Patent ID: 6791717
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image processing apparatus comprising:detection means for detecting an edge from pixel data having a given first number of tone levels; first processing means for performing pseudo-halftone processing of the pixel data to output pseudo-halftone data having a second number of tone levels lower than the first number of tone levels; and synthesis means for, when the detected edge is a falling edge, synthesizing pixel data based on the pseudo-halftone data outputted by the first processing means with the pseudo-halftone data at positions corresponding to the edge which is detected by the detection means to output the pseudo-halftone data having pixels distributed over the positions corresponding to the detected edge of the pixel data; wherein the synthesis means includes: storage means for storing the pseudo-halftone data outputted by the first processing means in a storage region in a case where the pseudo-halftone data has a density other than 0; and means for receiving continuously the pseudo-halftone data supplied from the first processing means and synthesizing the pseudo-halftone data which is stored by the storage means with the supplied pseudo-halftone data to output the pseudo-halftone data having pixels distributed over the positions corresponding to the detected edge of the pixel data.