Image processing apparatus generating patterns for colors based on a set relation between colors and patterns and synthesizing patterns with extracted monochromatic information

• US 5,557,430 A
• Filed: 09/15/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ichikawa, Hiroyuki, Yoshihara, Kunio, Sakai, Masanori, Isemura, Keizo, Funamizu, Yoshihiro, Tanabe, Masatoshi, Nimura, Mitsuo, Kishimoto, Hirohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/528,595
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 358/500, 358/501, 358/515, 358/529, 358/530, 358/537, 358/538, 358/448, 358/452, 358/453, 358/467, 382/162, 382/165, 345/149
• US Class Current: 358/501
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40012 Conversion of colour to monochrome

Abstract

An image processing apparatus reads color images, identifies the colors of an read color image, converts the color image into a monochrome image, synthesizes color recognition information on the monochrome image, and prints the resulting synthesized image as a monochrome image. As a result, even if a low-priced printer is employed, it is possible to provide a monochrome image permitting recognition of the colors of the color original, or quick identification of differences among the colors thereof. Moreover, this allows a user to specify a desired graphic pattern to be associated with a given color, and to obtain collation tables independently of the monochrome image, or to print the specified graphic pattern with any variable magnification power.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

image input means for inputting images containing colors;

color recognition means for recognizing the colors of the images input by said image input means;

setting means for setting a relation between colors and patterns;

pattern generation means for generating patterns in accordance with each of the colors recognized by said color recognition means, and the relation between colors and patterns set by said setting means;

visualizing means for visualizing the relation between patterns and colors generated by said pattern generation means;

area recognition means for recognizing areas containing the colors in the images input by said image input means;

extraction means for extracting monochrome information from the images input by said image input means;

synthesis means for synthesizing the patterns originating from said pattern generation means within the area recognized by said area recognition means with the monochrome information extracted by said extraction means; and

output means for outputting the images synthesized by said synthesis means.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pattern setting means specifies intended patterns from among a plurality of patterns.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means is capable of specifying intended patterns at any variable power.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means is capable of specifying the relationships between specified patterns and colors recognized by said color recognition means.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means selects and specifies patterns from among a plurality of predetermined patterns.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said pattern setting means includes keys for selecting patterns.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means includes a pattern input means for inputting graphic patterns in pixel units and specifies the graphic patterns sent from said pattern input means.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said pattern input means is keys for entering graphic patterns.

9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said pattern input means comprises a digitizer for inputting graphic patterns.

10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means specifies the patterns sent from said image input means.

11. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pattern setting means comprises electronic equipment which is installed as an external unit of said image processing apparatus and capable of creating intended patterns.

12. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image input means comprises a reader for reading original images.

13. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a printer for printing images on sheets of paper.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visualizing means displays the relation between patterns and colors.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visualizing means prints the relation between patterns and colors on a sheet.

16. An image processing method, comprising:

an image input step for inputting images containing colors;

a color recognition step for recognizing the colors of the images input by said image input step;

a setting step for setting a relation between colors and patterns;

a pattern generation step for generating patterns in accordance with each of the colors recognized by said color recognition step, and the relation between colors and patterns set by said setting step;

a visualizing step for visualizing the relation between patterns and colors generated by said pattern generation step;

an area recognition step for recognizing areas containing the colors in the images input by said image input step;

an extraction step for extracting monochrome information from the images input by said image input step;

a synthesis step for synthesizing the patterns originating from said pattern generation step within the area recognized by said area recognition step with the monochrome information extracted by said extraction step; and

an output step for outputting the images synthesized by said synthesis step.

17. An image processing method according to claim 16, wherein said pattern setting step specifies intended patterns from among a plurality of patterns.

18. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step is capable of specifying intended patterns at any variable power.

19. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step is capable of specifying the relationships between specified patterns and colors recognized by said color recognition step.

20. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step selects and specifies patterns from among a plurality of predetermined patterns.

21. An image processing method according to claim 20 wherein said pattern setting step includes keys on a keyboard for selecting patterns.

22. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step includes a pattern input step for inputting graphic patterns in pixel units and for specifying the graphic patterns sent by said pattern input step.

23. An image processing method according to claim 22 wherein said pattern input step uses keys on a keyboard for entering graphic patterns.

24. An image processing method according to claim 22 wherein said pattern input step uses a digitizer for inputting graphic patterns.

25. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step specifies the patterns sent by said image input step.

26. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said pattern setting step uses an electronic equipment which is installed as an external unit of an image processing apparatus and which is capable of creating intended patterns.

27. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said image input step uses a reader for reading original images.

28. An image processing method according to claim 16 wherein said output step uses a printer for printing images on sheets of paper.

29. A method according to claim 16, wherein said visualizing step displays the relation between patterns and colors on a display device.

30. A method according to claim 16, wherein said visualizing step prints the relation between patterns and colors on a sheet.