Abstract:
One image forming/capture device feature is the ability to finely control image quality response curves. To enable fine control, the user defines a number of points to which the response curve is to be fit. The response curve is fit to or through these points. However, users have trouble appreciating the effects of this adjusted response curve in converting input image values to output image values. The response curve control graphical user interface allows the user to finely control a response curve of an image quality for an image forming/capture device in an intuitive manner, by providing a plurality of slider portions that allow the user to more intuitively control the image quality response curve. These slider portions mimic control elements of conventional photocopier control panels. Each slider corresponds to a point, or a range of points, of the response curve. The slider portions are arranged so that the points associated with each slider portion are arranged in an easily understandable order. Each slider portion indicates, for the associated point, or range of points, of the input image, the image value of the output image for that point, or for that range of points. The appearance of a portion of each of the slider portions is altered based on the selected image value of the output image for the point, or the range of points, of the input image. Thus, the user can intuitively appreciate the effects of adjustments made to the response curve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention is directed to a graphical user interface for an image capture device or an image forming device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Scanners and other types of image capture devices, and digital copiers and other image forming devices, have become ubiquitous office productivity tools for generating electronic images of physical original documents or generating physical copies of electronic images. Once an electronic image has been generated, either from scratch or from a physical original document, the electronic image data can be used in an infinite variety of ways to increase the productivity and the product quality of an office. Such image capture devices include desktop scanners, other stand alone scanners, digital still cameras, digital video cameras, the scanning input portions of digital copiers, facsimile machines and other multi-function devices that are capable of generating electronic image data from an original document, and the like. These image capture devices can also include image databases that store previously captured electronic image data. Such image forming devices include digital copiers, laser printers, ink jet printers, color ink jet printers, and the like. 
     However, as the costs of these various image capture devices and image forming device have dropped and the output quality of the physical copies and the captured electronic image data has improved, these image capture devices and image forming devices have been provided with an ever increasing number of controllable features. Similarly, as users have become comfortable with capturing and using electronic image data obtained from original documents to create physical copies, the uses to which the electronic image data has been put, and thus the needed control over the quality and appearance of the electronic image data and the physical copies, have expanded greatly. 
     In response, standard interfaces between such image capture devices, including those indicated above, and the various application programs that use such captured electronic image data has been developed. These standard interfaces allow standard compliant image capture devices and standard compliant applications to easily communicate. One exemplary embodiment of such a standard interface is the TWAIN™ interface. The TWAIN™ interface allows any TWAIN™ compliant application program to input and use electronic image data using any TWAIN™ compliant image capture device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The TWAIN™-compliant component protocol facilitates communication between application programs and image capture devices, such as those indicated above. One such TWAIN™ image capture device is the XEROX® DigiPath™ scanner. 
     The ever-increasing numbers of features provided by image forming devices and image capturing devices, such as the Xerox® DigiPath™ scanner, cause users of these image forming devices and image capturing devices to find it increasingly difficult to obtain the desired image forming or image capturing results. 
     In particular, one such feature provided by image forming devices and image capturing devices is the ability to finely control various image quality response curves. One such response curve is the tone reproduction curve (TRC). In particular, in some image forming devices and image capture devices, it is possible to finely control the tone reproduction curve beyond merely providing the conventional lower-resolution indication that the entire output image should be lighter or darker than the entire input image. 
     Accordingly, to enable this fine control, the user is often provided with a graphical user interface, such as that shown in FIG. 5, that allows the user to define a number of points to which a response curve is to be fit. Once the various points are defined, a response curve is fit to or through these points. However, even sophisticated users have trouble intuitively appreciating the effects of this adjusted response curve in converting the input image values to the output image values. Thus, it is often difficult for even sophisticated users to use the graphical user interface shown in FIG. 5 to obtain the desired output image. 
     This invention thus provides systems, methods and graphical user interfaces that allow the user to finely control a response curve of an image quality for an image forming or capture device in a more intuitive manner. 
     This invention separately provides systems, methods and graphical user interfaces that provide a plurality of slider portions that allow the user to more intuitively control the image quality response curve. 
     This invention separately provides systems and methods and graphical user interfaces that include slider portions that mimic control elements of conventional control panels. 
     This invention separately provides systems, methods and graphical user interfaces that provide control elements for controlling portions of an image quality response curve that each closely mimic the conventional lightness/darkness controls of a photocopier. 
     In various exemplary embodiments of the systems, methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention, an image quality response curve control graphical user interface includes a plurality of slider portions. Each slider corresponds to a point, or a range of points, of the image quality response curve. The slider portions are arranged so that the points, or range of points, associated with each slider portion are themselves arranged in an easily understandable order. Each slider portion indicates, for the associated point, or range of points, of the input image the image value of the output image for that point, or for that range of points. 
