Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2004-11-23
Rogers, Scott A. (Department: 2626)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
C358S002100, C358S001110, C358S502000, C358S521000, C358S530000, C358S450000, C345S634000, C345S636000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06822759
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an image forming method and device for forming a synthesized image by synthesizing a main image with a background image.
PRIOR ART
Conventionally, in an image forming device of this kind, a synthesized image is formed by synthesizing main images with background images with preference to the pixels of the main images. In general, main images, background images and synthesized images are represented by image data formed of dot matrices having gradation values representative of gradation levels of pixels of the images assigned to matrix elements thereof, and processed based thereon. For instance, when a main image and a background image are images of characters (letters, numerals, symbols, simple figures, etc.) which can be entered via a keyboard (as text data), main image data representative of the main image and background image data representative of the background image can be formed and stored (registered) by conversion of the text data based on a predetermined font (outline font, bit map font or the like). When the main image and the background image are images which cannot be entered as text data, main image data and background image data representative of the respective images can be also formed and stored (registered) by plotting them as dot images by utilizing e.g. the function of registering nonstandard characters (nonstandard character registration) or the function of registering plotted images (plotted image registration).
Further, in the image forming device of the above-mentioned kind, normally, gradation values representative of gradation levels of pixels of each image can be designated or set before or after the image is formed, and information of the gradation values is stored as image data information. In the case of a monochrome image, gradation values thereof represent gray tones of its pixels. On the other hand, in producing a color image, if colors are designated for portions of the color image, each color is decomposed into gradation values of basic colors, and information of the gradation values is stored as image data information. In this case, when a print image is formed, three primary colors consisting of C (cyan), M (magenta) and Y (yellow) or the three primary colors plus K (black) are employed as the basic colors, whereas when a display image is formed, R (red), G (green) and B (blue) are used as the basic colors.
The above main image and background image are not necessarily formed or stored (registered) as image elements to be formed into a synthesized image from the beginning, that is, such images for synthesis from the beginning. More often, they are formed so as to be separately displayed or printed as individual images. Further, in forming a synthesized image, if image elements (main images and background images) are first formed and stored (registered) with a view to producing a synthesized image, and then synthesized by a further step, the synthesized image, i.e. an image identical to the synthesized image can be obtained more easily if the image itself is formed from the beginning. Therefore, in general, synthesis of images is carried out, when the images are already stored (registered) and hence the use of these images as main images and background images of a synthesized image saves or reduces the trouble of forming the synthesized image, as compared to the case where a desired image is newly produced.
However, the above-mentioned images formed for being separately displayed or printed as individual images are not formed in anticipation of synthesis, so that a synthesized image formed by using any of them as main and background images can be hard to view or recognize and unattractive due to the unbalanced relationship between the densities and tones of colors of the images depending on a combination thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an image forming method and device which is capable of forming a synthesized image with excellent appearance, by synthesizing a main image having a color suitable for the color of a background image and the background, while making use of an existing image as the background image.
To attain the above object, there is provided an image forming method of forming a main image and a background image serving as a background of the main image by using colors each defined by a set of n-valued basic color gradation values each having any one of n possible values (n is an integer which is equal to or larger than 3) and defining a gradation value of a corresponding one of a predetermined set of basic colors, and synthesizing the main image and the background image, to thereby form a synthesized image.
The image forming method is characterized by comprising the steps of:
storing a plurality of different color data items respectively representative of candidates for the background image, as background image data candidates:
storing a plurality of different sets of the n-valued basic color gradation values, the different sets corresponding to respective ones of the background image data candidates, as candidates for a main image gradation value set of the n-valued basic color gradation values commonly applied to all valid pixels of the main image;
setting an arbitrary one of the background image data candidates to a background image data item representative of the background image;
setting, out of the candidates for the main image gradation value set, one corresponding to the background image represented by the background image data item to the main image gradation value set;
forming a main shape image data item representative of the main image by assigning a validity-indicative one of predetermined two values to all pixels of a main shape image forming a shape of the main image as the all valid pixels of the main image, and assigning an invalidity-indicative one of the predetermined two values to the remaining pixels of the main image; and
forming a synthesized image data item representative of the synthesized image by synthesizing the main image and the background image based on a main image data item representative of the main image and the background image data item, the main image data item having the main image gradation value set and the main shape image data item.
To attain the above object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming device for forming a main image and a background mage serving as a background of the main image by using colors each defined by a set of n-valued basic color gradation values each having any one of n possible values(n is an integer which is equal to or larger than 3) and defining a gradation value of a corresponding one of a predetermined set of basic colors and synthesizing the main image and the background image, to thereby form a synthesized image.
The image forming device according to the second aspect of the invention is characterized by comprising:
background image data candidate storage means for storing a plurality of different image data items respectively representative of candidates for the background image, as background image data candidates;
main image gradation value set candidate storage means for storing a plurality of different sets of the n-valued basic color gradation values, the different sets corresponding to respective ones of the background image data candidates, as candidates for a main image gradation value set of the n-valued basic color gradation values commonly applied to all valid pixels of the main image;
background image-setting means setting an arbitrary one of the background image data candidates to a background image data item representative of the background image;
main image gradation value set-setting means for setting, out of the candidates for the main image gradation value set, one corresponding to the background image represented by the background image data item to the main image gradation value set;
main shape image data-forming means for forming a main shape image data item represent
Hayama Hitoshi
Konishi Yoshiharu
Ono Hiroshi
Tanabe Kenichi
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Rogers Scott A.
Seiko Epson Corporation
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