JPH0721828B2 - Image processing method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image processing method for converting an image.

[Conventional example]

Conventionally, as one of the image processing methods of this kind, an electronic plate making technique in the printing industry and a professional laboratory technique applying computer photographic image processing in the photographic laboratory industry are known.

For example, when a reproduced image is obtained by photoelectrically scanning an image original with a high-precision scanner such as a layout scanner or a laser color printer, a signal processing unit is provided in the middle of the process to correct the density expression correction (γ (Correction), gradation setting, color correction, cutout synthesis, etc. are performed to obtain the following effects.

Fading restoration of color film Adjusting highlights and gradation of shade, exaggeration of color expression Relief of device failure, shooting mistake, development mistake, etc. Express creative image, expand image area and create new design.

When performing such special processing, the density signal of the film original obtained by photoelectrically scanning the film original with a color scanner, a high-precision scanner such as a laser color printer or a color image pickup tube, a color image pickup plate (for example, CCD), or the like. Image processing is performed on a digital image composed of a luminance signal.

Conventionally, as this kind of method, there are a mosaic processing arranged regularly, a posterization processing for changing a γ curve into an unrealistic one, a solarization processing, and the like. However, these processes cannot reproduce an image having various changes such as an oil painting atmosphere. As another method, for example, DPB7000 (Quantel), Artron 2000
It can be created using a paint system such as (Artronix) or a layout scanner such as Response 300 (Citex), but in this case, the creator uses a coordinate pointing device such as a tablet digitizer to create the original. Not only does it take a considerable amount of time to add it to the image, but it also has the drawback that the sense of the creator is reflected in the reproduced image. And we have conducted many experiments and subjective evaluations that the following expressions are necessary to reconstruct an image with a particularly oil painting atmosphere.

(1) Representation of a touch when painting a painting (2) Representation of irregularities caused by human beings (3) Representation of an original image reflected in a reconstructed image (4) Natural number of colors (5) Expressing light and shade patterns in canvas <Purpose> And providing a new image processing method to the few special effect processing in the past, expressing a creative image, expanding the image area, and creating a new design. It is intended to provide an image processing method which is very useful for.

<Example> Hereinafter, one example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the flow of a density signal when the present invention is applied to a color scanner. An input signal obtained by photoelectrically scanning a film original loaded on the input drum 1 is converted into a density signal by the logarithmic conversion circuit 2 and then input to the input signal processing unit 4 via the AD converter 3. , The density value of each film is converted according to the type of the film, and the density value is converted so as to have a fixed relationship with the exposure amount of the film. The film characteristic curve differs depending on whether the film is a negative film, a positive film, or a reversal film.
This is because each color is different for each color. After that, the image is input to the image processing unit 5, which should be the heart of the system, and oil painting processing is performed. After that, the density signal output from the image processing unit 5 is converted into a laser light amount control signal in the output signal processing unit 6 and is input to the modulator 8 via the DA converter 7 and output from the light source 9. The light is modulated to cause the output drum 10 to reproduce a desired image.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the image processing unit 5 in more detail. The CPU 11 is a control processor, which has all the real rights of the image processing unit 5, and controls image processing based on a control program stored in the CPU memory 12. The parameter controller 13 controls the arithmetic unit 14, the parameter memory 15, and the parameter setting I / O 16 to perform initialization, setting, comparison, etc. of parameters necessary for processing. The processor 18 and the CPU 11 are connected by the image controller 17 via the CPU BUS.
The processor 18 operates according to the command of. The processor 18 is a core part of the image processing unit 5, and is any image memory 20 to 28 selected according to the instruction of the CPU 11.
Image data from the I / O38 for image data and image data
28 and I / O 38 for image data. In addition, the data can be output to the flag map memory 19, which is a memory dedicated to the carrier, in order to carry the carrier to a necessary address by calculation. Image memories 20 to 28 are connected to both the CPU BUS and VIDEO BUS, so any image memory 20
It is possible to read and write to ~ 28 and to perform real-time arithmetic between arbitrary memories. A high-speed RAM called Lucupup table 29-37 is connected to the exit of the image memory. This RAM has a structure of 256 × 8 bits,
8 address lines (0 to 255 can be specified = 0
~ 255 gradations can be specified) is directly connected to the output of each image memory, and 8 data lines are connected to VIDEO BUS. The contents of RAM can be freely read and written by the CPU 11. The image data I / O 38 is an image input / output interface, which inputs image data from the input signal processing unit 4 in FIG. 1 and outputs image data to the output signal processing unit 6.

