Image processing apparatus which converts multi-value density data and outputs the converted data

• US 5,960,162 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• 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: Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US08/858,507
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 395/109, 395/102, 395/114, 358/527, 358/501, 358/518, 358/521, 358/530, 382/299, 345/150, 345/152, 345/153, 345/154, 345/155
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0017 Preparing data for the controlling system, e.g. status, memory data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6011 with simulation on a subsidiary picture reproducer H04N1/622 takes precedence; matching two or more picture reproducers H04N1/6052

Abstract

A color image processing apparatus which generates color-preview-image data corresponding to a color image output by an output device converts color image data into binarized density color image data. The binarized density color image data is usable by the output device to output the color image. The apparatus converts the binarized density color image data into color-preview-image data comprised of plural primary color components, and transmits the color-preview-image data to an image output device.

Claims

1. A color image processing apparatus which generates color-preview-image data corresponding to a color image output by an image forming device, said apparatus comprising:

first converting means for converting color image data into binarized density color image data, the binarized density color image data being usable by the image forming device to output the color image;

second converting means for converting the binarized density color image data into color-preview-image data comprised of plural primary color components based on a color reproduction characteristic of an image display device; and

transmitting means for transmitting the color-preview-image data to the image display device.

2. A color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the binarized density color image data converted by said first converting means is comprised by cyan, magenta and yellow color components, and wherein the color-preview-image data converted by said second converting means is comprised by red, green and blue primary color components.

3. A color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first converting means comprises:

analyzing means which analyzes the color image data;

generating means which generates image data based on a standard color space, based on an analysis result of said analyzing means; and

third converting means which converts the image data generated by the generating means into the binarized density color image data based on a color reproduction characteristic of the image forming device.

4. A color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising output means which outputs the binarized density color image data to the image forming device.

5. A color image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second converting means further comprises means for converting a resolution of the color-preview-image data from one resolution to a second resolution, and wherein said transmitting means transmits the color-preview-image data with the second resolution to the image display device.

6. A color image processing method which generates color-preview-image data corresponding to a color image output by an image forming device, said method comprising the steps of:

a first converting step for converting color image data into binarized density color image data, the binarized density color image data being usable by the image forming device to output the color image;

a second converting step for converting the binarized density color image data into color-preview-image data comprised of plural primary color components based on a color reproduction characteristic of an image display device; and

transmitting the color-preview-image data to the image display device.

7. A color image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the binarized density color image data converted in said first converting step is comprised by cyan, magenta and yellow color components, and wherein the color-preview-image data converted in the second converting step is comprised by red, green and blue primary color components.

8. A color image processing method according to claim 6, wherein said first converting step comprises the steps of:

analyzing the color image data;

generating image data based on a standard color space, based on an analysis result from said analyzing step; and

a third converting step which converts the image data generated by the generating means into the binarized density color image data based on a color reproduction characteristic of the image forming device.

9. A color image processing method according to claim 6, further comprising an output step for outputting the binarized density color image data to the image forming device.

10. A color image processing method according to claim 6, wherein said second converting step further comprises a resolution converting step for converting a resolution of the color-preview-image data from one resolution to a second resolution, and wherein said transmitting step transmits the color-preview-image data with the second resolution to the image display device.

11. A color image processing apparatus which generates color-preview-image data corresponding to a color image output by an image forming device, said apparatus comprising:

first converting means for converting N level density color image data into M (M<

N) level density color image data, the M level density color image data being usable by the image forming device to output the color image;

second converting means for converting the M level density color image data into color-preview-image data comprised of plural primary color components based on a color reproduction characteristic of an image display device; and

transmitting means for transmitting the color-preview-image data to the image display device.