Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program

Abstract

An image processing apparatus of the present invention compares the density value of K-color at each position around a blank character with a reference density value, thereby deciding whether it is necessary to remove other color components. Based on the result of a decision, the apparatus removes the color components. Thus, other color components can be removed only in the region where the density value of K-color is high. Hence, when a background image is an uneven image, a kickback processing can be performed suitably around the blank character.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a plate making system including an image processing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the overall flow of an image processing;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of the process of applying a trapping rule;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of the process of creating a trapping figure;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of the process of removing color components;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a processed image to be inputted to the image processing apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the processed image being exploded per object;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the processed image being exploded per color component;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a bit map to be created by an ID draw processing;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing extraction of a closed region from the processed image;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the process of removing color components from the processed image;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the processed image after being subjected to the image processing; and

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processed image after being subjected to a conventional image processing.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus performing a processing to a processed image where a figure is placed in a background image composed of a main color component having a relatively low lightness and a sub color component having a relatively high lightness, so as to remove the sub color component around the figure, the image processing apparatus comprising: a deciding part to decide whether it is necessary to remove the sub color component based on a density value of the main color component, at each position around the figure; anda removing part to remove the sub color component based on a result of a decision in the deciding part.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deciding part decides whether it is necessary to remove the sub color component by comparing a density value of the main color component with a reference density value, at each position around the figure.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a reference density value setting part to set the reference density value.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a comparing part to compare a ratio of a region around the figure where a density value of the main color component is the reference density value or higher, with a reference ratio; anda cancel part to cancel a removal processing by the removing part, based on a result of a comparison in the comparing part.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a reference ratio setting part to set the reference ratio.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an extracting part to extract a closed region containing the figure and a region of a predetermined width around the figure,wherein the deciding part and the removing part perform processes to the closed region extracted by the extracting part, respectively.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the figure is a figure having a high lightness.

8. An image processing method of performing a processing to a processed image where a figure is placed in a background image composed of a main color component having a relatively low lightness and a sub color component having a relatively high lightness, so as to remove the sub color component around the figure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) deciding whether it is necessary to remove the sub color component based on a density value of the main color component, at each position around the figure; and(b) removing the sub color component based on a result of a decision in the step (a).

9. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the step (a) decides whether it is necessary to remove the sub color component by comparing a density value of the main color component with a reference density value, at each position around the figure.

10. The image processing method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: (c) setting the reference density value.

11. The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising step of: (d) comparing a ratio of a region around the figure where a density value of the main color component is the reference density value or higher, with a reference ratio; and(e) canceling a removal processing in the step (b), based on a result of a comparison in the step (d).

12. The image processing method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: (f) setting the reference ratio.

13. The image processing method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: (g) extracting a closed region containing the figure and a region of a predetermined width around the figure,wherein the step (a) and the step (b) perform processes to the closed region extracted in the step (g), respectively.

14. The image processing method according to claim 13, wherein the figure is a figure having a high lightness.

15. A program stored in a storage medium for performing a processing to a processed image where a figure is placed in a background image composed of a main color component having a relatively low lightness and a sub color component having a relatively high lightness, so as to remove the sub color component around the figure, the program directing a computer to execute the following processes of: (a) deciding whether it is necessary to remove the sub color component based on a density value of the main color component, at each position around the figure; and(b) removing the sub color component based on a result of a decision in the process (a).

16. The program stored in a storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the process (a) decides whether it is necessary to remove the sub color component by comparing a density value of the main color component with a reference density value, at each position around the figure.

17. The program stored in a storage medium according to claim 16, further directing the computer to execute the process of: (c) setting the reference density value.

18. The program stored in a storage medium according to claim 17, further directing the computer to execute the processes of: (d) comparing a ratio of a region around the figure where a density value of the main color component is the reference density value or higher, with a reference ratio; and(e) canceling a removal processing in the process (b), based on a result of a comparison in the process (d).

19. The program stored in a storage medium according to claim 18, further directing the computer to execute the process of: (f) setting the reference ratio.

20. The program stored in a storage medium according to claim 19, further directing the computer to execute the process of: (g) extracting a closed region containing the figure and a region of a predetermined width around the figure,wherein the process (a) and the process (b) perform processes to the closed region extracted in the process (g), respectively.