Examples of the disclosure relate to at least apparatus, methods, and computer programs, configured to control capture of two images of an area, across which a pulse propagates, using different shutter scanning directions. Either the images are converted into pulse-phase maps of the area and a pulse-phase difference map obtained which identifies differences between the pulse-phase maps of the area, or a colour difference map is obtained which identifies differences between the two images and the colour difference map is converted into a pulse-phase difference map. A shutter-time difference map is obtained which identifies differences between capture times of corresponding locations in the two images. Using the shutter-time difference map, the pulse-phase difference map is corrected to obtain a map of pulse-phase changes which have occurred over a duration of a shutter scan.

An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to calculate color data for inspection by converting printing data that is data as a base of an image to be printed and includes a normal color which is a normally used color and a spot color which is a color other than the normal color, into color data of another color space in which the number of colors is decreased, for each of the printing data of the normal color and the printing data of the spot color and then, combining the color data after the conversion, and output the calculated color data for inspection.

An image inspection apparatus includes a processor configured to acquire printing data that is data as a base of an image to be printed, acquire read data that is data obtained by reading the image printed on a paper sheet, specify whether or not the printing data or the read data is an image corresponding to any of an image having a periodic structural feature or an image not having a structural feature, in a case where the printing data or the read data corresponds to the image having the periodic structural feature or the image not having the structural feature, perform registration using a position correction amount that is a correction amount for registering an image based on the printing data and an image based on the read data and is calculated for an already printed image, and inspect the image by comparing the printing data with the read data.

A diagnostic system may comprise an image forming apparatus that forms a diagnostic image on a sheet and an image capturing apparatus that captures an image of the sheet on which the diagnostic image is formed and which has been discharged from the image forming apparatus, and outputs the image captured as a sheet image. The image capturing apparatus may make a diagnosis for a component of the image forming apparatus based on a position of an image deficiency in the sheet image, and output a diagnosis result for the component of the image forming apparatus.

A client computer which has generated a print job related to printing of a print product to be inspected transmits image data and layout information used for generating the print job to an inspection apparatus. The inspection apparatus receives and stores image data and layout information used for generating the print job from the client computer. The image scanned from the print product printed based on the print job and image data used for generating the print job are compared based on the layout information to inspect the print quality of the print product.

An inspection apparatus capable of preventing lowering of position matching accuracy. Control points are positioned in a lattice form on a scanned image of a print product, for performing position matching between the scanned image and a reference image registered in advance. An approximate line of a column and an approximate line of a row intersecting the approximate line of the column are calculated based on two or more control points positioned in the same column and the same row as one control point. One control point determined to be corrected is corrected based on the respective approximate lines of the column and the row. The print product is inspected by comparing a position-matched scanned image generated based on the control points including position-corrected control points and position-updated control points, and the reference image.

This disclosure provides an image processing apparatus that is connected to a printing apparatus, sequentially receives a plurality of recording media on which printing was performed by the printing apparatus, and inspects a quality of images formed on the recording media, wherein the image processing apparatus receives a reference image, acquires a plurality of scanned images by sequentially scanning the recording media output from the printing apparatus and having the images to be inspected recorded thereon, receives phase information of an image bearing member of the printing apparatus, detects, for each of the scanned images, a defect on the scanned image by comparing a pixel value of the reference image and a pixel value of the scanned image, and determines whether a defect has reproducibility based on positions of defects on the recording media calculated from the phase information.

An information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to acquire read image data of an image formed on a recording medium. The circuitry is configured to acquire output target image data according to which the image is formed. The circuitry is configured to generate, based on the output target image data, inspection image data for inspection of the read image data. The circuitry is configured to compare the read image data corrected based on an amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium with the inspection image data generated, to detect an image abnormality. The circuitry is configured to highlight and output a position of a portion of the image abnormality in the read image data before correction, based on the amount of deviation caused by conveyance of the recording medium, in response to the image abnormality being detected.

This disclosure provides an image processing apparatus that is connected to a printing apparatus, sequentially receives a plurality of recording media on which printing was performed by the printing apparatus, and inspects a quality of images formed on the recording media, wherein the image processing apparatus receives a reference image, acquires a plurality of scanned images by sequentially scanning the recording media output from the printing apparatus and having the images to be inspected recorded thereon, receives phase information of an image bearing member of the printing apparatus, detects, for each of the scanned images, a defect on the scanned image by comparing a pixel value of the reference image and a pixel value of the scanned image, and determines whether a defect has reproducibility based on positions of defects on the recording media calculated from the phase information.

A reading apparatus includes a reading device and processing circuitry. The reading device reads a recording medium. The processing circuitry outputs maintenance information based on read information read by the reading device.