Automatic grainy noise control for optimal macro uniformity appearance
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorChu-heng Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system's intrinsic mottle & graininess levels are either measured or predicted based on the knowledge of system states including material states and actuator states. The optimal amount of total graininess is then calculated based on established visual models or customer surveys. The difference between this optimal graininess and the machine's intrinsic graininess is then used to calculate the required addition of grainy noise to the print. This additional amount of grainy noise can be added to the print either through textured halftone screens or through noise injection into the input digital (contone) image.
Claims15
A method implemented in a digital image processing system achieving automatic grainy noise control for optimal macro uniformity appearance, comprising:
- determining intrinsic mottle and graininess levels of digital image data;
- determining optimal graininess level for said digital image based on established visual models;
- determining additional grainy noise based on a calculated difference between said intrinsic mottle and graininess levels and said optimal graininess levels;
- injecting said additional grainy noise into said image data to optimize uniform appearance of a print;
- and
- outputting said print using said digital image data injected with said image data.
A system for providing automatic grainy noise control for optimal macro uniformity appearance, comprising:
- input digital image data;
- a digital front end for communication with an image output terminal, said digital front end being configured to receive said input digital image data;
- a memory unit having customer surveys and at least one visual model stored therein for obtaining optimal graininess level;
- a noise adding module configured to:
- determine intrinsic mottle and graininess levels of a digital image;
- determine optimal graininess level based on said visual model(s) and/or said customer surveys;
- determine additional grainy noise based on a calculated difference between said intrinsic mottle and graininess levels and said optimal graininess levels;
- and
- input said additional grainy noise into said digital image.
A method implemented in a digital image processing system to mask image defects through introduction of noise, comprising:
- determining an amount of high frequency graininess can be injected into an image by at least one of:
- measuring current machine states resulting in noise production, or retrieving graininess information stored in a database of said digital image printer system providing a user various noise conditions preference;
- and
- injecting high frequency graininess into said image to mask the appearance of low frequency mottle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.