Patent ID: 7012617
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for converting an input digital color image having a set of possible input colors to an output digital color image having a set of palette colors, the number of palette colors being less than the number of possible input colors, wherein the set of palette colors is determined based on the distribution of colors in the input digital image supplemented by a distribution of pre-determined important colors, comprising: a) determining a distribution of input colors using pixels in the input digital color image; b) detecting any regions of predetermined important colors in the input digital color image; c) collecting additional pixels from any detected regions of important colors; d) adding the collected additional pixels to the distribution of input colors to create a boosted distribution of colors; e) determining a set of palette colors to be used in the formation of an output digital color image in response to the boosted distribution of colors; and f) forming the output digital color image by assigning each color in the input digital color image to one of the colors in the set of palette colors.