Image processing device including image size adjustment unit

An image processing device which generates a halftone image from an input image of a plurality of printing modes with different definition, the image processing device comprising:

• an image size adjustment unit which adjusts a size of the input image;
• and
• a halftone processing unit which performs halftone processing on the input image size-adjusted by the image size adjustment unit to generate a halftone image, wherein:
• the image size adjustment unit adjusts the input image to a same size in two or more printing modes among the plurality of printing modes, and the input image of the same size is subjected to the halftone processing;
• the halftone processing unit limits arrangement of dots constituting the halftone image to dot arrangeable places of a selected printing mode among the plurality of printing modes, and performs the halftone processing based on an error diffusion method using an error diffusion coefficient matrix according to the selected printing mode, while controlling error distribution such that an error component is not distributed to dot arrangement inhibition places of the selected printing mode;
• and
• the functions performed by the image size adjustment unit and the halftone processing unit are achieved using a computer.

An image processing device which generates a halftone image from an input image of a plurality of printing modes with different definition, the image processing device comprising:

• an image size adjustment unit which adjusts a size of the input image;
• and
• a halftone processing unit which performs halftone processing on the input image size-adjusted by the image size adjustment unit to generate a halftone image, wherein:
• the image size adjustment unit adjusts the input image to a same size in two or more printing modes among the plurality of printing modes, and the input image of the same size is subjected to the halftone processing;
• the halftone processing unit limits arrangement of dots constituting the halftone image to dot arrangeable places of a selected printing mode among the plurality of printing modes, and performs the halftone processing based on an error diffusion method using an error diffusion coefficient matrix according to the selected printing mode, while using a dot arrangement mask which designates the dot arrangeable places of the selected printing mode;
• the dot arrangement mask is reflected in the error diffusion coefficient matrix, and the halftone processing unit uses the error diffusion coefficient matrix reflecting the dot arrangement mask to determine error distribution;
• and
• the functions performed by the image size adjustment unit and the halftone processing unit are achieved using a computer.

An image processing device which generates a halftone image from an input image of a plurality of printing modes with different definition, the image processing device comprising:

• an image size adjustment unit which adjusts a size of the input image;
• and
• a halftone processing unit which performs halftone processing on the input image size-adjusted by the image size adjustment unit to generate a halftone image, wherein:
• the image size adjustment unit adjusts the input image to a same size in two or more printing modes among the plurality of printing modes, and the input image of the same size is subjected to the halftone processing;
• the halftone processing unit limits arrangement of dots constituting the halftone image to dot arrangeable places of a selected printing mode among the plurality of printing modes, and performs the halftone processing based on an error diffusion method using an error diffusion coefficient matrix according to the selected printing mode, while using a dot arrangement mask which designates the dot arrangeable places of the selected printing mode;
• the dot arrangement mask is prepared separately from the error diffusion coefficient matrix, and the halftone processing unit directly uses the dot arrangement mask to determine error distribution;
• and
• the functions performed by the image size adjustment unit and the halftone processing unit are achieved using a computer.