conversion based on an input resolution of the data generation unit, an output resolution of the printer unit, and an enlargement / reduction ratio. A program for causing a computer to execute a resolution conversion process, an enhancement process after the resolution conversion process, and a printing process for printing at substantially the same size after the enhancement process.