Abstract:
An image processing apparatus is provided for performing image processing on an image containing a first image and a second image representing a translucent object. The image processing apparatus includes a detector that detects a non-overlapping region in the second image, the non-overlapping region being a region that does not overlap the first image, and an equalizing portion that makes gradations in the non-overlapping region uniform.

Description:
[0001]    This application is based on Japanese patent application No. 2010-125709 filed on Jun. 1, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus, method, and computer-readable storage medium for computer program for performing image processing on a translucent image. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Image forming apparatuses having a variety of functions, such as copying, PC printing, scanning, faxing, and file server, have recently come into widespread use. Such image forming apparatuses are sometimes called “multifunction devices”, “Multi-Function Peripherals (MFPs)”, or the like. 
         [0006]    The PC printing function is to receive image data from a personal computer and to print an image onto paper based on the image data. 
         [0007]    In recent years, applications used for drawing in a personal computer have been available in the market. Such applications are called “drawing software”. Some pieces of drawing software are equipped with a function to show a translucent image on a display. 
         [0008]    The “translucent image” herein has properties which allow another object image placed in the rear thereof to be visible through the translucent image itself. Referring to  FIG. 4A , for example, a translucent image  50   a  is placed in the foreground, or, in other words, placed above or on a rear image  50   b . However, a part of the rear image  50   b  overlapping the translucent image  50   a  is visible through the translucent image  50   a . Higher transmissivity of the translucent image  50   a  allows the rear image  50   b  to be more visible therethrough. In short, the translucent image is an image representing a translucent object. 
         [0009]    An image forming apparatus is capable of printing, onto paper, a translucent image displayed on a personal computer. Before the translucent image is printed out, the translucent image undergoes a pixel decimation process depending on the level of the transmissivity thereof (see  FIGS. 5B and 5C ). Then, another image, placed in the back of the translucent image, is printed at positions of pixels of the translucent image that have been decimated therefrom. In this way, the other image is visible through the translucent image. 
         [0010]    There has been proposed a method for minimizing change of color tone in an image containing a translucent image after screen processing. For example, translucent image data is generated by overlaying a translucent object on PDL data to be rendered translucent. Screen processing is then performed on the translucent image data by dither processing. Subsequently, it is determined whether to define the screen processed translucent image data as the image data for printing. If it is determined that the screen processed translucent image data is not defined as the image data for printing, a halftone value of the translucent object is modified to be larger than the current value. 
         [0011]    As discussed above, pixels of a translucent image to be printed are decimated and form a grid-like pattern. Accordingly, the translucent image printed on paper seems to have high graininess as compared to the translucent image on a display. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The present disclosure is directed to solve the problems pointed out above, and therefore, an object of an embodiment of the present invention is to reduce graininess in a translucent image as compared to conventional techniques. 
         [0013]    An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on an image containing a first image and a second image representing a translucent object. The image processing apparatus includes a detector that detects a non-overlapping region in the second image, the non-overlapping region being a region that does not overlap the first image, and an equalizing portion that makes gradations in the non-overlapping region uniform. 
         [0014]    Preferably, if the second image includes one or more pixel groups each of which has one or more continuous pixels and has density greater than density of neighboring pixels adjacent to each of the one or more pixel groups, then the detector detects the non-overlapping region by selecting, from among the one or more pixel groups, a pixel group that is not adjacent to the neighboring pixels having density equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and performing closing processing on a distribution image representing distribution of the pixel group thus selected. In such a case, the equalizing portion makes the gradations in the non-overlapping region uniform based on a size of the non-overlapping region, density, a size, and a quantity of the pixel group selected. 
         [0015]    Preferably, if the second image includes one or more pixel groups each of which has one or more continuous pixels and has density less than density of neighboring pixels adjacent to each of the one or more pixel groups, then the detector detects the non-overlapping region by selecting, from among the one or more pixel groups, a pixel group having density less than a predetermined value, and performing closing processing on a distribution image representing distribution of the pixel group thus selected. In such a case, the equalizing portion makes the gradations in the non-overlapping region uniform based on a size of the non-overlapping region, density of the neighboring pixels, a size and a quantity of the pixel group selected. 
