Color recording device and method for receiving binary image data and recording a corresponding color image

An apparatus for processing images, comprising:

• an input means for entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively;
• an image forming means for forming images with YMC elements of three colors;
• a conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by masking with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly for the entered image data with the Bk element;
• and
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C elements to the entered Bk element,
• said image forming means forming an image on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

An apparatus for processing images, comprising:

• an input means for entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively;
• and
• an image forming means for forming images with YMC elements of three colors, characterized by
• a first conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by applying a first mask with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly to the entered image data with the Bk element;
• an edge extraction means for extracting edge parts in the entered Bk element image data;
• a second conversion means for converting the Bk element to respective YMC elements by applying a second mask with corresponding Y, M, and C elements for emphasizing edges for the extracted Bk element edge parts;
• and
• a synthesizing means for synthesizing the Y, M, and C elements converted by said first conversion means, the Y, M, and C elements converted by said second conversion means, and the entered Y, M, and C elements,
• said image forming means forming an image on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of:

• receiving Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan), and Bk (black) binary image data;
• recording color images by using Y, M, and C recording members;
• converting the received Bk binary image data to Y, M, and C binary data at a given ratio;
• and
• synthesizing the converted Y, M, and C binary image data with the received Y, M, and C binary image data.

A method of processing images, comprising the steps of:

• entering image data having YMCBk elements of four colors, wherein Y, M, C, and Bk correspond to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively;
• forming images with YMC elements of three colors;
• converting the Bk element to respective Y, M, and C elements by masking with corresponding Y, M, and C elements created randomly for the entered image data with the Bk element;
• and
• synthesizing said converted Y, M, and C elements to the entered Bk element,
• said image forming step in which an image is formed on the basis of the synthesized YMC elements.

An apparatus for processing images, comprising:

• an input means for entering M-level color image data with a plurality of color elements where M is a positive integer;
• a blacking processing means for generating black element data by blacking based on the input color image data;
• an N-level conversion processing means for converting the black element data to N-level notation (M>N) where N is a positive integer;
• and
• an edge detection means for detecting an edge on the basis of the black element data converted to N-level notation,
• said blacking processing means generating black element data according to levels of the plurality of color elements.

A method of processing images, comprising steps of:

• entering M-level color image data with a plurality of color elements where M is a positive integer;
• blacking processing of generating black element data by blacking based on the input color image data;
• an N-level conversion processing of converting the black element data to N-level notation (M>N) where N is a positive integer;
• and
• an edge detection of detecting an edge on the basis of the black element data converted to N-level notation,
• said blacking processing step in which black element data is generated according to levels of the plurality of color elements.