     In various exemplary embodiments, the appearance of a portion of each of the slider portions is altered based on the selected image value of the output image for the point, or the range of points, of the input image. Thus, the user can intuitively appreciate the effects of adjustments made to the image quality response curve, such as a tone reproduction curve. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments of the systems, methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of an exemplary electronic image generating device; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of the structure of an image capture device control system that incorporates the various exemplary embodiments of the image previewing systems, methods and graphical user interfaces of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a second exemplary embodiment of an image capture and usage system that incorporates the systems and methods of this invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a scan ticket illustrating various image scanning parameters according to this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the image capture control system that incorporates the image previewing systems, methods and graphical user interfaces of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 shows one exemplary embodiment of a conventional tone reproduction curve control graphical user interface; 
     FIG. 7 shows one exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface usable with the image quality response curve control graphical user interfaces, systems and methods according to this invention; 
     FIG. 8 shows one exemplary embodiment of an image quality curve control graphical user interface according to this invention; and 
     FIGS. 9A-9C are a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment of a method for generating, displaying and using the response curve control graphical user interface according to this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1-5 is particularly directed to an image capture device that generates electronic image data from the image carried on an original document. Thus, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of systems, methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention will make specific reference to controlling a tone reproduction curve of an image capture device and capturing an electronic image from the original document. 
     However, as is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, tone reproduction curves are not only used when capturing electronic images of images carried on original documents. Rather, tone reproduction curves are also often used when electronic image data is output to an image forming device, such as a digital copier, a laser printer, an ink jet printer, a facsimile machine, a multi-function device, or any other known or later developed device that generates an image on an image recording medium. Similarly, many other types of image quality response curves beyond a tone reproduction curve can be finely controlled using the image quality response curve control graphical user interface according to this invention. 
     Thus, while the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems, methods and graphical user interfaces of this invention may refer to tone reproduction curves used when capturing electronic image from an original document, it should be appreciated that any of the systems, methods and graphical user interfaces disclosed herein are equally applicable to forming images on an image recording medium using an image forming device and other types of image quality response curves. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of an electronic image data capturing device  100  usable with the image previewing systems, methods and graphical user interfaces of this invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic image data capture device  100  includes a control panel  110 , a document platen  120  on which an original document can be placed to generate corresponding electronic image data and a document handler  130 . In particular, the document handler  130  includes a feed tray  131  on which the original document can be placed and a document feeder  132  which moves each document in turn from the feed tray  131  and feeds the removed document to the document platen  120 . Each document is then returned to an output tray  133  after electronic image data is generated from that original document. 
     It should be appreciated that the electronic image data capture device can also be referred to as variously, a scanner, an image capture device, an electronic image data generating device, or the like, and, regardless of the name, can be any one of a stand-alone scanner, a digital copier, a facsimile machine, a multi-function device, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, an electronic image database storing previously generated electronic image data, or any other known or later device that is capable of generating (or supplying) electronic image data from an original document. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a first exemplary embodiment of the structural organization of an image capture device control system  200  that incorporates the image previewing systems, methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the image capture device control system  200  includes a device layer  210 , an acquisition layer  220 , a protocol layer  230 , and an application layer  240 . In particular, the device layer  210  includes the image capture device  100 , such as a Xerox® DigiPath™ color scanner or any of the other electronic image data capture devices indicated above. The device layer  210  also includes a device interface portion  212  of a TWAIN™ driver, or TWAIN™ data source,  250 . In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  bridges the device layer  210 , the acquisition layer  220  and the protocol layer  230 . 
     The protocol layer  230  includes a TWAIN™ code portion  232  of the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250 , a source manager  234  and a TWAIN™ code portion  236  of a TWAIN™-compliant application  260 . The application layer  240  includes the application portion  242  of the application  260 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, control and data signals are provided from the electronic image data capture device  100  to the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  through the device interface portion  212  of the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250 . Similarly, control and data signals between the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  and the source manager through the TWAIN™ code portion  232  of the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250 . The control and/or data signals are also provided between the source manager  234  and the application  260  through the TWAIN™ code portion  236 . In various exemplary embodiments, the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  controls the electronic image data capture device  100 . In various ones of these exemplary embodiments, the TWAIN™ driver or data source  250  is developed by the manufacturer of the electronic image data capture device  100 . 
