Digital image proofing

• US 4,941,057 A
• Filed: 10/24/1988
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Marks, Kevin E., Triplett, Roger L., Lehmbeck, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Griant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US07/261,959
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 358/429, 358/456, 358/75, 358/80, 358/401, 358/443, 358/448, 358/450, 358/457, 358/455
• US Class Current: 358/443
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3873 defined only by a limited number of coordinate points or parameters, e.g. corners, centre; for trimming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40 Picture signal circuits H04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/409 Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression

Abstract

An image processing arrangement for allowing a number of image processing techniques to be tested on a single sample sheet at a single time. A sample segment of the image may be selected for testing and successively repeated in a sample output for the number of image processing techniques to be tested. The proof page is printed on the printer, with the output of the proof page demonstrating the system operation with the desired image processing technique.

Claims

1. An image processing arrangement for producing a proof image demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of selected image processing techniques on a single page of output, said arrangement comprising:

means for supplying image data;

means for selectively defining an area of interest within said image data;

means for forming proof image data from said image data, composed of repetitions of said defined area of interest;

an image processing device for controllably processing image data in accordance with a plurality of selectable image processing functions; and

a controller operating said image processing device in accordance with each of a selected plurality of functions to apply each function to a repetition of said area of interest in said proof image data.

2. An image processing arrangement for producing a proof page demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of image processing functions for an area of interest on a single page of output, said arrangement comprising:

means for supplying image data;

image processing means for applying a selected image processing function to image data;

means for selectively providing a plurality of image processing functions to said image processing means;

means for defining an area of interest within said image data;

means for forming proof image data from said image data, composed of a plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest; and

means for selectively applying each of said plurality of selected image processing functions to a repetition of said area of interest in said proof image data.

3. A method for producing a proof page demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of image processing functions on image data on a single page of output in an image processing arrangement, the method comprising:

providing image data from a selected area of interest;

forming a page of proof image data composed of a plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest in said image data; and

selectively applying each of a plurality of image processing functions to said proof image data;

providing the proof image data on a single page of output, each repetition modified by selected image processing techniques.

4. A method of producing a proof page as defined in claim 3, including selecting said area of interest from a larger source of image data.

5. An image processing arrangement for converting grey level image data to a binary encoded output employing a screen, for printing at a binary printer, said arrangement comprising:

means for reading original grey level image data;

means for defining a selected area of interest in said image data;

means for forming a proof page from repetitions of said area of interest;

processing means for converting said grey level image data to a binary encoded output employing a different screen for each repetition.

6. An image processing arrangement as defined in claim 5, including memory means associated with said processing means for storing a plurality of screen functions.

7. An image processing arrangement for producing a proof image demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of screen functions on a single page of output, said arrangement comprising:

means for supplying image data;

means for selectively defining an area of interest within said image data;

means for forming proof image data from said image data, composed of repetitions of said selected area of interest;

a screening device for applying a screen function to image data;

a screen memory for storing a screen function for use in the screening device;

a screen storage storing a plurality of screen functions for said screen memory; and

a controller for selectively storing selected screens functions of said plurality of screen functions to said screen memory to apply at said screening device each of said selected plurality of screen functions to each repetition of said area of interest in said example image.

8. An image processing arrangement for producing a proof page demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of screens for an area of interest on a single page of output, said arrangement comprising:

means for supplying image data;

screening means for applying a selected screen function to image data;

means for selectively providing a plurality of screen functions to said screening means;

means for defining an area of interest within said image data;

means for forming proof image data from said image data, composed of a plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest; and

means for selectively applying each of said plurality of selected screen functions to a repetition of said area of interest in said proof image data.

9. A method for producing a proof page demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of screens on image data on a single page of output in an image processing arrangement, the method comprising:

providing image data from an area of interest;

forming a page of proof image data composed of a plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest; and

applying each of a plurality of screen functions to said proof image data;

providing the screened image data on a single page of output.

10. A method of producing a proof page as defined in claim 9, including selecting said area of interest from a larger source of image data.

11. An image processing arrangement for producing a proof image demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of filter functions on a single page of output, said arrangement comprising:

means for supplying image data;

means for selectively defining an area of interest within said image data;

means for forming proof image data from said image data, composed of repetitions of said selected area of interest;

a filter device for applying a filter function to image data;

a filter memory for storing a filter function for use in the filter device;

a filter storage storing a plurality of filter functions for said filter memory; and

a controller for selectively storing selected filter functions of said plurality of filter functions to said filter memory to apply at said filter device each of said selected plurality of filters to each repetition of said area of interest in said proof image data.

12. An image processing arrangement for producing a proof page demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of filter functions on an area of interest, on a single page of output, said arrangement comprising:

means for supplying image data;

filter means for applying a selected filter function to image data;

means for selectively providing a plurality of filter functions to said screening means;

means for defining an area of interest within said image data;

means for forming proof image data from said image data, composed of a plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest; and

means for selectively applying each of said plurality of selected filter functions to a repetition of said area of interest in said proof image data.

13. A method for producing a proof page demonstrating the effect of each of a plurality of filter functions on image data, on a single page of output in an image processing arrangement, the method comprising:

providing image data from an area of interest;

forming a page of proof image data composed of a plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest; and

applying each of a selected plurality of filter functions to each of said plurality of repetitions of said selected area of interest in said proof image data;

providing the filtered proof image data on a single page of output.

14. A method of producing a proof page as defined in claim 13, including selecting said area of interest from a larger source of image data.