Image processing system which generates preview image data in accordance with the type of image to be previewed

• US 5,946,412 A
• Filed: 10/28/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Naoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US08/959,721
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 382/162, 382/165, 382/167, 382/166, 348/453, 358/538, 358/527, 358/518, 358/523, 395/109, 395/131
• US Class Current: 382/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77

Abstract

An image processing method generates color image data for previewing an object image to be formed by a color image forming apparatus. The method discriminates a type of the object image based on color image data for the object image, and generates color image data for previewing the object image by performing a color conversion process on the color image data for the object image. The color conversion process is performed in accordance with the type of the object image.

Claims

1. An image processing method which generates color image data for previewing an image to be formed by a color image forming apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

discriminating an object type of data for the image from among an image object, a text object, and a graphics object;

selecting a color conversion process for converting the data based on the discriminated object type, a different color conversion process being selected for each object type; and

generating color image data for previewing the image by performing the selected color conversion process on the data for the image.

2. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said color conversion process corresponds to a color reproduction process performed by the color image forming apparatus.

3. An image processing method according to claim 2, wherein said color conversion process is performed in accordance with characteristics of a device used to preview the image.

4. An image processing method according to claim 2, wherein said color reproduction process is performed in accordance with image characteristics of the image data for the image and characteristics of said color image forming apparatus.

5. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said color conversion process is arbitrarily settable by a user.

6. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the object type of the image data for the image is one of a pictorial image, text and graphics.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein, in a case that the image is a pictorial image, the color conversion process is performed on the image data for the image in order to obtain a desired reproduction of the image;

and

wherein, in a case that the image is graphics, the color conversion process is performed in order to minimize a color difference.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the discriminating step includes an analyzing step to analyze a data format of the image data for the image.

7. An image processing apparatus which generates color image data for previewing an image to be formed by a color image forming apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

discriminating means for discriminating an object type of data for the image from among an image object, a text object, and a graphics object;

selecting a color conversion process for converting the data based on the discriminated object type, a different color conversion process being selected for each object type; and

generating means for generating color image data for previewing the image by performing the selected color conversion process on the data for the image.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the discriminating means includes an analyzing means to analyze a data format of the image data for the image.

8. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

setting either a normal display mode or a preview display mode;

wherein, in a case that the preview display mode is set in said setting step, the method comprises;

discriminating an object type of data for the image from among an image object, a text object, and a graphics object;

selecting a color conversion process for converting the data based on the discriminated object type, a different color conversion process being selected for each object type; and

generating color image data for previewing the image by performing the selected color conversion process on the data for the image, the color image data generated in the generating step representing a preview image corresponding to a color image to be formed by a color image forming apparatus.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the discriminating step includes an analyzing step to analyze a data format of the image data for the image.