     The source manager  234  manages and facilitates the interactions between the application  260  and the TWAIN™ driver or data source  250 . In various exemplary embodiments, one or more of two distinct source managers  234  have been implemented. Both are compiled as dynamic loading library modules. One exemplary dynamic load library implementation of the source manager  234  is a 16-bit program developed for, for example, Microsoft® Windows® 3.1. The other dynamic load library implementation of the source manager  234  is a 32-bit program developed for Windows® 95/98 and Windows® NT 4.0/5.0. In general, these two dynamic load library modules are provided as part of the TWAIN™ developers tool kit and are shipped with each TWAIN™-compliant application and at each TWAIN™-compliant electronic image data generating device. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplary embodiment for accessing the systems, methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a FILE menu  262  of a TWAIN™ compliant application  260  will include a plurality of menu items that provide an interface to a TWAIN™ compliant electronic image data capture device  100 , such as a TWAIN™-compliant scanner. These menu items include various ones of at least an Acquire menu item  263 , a Select Source menu item  264  or a Scan Set-Up menu item  265 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, selecting the Acquire menu item  263  causes the application  260  to request that the electronic image data capture device  100  prepare to capture electronic image data from an original document and/or transfer capture electronic image data to the image capture device control system. In particular, in response to the selecting the Acquire menu item  263 , the application  260  can display its own graphical user interface. Alternatively, the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  for the selected electronic image data capture device can display one of its graphical user interfaces. Finally, if the Scan Set up menu item  265  was selected, the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  can display a specific Scanner Set-Up graphical user interface. 
     In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, when any of the menu items  263 - 265  are selected, the application  260  calls the source manager  234 . In response, the source manager accesses each TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  that is present in the image capture device control system  200 . The source manager  234  then displays, in a graphical user interface  235 , all of the different TWAIN™ drivers (or data sources)  250  present on the image capture device control system  200 . Once the user selects the particular TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  that the user wishes to use, the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  will display a graphical user interface  400  that allows the user to select various ones of the image capture parameters and scanning control functions implemented in that TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a scan ticket  300 . Scan tickets contain all of the settings in the TWAIN™ graphical user interface  400 , which is discussed in greater detail below. In general, there will be a set of one or more sets of saved scan parameters, or “scan tickets” for each language supported the TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250  according to this invention. When the TWAIN™ graphical user interface  400  is displayed, only those sets of saved scan parameters, or “scan tickets” for the language the user is currently operating in are displayed. When a set of saved scan parameters, i.e., a “scan ticket”, is selected, all the settings contained within that scan ticket are used to populate the TWAIN™ graphical user interface  400  according to this invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a scan ticket  300  includes at least a file name portion  310 , a basic features portion  320 , an image quality portion  330  and an image size portion (not shown). The basic features portion  320  corresponds to the basic features tab  500  of the TWAIN™ graphical user interface  400  shown in FIG.  3 . Similarly, the image quality portion  330  and the image size portion correspond to the image quality tab  450  and the image size tab  550 , respectively, of the graphical user interface  400  shown in FIG.  3 . The image quality tab  450  is described in greater detail in below. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the basic features portion  320  includes a scan location parameter  321 , an input original document size parameter  322 , an original image quality profile parameter  323 , a mode parameter  324 , a resolution parameter  325 , and image optimization parameter  326 . The image quality portion  330  includes an image quality profile parameter  331 , a brightness parameter  332 , an increase/decrease parameter  333 , a special tone adjustments parameter  334 , a sharpen/soften parameter  335 , a background suppression parameter  336  and a negative image parameter  337 . 
     In particular, the scan location parameter  321  indicates the particular electronic image capture device that is to be used to capture electronic image data from a particular original document. The page size parameter portion  322  indicates the size of the input document, whether the input document is single-sided or double-sided, and, if the original document is double-sided, how the two images on each side of the original document are oriented relative to each other. The image quality profile portion  323  indicates image characteristics of and enhancements to be applied to the original document when it is made into its electronic form. Image quality profiles are it described in greater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/487,269 filed on Jan. 19, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The mode portion  324  indicates the particular image capture mode to be used. For example, the image of the original document could be captured as a binary bitmap image, as shown in FIG. 4 or, as an 8-bit grayscale image, or as a color image having various color spaces and bit depths. 
     The resolution portion  325  indicates the resolution of the generated electronic image data. The image optimization portion  326  indicates a particular output device, such as a particular laser printer, a particular ink jet printer, a particular digital copier, or the like, that will be used to generate hard copies of the generated electronic image data and thus for which the electronic image data should be optimized for when the electronic image data of the original document is captured. 
     The image quality profile parameter  331  of the image quality portion  330  is the same as the image quality profile parameter  323 . The lighten/darken parameter  332  indicates whether the electronic image data is to be lighter or darker than the images on the original document. Similarly, the increase/decrease contrast parameter portion  333  indicates whether the contrast of the electronic image data is to be greater or less than the contrast of the images on the original document. The special tone adjustment parameter portion  334  is used to provide finer control over the tone reproduction curve that is used to convert the continuous tone image values of the original document to the multi-bit-depth image values of the generated electronic image data. This is described in greater detail below. 