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the texture screen processing method performed in the image processing section 5, and FIG. 4 is a graph showing the states of the lookup tables 29 to 37, in which the horizontal axis represents the input gradation and the vertical axis represents the input gradation. Indicates the output gradation. Fig. 4-
In (a), the standard state is shown, in which 0 is written at 0, 1 is written at 1 and 255 is written at 255. The contents of input and output are the same. Although not shown, if a value of 255 is written in the address 0, a value of 254 is written in the address 1, ..., A value of 0 is written in the address 255, it means that the input-output is an image in which the density data is inverted.

The oil painting method performed by the image processor 5 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 3 of the flow chart. Here, the density data of the digital image will be represented in the form of a _i (m, n) for the sake of explanation. However, i is R, G, B, and T, and indicates R component image data, G component image data, B component image data, and texture image data of the original image, respectively. Each pixel is composed of 8 bits for each component, that is, data capable of expressing 256 gradations. The value of the data with the highest density (darkest data) is set to 0, and the value of the data with the lowest density (the brightest data) is set. Set to 255.

The operation will be described below with reference to the control flow chart of FIG.

Description of Step 1 S1 The processor 18 stores the R component image data of the original image in the image memory (1) ₂₀ from the input signal processing unit 4 via the image data I / O 38 according to the instruction of the CPU 11. Then G of the original image
The component image data, the B component image data, and the _texture image data captured as a monochrome image are stored in the image memories (2), (3), (9) ₂₁ , _22, and ₂₈ , respectively. At this time, the look-up tables (1) to (9) ₂₉ to ₃₇ are in the standard state of FIG. 4 (a).

Step 2 Description of S2 The processor 18 functions to substitute the image data of the image memory (1) ₂₀ into the image memory (4) ₂₃ . At this time, the contents of the backup table (1) to (9) ₂₉ to ₃₇ are shown in Fig. 4-
Since it is in the standard state as shown in (a), the image memory
(1) The contents of ₂₀ are copied as is to image memory (4) ₂₃ . Similarly, the image data of the image memory (2) ₂₁ and the image memory (3) ₂₂ are respectively transferred to the image memory (5) ₂₄ ,
Copy to image memory (6) ₂₅ .

Step 3 Explanation of S3 Here, the parameters necessary for the calculation are set. In the present embodiment, the size m _o × n _{o of the} pixel block and its contents are input from the parameter setting I / O 16 using a keyboard (not shown). The content is specified by 0 and 1 in the matrix of m _o × n _o , the operation is performed at 1 and the representative value is substituted to rewrite the data, but at 0 the data value remains the same. The "1" in the content of the matrix indicates the touch of the brush for oil painting. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show the contents of pixel blocks in the case of 5 × 5 and 9 × 9 as examples. In this example, the creator inputs it by the parameter setting I / O 16, but if the information is stored in the parameter memory 15 in advance, it can be automated without the operator having to input the parameter data. Yes.

The number P1 of pixel blocks to be calculated at one time, which is a parameter necessary for the following calculation, depending on the pixel block size m _o × n _o and the image data size M × N set here.
And the number of times P2 that it is repeated is calculated. The parameters P1, P
2 was obtained by the following arithmetic expression.

P1 = (M / m _o ) × (N / n _o ) / 4 P2 = SQR (m _o × n _o ) However, P1 and P2 are integers.

Also, the control parameter IP1 used for controlling the following calculation is initialized. Specifically, IP1 = 1 and I
When P1 = 1, image memory (1) ₂₀ is targeted and IP1
= 2, IP1 = 3, image memory (2), (3) _{21,22 respectively}
To be processed.

Step 4 Explanation of S4 An image is formed in the image memory (7) _{26 in} which the shape (consisting of 1,0) of the pixel block set in Step 3 becomes a periodic pattern in both x and y directions. First, the image memory (7) ₂₆ is cleared (all 0s) by the function of the processor 18, the shape data stored in the parameter memory 15 is read, and the image memory (7) ₂₆ is periodically written. If the pixel block data is represented by b (m, n) and the image data created in the image memory (7) ₂₆ is represented by a ₇ (m, n), the relationship between the two is as follows.

b (m, n) = a ₇ (m _o × i + m, n _o × j + n) Becomes

Alternatively, the image composed of the periodic pixel blocks may be stored in an external memory (not shown), read after setting the parameters of step 3 and stored in the image memory (7) ₂₆ .

