Claims
- 1. A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels to lower values independently in order to reduce toner consumption of the printer.
- 2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
- 3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
- 4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reassigning step comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.
- 7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reassigning step comprises reassigning multiple interior pixel values.
- 8. A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as a background pixel, interior pixel, edge pixel, one line pixel, or two line pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more interior pixel, edge pixel, one line pixel, or two line pixels to lower values independently in order to reduce toner consumption.
- 9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
- 10. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
- 11. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the reassigning step comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 12. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 13. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.
- 14. A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels to lower values independently in order to reduce toner consumption of the printer.
- 15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the reassigning step comprises reassigning multiple interior pixel values.
- 16. An apparatus for altering the appearance of an image printed by a printer, the printer utilizing input digital image data comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the apparatus comprising a rendering circuit for defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and reassigning the digital value of one or more of the edge pixels or interior pixels independently in order to reduce toner consumption of the printer.
- 17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the digital image data is binary.
- 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the digital image data is a multi-bit.
- 19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein reassigning comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein reassigning step comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein the rendering circuit further comprises performing the defining and reassigning steps two or more times.
- 22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein reassigning comprises reassigning multiple interior pixel values.
- 23. An apparatus for altering the appearance of an input digital image when printed utilizing a printer comprising:
a raster image processor for converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information; a rendering circuit for defining each pixel as either a background pixel, interior pixel, or an edge pixel; and, reassigning the digital value of one or more edge pixels or interior pixels to lower values independently in order to reduce toner consumption.
- 24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein converting comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
- 25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein converting comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and reassigning comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
- 26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein reassigning comprises increasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein reassigning comprises decreasing the value of edge pixels with respect to interior pixels.
- 28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the rendering circuit performs performing the defining and reassigning two or more times.
- 29. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein reassigning comprises reassigning multiple interior pixel values.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application serial No. 60/459,113 filed Mar. 31, 2003 entitled “POST RIP IMAGE RENDERING IN AN ELECTROGRAPHIC PRINTER TO REDUCE TONER CONSUMPTION”.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60459113 |
Mar 2003 |
US |