Image processing device and image processing method

An image processing device, comprising:

• a print image data generator that generates print image data for each of colors to be used to print a document image from image data of the document image,
• the image data including
• a barcode image comprising a barcode, and
• a background image overlapped on the barcode image as a background;
• a barcode region detector that detects a barcode region in the image data of the document image;
• a mask generator that
• detects a principal print color of the barcode image based on the print image data for each of colors in the barcode region,
• generates mask data based on the print image data for the principal print color in the barcode region, wherein the mask data indicates a mask region occupied by a bar of the barcode image, and
• generates an enlarged mask data that indicates an enlarged mask region obtained by enlarging the mask region at least in a width direction of the bar of the barcode image by a predetermined number of pixels;
• and
• a density adjuster that reduces a density of pixels inside the enlarged mask region except inside the mask region, by using the mask data and the enlarged mask data, in at least any one of pieces of the print image data of colors for the background image.

An image processing method comprising:

• generating print image data for each of colors to be used to print a document image from image data of the document image, the image data including
• a barcode image comprising a barcode, and
• a background image overlapped on the barcode image as a background;
• detecting a barcode region in the image data of the document image;
• detecting a principal print color of the barcode image based on the print image data for each of colors in the barcode region;
• generating mask data based on the print image data for the principal print color in the barcode region, wherein the mask data indicates a mask region occupied by a bar of the barcode image;
• generating an enlarged mask data that indicates an enlarged mask region obtained by enlarging the mask region at least in a width direction of the bar of the barcode image by a predetermined number of pixels;
• and
• performing at least one of
• processing to reduce density of pixels inside the mask region, by using the mask data, in at least any one of pieces of the print image data of colors for the barcode image, and
• processing to reduce density of pixels inside the enlarged mask region except inside the mask region, by using the mask data and the enlarged mask data, in at least any one of pieces of the print image data of colors for the background image.