Image processing apparatus and method with gradation characteristic adjustment

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium comprising:

• first feedback adjustment means for adjusting gradation characteristics;
• second feedback adjustment means for adjusting color reproduction characteristics after the adjustment by said first feedback adjustment means;
• pattern forming means for forming a test pattern consisting of at least one color on the recording medium;
• and
• reading means for reading the test pattern formed on the recording medium by said pattern forming means,
• wherein said first and second feedback adjustment means set an image processing parameter on the basis of information obtained by forming the test pattern by said pattern forming means and reading the formed test pattern by said reading means.

An image recording apparatus comprising:

• reading means for reading an original image;
• processing means for processing the image read by said reading means;
• recording means for recording the image processed by said processing means on a recording medium;
• and
• setting means for setting an image processing condition of said processing means,
• wherein said setting means sets a first image processing condition of said processing means on the basis of a first predetermined image read by said reading means, and reference data associated with the first predetermined image, and thereafter sets a second image processing condition of said processing means on the basis of a second predetermined image which is recorded on a recording medium by said recording means and is read by said reading means.

An image forming apparatus for performing a print operation on a recording medium on the basis of data subjected to image processing, comprising:

• image processing means for performing the image processing;
• print means for performing the print operation;
• print control means for controlling said print means to perform a plurality of print-out operations on the basis of identical print data;
• and
• condition setting means for calculating and setting an image processing condition of said image processing means on the basis of print results output from said print means under the control of said print control means, and the print data.

An image forming apparatus for performing a print operation on a recording medium on the basis of data subjected to image processing, comprising:

• image processing means for performing the image processing;
• print means for performing the print operation;
• error detection means for comparing a print result output from said print means on the basis of predetermined print data with the predetermined print data, and checking if an error not less than a predetermined value is present;
• print control means for, when said error detection means determines that an error not less than the predetermined value is present, controlling said print means to perform a print-out operation on the basis of print data in the neighborhood of print data, which caused the error, of the predetermined print data;
• and
• condition setting means for calculating and setting an image processing condition of said image processing means on the basis of a print result output from said print means under the control of said print control means, the print result output from said print means on the basis of the predetermined print data, and the predetermined print data.

An image forming apparatus for performing a print operation on a recording medium on the basis of data subjected to image processing, comprising:

• image processing means for performing the image processing;
• print means for performing the print operation;
• error detection means for comparing a print result output from said print means on the basis of predetermined print data with the predetermined print data, and checking if an error not less than a predetermined value is present;
• and
• control means for, when said error detection means determines that an error not less than the predetermined value is present, interrupting the processing, and for, when said error detection means does not determine that an error not less than the predetermined value is present, calculating and setting an image processing condition of said image processing means on the basis of the comparison result.

An image forming apparatus for performing a print operation on a recording medium on the basis of data subjected to image processing, comprising:

• image processing means for performing the image processing;
• print means for performing the print operation;
• print control means for controlling said print means to perform print-out operations on the basis of a plurality of data, which are obtained by spatially changing a position of identical print data;
• and
• condition setting means for calculating and setting an image processing condition of said image processing means on the basis of a plurality of print results output from said print means under the control of said print control means, and the print data.

An image processing method comprising:

• a reading step of reading an original image to generate image data;
• an image processing step of performing image processing on the image data, according to an image processing condition;
• and
• an output step of outputting the image data subjected to the image processing, to an image forming unit,
• wherein a pattern image formed by the image forming unit is read in said reading step through a special filter to generate pattern data, and
• the image processing condition is set based on the generated pattern data.

An image recording method comprising:

• the first pattern forming step of forming a first test pattern on a recording medium;
• the first reading step of reading the first test pattern formed on the recording medium in the first pattern forming step;
• the first adjustment step of adjusting gradation characteristics on the basis of information of the first test pattern read in the first reading step;
• the second pattern forming step of forming a second test pattern on a recording medium;
• the second reading step of reading the second test pattern formed on the recording medium in the second pattern forming step;
• and
• the second adjustment step of adjusting color reproduction characteristics on the basis of information of the second test pattern read in the second reading step.

An image recording method for reading an original image, processing the read image, and recording the processed image on a recording medium, comprising:

• the first setting step of setting a first image processing condition on the basis of a read first predetermined image and reference data associated with the first predetermined image;
• the recording step of recording a second predetermined image on a recording medium;
• and
• the second setting step of setting a second image processing condition on the basis of the read second predetermined image.

An image processing method, which comprises the steps of:

• outputting a test pattern by image output means on the basis of test pattern data;
• reading the output test pattern by image reading means and inputting the test pattern read data;
• and
• generating a processing parameter on the basis of the test pattern and the test pattern read data, said method further comprising the steps of:
• performing a plurality of test pattern output operations on the basis of the test pattern data;
• and
• generating the processing parameter on the basis of the test pattern read data obtained as a result of the plurality of test pattern output operations.

An image processing method, which comprises the steps of:

• outputting a test pattern by image output means on the basis of test pattern data;
• reading the output test pattern by image reading means and inputting the test pattern read data;
• and
• generating a processing parameter on the basis of the test pattern and the test pattern read data,
• said method further comprising the steps of:
• comparing an error between the test pattern data and the test pattern read data with a predetermined value;
• and
• outputting an image by said image output means on the basis of image data in the neighborhood of the test pattern when the comparison result is not less than a predetermined value.

An image processing method, which comprises the steps of:

• outputting a test pattern by image output means on the basis of test pattern data;
• reading the output test pattern by image reading means and inputting the test pattern read data;
• and
• generating a processing parameter on the basis of the test pattern and the test pattern read data,
• said method further comprising the steps of:
• comparing an error between the test pattern data and the test pattern read data with a predetermined value;
• and
• inhibiting generation of the processing parameter when the comparison result is not less than a predetermined value, and generating the processing parameter when the comparison result is less than the predetermined value.

An image processing method, which comprises the steps of:

• outputting a test pattern by image output means on the basis of test pattern data;
• reading the output test pattern by image reading means and inputting the test pattern read data;
• and
• generating a processing parameter on the basis of the test pattern and the test pattern read data,
• said method further comprising the steps of:
• outputting identical test patterns at different positions by said image output means;
• and
• generating the processing parameter on the basis of the test patterns output at the different positions.