Image processing method and image processor

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• dividing an input image into plural small regions;
• selecting plural dividing target components based on distribution of color data in the small region and then dividing the color data in the small region into groups based on a criterion regarding the selected dividing target components;
• extracting a representative color from each of the obtained groups;
• and
• approximating, after repeating the steps from the selecting of the dividing target components through the extracting of the representative colors until a specific number of the representative colors are obtained, the color data in the small region by using the specific number of the obtained representative colors.

An image processing method comprising the steps of:

• dividing an input image into plural small regions;
• selecting a dividing target component based on distribution of the color data in the small region and then dividing the color data in the small region into groups based on a criterion regarding the selected dividing target component;
• subdividing each group into plural groups based on the color data in each group;
• extracting a representative color from each of the obtained groups;
• and
• approximating, after repeating the steps from the selecting of the dividing target component through the extracting of the representative colors until a specific number of the representative colors are obtained, the color data in the small region by using a specific number of the obtained representative colors.

An image processor comprising:

• region dividing means for dividing an input image into plural small regions;
• a reference color table set including a prepared set of reference colors;
• color data classifying means for dividing the color data in the small region into a specific number of groups based on the color data in the small region and the reference colors in the table;
• representative color deciding means for finding a representative color of the color data in each of the obtained groups;
• and
• objective region approximating means for approximating the color data in each small region by using a specific number of the obtained representative colors.

An image processor comprising:

• region dividing means for dividing an input image into plural small regions;
• initializing means for setting an initial group for the small region, classifying all the color data in the small region to the initial group, and finding the representative color of the initial group;
• target component selecting means for selecting plural dividing target components to be targeted at the dividing of an objective group based on distribution of the color data in the objective group;
• group dividing means for dividing the objective group into plural groups based on the obtained dividing target components and classifying the color data in the objective group to the groups obtained after the dividing;
• representative color extracting means for selecting a representative color of the color data in each group obtained by the group dividing means;
• termination judging means for judging whether a specific number of the representative colors are obtained or not;
• and
• objective region approximating means for approximating, in case where, after repeating the selecting of the dividing target components by the target component selecting means, the group dividing by the group dividing means and the representative color extracting by the representative color extracting means until a specific number of the representative colors are obtained, the termination judging means judges that a specific number of representative colors are obtained, the color data in the small region by using a specific number of the obtained representative colors.

An image processor comprising:

• region dividing means for dividing an input image into plural small regions;
• initializing means for setting an initial group for the small region and classifying all color data in the small region to the initial group and calculating a representative color of the initial group;
• target component selecting means for selecting a dividing target component to be targeted at the dividing of an object group based on distribution of the color data in the objective group;
• group dividing means for dividing the objective group into plural groups according to the obtained divided target component and classifying the color data in the objective group to the groups obtained after the dividing;
• second group dividing means for subdividing each group into plural groups based on the color data in each group obtained by the above group dividing means and classifying the color data in each group into groups obtained after the dividing;
• representative color extracting means for finding the representative color of the color data in each group obtained by the second group dividing means;
• termination judging means for judging whether a specific number of the representative color are obtained or not;
• and
• objective region approximating means for approximating, in case where, after repeating the selecting of the dividing target components by the target component selecting means, the group dividing by the group dividing means and by the second group dividing means, and the representative color extracting by the representative color extracting means, the termination judging means judges that a specific number of representative colors are obtained, the color data in the small region by using a specific number of the obtained representative colors.