A method of compositing layers by grouping the layers into a foreground group and a background group; identifying independent instructions of compositing model for execution independently from the background group and dependent instructions requiring a compositing output of a background layer in order to composite foreground layers; executing the independent instructions on the foreground layers in parallel with compositing the background layers, a first independent instruction storing a corresponding result in a first buffer and a second independent instruction storing a corresponding result in a second buffer; executing a dependent instruction by updating the second buffer using the background compositing output; and determining a compositing output for the foreground group dependent upon contents of the first buffer and the updated second buffer.

The invention provides an image forming device, which can generate a multi-valued image based on a binary image. An image forming device includes: an image acquisition part for acquiring a binary image; and a multi-valued image generation part generating a multi-valued image including a specific pixel based on pixel values of pixels within a first image region with a first size including the specific pixel and pixel values of pixels within a second image region with a second size different from the first size including the specific pixel in the binary image.

An image processing device includes an input device and circuitry. The input device inputs data. The circuitry converts text information to be printed included in the data to generate converted information and outputs data for image formation including the converted information.

A bitmap processing system for creating digital documents on a digital printing press by a fulfiller includes a fulfiller operated raster image processor that receives customer application Page Description Language (PDL) job files containing information for creating the digital documents and generates bitmaps in accordance with the files and a fulfiller operated editor that modifies the bitmaps so that the resulting documents process more efficiently in production steps downstream of a printing process.

In an example, an apparatus comprising an image processor is configured to perform edge detection on the image to detect a plurality of edges, automatically identify a path across the image based on the detected plurality of edges, divide the image into two adjacent sub-images based on the determined path, and generate first and second print data to cause the printing device to print the two adjacent sub-images.

An output method executed by a computer includes: receiving compressed data encoded in a state in which a page break is identifiable in print data having a plurality of pages and an encoding dictionary used for the encoding; identifying the page break of the received compressed data and partially decompressing the received compressed data into the print data in units of pages, by using the encoding dictionary; and outputting the print data in order of the decompression.

A bitmap processing system for creating digital documents on a digital printing press by a fulfiller includes a fulfiller operated raster image processor that receives customer application Page Description Language (PDL) job files containing information for creating the digital documents and generates bitmaps in accordance with the files and a fulfiller operated editor that modifies the bitmaps so that the resulting documents process more efficiently in production steps downstream of a printing process.

An information processing apparatus includes printing control software capable of generating print data of a first format and is capable of communicating with a printing apparatus. The information processing apparatus obtains print data of a second format containing print setting information from OS-standard printing software which runs in the information processing apparatus, the second format being different from the first format, obtains a settable list, and displays a predetermined screen in a case where print setting information contained in the print data meets a predetermined condition. A screen containing information on usage is displayed as the predetermined screen where the predetermined condition is that a particular print setting is contained in the print setting information and information as an indication to display the predetermined screen is displayed in an item in the settable list corresponding to the particular print setting and the predetermined condition is met.

A printing system includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires print data of a plurality of pages and extracts comparison data from the print data for each page. The processing circuitry, from first image data read from a printed material on which the print data is printed, acquires second image data at a position corresponding to the comparison data, for each page of the printed material. The processing circuitry outputs a comparison result of the comparison data and the read image data for each page.

An image processing system and method provide for receiving a digital document page to be printed. The page includes a background region for which no color is specified. A user is presented with an option to select a print medium from a set of print media of different colors and to select an option for a color of the selected print medium be used as a color of a background layer of the digital document page. When the option is selected, a background layer is inserted into the page. A print job incorporating the processed digital document page is output to an associated printer that is configured to convert the color of the background layer to colorant values that use the print media as a colorant for rendering at least a part of the background region.