     The sharpen/soften parameter portion  335  used to indicate whether the edges within the images in the original document should be sharpened or softened in the generated electronic image data. The background suppression parameter portion  336  is used to indicate whether background suppression should be used, and if so, the color or other quality of the background of the original document that is to be suppressed. The negative image parameter portion  337  indicates whether the generated electronic image data should be a negative image relative to the images on the original document. Various other ones of the particular scanning parameters discussed above are further disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.09/487,273, 09/487,274, 09/487,272 and 09/487,266, each filed on Jan. 19, 2000, and each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a second exemplary embodiment of the structural organization of an image captured device control system  600  that incorporates the image previewing systems methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the image capture device control system  600  includes an input/output interface  610 , a controller  620 , a memory  630 , am application layer manager  640 , a protocol layer manager  650 , and an image capture device layer manager  660 , each interconnected by a data/control bus  690 . 
     The image capture device  100  is connected to the input/output interface  610  using a link  102 . Similarly, an image data sink  110  can be connected to the input/output interface  610  using a link  112 . The links  102  and  112  can each be any known or later developed device or system for connecting the image capture device  100  and the image data sink  110 , respectively, to the image capture device control  600 , including a direct cable connection, a connection over a wide area network or a local area network, a connection over an intranet, a connection over an extranet, a connection over the Internet, or a connection over any other distributed processing network or system. In general, the links  102  and  112  can each be any known or later developed connection system or structure usable to respectively connect the image capture device  100  and the image data sink  110  to the image capture device control system  600 . It should also be appreciated that the links  102  and  112  can be wired or wireless links that use portions of the public switch telephone network and/or portions of a cellular communication network. 
     It should also be appreciated that, in general, the image data sink  110  can be any device that is capable of outputting or storing electronic images generated using the image capture device control system  600  using the systems, methods and graphical user interfaces according to this invention, such as a printer, a copier, any other image forming device, a facsimile device, a display device, a storage device, or the like. 
     While FIG. 5 shows the image capture device  100 , the image capture device control system  600  and the image data sink  110  as separate devices, the image capture device control system  600  may be integrated with either or both of the image capture device  100  and/or the image data sink  110 , such as, for example, in a digital copier. With such a configuration, for example, the image capture device  100 , the image data sink  110  and the image capture device control system  600  may be contained within a single device. 
     The input device or devices  670  can include any one or more of a mouse, a keyboard, a touch pad, a track ball, a touch screen, or the like, or any other known or later developed device that is capable of inputting data and control signals over the link  672  to the input/output interface  610 . Similarly, the display device  680  can be any known or later developed display device, including a cathode ray tube type monitor, a flat screen type monitor, an LCD monitor, or any other known or later developed device on which the graphical user interfaces according to this invention can be displayed and interacted with using one or more of the input devices  670 . The display device  680  is provided with control and/or data signals from the input/output interface  610  over the link  682 . 
     Like the signal lines  102  and  112 , the links  672  and  682  can be any known or later developed device or system for connecting the input devices  670  and the display device  680 , respectively, to the image capture device control system  600 , including a direct cable connection, a connection over a wide area network or local area network, a connection over a intranet, a connection over an extranet, a connection over the Internet, a connection over the public switched telephone network, a connection over a cellular network, or a connection over any other distributed processing or communications network or system, including both or either wired and wireless systems. In general, the links  672  and  682  can each be any known or later developed connection system or structure usable to connect the input devices  670  and the display device  680 , respectively, to the image capture device control system  600 . 
     The memory  630  includes an application portion  631  in which an application program and any application files used by that application program can be stored. Similarly, the captured image buffer  632  is used to store the captured image data input from the image capture device  110  over the signal line  102  and through the input/output interface  610 . In general, the captured electronic image data will be stored in the captured image buffer  632  under control of the controller  620  the image capture device layer manager  660 , the protocol layer manager  650  and/or the application layer manager  640 . 
     The image capture profiles portion  633  stores the image capture profiles, as set forth in the incorporated  269  application, as well as job tickets  300 , and the like. The image capture parameters portion  634  stores a current set of the image capture parameters to be used by the image capture device  100  when capturing an image. The image capture interface portion  635  stores the various graphical user interfaces shown in FIGS. 3,  4 , and  6  and as described above and in detailed below. 
     The application layer manager  640  manages the application layer  240 , and in particular, the application portions  242  of any executing applications  260 . 
     The protocol layer manager  650  manages the protocol layer  230 , including the source manager  234 . The protocol layer manager  650  communicates with the application layer manager  640  using the TWAIN™ application programming interfaces  236  of the executing applications  260 . 
     The image capture device layer manager  660  manages each of the TWAIN™ drivers (or data sources)  250  that may be implemented for different ones of the image capture devices  100  that may be accessible by the image capture device control system  600  over various ones of the links  102 . In particular, the image capture device layer manager  660  communicates with the protocol layer manager  650  using the acquisition layer application programming interface  232  of the particular TWAIN™ driver (or data source)  250 . Similarly, the image capture device layer manager  660  communications with the image capture device  100  through the input/output interface  610  and over the link  102  using the device interface portion  212 . 
