# US 10,481,476 B2 · Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,476 B2 - Document ID: US10481476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/627,988 - Filed: 2017-06-20 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hideki Kubo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481476B2 ## CPC - G03B 21/208: {Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light} - G03F 7/2018: {Masking pattern obtained by selective application of an ink or a toner, e.g. ink jet printing} - H04N 1/00236: {using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer (image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209)} - H04N 9/3147: {Multi-projection systems (video walls G06F3/1446)} - G03B 2205/0023: by tilting or inclining one or more optical elements with respect to the optical axis - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G03F: PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR; (phototypographic composing devices B41B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrophotography, sensitive layers or processes therefor G03G) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An image processing apparatus is provided for generating data used to form on a recording medium an uneven layer on which a plurality of unit areas each having a projection are arranged, including: a first obtaining unit that obtains first brightness information regarding a brightness of a predetermined area of an object observed in a first viewing direction and a brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a second viewing direction having an elevation angle different from that of the first viewing direction; and a first generation unit that generates first recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of recording material used to form the uneven layer on the recording medium, the uneven layer being formed such that at least one of a width of each of the unit areas and a height of the projection changes, on a basis of the first brightness information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing apparatus for generating data used to form on a recording medium an uneven layer on which a plurality of unit areas each having a projection are arranged, the image processing apparatus comprising: a first brightness information obtaining unit configured to obtain first brightness information regarding a first brightness of a predetermined area of an object observed in a first viewing direction and regarding a second brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a second viewing direction, the second viewing direction being a direction having an elevation angle different from an elevation angle of the first viewing direction; and a first recording amount data generation unit configured to generate first recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of recording material used to form the uneven layer on the recording medium such that at least one of a width of each of the unit areas and a height of the projection changes in accordance with the first brightness information, wherein a change in an area of a shadow to be observed in accordance with a change in an elevation angle of a viewing direction is controlled based on at least one of the width of each of the unit areas and the height of the projection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first brightness information is a difference between the first brightness and the second brightness. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first brightness information is the first brightness and the second brightness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second brightness is larger than the first brightness, and wherein a brightness observed when the uneven layer is viewed in the second viewing direction is larger than a brightness observed when the uneven layer is viewed in the first viewing direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second viewing direction is a direction having an elevation angle different from the elevation angle of the first viewing direction and having an azimuth angle equal to an azimuth angle of the first viewing direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first recording amount data generation unit generates the first recording amount data such that a ratio between a width of each of the unit areas each having the projection and a height of the projection changes in accordance with the first brightness information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection has a base in a shape that is one of a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a circular shape, and an ovoidal shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection is in a form that is one of a rectangular parallelepiped, a quadrangular pyramid, a roof form, a semi-cylindrical form, a triangular prism, a triangular pyramid, a circular cylinder, a circular cone, and a hemisphere. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first brightness and the second brightness are a reflection intensity or a reflectance relative to light incident on the object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second brightness information obtaining unit configured to obtain second brightness information regarding a third brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a third viewing direction and regarding a fourth brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a fourth viewing direction, the fourth viewing direction being a direction having an azimuth angle different from an azimuth angle of the third viewing direction and having an elevation angle equal to an elevation angle of the third viewing direction, wherein the first recording amount data generation unit generates the first recording amount data based on the second brightness information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an azimuth angle obtaining unit configured to obtain an azimuth angle of the second viewing direction at which the second brightness is larger than the first brightness, wherein the first recording amount data generation unit generates the first recording amount data, the uneven layer being formed such that an orientation of the projection is rotated by the azimuth angle of the second viewing direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material is recording material that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first forming unit configured to form the uneven layer on the recording medium by using the recording material based on the first recording amount data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a color information obtaining unit configured to obtain color information indicating a color of the predetermined area of the object observed in the first viewing direction or in the second viewing direction; a second recording amount data generation unit configured to generate second recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of a colored colorant based on the color information; and a second forming unit configured to form an image on the uneven layer on the recording medium by using the colored colorant based on the second recording amount data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the colored colorant is a colored colorant that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the second forming unit forms the image on the uneven layer after the first forming unit has formed the uneven layer on the recording medium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a color information obtaining unit configured to obtain first color information indicating a color of the predetermined area of the object observed in the first viewing direction and second color information indicating a color of the predetermined area of the object observed in the second viewing direction; a mask data generation unit configured to generate, based on a form of the projection, mask data used to determine whether a predetermined area of the uneven layer is a projection; a first forming unit configured to form the uneven layer on the recording medium by using the recording material based on the first recording amount data; and a second forming unit configured to form on the projection a first image that represents the color indicated by the first color information based on the mask data by using a colored colorant and to form on an area other than the projection a second image that represents the color indicated by the second color information based on the mask data by using the colored colorant. ### Claim 18 An image processing method for an image processing apparatus for generating data used to form on a recording medium an uneven layer on which a plurality of unit areas each having a projection are arranged, the image processing method comprising: an obtaining step of obtaining brightness information regarding a brightness of a predetermined area of an object observed in a first viewing direction and regarding a brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a second viewing direction, the second viewing direction being a direction having an elevation angle different from an elevation angle of the first viewing direction; and a generating step of generating recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of recording material used to form the uneven layer on the recording medium such that at least one of a width of each of the unit areas and a height of the projection changes in accordance with the brightness information, wherein a change in an area of a shadow to be observed in accordance with a change in an elevation angle of a viewing direction is controlled based on at least one of the width of each of the unit areas and the height of the projection. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising: an obtaining step of obtaining brightness information regarding a brightness of a predetermined area of an object observed in a first viewing direction and regarding a brightness of the predetermined area of the object observed in a second viewing direction, the second viewing direction being a direction having an elevation angle different from an elevation angle of the first viewing direction; and a generating step of generating recording amount data that indicates a recording amount of recording material used to form an uneven layer on a recording medium such that at least one of a width of each unit area and a height of a projection of the unit area changes in accordance with the brightness information, wherein a change in an area of a shadow to be observed in accordance with a change in an elevation angle of a viewing direction is controlled based on at least one of the width of each of the unit areas and the height of the projection.