Techniques for characterizing an optical system (for example, a printer verifier) are provided. In this regard, the optical system may be characterized for scanning a printer image. The characterization of the optical system includes determining an effective aperture size of the optical system, and correspondingly an effective resolution at which the optical system can be configured to scan a portion of the printer image according to verification requirements.

Devices and methods are described that facilitate the creation of a digital image of an object using a custom scan area size. Custom scan area sizes are stored and displayed so as to eliminate cumbersome steps such as measuring irregularly-sized objects more than once or processing the digital image after scanning the object to remove undesirable white space.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image processor configured to perform first image processing on image data having a first resolution and to add tag data to a target pixel where second image processing is to be performed; a resolution converter configured to convert the image data into image data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution, and to perform the second image processing based on arrangement of the image data having the first resolution and the tag data; a pulse generator configured to generate an on-off modulation signal and an application-current switching signal in accordance with the image data having undergone the second image processing; and a light source driver configured to drive the light source in accordance with a current setting value output from an application current setter depending on the application-current switching signal and the on-off modulation signal.

An image forming apparatus includes: an image processor configured to perform first image processing on image data having a first resolution and to add tag data to a target pixel where second image processing is to be performed; a resolution converter configured to convert the image data into image data having a second resolution higher than the first resolution, and to perform the second image processing based on arrangement of the image data having the first resolution and the tag data; a pulse generator configured to generate an on-off modulation signal and an application-current switching signal in accordance with the image data having undergone the second image processing; and a light source driver configured to drive the light source in accordance with a current setting value output from an application current setter depending on the application-current switching signal and the on-off modulation signal.

An image acquisition system configured to acquire an image of an object to be conveyed. The system includes a plurality of light sources configured to emit light rays with which the object is irradiated, a light source control unit configured to switch a light source that irradiates the object with the light among the plurality of light sources, and a line scan sensor configured to detect light from the object irradiated with the light. The line scan sensor has a pixel section in which a plurality of pixels are at least one-dimensionally arrayed and is configured to switch a gain value for amplifying a signal from each pixel. The line scan sensor switches the gain value in synchronization with the switching of the light source.

Devices and methods are described that facilitate the creation of a digital image of an object using a custom scan area size. Custom scan area sizes are stored and displayed so as to eliminate cumbersome steps such as measuring irregularly-sized objects more than once or processing the digital image after scanning the object to remove undesirable white space.