     The image capture device layer manager  660  causes various ones of the image capture graphical user interfaces, such as the graphical user interface  400  shown in FIG. 3, to be displayed on the display device  680 . The user can then change and/or input the various image capture parameters. The various image capture parameters can be input through the various graphical user interfaces that the image capture device layer manager  660  displays on the display device  680 . Then, after the user saves the various image capture parameters or initiates the corresponding image capture device, the image capture device layer manager  660  stores the selected image capture parameters in the image capture parameters portion  640 . The image capture device layer manager  660  then outputs the selected image capture parameters through the input/output interface  610  and over the link  102  to the image capture device  100 . The image capture device  100  then uses the various image capture parameters received from the image capture device control system  600  when capturing electronic image data from an original document and when supplying that capture electronic image data over the link  110  to the image capture device control system  600 . 
     FIG. 6 shows one exemplary embodiment of a conventional tone reproduction curve control graphical user interface  700 . As shown in FIG. 6, the conventional tone reproduction curve control graphical user interface  700  includes a channel selection list box  710 , a tone reproduction curve adjusting portion  720  and a control portion  730 . In particular, the channel selection list box  710  is used to select the particular tone reproduction curve to be adjusted using the tone reproduction curve adjusting portion  720 . That is, each different type of image, such as a binary image, a black/white grayscale image, a red/green/blue (RGB) image, and the like, will have a different tone reproduction curve that converts the image values of the input document or electronic image data into the image values of the output document or electronic image data. 
     The tone reproduction curve adjusting portion  720  includes a curve portion  720  comprising a graph portion  721  in which the tone reproduction curve is plotted and a plurality of selectable tone reproduction points  722  that can be positioned within the graph  721 . An output image value scale  724  and an input image value scale  726  are positioned adjacent to the vertical and horizontal axes of the graph portion  721 , respectively. Each of the scale portions  724  and  726  illustrate the range of input and output image values, respectively. A set of control buttons  727  are positioned in the input image value scale  726  and allow the user to adjust the input image value associated with a currently selected one of the tone reproduction curve points  722 , such as the currently selected tone reproduction curve point  723 . 
     The control portion  730  includes an input text box  732  and an output text box  734 . The control portion  730  also includes a curve fitting button  736  and a tone reproduction curve point insert button  738 . The input text box  732  indicates the current input image value of the selected tone reproduction curve point  723 , while the output text box  734  indicates the output image value of the selected tone reproduction curve point  723 . It should be appreciated that the location of the selected tone reproduction curve point  723  and the graphic portion  721  can be altered in two ways. First, the user can select the selected tone reproduction curve point  723  using a mouse or other input device to drag that selected tone reproduction curve point  723  to a new location within the graph portion  721 . As a result, the image values displayed in the input/output text boxes  732  and  734  will change accordingly. In contrast, the user can place the cursor in either of the input or output text boxes  732  or  734  and enter a new image value in either box. As a result, the selected tone reproduction curve point  723  will be redrawn at the updated coordinates displayed in the input and output text boxes  732  and  734 . 
     The tone reproduction curve point insert button  738  is used to add additional tone reproduction curve points  722  to the graph portion  721 . Once all of the desired tone reproduction curve points  722  have been entered by the user into the graph portion  721 , the user can select the curve fitting button  736  to fit a curve to or through the inserted tone reproduction curve points  722 . The particular type of curve fitting performed upon selecting the curve fitting button  736  is selected using the options button  740 . 
     Once the various tone reproduction curve points  722  are positioned by the user at the desired location within the graph portion  721 , the tone reproduction curve  728  is fit to the tone reproduction curve points  722 . In particular, the tone reproduction curve  728  can be fit to the tone reproduction curve points  722  such that it passes through each of the tone reproduction curve points  722 , so that the smoothest possible curve, of the lowest possible dimension, is created. Alternatively, in various exemplary embodiments, a tone reproduction curve having a selected dimension is drawn so that it best fits the tone reproduction curve point  722 , but need not pass through each, or any, of the tone reproduction curve point  722 , except the extreme points. 
     Although it is not a part of the graphical user interface  700 , a line  729  has been drawn in the graph portion  722 . This line  729  illustrates a zero adjustment condition. That is, the line  729  represents a tone reproduction curve where the output image value is equivalent for all values to the corresponding input image value. Those portions of the tone reproduction curve  728  that lie above and to the left of the line  729  represent output image values that are lighter than the corresponding input image values. In contrast, those portions of the toner reproduction curve that lie below and to the right of the line  729  represent output image values that are darker than the corresponding input image values. Where the tone reproduction curve  728  crosses the line  729 , the tone reproduction curve points lying at those locations represent output image values that are equivalent to the image input values. 
     Because the graphical user interface  700  does not include the line  729 , (i.e., this line  729  was included in this FIG. 4 explanation purposes only), it is often very difficult, even for sophisticated users, to fully appreciate the effects that the user&#39;s adjustments to the tone reproduction curve plotted in the graph portion  721  will have on the output image. 
