In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a printing device is described. The printing device includes a print controller with a processor and memory. The print controller generates print instructions. Specifically, the print controller receives print image data representing an image to be printed and identifies enclosed regions in a background print agent plane. The print controller also determines a size of the enclosed regions of background print agent plane and responsive to the size of an enclosed region being smaller than a threshold size, removes the enclosed region from the background print agent plane. The printing device also includes a print agent distribution system to apply the background print agent and the image print agent to a substrate according to the print instructions.

An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming unit and a reading unit is provided. The apparatus generates image data based on document data described in a page description language, encodes the document data to be multiplexed on the image data, outputs the image data to the image forming unit, restores the multiplexed document data from the image data read by the reading unit, and saves the image data read by the reading unit and the document data restored by a restoration unit.

An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming unit and a reading unit is provided. The apparatus generates image data based on document data described in a page description language, encodes the document data to be multiplexed on the image data, outputs the image data to the image forming unit, restores the multiplexed document data from the image data read by the reading unit, and saves the image data read by the reading unit and the document data restored by a restoration unit.

An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data and a reading unit that reads an image as image data is provided. The apparatus acquires a pixel count of image data formed by pixels; encodes the at least one color component and the pixel count to be multiplexed on the image data; outputs the image data to the image forming unit; restores the multiplexed at least one color component and the multiplexed pixel count from the image data read by the reading unit; and replaces the pixels of the pixel count of a color component corresponding to the at least one color component included in the image data and restored from the image data.

An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data and a reading unit that reads an image as image data is provided. The apparatus acquires a pixel count of image data formed by pixels; encodes the at least one color component and the pixel count to be multiplexed on the image data; outputs the image data to the image forming unit; restores the multiplexed at least one color component and the multiplexed pixel count from the image data read by the reading unit; and replaces the pixels of the pixel count of a color component corresponding to the at least one color component included in the image data and restored from the image data.

A system and method are described for enhancing readability of document images by operating on each document individually. Monochromatic light sources operating at different wavelengths of light can be used to obtain greyscale images. The greyscale images can then be used in any desired image enhancement algorithm. In one example algorithm, an automated method removes image background noise and improves sharpness of the scripts and characters using edge detection and local color contrast computation.

A system and method are described for enhancing readability of document images by operating on each document individually. Monochromatic light sources operating at different wavelengths of light can be used to obtain greyscale images. The greyscale images can then be used in any desired image enhancement algorithm. In one example algorithm, an automated method removes image background noise and improves sharpness of the scripts and characters using edge detection and local color contrast computation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provided is an image processing device comprising a saturation value acquisition unit configured to acquire a saturation value of a target pixel or a saturation value of a target small area including a target pixel and peripheral pixels around the target pixel, and a correction unit configured to correct the target pixel so that a corrected gradation characteristic obtained by correcting the target pixel matches a gradation characteristic synthesized by mixing a color gradation characteristic and a monochrome gradation characteristic at a predetermined mixing ratio based on the saturation value, wherein assuming that the saturation value is c, and the mixing ratio of the color gradation characteristic is W, a value of W is represented by variable c as a relationship W=f(c) and satisfies a following condition. Condition: There is a saturation value c and a multiplier a which satisfy f(c)>αg(c), and α≥1, wherein a relationship in which the mixing ratio W increases in proportion to the saturation value c is W=g(c) and the saturation value is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

A signal correction device includes a correction signal generator configured to generate a correction signal serving to remove noise superimposed on an input signal; a phase adjuster configured to shift a phase of the correction signal generated by the correction signal generator; a subtractor configured to generate an output signal for output by subtracting the correction signal from the input signal; a peak and bottom detector configured to detect a peak value and a bottom value of the output signal; and a determiner configured to determine a phase-shift amount of the phase adjuster from the peak value and the bottom value of the output signal detected by the peak and bottom detector. The determiner detects uncorrected noise from the peak value and the bottom value of the output signal from the subtractor, and sets the phase-shift amount such that the uncorrected noise is reduced to a minimum.

A signal correction device includes a correction signal generator configured to generate a correction signal serving to remove noise superimposed on an input signal; a phase adjuster configured to shift a phase of the correction signal generated by the correction signal generator; a subtractor configured to generate an output signal for output by subtracting the correction signal from the input signal; a peak and bottom detector configured to detect a peak value and a bottom value of the output signal; and a determiner configured to determine a phase-shift amount of the phase adjuster from the peak value and the bottom value of the output signal detected by the peak and bottom detector. The determiner detects uncorrected noise from the peak value and the bottom value of the output signal from the subtractor, and sets the phase-shift amount such that the uncorrected noise is reduced to a minimum.