Patent ID: 7843607

Claim:
A method for processing digital image data in an apparatus for processing digital image data, comprising: processing, using the apparatus, the digital image data having a predetermined number of bits per pixel value based on a re-mapping function having an extended number of bits per pixel value, thereby obtaining first processed image data with extended number of bits per pixel value, wherein the extended number is greater than the predetermined number; quantizing the first processed image data by truncating the first processed image data to the predetermined number of bits per pixel value, thereby obtaining second processed image data; processing, using the apparatus, the second processed image data based on an inverse re-mapping function with extended number of bits per pixel value, thereby obtaining third processed image data with extended number of bits per pixel value, the inverse re-mapping function being the inverse function of the re-mapping function; determining error data with extended number of bits per pixel value based on a difference between the digital image data and the third processed image data; distributing the error data by dithering thereby obtaining fourth processed image data with extended number of bits per pixel value; and quantizing fourth processed image data to the predetermined number of bits per pixel value.