     FIG. 7 shows one exemplary embodiment of a graphical user interface usable with the tone reproduction curve control graphical user interfaces, systems and methods according to this invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the graphical user interface  400  includes the basic features tab  410  and the image size tab  420  in addition to the image quality tab  500 . The basic features tab  410  is disclosed in greater detail in the incorporated  274  application. The image size tab  420  is disclosed in greater detail in the incorporated  273  and  274  applications. The “How Do I” button  430  is usable to access an operating instructions help function, which is disclosed in greater detail in the incorporated  266  application. A preview scan can be generated and displayed in the preview pane portion  480  by selecting the preview button  440 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the image quality tab  500  includes an image quality profile list box  510 , an image adjustments portion  520  and an image enhancements portion  530 , in addition to an instance of the “How Do I ?” button  430 . The image quality profile list box  510  allows the user to select an image quality profile. As indicated in the incorporated  269  application, each image quality profile is a collection of all the settings on the image quality tab and the various dialogue boxes and other graphical user interface widgets that are accessed through the image quality tab. In particular, the image quality profile list box  510  will include the same image quality profiles as will be provided on the image quality tab. When an image quality profile is selected using the image quality profile list box  510 , the image quality profile parameters displayed in the various portions of the image quality tab will be change accordingly. 
     The image adjustments portion  520  includes a lighten/darken slider  522 , a lighten/darken value text box  523 , an increase/decrease contrast slider  524  and an increase/decrease contrast value text box  525 . The lighten/darken slider  522  is used to change the overall relationship between the lightness or darkness of the captured electronic image relative to the image on the original document. The lighten/darken value text box  523  indicates the numerical value of the lighten/darken slider  522 . Similarly, the increase/decrease contrast slider  524  allows the user to adjust the contrast of the captured electronic image relative to the image on the original document. The increase/decrease contrast value text box  525  indicates the value of the increase/decrease contrast slider  524 . 
     The image adjustments portion  520  also includes a “Use Special” check box  526  and a “Special Adjustments” access button  528 . When the Use Special check box  526  is checked, the tone reproduction curve adjustments entered using the special tone adjustments graphical user interface shown in FIG. 8 are used in place of the standard adjustments applied by the lighten/darken slider  522  and the increase/decrease contrast slider  524 . The Special Adjustments button  528  is used to access the special tone adjustments graphical user interface  540  shown in FIG.  8  and described in greater detail below. In addition, when the Use Special check box  526  is checked, the lighten/darken slider and value text box  522  and  523  and the increase/decrease contrast slider and value text box  524  and  525  are disabled. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the appearance of these elements of the image adjustments portion  520  is changed to a “grayed-out” appearance. 
     The enhancements portion  530  includes a sharpen/soften slider  532 , a sharpen/soften value text box  533 , a background suppression check box  534  and a negative image check box  536 . The sharpen/soften slider  532  allows the user to adjust the sharpness of the output image relative to that of the image on the original document. The sharpen/soften value text box  533  indicates the value of the sharpen/soften slider  532 . It should be appreciated, as indicated above, that other instances of the response curve graphical user interface shown in FIG. 8 can be used to provide fine adjustments to the contrast and to the sharpness of the output image relative to the input image, as well as the lightness/darkness control provided by the tone reproduction curve. 
     When the background suppression check box  534  is checked, the background suppression function is enabled. Similarly, when the negative image check box  536  is checked, the output image is generated as a negative image relative to the image on the original document. In particular, this inverts the output image values of the captured electronic image relative to the image values of the image on the original document. That is, an image value of the image on the original document of 0 is converted to an image value of the captured electronic image of 255, and vice versa. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a special adjustment graphical user interface  540  that can be accessed by the selecting the Special Adjustments button  528  of the image quality tab  500 . As shown in FIG. 8, the special adjustment graphical user interface  540  includes a plurality of slider portions  550 ,  560 ,  570 ,  580  and  590 , each of which corresponds to a defined image value, or range of image values, of the input image force particular associated image quality. 
     Each of the slider portions  550 - 590  includes a slider  551 ,  561 ,  571 ,  581  and  591 , respectively, and a numerical portion  552 ,  562 ,  572 ,  582  and  592 , respectively Each of the sliders  551 - 591  includes a slider pointer  554 ,  564 ,  574 ,  584  and  594 , respectively, and an associated slider bar  556 ,  566 ,  576 ,  586  and  596 , respectively. Each of the slider bars  556 - 596  divides the corresponding slider  551 - 591  into bottom and top portions  555  and  557 ,  565  and  567 , and  575  and  577 ,  585  and  587  and  595  and  597 , respectively. An appearance of each of the bottom portions  555 - 595  is determined based on the position of the corresponding slider pointer  554 - 594  and the associated slider bar  556 - 596  relative to the top and bottom ends of the slider  551 - 591 , the particular image quality that is being adjusted, and the particular range of image quality values and extreme values associated with the top and bottom edges of the sliders  551 - 591 . 