Step 5 S5 Description IP1 is a control parameter specified by the image memory to be processed. When IP1 = 1, the result output is image memory (1) _20, and the reference image memory required for calculation is the image memory ( 4) _Set to ₂₃ . When IP1 = 2, the image memories are (2) ₂₁ and (5) _{24 respectively} , and IP1 = 3.
At the time of, it is the image memory (3) ₂₂ and (6) ₂₅ . And IP1
When = 4, the sequence proceeds to the next sequence step 14.

Step 6 S6 Description This is the initial setting of control parameters used in the following calculations.
IP2 = 1. This control parameter is counted up in step 11 and compared in step 12 with the number of times P1 of calculation of the pixel block calculated in step 3 for control.

Step 7 Description of S7 Set the random number sequence used in the following processing. By setting the random number sequence at this point, the generation of random numbers in the processing for image memories (1) to (3) ₂₀ to ₂₂ becomes the same value, and the specified position of the block processing unit is set to 3 image memories. Do the same.

Step 8 Explanation of S8 The basic amount of deviation is calculated by random number generation. Here, a value between 0 and m _o is generated for the x direction and a value between 0 and n _o is generated for the y direction. Here, the shift amounts are represented as m _s and n _s , respectively.

Step 9 Explanation of S9 The image memory data specified by the control parameter IP1 can be transferred to the image memory by the function of the processor 18.
(8) Copy to ₂₇ . That is, the data of image memory (4) ₂₃ when IP1 = 1, the image memory (5) when IP1 = 2.
_When the data of ₂₄ is IP1 = 3, the data of image memory (6) ₂₅ is copied respectively. And image memory (8) ₂₇
The block processor is specified by using random numbers as follows. Generates a random number R _{x in} the range of 0 to M / m _o (cut to integer by cutting) in the _x direction, and 0 to N / n _o (makes integer by cutting) in the y direction. With random numbers
Generate R _y . From this random number and the shift amounts m _s and n _s obtained in the previous step 8, (R _x × m _o- ) on the image memory (8)
Let m _s , R _y × n _o -n _s ) be the upper left, and rewrite the rectangular part in the x direction m _o and the y direction n _o with the representative value data in the rectangle. Here, the representative value is the data value at the center of the rectangle. That is, when the data in the image memory (8) ₂₇ is generally expressed as a (m, n), four points a (R _x × m _o -m _s , R _y × n _o -n _s ) and a (R _x × m _o -m _s + m _o -1, R _y × n _o
-n _s ), a (R _x × m _o -m _s + m _o -1, R _y × n _o -n _s + n _o -1), a (R _x × m _o -m _s ,
R _y × n _o -n _s + n _o -1) The data value of is a calculation that satisfies the following relational expression.

However, 0 ≦ i ≦ m _o -1,0 ≦ j ≦ n _o −1 The number of pixel blocks P1 calculated in step 3 by generating a random number as described above and rewriting the data of the pixel block part by the value Repeat times.

Step 10 Explanation of S10 The image of the pixel block created in the image memory (8) ₂₇ and the pixel block of “0,1” created in the image memory (7) ₂₆ are aligned by the processor 18 in the image memory (7 ) _Performs a shift operation on ₂₆ . The shift operation is a process of moving the designated image memory in parallel in the x direction or the y direction and substituting the one line pixel row at the end of the moving direction into the one line pixel row on the opposite side. That is, for +1 shift processing in the x direction, the input image (original image) to the processor 18 is a (m, n) and the output image (resulting image) is a '.
(M, n) has the following relationship.