         [0016]    These and other characteristics and objects of the present invention will become more apparent by the following descriptions of preferred embodiments with reference to drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a network system including an image forming apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an image processing circuit. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating examples of the positional relationship between a translucent image and a rear image both of which are contained in a document image. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5A to 5C  are diagrams illustrating examples of a translucent image. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example as to how a translucent image and a rear image overlap with each other in pixels. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams illustrating examples of isolated points each of which consists of a plurality of pixels. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a translucent image adjustment portion. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a non-overlapping region detection portion. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are diagrams illustrating examples as to how a translucent image and a rear image overlap with each other in pixels for the case of high transmissivity and for the case of low transmissivity, respectively. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a translucent image having transmissivity of 50%. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example of a network system including an image forming apparatus  1 , and  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
         [0029]    The image forming apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is an apparatus generally called a multifunction device, a Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP), or the like. The image forming apparatus  1  is configured to integrate, thereinto, a variety of functions, such as copying, network printing (PC printing), faxing, and scanning. 
         [0030]    The image forming apparatus  1  is capable of sending and receiving image data with a device such as a personal computer  2  via a communication line  3 , e.g., a Local Area Network (LAN), a public line, or the Internet. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the image forming apparatus  1  is configured of a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  10   a , a Random Access Memory (RAM)  10   b , a Read-Only Memory (ROM)  10   c , a mass storage  10   d , a scanner  10   e , a printing unit  10   f , a network interface  10   g , a touchscreen  10   h , a modem  10   i , an image processing circuit  10   j , and so on. 
         [0032]    The scanner  10   e  is a device that reads images printed on paper, such as photographs, characters, drawings, diagrams, and the like, and creates image data thereof. 
         [0033]    The touchscreen  10   h  displays, for example, a screen for giving a message or instructions to a user, a screen for the user to enter a process command and process conditions, and a screen for displaying the result of a process performed by the CPU  10   a . The touchscreen  10   h  also detects a position thereof touched by the user with his/her finger, and sends a signal indicating the result of the detection to the CPU  10   a.    
         [0034]    The network interface  10   g  is a Network Interface Card (NIC) for communicating with another device such as the personal computer  2  via the communication line  3 . 
         [0035]    The modem  10   i  is a device for transmitting image data via a fixed-line telephone network to another facsimile terminal and vice versa based on a protocol such as Group 3 (G3). 
         [0036]    The image processing circuit  10   j  serves to perform image processing, based on image data transmitted from the personal computer  2 , on object images contained in an image to be printed. The individual portions of the image processing circuit  10   j  are implemented by a circuit such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The processes performed by the individual portions of the image processing circuit  10   j  are described later. 
         [0037]    The printing unit  10   f  serves to print, onto paper, an image obtained by scanning with the scanner  10   e  or an image that has undergone the image processing by the image processing circuit  10   j.    
         [0038]    The ROM  10   c  and the mass storage  10   d  store, therein, Operating System (OS) and programs such as firmware and application. These programs are loaded into the RAM  10   b  as necessary, and executed by the CPU  10   a . An example of the mass storage  10   d  is a hard disk or a flash memory. 
         [0039]    Detailed descriptions are given below of the configuration of the image processing circuit  10   j  and image processing by the image processing circuit  10   j.    
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image processing circuit  10   j ;  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating examples of the positional relationship between a translucent image  50   a  and a rear image  50   b  both of which are contained in a document image  50 ;  FIGS. 5A to 5C  are diagrams illustrating examples of the translucent image  50   a ;  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example as to how the translucent image  50   a  and the rear image  50   b  overlap with each other in pixels;  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams illustrating examples of isolated points each of which consists of a plurality of pixels;  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a translucent image adjustment portion  101 ;  FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a non-overlapping region detection portion  602 ; and  FIGS. 10A and 10B  are diagrams illustrating examples as to how the translucent image  50   a  and the rear image  50   b  overlap with each other in pixels for the case of high transmissivity and for the case of low transmissivity, respectively. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the image processing circuit  10   j  is configured of the translucent image adjustment portion  101 , an edge enhancement processing portion  102 , and so on. 