     The special adjustment graphical user interface  540  includes a lower scale value indicator  542  and an upper scale value indicator  544 . In the particular exemplary embodiment of the special adjustment graphical user interface  540  shown in FIG. 8, each of the slider portions  550 - 590  uses a linear scale having a lower scale value of 0% and an upper scale value of 100%. However, it should be appreciated that any type of scale ruler could be used. 
     The special adjustment graphical user interface  540  also includes an image quality indicator portion  541 , including a first range end indicators  543  and a second range end indicator  545  It should be appreciated that the special adjustment graphical user interface  540  can be used to provide fine-resolution adjustments to any desired image quality, such as the lightness/darkness, the contrast, the shyness, or any other known or later-developed image quality. Thus, it should be appreciated that the special adjustments graphical user interface  540  is not limited to adjusting only the tone reproduction curve. In particular, the special adjustment graphical user interface  540  can have different instances for any of the different image qualities for which fine-resolution adjustments are to be provided. 
     The special adjustments graphical user interface  540  is particularly useful for providing fine-resolution adjustments of the tone reproduction curve for converting the input image values to the output image values. Thus, in the particular exemplary embodiment of the special adjustments graphical user interface  540  shown in FIG. 8, the image quality being adjusted is the tone reproduction curve that converts the image values of the input image to the image values of the output image. Accordingly, the first range end indicator  543 , which indicates one extreme end of the range of output values for the particular image quality being adjusted, in this exemplary embodiment of the special adjustment graphical user interface  540  represents an extremely lightened image. In contrast, the second range end indicator  545 , in this exemplary embodiment of the special adjustment graphical user interface  540 , represents an extremely darkened image. 
     Similarly, an input image quality portion  546 , which in most cases will indicate the same image quality as indicated in the image quality portion  541 , includes a first range end indicator  547  and a second range end indicator  548 . In particular, the first and second range end indicators  547  and  548  provide visual cues to the user so that the user can visually identify which value or range of values, of the image quality being adjusted, are associated with each of the slider portions  550 - 590 . 
     Each of the numerical portions  552 ,  562 ,  572 ,  582  and  592  indicate the numerical value of the corresponding slider pointer  554 - 594  and slider bar  556 - 596  within the range indicated by the range indicators  542  and  544 . Each of the numerical portions  552 - 592  includes a pair of increase and decrease value buttons  558  and  559 ,  568  and  569 ,  578  and  579 ,  588  and  589 , and  598  and  599 , respectively, that allow the user to directly increase or decrease the numerical value of the corresponding numerical portion  552 - 592 . When the user uses the increase buttons  558 - 598  or the decrease buttons  559 - 599  to increase or decrease the numerical value in the corresponding numerical portion  552 - 592 , the position of the corresponding slider pointer  554 - 594  and the corresponding slider bar  556 - 596  within the corresponding slider  551 - 591  is adjusted up or down, respectively. At the same time, the visual appearance of the corresponding bottom portion  555 - 595  is adjusted to reflect the new numerical value of the corresponding numerical portion  552 - 592 . 
     In this way, the slider portions  550 - 590  provide an intuitive visual indication to the user of the effect the selected value in each of the slider portions  550  has on the corresponding value or range of values of the associated image quality on the output image relative to the input image. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of the special adjustment graphical user interface  540  shown in FIG. 8, which is used to adjust the tone reproduction curve, the user can quickly visually determine that the middle input image values represented by the slider portions  560 ,  570  and  580  essentially remain unchanged in the output image, while the extreme values represented by the slider portions  550  and  590  are moved towards the center, i.e., 50%, value. 
     As indicated above, each of the slider portions  550 - 590  can represent a single value of the image quality of the input image, or can represent a range of values of the image quality of the input image. If each of the slider portions  550 - 590  represents a single value, the response curve for converting the values of the associated image quality for the input image to the values of the associated image quality for the output image can be created as outlined in any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above with respect to the graphical user interface  700 . Thus, a curve could be fit to the values selected using the slider portions  550 - 590 . In contrast, a curve could be fit so that it passes between, but does not necessarily include, the values indicated in the slider portions  550 - 590 . Similarly, if each of the slider portions represents a range of values of the selected image quality of the input image, any known or later developed method for generating a conversion curve could be used. 
     It should be also be appreciated that, rather than indicating the percentage of the output range that is indicated by the slider pointer  554 - 594  and the slider bar  556 - 595 , the range of the slider portions  550 - 590  could instead be functions of the represented image values or range of image values. For example, the range of the slider portions  550 - 590  could extend between 0% and 200% of the represented image value or range of image values, with the center position representing the 100% function. In this way, moving the slider pointers  554 - 594  and the slider bars  556 - 596  downward causes the represented image value or range of image values of the input image to be proportionally reduced when creating the output image. In contrast, moving the slider pointers  554 - 594  and the slider bars  556 - 596  upwards the represented image value or range of image values of the input image to be correspondingly increased when generating the outputting image. Thus, placing all of the slider pointers  554 - 594  and the corresponding slider bars  556 - 596  at the 100%, or middle location causes the output image values to be identical to the input image values. 
