Printing device, printing program, printing method, image processing device, image processing program, image processing method, and recoding medium with the programs recorded thereon

A printing device, comprising:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit;
• a dot size change unit that changes a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the printing data generation unit and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit, and enhances the edge;
• and
• a printing unit that performs printing based on the printing data in which a dot size change is performed by the dot size change unit, and the printing data generated by the printing data generation unit.

A printing device, comprising:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge detection unit that detects an edge partially in any of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit;
• an edge enhancement unit that enhances the edge detected by the edge detection unit;
• a first edge determination unit that determines whether the partition region edge-enhanced by the edge enhancement unit includes an edge;
• a first middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the first edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the first middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the first edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the first middle tone region determination unit;
• and
• a first printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit, and includes:
• a second edge determination unit that determines whether the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit except for the partition regions through with detection by the edge detection unit include the edge;
• a second middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the second edge determination unit is the middle tone region;
• a third N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through the first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the second middle tone region determination unit;
• a fourth N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through the second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the second edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the second middle tone region determination unit;
• a second printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels in the N-value image data generated by the third N-value data generation unit, and pixels in the N-value image data generated by the fourth N-value data generation unit;
• a dot size change unit that changes a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the second printing data generation unit and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the fourth N-value data generation unit, and enhances the edge;
• a printing data synthesis unit that synthesizes together the printing data in which a dot size change is performed by the dot size change unit, the printing data generated by the second printing data generation unit, and the printing data generated by the first printing data generation unit;
• and
• a printing unit that performs printing based on the printing data as a result of data synthesis by the printing data synthesis unit.

A printing program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer operable as:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge detection unit that detects an edge in the M-value image data;
• an edge enhancement unit that enhances the edge detected by the edge detection unit;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit;
• and
• a printing unit that performs printing based on the printing data generated by the printing data generation unit.

A printing program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer operable as:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit;
• a dot size change unit that changes a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the printing data generation unit and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit, and enhances the edge;
• and
• a printing unit that performs printing based on the printing data in which a dot size change is performed by the dot size change unit, and the printing data generated by the printing data generation unit.

A printing method, comprising:

• a block partition step of partitioning image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge detection step of detecting an edge in the M-value image data;
• an edge enhancement step of enhancing the edge detected by the edge detection step;
• an edge determination step of determining whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition step includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination step of determining whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination step is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation step of generating N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a second N-value data generation step of generating the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination step, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a printing data generation step of generating printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation step, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation step;
• and
• a printing step of performing printing based on the printing data generated by the printing data generation step.

A printing method, comprising:

• a block partition step of partitioning image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge determination step of determining whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition step includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination step of determining whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination step is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation step of generating N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a second N-value data generation step of generating the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination step, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a printing data generation step of generating printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation step, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation step;
• a dot size change step of changing a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the printing data generation step and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation step, and enhancing the edge;
• and
• a printing step of performing printing based on the printing data in which a dot size change is performed by the dot size change step, and the printing data generated by the printing data generation step.

An image processing device, comprising:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge detection unit that detects an edge in the M-value image data;
• an edge enhancement unit that enhances the edge detected by the edge detection unit;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• and
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit.

An image processing device, comprising:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit;
• and
• a dot size change unit that changes a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the printing data generation unit and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit, and enhances the edge.

An image processing program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer operable as:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge detection unit that detects an edge in the M-value image data;
• an edge enhancement unit that enhances the edge detected by the edge detection unit;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• and
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit.

An image processing program embodied on a computer readable medium for use with a computer operable as:

• a block partition unit that partitions image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge determination unit that determines whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition unit includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination unit that determines whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination unit is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation unit that generates N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a second N-value data generation unit that generates the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination unit, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination unit;
• a printing data generation unit that generates printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation unit, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit;
• and
• a dot size change unit that changes a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the printing data generation unit and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation unit, and enhances the edge.

An image processing method, comprising:

• a block partition step of partitioning image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge detection step of detecting an edge in the M-value image data;
• an edge enhancement step of enhancing the edge detected by the edge detection step;
• an edge determination step of determining whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition step includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination step of determining whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination step is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation step of generating N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a second N-value data generation step of generating the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination step, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• and
• a printing data generation step of generating printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation step, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation step.

An image processing method, comprising:

• a block partition step of partitioning image data of a value M (M≧3) into a plurality of partition regions;
• an edge determination step of determining whether each of the partition regions as a result of partition by the block partition step includes an edge;
• a middle tone region determination step of determining whether the partition region determined as not including the edge by the edge determination step is a middle tone region;
• a first N-value data generation step of generating N-value image data by converting, into a value N (M>N≧2) by going through a first N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a second N-value data generation step of generating the N-value image data by converting, into the value N by going through a second N-value process, the image data of the partition region determined as including the edge by the edge determination step, or the image data of the partition region determined as not being the middle tone region by the middle tone region determination step;
• a printing data generation step of generating printing data in which a dot setting is correspondingly made to pixels of the N-value image data generated by the second N-value data generation step, and pixels of the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation step;
• and
• a dot size change step of changing a size of any of the dots located at a portion of the edge in the printing data that is generated by the printing data generation step and corresponds to the N-value image data generated by the first N-value data generation step, and enhancing the edge.