         [0042]    The image processing circuit  10   j  performs image processing on an image reproduced based on image data  70  transmitted from the personal computer  2 . The image thus reproduced is hereinafter referred to as a “document image  50 ”. 
         [0043]    The “edge enhancement processing” is processing to enhance the contour of an object such as a letter, diagram, or illustration contained in the document image  50 , i.e., to enhance an edge of such an object. 
         [0044]    The “translucent image” has properties which allow another object image placed in the rear thereof to be visible through the translucent image itself. In short, the translucent image represents a translucent object such as glass or Cellophane (registered trademark). Referring to  FIG. 4A , for example, the translucent image  50   a  is placed in the foreground as compared to the rear image  50   b  having a rectangular shape. A part of the rear image  50   b  overlapping the translucent image  50   a  is seen through the translucent image  50   a . The higher the transmissivity of the translucent image  50   a  is, the more the rear image  50   b  is visible therethrough. In the case where the transmissivity of the translucent image  50   a  is 0%, the part of the rear image  50   b  overlapping the translucent image  50   a  is completely hid, and therefore, the part is invisible as exemplified in  FIG. 4B . The embodiment describes an example in which the rear image  50   b  is not a translucent image, i.e., is a non-translucent image. 
         [0045]    In general, even if a translucent image is displayed, as shown in  FIG. 5A , on the personal computer  2  in such a manner that all the pixels have constant density, the image is converted for printing, as shown in  FIG. 5B  or  5 C, in such a manner to include pixels with constant density and pixels without constant density. 
         [0046]    In  FIGS. 5B and 5C , hatched pixels correspond to pixels with constant density Da, and non-hatched pixels correspond to pixels without the constant density Da. The same is similarly applied to  FIGS. 6 through 7B . Hereinafter, a pixel with the constant density Da is referred to as a “density-present pixel”, and a pixel without the constant density Da is referred to as a “density-absent pixel”. Further, the “density” means gradations in color of, for example, Red, Green, and Blue for a case where the document image  50  is a color image. The “density” means a gray scale for a case where the document image  50  is a monochrome image. 
         [0047]    An image corresponding to a density-present pixel is printed at predetermined density. As for a density-absent pixel, if no other image is placed in the rear of the translucent image, then nothing is printed at a part corresponding to the density-absent pixel. On the other hand, if another image is placed in the rear of the translucent image, then an image corresponding to a pixel of the other image whose position is the same as that of the density-absent pixel of the translucent image is printed. In this way, as shown in  FIG. 6 , an image corresponding to pixels of the rear image  50   b  whose positions are the same as those of the density-absent pixels of the translucent image  50   a  are printed. This allows a part of the rear image  50   b  overlapping the translucent image  50   a  to be printed in such a manner to be visible through the translucent image  50   a . Such a part is hereinafter referred to as an “overlapping region”. The higher the transmissivity of the translucent image  50   a  is, the less a density-present pixel is likely to appear. Accordingly, the translucent image  50   a  shown in  FIG. 5B  has transmissivity higher than that of the translucent image  50   a  shown in  FIG. 5C . 
         [0048]    Each density-present pixel shown in  FIG. 5B  is surrounded by density-absent pixels. On the other hand, each density-absent pixel shown in  FIG. 5C  is surrounded by density-present pixels. Further, in some cases, a set of continuous density-present pixels, i.e., a pixel group, is surrounded by density-absent pixels as shown in  FIG. 7A . In other cases, a pixel group of continuous density-absent pixels is surrounded by density-present pixels as shown in  FIG. 7B . 