     FIGS. 9A-9C are a flowchart outlining one exemplary embodiment or a method for displaying a special adjustment graphical user interface and using the displayed special adjustment graphical user interface to adjust the response curve for a selected image quality. Thus, beginning in step S 100 , which occurs whenever the special adjustment graphical user interface is accessed, control continues to step S 110 , where a selected instance of the special adjustment graphical user interface is displayed for the selected image quality. Next, in step S 120 , the values for the scale indicators  542  and  544  are determined and displayed. Then, in step S 130 , visual cues for the output image range end indicators are determined and displayed. Next, in step S 140 , the visual cues for the input image range end indicators  547  and  548  are determined and displayed. Control then continues to step S 150 . 
     In step S 150 , for each of the implemented slider portions, a current value of the response curve for the input image quality value represented by each of the slider portions is determined. Next, in step S 160 , the relationship of the current value for each slider relative to the ends of the scale is determined. Then, in step S 170 , for each of the slider portions, images of the slider pointer and the slider bar are generated and displayed at the appropriate relative location within the slider portion based on the determined relationship. Control then continues to step S 180 . 
     In step S 180 , for each of the slider portions, the appearance of the bottom subportion of each slider is determined based on the determined relationship and an appearance map that defines the different appearances the bottom subportions can take. Then, in step S 190 , images of each of the bottom subportions of the slider portions are generated and displayed based on the corresponding determined appearance. In step S 200 , for each of the slider portions, an image of the corresponding numerical portions is generated and displayed based on the current value of the response curve. Control then continues to step S 210 . 
     In step S 210 , a determination is made whether the user has selected one of the slider portions, the slider bar, the slider portion, or either of the increase or decrease buttons of the numerical portion corresponding to that slider portion. If so, control jumps back to step S 150 . Otherwise, control continues to step S 220 . 
     In step S 220 , a response curve is generated based on the current values of each of the slider portions. Next, in step S 230 , a determination is made whether the user has selected that an output image is to be created. If so, control continues to step S 240 . Otherwise, control jumps back to step S 150 . As indicated above, the output image can either be a captured electronic image of a scanned original document, or an image formed on an image recording medium from stored electronic image data. 
     In step S 240 , the output image is created using the response curve generated in step S 220 . Next, in step S 250 , a determination is made whether the special adjustment graphical user interface window has been closed. If so, control continues to step S 260 . Otherwise, control jumps back to step S 150 . Instep S 260 , the special adjustment graphical user interface is closed. Then, in step S 270 , the response curve adjusting method ends. 
     It should be appreciated that the image capture device control systems  200  and  600  shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 can each be implemented on a general purpose computer. However, it should also be appreciated that the image capture device control systems  200  and  600  can also each be implemented on a special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hardwired electronic or logic circuit such as a discreet element circuit, a programmable logic device such as a PLD, PLA, FPGA and/or PAL, or the like. In general, any device, capable of implementing a finite state machine, that is in turn capable of implementing the flowchart shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, can be used to implement either of the image capture device control systems  200  or  600 . 
     The memory  630  shown in FIG. 5 can include both volatile and/or non-volatile alterable memory or non-alterable memory. Any alterable memory can be implemented using any combination of static or dynamic RAM, a hard drive and a hard disk, flash memory, a floppy disk and disk drive, a writable optical disk and disk drive, or the like. Any non-alterable memory can be implemented using any combination of ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, an optical CD-ROM disk, an optical ROM disk, such as a CD-ROM disk or a DVD-ROM disk and disk drives, or the like. 
     Thus, it should be understood that each of the elements of the image capture device control systems  200  and  600  shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 can be implemented as portions of a suitably programmed general purpose computer. Alternatively, each of the elements shown in FIGS. 2 or  5  can be implemented as physically distinct hardware circuits within a ASIC, or using a FPGA, a PLD, a PLA, or a PAL, or using discreet logic elements or discreet circuit elements. The particular form each of the elements of the image capture device control systems  200  or  600  shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 will take as a design choice and will be obvious and predictable to those skilled in the art. 
     Moreover, the image capture device control systems  200  or  600  can each be implemented as software executing on a programmed general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor or the like. In this case, the image capture device control systems  200  and  600  can be implemented as routines embedded in a peripheral driver, as a resource residing on a server, or the like. 
     The image capture device control systems  200  and  600  can each also be implemented by physically incorporating them into a software and/or hardware system, such as the hardware and software systems of a digital copier or the like. 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives and modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.