a ′ (m, n) = a (m−1, n) where a ′ (0, n) = a (M, n) The x direction −1 shift operation is a ′ (m, n) = a (m + 1, n) However, a '(M, n) = a (0, n), y direction + 1 shift operation is a' (m, n) = a (m, n-1) where a '(m, 0) = a (M,
N), y direction -1 shift operation is a '(m, n) = a (m, n +
1) However, a '(m, N) = a (m, 0). Using this shift operation, the image in the image memory (7) ₂₆ is moved in the x direction by −m _o ,
To -n _o shift in the y-direction. And flag map memory 19
After clearing, the flag map memory 19 is processed by the processor 18 by setting the flag at the pixel position of "1" of the image memory (7) ₂₆ . Next, the data of only the pixel positions flagged in the flag map memory 19 are substituted from the image memory (4) ₂₃ to the image memory (1) ₂₀ . Naturally from image memory (4) ₂₃ to image memory (1) ₂₀
Is processed when the control parameter IP1 = 1, IP1
When = 2 and 3, processing from the image memory (5) ₂₄ to the image memory (2) ₂₁ and processing from the image memory (6) ₂₅ to the image memory (3) ₂₂ are performed. After that, the image in the image memory (7) ₂₆ is shifted again by m _{o in} the x direction and n _{o in} the y direction by using the shift operation again to restore the original positional relationship.

Steps 11, 12 S11, S12 description Step 11 counts up the control parameter IP2, and step 12 branches according to the parameter to obtain IP2.
Is greater than P2, the next step, Step 13, is performed, and when P2 is equal to or less than P2, Step 8 is repeated. That is, by repeating Step 8 to Step 12 P2 times, only the shape of the "1" portion of the shape b (m, n) of the pixel block set in Step 3 is randomly set by P1 × P2. Rewrite the number of pixel blocks.

Step 13 Description of S13 Count up of the control parameter IP1 is performed, and then the process proceeds to step 5.

By the above processing up to step S13, an image of an oil painting touch having irregularity can be obtained.

Next, the texture screen processing will be described in steps S14 and below.

Here, the texture screen of the texture screen processing is a term in the photographic industry, and when printing,
A screen used to create various texture patterns on photographic paper images. It is also used when you want to hide the particles as well as when you want to find the texture in the image. For this, there is also a method of using photographic paper that already has a pattern such as silk grain to make the grain less noticeable by the pattern, but it is better to use a texture screen when printing. More effective. However, since photographic processing using this texture screen is generally performed as a darkroom operation, there are many technically difficult aspects of the apparatus and it has only been performed between some maniacs and professionals. The texture screen processing is to carry out the same effect as that using this texture screen by using the digital image processing technique.

Step 14 Description of S14 Using the area calculation counter of the processor 18, the lower limit threshold D _min of the image memory (9) ₂₈ is obtained. The lower limit threshold D _min is a value in which the cumulative number of pixels from the image data value 0 to D _min is equal to the number of pixels S ₀ in the vicinity of 5% of the total number of pixels. For example 512 x 512
If it is pixel data, the number of pixels from 0 to that value is 512
X512 x 0.05 = around 13107.

Parameter controller 13 and calculator 1 by CPU11
The value S ₀ , which is 5% of the total number of pixels of the image, is calculated by 4 and stored in the parameter memory 15, and the value of D _min is also set to 0. Further, the flag map memory 19 is reset by the image controller 17 and the processor 18 and all values are set to 0.
Next, the processor 18 performs an operation to give 1 to the pixel of the density data D _min (0 in this case) of the image memory (9) _{28 in} the flag map memory 19. Then, the number of flags (where 1 stands) is found in the flag map memory 19 by the area calculation counter, and the result S _x is sent to the calculator 14 via the parameter controller. Then, the result S _x is compared with the set value S _0, and if S _x ≧ S ₀ , this step is ended, and if S _x <S ₀ , 1 is added to D _min and the processor 18 stores the flag map memory 19 in the flag map memory 19. An operation of giving 1 to the pixel of the density data D _min (1 at this time) of the image memory (9) ₂₈ is performed, and S _x is again obtained by the area counter. Then, it is sent again to the arithmetic unit 14 and S _x and S ₀ are compared. Such repeated computation image memory (9) ₂₈ number of pixels from the density data 0 of D _min of obtaining the D _min value at which more than 5% of the total number of pixels.

Step 15 Explanation of S15 The image data for texture stored in the image memory (9) ₂₈ is subjected to an operation of a _T (m, n) -D _min , the level is corrected, and the result is again _a'T (m, n ) As image memory
(9) Store in ₂₈ .

