Image processing apparatus and method

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• extraction means for extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• variable-magnification means for performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• determination means for determining whether or not the magnification factor is less than or equal to a predetermined value;
• and
• reproduction means for adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors by displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors and reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors in a case where the determination result is positive, and reproducing the image on the basis of the variable-magnified edge vectors which are not subjected to the adjusting processing in a case where the determination result is negative,
• wherein the adjusting processing is performed so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced is reduced by one pixel regardless of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.

An image processing method, comprising:

• an extraction step of extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• a variable-magnification step of performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• an adjustment step of adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors;
• and
• a reproduction step of reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors,
• wherein said adjustment step includes a step of displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced at said reproduction step is reduced by one pixel regardless of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.

An image processing method, comprising:

• an extraction step of extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• a variable-magnification step of performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• a determination step of determining whether or not the magnification factor is less than or equal to a predetermined value;
• and
• a reproduction step of adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors by displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors and reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors in a case where the determination result is positive, and reproducing the image on the basis of the variable-magnified edge vectors which are not subjected to the adjusting processing in a case where the determination result is negative,
• wherein the adjusting processing is performed so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced is reduced by one pixel regardless of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.

A computer readable memory which stores program codes associated with image processing, comprising:

• a code of an extraction step of extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• a code of a variable-magnification step of performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• a code of an adjustment step of adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors;
• and
• a code of a reproduction step of reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors,
• wherein said adjustment step includes a step of displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced at said reproduction step is reduced by one pixel regardledss of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.

A computer readable memory which stores program codes associated with image processing, comprising:

• a code of an extraction step of extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• a code of a variable-magnification step of performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• a code of a determination step of determining whether or not the magnification factor is less than or equal to a predetermined value;
• and
• a code of a reproduction step of adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors by displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors and reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors in a case where the determination result is positive, and reproducing the image on the basis of the variable-magnified edge vectors which are not subjected to the adjusting processing in a case where the determination result is negative,
• wherein the adjusting processing is performed so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced is reduced by one pixel regardless of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.

A computer readable program associated with image processing, the program comprising:

• an extraction step of extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• a variable-magnification step of performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• an adjustment step of adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors;
• and
• a reproduction step of reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors,
• wherein said adjustment step includes a step of displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced at said reproduction step is reduced by one pixel regardless of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.

A computer readable program associated with image processing, the program comprising:

• an extraction step of extracting edge vectors defined on a boundary between black and white pixel regions of an input image, wherein the edge vectors are constituted by a plurality of vertex points;
• a variable-magnification step of performing variable-magnification processing on the extracted edge vectors in accordance with a magnification factor;
• a determination step of determining whether or not the magnification factor is less than or equal to a predetermined value;
• and
• a reproduction step of adjusting the variable-magnified edge vectors by displacing vertex points selected from a plurality of vertex points constituting the variable-magnified edge vectors and reproducing the image on the basis of the adjusted edge vectors in a case where the determination result is positive, and reproducing the image on the basis of the variable-magnified edge vectors which are not subjected to the adjusting processing in a case where the determination result is negative,
• wherein the adjusting processing is performed so that a width of a line, corresponding to the displaced vertex points, included in an image to be reproduced is reduced by one pixel regardless of the orientation of the line corresponding to the displaced vertex points.