Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium on which image processing program is recorded

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• image inputting means for inputting an image;
• character/line drawing region extracting means for extracting a character/line drawing region from the input image;
• pseudo-density region extracting means for extracting a pseudo-density region from the input image;
• image contracting means for contracting images in an extracted pseudo-density region, an extracted character/line drawing region, and a region other than the pseudo-density region and the character/line drawing region, by mutually different methods;
• and
• image outputting means for outputting the contracted image.

An image processing method comprising:

• an image inputting step;
• a character/line drawing region extracting step of extracting a character/line drawing region from an input image;
• a pseudo-density region extracting step of extracting a pseudo-density region from the input image;
• a image contracting step of contracting the image using mutually different methods respectively in the extracted pseudo-density region, the extracted character/line drawing region and the region other than the pseudo-density region and the character/line drawing region;
• and
• an image outputting step of outputting an contracted image.

A medium recording an image processing program for causing a computer to execute an image inputting step;

• a character/line drawing region extracting step of extracting a character/line drawing region from an input image;
• a pseudo-density region extracting step of extracting a pseudo-density region from the input image;
• an image contracting step of contracting the image using mutually different methods respectively in the extracted pseudo-density region, the extracted character/line drawing region and the region other than the pseudo-density region and the character/line drawing region;
• and an image outputting step of outputting a contracted image.