Image forming apparatus which processes printing data including a transparency pattern, printing control terminal apparatus, and image forming method thereof

A printing control terminal apparatus which is connected to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a rendering unit to transform input printing data into bitmap data;
• a storage unit to store a plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information in a lookup table (LUT);
• an image processor to compare the bitmap data with a preset transparency pattern having a plurality of different preset transparency rates to represent various amounts of transparency, and if it is determined that the bitmap data comprises a transparency pattern matching the preset transparency pattern having one of the preset transparency rates, to perform smoothing processing with respect to the bitmap data at the one of the preset transparency rates;
• and
• a communication interface unit to transmit the bitmap data processed by the image processor to the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the image processor comprises:
• a transparency pattern matcher to respectively compare pattern formats of predetermined pixel areas of the bitmap data with the plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information;
• a transparency pattern determiner to determine whether a corresponding pixel area comprises the transparency pattern matching the preset transparency pattern among the plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information, based on the comparison result;
• and
• a smoothing processor to perform the smoothing processing with respect to the corresponding pixel area which has been determined that it comprises the transparency pattern.

An image forming method of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• receiving printing data into an input unit;
• transforming the printing data into bitmap data by a rendering unit;
• storing a plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information in a lookup table (LUT) of a storing unit;
• comparing the bitmap data with a preset transparency pattern having a plurality of different preset transparency rates to represent various amounts of transparency, and if it is determined that the bitmap data comprises a transparency pattern matching the preset transparency pattern having one of the preset transparency rates, performing smoothing processing with respect to the bitmap data at the one of the preset transparency rates;
• and
• outputting the bitmap data on which the smoothing processing has been performed,
• wherein the performance of the smoothing processing comprises:
• respectively comparing pattern formats of predetermined pixel areas of the bitmap data with the plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information;
• determining whether a corresponding pixel area comprises the transparency pattern matching the preset transparency pattern among the plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information, based on the comparison result;
• and
• performing smoothing processing with respect to the corresponding pixel area which has been determined that it comprises the transparency pattern.

An image forming method of a printing control terminal apparatus which is connected to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• transforming input printing data into bitmap data;
• storing a plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information in a lookup table (LUT);
• comparing the bitmap data with a preset transparency pattern having a plurality of different preset transparency rates to represent various amounts of transparency, and if it is determined that the bitmap data comprises a transparency pattern matching the preset transparency pattern having one of the preset transparency rates, performing smoothing processing with respect to the bitmap data at the one of the preset transparency rates;
• and
• transmitting the bitmap data on which the smoothing processing has been performed to the image forming apparatus,
• wherein the performance of the smoothing processing comprises:
• respectively comparing pattern formats of predetermined pixel areas of the bitmap data with the plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information;
• determining whether a corresponding pixel area comprises the transparency pattern matching the preset transparency pattern among the plurality of pieces of preset transparency pattern information, based on the comparison result;
• and
• performing smoothing processing with respect to the corresponding pixel area which has been determined that it comprises the transparency pattern.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image input unit that coverts image data into bitmap data including an upper object and a lower object each having a plurality of pixels to be printed and receives pattern information corresponding to at least one of the upper and lower objects;
• a storage unit that stores a plurality of prestored pattern information;
• and
• an image processor to compare the received pattern information with the prestored pattern information containing a preset predetermined transparency pattern having a plurality of different preset transparency rates to represent various amounts of transparency, and if it is determined the received pattern information matches the preset predetermined transparency pattern having one of the preset transparency rates in the prestored pattern information that a transparency area having the received pattern information exists, to adjust a transparency of a predetermined number of pixels of the upper object based on the received pattern information at the one of the preset transparency rates.

An image forming method of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• receiving bitmap data including a plurality of pixels from an externally connected device;
• determining whether an area of pixels among the plurality of pixels is a patterned area including a pattern;
• determining the patterned area is transparent if the pattern of the patterned area matches a pre-stored transparency pattern having one of various different preset transparency rates stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus;
• performing a smoothing process on the patterned area at the one of the preset transparency rates;
• and
• printing the bitmap data after performing the smoothing process.