Description of Step 16 S16 In the same manner as in Step 2, the upper limit threshold D _max of the image memory (9) ₂₈ is obtained. The upper threshold D _max is from the image data value 0
The cumulative number of pixels up to D _max is 95% of the total number of pixels
It is a value equal to S ₁ . For example, in the case of 512 × 512 pixel data, the number of pixels from 0 to that value is 512 × 512 × 0.95 = 2490
It is close to 37. By the function of the CPU 11, the parameter controller 13 and the calculator 14 calculate the value S ₁ which is 95% of the total number of pixels of the image and store it in the parameter memory 15 to set the value of D _max to 0. Further, the flag map memory 19 is reset, and the processor 18 gives a flag to the flag map memory 19 to the pixel of the density data D _max (0 in this case) of the image memory (9) ₂₈ . Then, the area calculation counter determines the number of flags and sends the result S _x to the calculator 14. Then, the result S _x is compared with the set value S _1, and if S _x ≧ S ₁ , this step is ended, and when S _x <S ₁ , D _max is _incremented by 1 and the flag map memory 19 is stored in the image memory. (9) ₂₈ concentration data D _max
The flag number S _x is calculated again by performing an operation to give a flag to the pixel (which is 1 at this time). Then, it is sent again to the arithmetic unit 14 and S _x and S ₁ are compared. Sequentially obtaining the D _max value at which the number of pixels of D _max from the density data 0 of the image memory (9) ₂₈ is more than 95% of the total number of pixels by repeating this operation.

Step 17 Description of S17 Upper threshold D _{max found in} S4 and preset threshold
Linear transformation i.e. as all the pixels of the Tekusuchiya image data of the image memory (9) ₂₈ density data value D _max is D _{The set} by D _{The set} Is stored in the image memory (9) ₂₈ as a ″ _T (m, n). At this time, if the result of the arithmetic expression exceeds 255, it is set to 255. Specifically, the lookup table (9 ) ₃₇ , the standard state as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (b)
(9) Rewrite ₃₇ by the instruction of CPU11. Then the image data of the image memory (9) ₂₈ performs look-up table conversion through the above look up table (9) ₃₇ by the action of processor 18, re-stored in the image memory (9) _28. After the calculation, the look-up table (9) ₃₇ is returned to the standard state shown in Fig. 4- (a). The setting threshold D _set used in the above description is desired to be about 1/4 of the input gradation, but it may be changeable interactively via the parameter setting I / O 16 according to the creator's preference.

Step 18 S18 description image memory (1) to (3) ₂₀ to the image data value of 255 the image data of ₂₂ Linear conversion However, i = R · G · B is calculated and the result is a ′ _i (m,
n) are stored in image memories (1) to (3) ₂₀ to ₂₂ , respectively. Specifically, Lucupup table (1) ~
(3) Performed by using steps ₂₉ to ₃₁ , respectively, standard condition Fig. 4 −
As shown by the solid line in (a) to (c) of FIG. 4, it is rewritten by the instruction of the CPU 11. Next, by the function of the processor 18, the image data of the respective image memories (1) to (3) ₂₀ to ₂₂ is passed through the rewritten backup table (1) to (3) ₂₉ to ₃₁ and the image memory (1 ) ~ (3)
Store it again in ₂₀ to ₂₂ . After such processing by the look-up conversion, the look-up tables (1) to (3) ₂₉ to ₃₁ are returned to the standard state of FIG. 4 (a).

Step 19 Explanation of S19 Image memory (1) ~
(3) The addition operation of the image data of ₂₀ to _{22 and} the image data of the image memory (9) ₂₈ is performed. That is, a ′ _i (m, n) + a ″
_T (m, n) (where i = R, G, B) is performed, and the result is set as a ″ _i (m, n). Each image memory (1) to (3)
Store in ₂₀ to ₂₂ .

Step 20 Explanation of S20 Image memory (1) to (3) Image data of ₂₀ to ₂₂ (However, all values below 0 are set to 0.) Linear conversion is performed, and the results are obtained in image memory (1)-
(3) Store in ₂₀ to ₂₂ . Specifically, as in step 18, the backup table (1) to (3) ₂₉ to ₃₁ are shown in FIG.
The conversion is performed as shown by the solid line in (d).