         [0049]    Hereinafter, one pixel or pixel group surrounded by the other type pixel(s) is referred to as an “isolated point”. Accordingly, in the case of  FIG. 5B , a density-present pixel is an isolated point pixel. In the case of  FIG. 5C , a density-absent pixel is an isolated point pixel. In the case of  FIG. 7A , a set of continuous density-present pixels is an isolated point. In the case of  FIG. 7B , a set of continuous density-absent pixels is an isolated point. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the translucent image adjustment portion  101 , which is shown in  FIG. 3 , is configured of a translucent image region detection portion  601 , a non-overlapping region detection portion  602 , a non-overlapping isolated point extraction portion  603 , an isolated point size detection portion  604 , an isolated point counting portion  605 , an isolated point gradations detection portion  606 , an isolated point periphery gradations detection portion  607 , a transmissivity calculation portion  608 , a non-overlapping region gradations calculation portion  609 , a non-overlapping region gradations changing portion  60 A, and so on. The configuration of the translucent image adjustment portion  101  allows the same to perform a process for adjusting the translucent image  50   a  contained in the document image  50 . 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 8 , the translucent image region detection portion  601  detects a translucent image  50   a  in a document image  50 . If image data  70  indicates the position and shape of the translucent image  50   a , then the translucent image region detection portion  601  is capable of detecting the translucent image  50   a  based on the image data  70 . If the image data  70  does not indicate the position and shape of the translucent image  50   a , then the translucent image region detection portion  601  is capable of detecting the translucent image  50   a  in the following manner. 
         [0052]    The translucent image region detection portion  601  detects an isolated point in the document image  50  as follows. A certain pixel is focused. The pixel is hereinafter referred to as a “pixel of interest”. Comparison is made between density (gradations) of the pixel of interest and density of each of other pixels (hereinafter, called “neighboring pixels”) adjacent to the pixel of interest. If a requirement that each difference between the density of the pixel of interest and density of each of the neighboring pixels is equal to or greater than a predetermined value D 1  is met, then the translucent image region detection portion  601  detects the pixel of interest as an isolated point. Note that, where the document image  50  is a color image, such comparison is made separately for each color. If the requirement is met for any one of the colors, then the translucent image region detection portion  601  detects the pixel of interest as an isolated point. The same thing can be said to determination as to whether or not the requirement is met for the case where the document image  50  is a color image. 
         [0053]    The translucent image region detection portion  601  directs attention to continuous pixels whose number is not less than two and is not more than a predetermined number (for example, nine) and which have each other&#39;s density difference not more than a predetermined value D 2 , i.e., which have substantially the same density level. Such continuous pixels are hereinafter referred to as a “group of pixels of interest”. Comparison is made between density (gradations) of the group of pixels of interest and density of each of neighboring pixels adjacent to the group of pixels of interest. If each difference between the density of the group of pixels of interest and density of each of the neighboring pixels is equal to or greater than a predetermined value D 3 , then the translucent image region detection portion  601  detects the group of pixels of interest as an isolated point. 
         [0054]    Meanwhile, isolated points of a translucent image are seen with a periodicity (constant pattern) as shown in  FIGS. 5B ,  5 C,  7 A, and  7 B. The translucent image region detection portion  601  extracts, from the detected isolated points, a plurality of isolated points for which a periodicity is observed. 
         [0055]    The translucent image region detection portion  601 , then, performs closing processing on an image showing the distribution of the plurality of isolated points thus extracted. Such an image showing the distribution is hereinafter referred to as a “distribution image”. To be specific, the translucent image region detection portion  601  performs processing for expanding (dilating) or scaling down (eroding) dots positioned at the individual isolated points. The position and shape of the distribution image that has undergone the closing processing correspond to the position and shape of the translucent image  50   a.    
         [0056]    The translucent image region detection portion  601  obtains the position and shape of the translucent image  50   a  in this manner, and detects the translucent image  50   a  in the document image  50 . 
         [0057]    The non-overlapping region detection portion  602  detects, in the translucent image  50   a  detected by the translucent image region detection portion  601 , a non-overlapping region  50   h  that is a region not overlapping the rear image  50   b.    
