Halftoning system

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described to improve halftone image quality by integrating different halftoning algorithms and managing their transitions based on image content. The method works by applying different halftoning methods to different regions of a continuous-tone image. Regions of the continuous-tone image are evaluated to determine suitability for halftoning by at least two different halftoning methods. The most suitable halftoning method is then used to halftone a particular region. An activity index is used to evaluate each region. A halftoning method such as error diffusion is deemed most suitable for application to detailed continuous-tone image areas. A halftoning method such as smooth dither is deemed most suitable for application to flat continuous-tone image areas . Also, hysteresis can be introduced to compensate for sharp transitions in the image and thereby eliminate ghosting.

Description: The present invention relates to halftoning a continuous tone image. Digital Halftoning is the process of transforming a continuous-tone image into a binary image that has the illusion of the original continuous-tone image. See, R. Ulichney, Digital Halftoning, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1987. In the case of color images, the color continuous-tone image is typically separated into color channels first. Separate halftones are then formed for each of the color channels. Error diffusion (see, R.W. Floyd and L. Steinberg, "An adaptive Algorithm for Spatial Greyscale", Proc. SID, 17:75-77, 1976) is one important class of digital halftoning algorithms that renders continuous-tone images by thresholding their gray levels and distributing errors caused by the thresholding to neighboring unprocessed pixels. Error diffusion is good at producing image details.. However, in flat regions, it often has visible artifacts such as worms that are difficult to eliminate. Smooth dithers, on the other hand, are a class of halftoning methods that produce smooth textures in flat regions, but usually are less sharp for lack of feedback. One example of a smooth dither is Color Smooth Dither (CSD) (see, J.P. Allebach and Q. Lin, "Joint Design of Dither Matrices for a Set of Colorants", U.S. patent application 08/641,304, filed April 30, 1996). Another example of a smooth dither is Super Smooth Dither (SSD) (see, Q. Lin, "Halftone Image Formation Using Dither Matrix Generated Based Upon Printed Symbol Models", U.S. patent 5,469,515, issued November 21, 1995; Q. Lin, "Halftone Images Using Special Filters", U.S. patent 5,317,418, issued May 31, 1994). Different halftoning algorithms are best for different types of images and different types of printers. For example, Table 1 shows the optimal halftoning algorithms for different image regions on a typical inkjet printer that is printing computer generated graphics. In the case of computer generated graphics, it is possible to select the optimal halftoning technique for a particular image because information about the type of image being halftoned is known to the print driver. Optimal Halftoning Algorithms Computer Generated Graphics (object type known to the driver) text error diffusion line art error diffusion area fill smooth dither Proper selection of a halftoning technique is especially important in rendering a scanned document, where there is a mixture of text, line art and area fill, and raster image. For example, Table 2 shows the optimal halftoning algorithms for different image regions on a typical inkjet printer that is printing a scanned document. Optimal Halftoning Algorithms Scanned Document (object type not known to driver) text error diffusion line art error diffusion area fill smooth dither busy image region error diffusion smooth image region smooth dither Similarly, proper selection of a halftoning technique is also important when rendering a digital photographic image that has a mixture of detailed regions and uniformly smooth colored regions. However, for images such as scanned photographic images, the print driver cannot select the best halftoning technique because it does not have any information regarding the composition of the page. Thus, it can be seen that halftone imaging techniques impose image quality limits upon halftone image output devices, and hinder the use of these devices in many applications. The 1977 SID International Symposium, Digest of Technical Papers; Society for Information Display, Los Angeles (US), 1977 pages 124-125 K. Y. Wong et al.: 'Adaptive Switching of Dispersed and Clustered Halftone Patterns for Bi-Level Image Rendition' XP000605139 discloses a method and apparatus for halftoning a continuous-tone image to form a halftone image, the method comprising the steps of evaluating a region of the continuous-tone image to determine suitability for halftoning by at least two different halftoning methods (fast/slow transition detection logic); and halftoning the region using the most suitable halftoning method such that different halftoning methods (dithering with dispersed or clustered dot pattern) can be applied to different regions (of fast or slow transition) of the continuous-tone image. The present invention seeks to provide improved halftoning of images. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a process of halftoning an image as specified in claim 1. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a processor as specified in claim 6. The preferred embodiment can improve halftone imaging by integrating different halftoning algorithms and managing their transitions based on image content. A process and apparatus is described to improve halftone image quality by integrating different halftoning algorithms and managing their transitions based on image content. The preferred method works by applying different halftoning methods to different regions of a continuous-tone image. Regions of the continuous-tone image are evaluated to determine suitability for halftoning by at least two different halftoning methods. The most suitable halftoning method is then used to halftone a particular region. An activity index can be used to evaluate each region of the image for suitability of halftoning by a particular halftoning method. A halftoning method such as error diffusion can then be deemed most suitable for application to detailed continuous-tone image areas. A halftoning method such as smooth dither can then be deemed most suitable for application to flat continuous-tone image areas. Also, hysteresis can be introduced to compensate for sharp transitions in the image and thereby eliminate ghosting. An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating a preferred halftoning mechanism for integrating smooth dither with error diffusion; Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the use of α and β to control halftoning; and Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating selection between halftoning techniques at a particular pixel and introduction of hysteresis if appropriate. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to Figures 1-3. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes, however, because the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. ImageSmart is a technology for integrating different halftoning algorithms and managing their transitions based on image content. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a mechanism 100 for integrating smooth dither with error diffusion. The parameters α and β are introduced to facilitate the transition between error diffusion and color smooth dither. Figure 2 illustrates the use of α and β to control halftoning. The values of α and β are normalized to a range between 0 and 1, as shown in Figure 2. Equations 1 and 2 set forth calculations that are used to calculate threshold and error values for a particular α and β. Thus, threshold = β * t(i,j) + (1-β) * 0.5 and error = α * (c(i,j) - b(i,j)) where t(i,j) is the CSD dither matrix threshold, c(i,j) is the continuous tone image, and b(i,j) is the binary image, all at the current pixel location (i,j). Under the control of α, summer 110 can combine error propagated 140 from the previous pixel calculation with the continuous-tone image value at the present pixel. Under the control of β, this sum can be thresholded 120 to form a binary image value at the present pixel. This binary image value is also negated and combined by summer 130 with the sum from summer 110. Error is then propagated 140 for use in halftoning the next pixel. The error propagation scheme can be the Floyd-Steinberg error diffusion or one of it's variations, where fractions of the error are propagated to neighboring pixels. Ulichney's book, mentioned earlier, provides descriptions of several such error propagation schemes. Thus, when α is 0 and β is 1, the resulting halftoning algorithm applied at the current pixel location (i,j) is color smooth dither. Similarly, when α is 1 and β is 0, the resulting halftoning algorithm is error diffusion. Finally, when both α and β are 0, the resulting halftoning algorithm is simple thresholding. Note that the α and β values along the two line segments α = 1, 0 ≤ β ≤ 1 and β = 1, 0 ≤ α ≤ 1 preserves the graylevel of the continuous tone image. Other combinations of α and β do not. However one can still use the values of the other combinations which may yield an image perceived to be cleaner than that provided by a faithful reproduction. As shown in ColorSmart (see U.S. patent 5,402,245, Ricardo D. Motta, Andrew E. Fitzhugh, Michael D. McGuire, and Gary J. Dispoto, "Bi-level Digital Color Printer System Exhibiting Improved Undercolor Removal and Error Diffusion Procedures", issued March 28, 1995), sometimes a user prefers a cleaner looking image over a faithful reproduction. Alternately, although dither matrix t(i,j) is shown in Figure I as being a color smooth dither matrix, other clustered dot or smooth dither techniques can be used. To render a page with a mixture of text, line art, area fill, and photograph, it is preferable to render the busy areas such as text, line art and edge regions in a photograph, with the Floyd-Steinberg error diffusion algorithm, i.e., use (α, β) close to point (1,0) in Figure 2. On the other hand, smooth areas, such as area fill and non-edge regions in a photograph, are better rendered with the color smooth dither, i.e., use (α, β) close to point (0,1) in Figure 2. As will be shown below, an activity index can be used to calculate whether an area is busy and smooth. Then, α and β can be selected based upon the activity index calculation. When there is a sharp transition in the image, there is a sharp transition in the halftoning algorithms correspondingly. This may cause a ghosting effect. The problem can be alleviated by introducing hysteresis in the activity index calculation. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating selection between halftoning techniques at a particular pixel and introduction of hysteresis if appropriate. In process 300 of Figure 3, a change (DELTA) is calculated (310) for the neighborhood of a particular continuous-tone pixel j, of row i. For one embodiment, DELTA is calculated as follows: DELTA = 4 * (abs(CURR[J+1]-CURR[J]) + abs((PREV[J]-CURR[J])) where four is a scaling factor and CURR is an array containing the J continuous tone values for the row. PREV is an array corresponding to CURR that is used to buffer the continuous tone values of the previous row. In the event that DELTA exceeds a value of 255, DELTA is set to 255. For this particular calculation, change between the current pixel and the pixels immediately to its right and above it are combined to form DELTA It is to be understood, however, that changes in other directions and across more pixels can alternately be considered when formulating a DELTA. The flow of error propagation is right and down. Therefore, a ghosting effect can occurs in these directions unless hysteresis is introduced. For one embodiment, the DELTA of the previous pixel in the row and that of the pixel immediately above the current pixel are examined 320. Alternately, the change in activity index between the current pixel and the pixel immediately previous is compared. If the change is too great, then hysteresis is introduced by using an activity index that is proportional to the activity index used previously. Thus, if there has not been a big change, then one can simply normalize 330 the DELTA value (e..g., to form index having a range from 0 to 1 rather than from 0 to 255). However, if there is a big drop in activity, then hysteresis is introduced 380 to gradually change the activity index. For one embodiment, if the present DELTA value is less than ninety percent of the previous DELTA value, rather than using the present DELTA value calculated in 310, a DELTA value that is ninety percent of the previous DELTA value is used. When hysteresis is introduced 370, the proportional DELTA is then normalized 330 to yield an activity index. Once the activity index is normalized to have a range from 0 to 1, one can then calculate β and α from index . For example, this can be accomplished by calculating an activity index according to an arc by using equations 3 and 4. β = 1- index α = 1 - β 2 Next, threshold and error can be calculated 350 using equations 1 and 2. Finally, error is propagated to future pixels 360 (e.g., using the Floyd-Steinberg filter and weightings) before termination 370 of calculations for the present pixel. Testing and Advantages The system has been tested, for example by halftoning and then printing scanned magazine pages. Results show that the system can produce sharp text and good image details, while free of worming artefacts. In addition, the ability to incorporate error diffusion into the halftoning process was found to suppress high frequency moire patterns typically caused by digital sampling of the halftone of the magazine pages.

Claims: A process of halftoning a continuous-tone image to form a halftone image, comprising the steps of: evaluating a region of the continuous-tone image to determine suitability for halftoning by at least two different halftoning methods; halftoning the region using the most suitable halftoning method such that different halftoning methods can be applied to different regions of the continuous-tone image; and introducing hysteresis to compensate for sharp transitions in the image. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first halftoning method is applied to detailed continuous-tone image areas and a second halftoning method is applied to flat continuous-tone image areas. A process as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first halftoning method is an error diffusion method. A process as set forth in claim 2 or 3, wherein the second method is a dither method. A process as set forth in any preceding claim, wherein an activity index is used to evaluate the region. A processor for halftoning a continuous-tone image to form a halftone image, the processor comprising: means for evaluating a region of the continuous-tone image to determine suitability for halftoning by at least two different halftoning methods; means for halftoning the region using the most suitable halftoning method such that different halftoning methods can be applied to different regions of the continuous-tone image; and means for introducing hysteresis to compensate for sharp transitions in the image, A processor as set forth in claim 6, wherein a first halftoning method is most suitable for application to detailed continuous-tone image areas and a second halftoning method is most suitable for application to flat continuous-tone image areas. A processor as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first halftoning method is an error diffusion method, and/or wherein the second method is a dither method.

Inventors: LIN QIAN, LIN, QIAN
Applicants: HEWLETT PACKARD CO, HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: G06T5, H04N1