Step 21 Description of S21 Image memory (1) created by the above calculation
(3) Perform gradation processing on each of the ₂₀ to ₂₁ image data. In this example, the gradation is reduced to 6 gradations. According to many experiments and subjective evaluations conducted by us, about 4 to 10 gradations are suitable for this expression. As a concrete method of processing, the look-up tables (1) to (3) ₂₉ to ₃₁ are rewritten by the instruction of the CPU 11 as shown by the solid line in FIG. Next, by the function of the processor 18, the image data of the respective image memories (1) to (3) ₂₀ to ₂₂ are rewritten as above through the lookup table (1) to (3) ₂₉ to ₃₁ and the image memories (1) to ( 3) Re-store in ₂₀ to ₂₂ . After such processing by the look-up conversion, the look-up tables (1) to (3) ₂₉ to ₃₁ are returned to the standard state of FIG. 4 (a).

Oil painting is very effective here because it is not as rich in expression as natural colors.

The results of the digital image processing as described above are stored in the image memories (1) to (3) ₂₀ to ₂₂ as R, G, and B component image data, respectively.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to create various images with different brush touches by the same processing method depending on the shape of the pixel block. In addition, it is possible to provide new images based on image data in the natural world, which has never been present in the processing performed by conventional silver salt systems and electronic plate making of printing systems, and increase the degree of freedom in drawing. . Furthermore, since the image processing process can be unmanned, it can be expected to spread in a laboratory.

In particular, by dividing the original image (first image) into a plurality of sections made up of a plurality of pixels and converting the data of predetermined pixels in the sections into predetermined values, various touch images can be obtained. By combining with another image, for example, a third image having a texture of canvas can be obtained.

An image after processing according to this example and a reference photograph showing an original image before processing are attached.

In this embodiment, the image processing unit is used as the image processing unit, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by using a general-purpose computer such as a minicomputer.

Further, in the present embodiment, the image is input from the film, but even if the image data is directly fetched from the subject from a still video camera, a video camera, etc., the magnetic floppy disk,
Similar effects can be obtained by inputting image data through a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, an optical disk, a bubble memory or the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the combination with the texture screen image is shown, but the present invention can of course be applied to the combination of the original images.

<Effect> As described above, according to the present invention, the input first
Image data of the above is stored in the first storage means, data of a plurality of points at irregular positions in the first image data stored in the first storage means is read out, and The data is converted into data of a predetermined pattern and written in the second storage unit, the image data stored in the second storage unit and the input second image data are combined, and the combined image data is generated. Since the image is output, it is possible to generate a painting-like image based on the input original image, and this makes it possible to expand the image area and create a new design utilizing the original image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the flow of a density signal when the present invention is applied to a color scanner, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in more detail a part of the image processing section of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a view showing a control flow chart of the present embodiment, FIG. 4 is a view showing a state of the look-up table used in the explanation of FIG. 3, and FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the setting of the parameter. 1 ... Input drum, 2 ... Logarithmic conversion circuit, 3 ... AD converter, 4 ... Input signal processing unit, 5 ... Image processing unit, 6 ...
Output signal processing unit, 7 ... DA converter, 8 ... Modulator, 9 ...
… Laser light source, 10 …… Output drum, 11 …… Control processor, 12 …… CPU memory, 13 …… Parameter controller, 14 …… Calculator, 15 …… Parameter memory, 16 …… Parameter setting I / O , 17 …… Image controller, 18 …… Processor, 19 …… Flag map memory, 20-28 …… Image memory, 29-37 …… Lookup table, 38 …… Image data I / O.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazunori Urushihara, 770 Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Canon Inc. Tamagawa Plant (72) Inventor Susumu Matsumura 770, Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Canon Inc. Company Tamagawa Plant (72) Inventor Hiroshi Omura 770 Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Canon Inc., Tamagawa Plant (56) Reference JP-A-60-198687 (JP, A) JP-A-58-222332 ( JP, A) Japanese Patent Publication 6-38629 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A step of storing the input first image data in a first storage means, and a plurality of points at irregular positions in the first image data stored in the first storage means. Reading the data of each point, converting the read data of each point into data of a predetermined pattern and writing the data in the second storage means, and image data stored in the second storage means. An image processing method comprising: a step of combining the input second image data; and a step of outputting the combined image data.