Apparatus for smoothing outlines of images

An apparatus for smoothing an outline of an image including a plurality of dots, the apparatus comprising:

• A) detection means for quantitatively measuring a degree of inclination of an outline with respect to a predetermined direction, and for outputting a measured quantitative inclination of the outline;
• B) dot counting means, responsive to the measured quantitative inclination supplied from the detection means, for selectively calculating:
• a) the number of successive dots aligned along a horizontal line and ending with a change of one dot in a vertical direction;
• or
• b) the number of successive dots aligned along a vertical line and ending with a change of one dot in a horizontal direction;
• and
• C) correction means, responsive to the dot counting means, the correction means including:
• a) means for generating a plurality of correction dots at locations determined by the calculated number of successive dots:
• 1) along a new horizontal line lying immediately above or below said horizontal line;
• or
• 2) along a new vertical line lying immediately to the left of or immediately to the right of said vertical line;
• wherein the means for generating a plurality of correction dots includes:
• 1) means for arranging the plurality of correction dots as a plurality of sets of dots, which sets of dots are placed along either the new horizontal line or the new vertical line, sets of dots being separated from other sets of dots by different intervals;
• and
• b) means for supplying said plurality of correction dots to an output memory so as to produce a visually smooth outline of the image data in the output memory.