Patent ID: 7046863
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for rendering a graphical entity, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the graphical entity for output by a printer, wherein the printer is adapted to output multi-bit data pixels and wherein the printer is configured to render at a printer resolution; translating the graphical entity into a first raster graphical entity comprising a plurality of single-bit pixels, the first graphical entity at a first resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the printer resolution; performing a halftone process on the first graphical entity by employing a halftone matrix based on an intermediate halftone matrix at the printer resolution comprising a plurality of multi-bit halftone pixels and wherein each of the multi-bit halftone pixel in the intermediate halftone matrix is expanded to create the halftone matrix at the first resolution; and translating the first graphical entity into a second raster graphical entity by dividing the plurality of single-bit pixels of the first graphical entity into grids of pixels, the second graphical entity is scaled down from the first graphical entity by mapping each grid of the grids of pixels of the first graphical entity into a corresponding multi-bit pixel of the second graphical entity, and wherein the second raster graphical entity is at the printer resolution; wherein the step of performing the halftone process is prior to the step of translating the first graphical entity into the second graphical entity; wherein the step of translating the first graphical entity into the second graphical entity is based on the haiftoned first graphical entity.