         [0058]    If the image data  70  indicates the position and shape of the rear image  50   b  in addition to the position and shape of the translucent image  50   a , then the non-overlapping region detection portion  602  is capable of detecting the non-overlapping region  50   h  based on the image data  70 . If the image data  70  does not indicate the position and shape of the rear image  50   b , then the non-overlapping region detection portion  602  detects a non-overlapping region  50   h  in the following manner. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the non-overlapping region detection portion  602  is configured of a first overlapping pixel determination portion  621 , a second overlapping pixel determination portion  622 , a closing processing portion  623 , and the like. 
         [0060]    The first overlapping pixel determination portion  621  makes a determination as to whether or not each of the isolated points is positioned in an area where the translucent image  50   a  and the rear image  50   b  overlap with each other. Such an area is hereinafter referred to as an overlapping region. In particular, the first overlapping pixel determination portion  621  assumes the case where isolated points of the translucent image  50   a  consist of density-present pixels as shown in  FIG. 10A  and makes the determination in the following manner. 
         [0061]    The first overlapping pixel determination portion  621  checks density of neighboring pixels of an isolated point. If the isolated point is adjacent to at least one of neighboring pixels having density equal to or greater than a predetermined value D 4 , then the first overlapping pixel determination portion  621  determines that the isolated point is positioned in the overlapping region. Otherwise, the first overlapping pixel determination portion  621  determines that the isolated point is not positioned in the overlapping region. 
         [0062]    Likewise, the second overlapping pixel determination portion  622  makes a determination as to whether or not each of the isolated points is positioned in the overlapping region. The second overlapping pixel determination portion  622  assumes the case where isolated points of the translucent image  50   a  consist of density-absent pixels as shown in  FIG. 10B  and makes the determination in the following manner. 
         [0063]    The second overlapping pixel determination portion  622  checks density of each of the isolated points. If an isolated point has density equal to or greater than a predetermined value D 5 , then the second overlapping pixel determination portion  622  determines that the isolated point is positioned in the overlapping region. As for isolated points for which this is not the case, the second overlapping pixel determination portion  622  determines that such isolated points are not positioned in the overlapping region. 
         [0064]    The closing processing portion  623  performs closing processing on an image showing the distribution (distribution image) of isolated points that have not been determined to be positioned in the overlapping region by the first overlapping pixel determination portion  621  and by the second overlapping pixel determination portion  622 . The position and shape of the distribution image that has undergone the closing processing correspond to the position and shape of the non-overlapping region  50   h.    
         [0065]    The non-overlapping isolated point extraction portion  603  extracts an isolated point positioned in the non-overlapping region  50   h . Hereinafter, such an isolated point extracted by the non-overlapping isolated point extraction portion  603  is referred to as a “non-overlapping isolated point”. 
         [0066]    The isolated point size detection portion  604  detects the size of a non-overlapping isolated point. In this embodiment, the size of a non-overlapping isolated point is represented by the number of pixels constituting the non-overlapping isolated point. 
         [0067]    The isolated point counting portion  605  counts the number of non-overlapping isolated points. The isolated point gradations detection portion  606  detects gradations of a non-overlapping isolated point, i.e., density thereof. 
         [0068]    The isolated point periphery gradations detection portion  607  detects gradations of pixels adjacent to a non-overlapping isolated point, i.e., gradations of pixels around the non-overlapping isolated point. 
         [0069]    If an isolated point corresponds to a density-present pixel, then the transmissivity calculation portion  608  uses the following equation (1 — 1) to calculate transmissivity Rt of the non-overlapping region  50   h  detected by the non-overlapping region detection portion  602 . On the other hand, if an isolated point corresponds to a density-absent pixel, then the transmissivity calculation portion  608  uses the following equation (1 — 2) to calculate transmissivity Rt of the non-overlapping region  50   h  detected by the non-overlapping region detection portion  602 . 
         [0000]        Rt= 1 −Sk×Nk/Sh   (1 — 1)
 
         [0000]        Rt=Sk×Nk/Sh   (1 — 2)
 
         [0000]    The symbols “Sk”, “Nk”, and “Sh” respectively represent a size detected by the isolated point size detection portion  604 , a quantity counted by the isolated point counting portion  605 , and a size of the non-overlapping region  50   h.    
