Image forming apparatus and computer readable medium

• US 8,736,909 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Noribumi, Iioka, Mitsuru, Koyatsu, Jun, Yamauchi, Kaoru, Okada, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHU, RICHARD Z
• Application Number:
  US12/782,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358 326- 327, 358533-536
• US Class Current: 358/3.28
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/011 for exposing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/04 Preventing copies being made of an original
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0158 Colour registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00838 Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 in colour image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/58 Edge or detail enhancement; Noise or error suppression, e.g. colour misregistration correction H04N1/62 takes precedence

Abstract

According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image correction unit and a determination unit. The image correction unit inserts a new pixel between pixels forming image data with a plurality of pixels printed using a plurality of print color materials arranged in a main scanning direction in order to correct the image width in the main scanning direction. The determination unit determines whether or not the image data is specified for print with a dot representing given information superposed. When the determination unit determines that the image data is specified for print with the dot superposed, a prohibition unit included in the image correction unit prohibits insertion of the new pixel into a pixel string of a print color material of a similar color to the print color material for the dot.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image correction unit that inserts a new pixel between pixels forming image data with a plurality of pixels printed using a plurality of print color materials arranged in a main scanning direction of each print color material of the plurality of print color materials in order to adjust the image width in the main scanning direction of each print color material of the plurality of print color materials; and

a determination unit that determines whether or not the image data is specified for printing a watermark representing given information superposed,

wherein, when the determination unit determines that the image data is specified for print with a portion of the watermark superposed, a prohibition unit included in the image correction unit prohibits insertion of the new pixel into a pixel string of a print color material of a similar color to the print color material used to print the portion of the watermark, of pixel strings printed using a plurality of print color materials arranged in the main scanning direction of each print color material of the plurality of print color materials, and

wherein the prohibition unit prohibits insertion of the new pixel into the pixel string of a print color material only if the new pixel has a similar color to the print color material used to print the portion of the watermark.

2. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for image forming, the process comprising:

determining whether a print process to print a watermark representing given information superposed on image data is specified; and

when the print process is specified, prohibiting insertion of a new pixel into a pixel string of a print color material of a similar color to a print color material used to print a portion of the watermark, of pixel strings printed using a plurality of print color materials arranged in a main scanning direction of each print color material of the plurality of print color materials, and

prohibiting insertion of the new pixel into the pixel string of a print color material only if the new pixel has a similar color to the print color material used to print the portion of the watermark.