Reordered multibit halftone processing with a threshold array

A method of halftoning, the method comprising:

• storing, in memory, a threshold array comprising an array of threshold elements;
• receiving a source image comprising an array of pixels with pixel values;
• and
• performing a multi-level halftoning process on the source image by:
• partitioning the source image into a sequence of image segments;
• partitioning the threshold array into a plurality of threshold segments;
• identifying image segment groups each comprising a set of the image segments that are noncontiguous in the sequence and correspond with a mutual threshold segment of the threshold array;
• and
• scheduling processing of the image segments in an image segment group as a batch based on the mutual threshold segment.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method of halftoning, the method comprising:

• storing, in memory, a threshold array comprising an array of threshold elements;
• receiving a source image comprising an array of pixels with pixel values;
• and
• performing a multi-level halftoning process on the source image by:
• partitioning the source image into a sequence of image segments;
• partitioning the threshold array into a plurality of threshold segments;
• identifying image segment groups each comprising a set of the image segments that are noncontiguous in the sequence and correspond with a mutual threshold segment of the threshold array;
• and
• scheduling processing of the image segments in an image segment group as a batch based on the mutual threshold segment.