         [0070]    If an isolated point corresponds to a density-present pixel, then the non-overlapping region gradations calculation portion  609  uses the following equation (2 — 1) to calculate density (gradations) of each pixel constituting the non-overlapping region  50   h . On the other hand, if an isolated point corresponds to a density-absent pixel, then the non-overlapping region gradations calculation portion  609  uses the following equation (2 — 2) to calculate density (gradations) of each pixel constituting the non-overlapping region  50   h.    
         [0000]        Dh=Dk× (1 −Rt )  (2 — 1)
 
         [0000]        Dh=Ds×Rt   (2 — 2)
 
         [0000]    The symbols “Dk” and “Ds” respectively represent density detected by the isolated point gradations detection portion  606 , and density calculated by the isolated point periphery gradations detection portion  607 . 
         [0071]    Note that density Dh obtained by the calculation of each of the equations (2 — 1) and (2 — 2) is one for the case where a density-absent pixel has density of zero. If a density-absent pixel has density greater than zero and smaller than density Da, it is possible that the density Dh is obtained by the calculation of the equation (3 — 1) instead of the equation (2 — 1), and by the calculation of the equation (3 — 2) instead of the equation (2 — 2). 
         [0000]        Dh=Dk× (1 −Rt )+ Ds×Rt   (3 — 1)
 
         [0000]        Dh=Ds×Rt+Dk× (1 ×Rt )  (3 — 2)
 
         [0072]    The non-overlapping region gradations changing portion  60 A changes a density value of each of the pixels in the non-overlapping region  50   h  of the document image  50  to the density value Dh determined by the non-overlapping region gradations calculation portion  609 . Hereinafter, the post-change document image  50  is called a “document image  51 ”. 
         [0073]    Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the edge enhancement processing portion  102  performs edge enhancement processing on the end of each object image contained in the document image  51 , except for the end (edge) of the non-overlapping region  50   h . The document image  51  that has undergone the edge enhancement processing is hereinafter referred to as an “edge-enhanced image  52 ”. The printing unit  10   f , then, prints the edge-enhanced image  52  onto paper. 
         [0074]    In this embodiment, adjustment is so made that only the non-overlapping region  50   h  of the translucent image  50   a  has uniform gradations. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce graininess in the entire translucent image  50   a  as compared to conventional techniques with the rear image  50   b  kept visible through the translucent image  50   a.    
         [0075]    In this embodiment, the image processing circuit  10   j  performs image processing on a document image  50 . Instead of this, however, the whole or a part of the functions of the image processing circuit  10   j  may be implemented by causing the CPU  10   a  to execute programs. In such a case, it is preferable to prepare programs in which steps of the processes shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  8 , and  9  are described and cause the CPU  10   a  to execute the programs. 
         [0076]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a translucent image  50   a  having transmissivity of 50%. In the case where the translucent image  50   a  has transmissivity of approximately 0.5, both an isolated point consisting of a density-present pixel and an isolated point consisting of a density-absent pixel are sometimes seen. For example, all the pixels in the translucent image  50   a  shown in  FIG. 11  are isolated points. In such a case, processing is performed in which only either one of the isolated point consisting of a density-present pixel and the isolated point consisting of a density-absent pixel is regarded as an isolated point, and the other is not regarded as an isolated point. For example, if the translucent image  50   a  has transmissivity equal to or greater than 0.5, then only an isolated point consisting of a density-present pixel is preferably regarded as an isolated point. On the other hand, if the translucent image  50   a  has transmissivity smaller than 0.5, then only an isolated point consisting of a density-absent pixel is preferably regarded as an isolated point. 
         [0077]    In the embodiments discussed above, the overall configurations of the image forming apparatus  1 , the configurations of various portions thereof, the content to be processed, the processing order, the configuration of the data, and the like may be altered as required in accordance with the subject matter of the present invention. 
         [0078]    While example embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents.