The present document provides image processing methods and apparatus. One claim recites: obtaining a signal to be encoded in color image data, the signal comprising a plural-bit payload; predicting a resulting color of overprinting several inks on a substrate, the overprinting representing the color image data encoded with the signal; using the resulting color for both i) visibility evaluation of the overprinting, and ii) signal robustness evaluation of the overprinting as seen by an imaging device. Other claims and combinations are provided.

An image processing device disclosed in the present specification includes a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, an image obtained by visualizing functional information related to optical characteristics of a subject based on a photoacoustic signal obtained by receiving a photoacoustic wave generated in the subject by irradiating the subject with light, and a correction unit configured to correct the functional information of the image displayed on the display unit based on a first image value of the functional information of the image displayed on the display unit and a second image value of the functional information.

In an example of a printing system, the amount of a printing fluid that is transferred from a developer unit onto an imaging plate is varied in order to alter the optical density of an area covered by the printing fluid.

An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a first generation unit. The acquisition unit acquires plural images of a single material with different backgrounds. The first generation unit generates an image of the single material without a background color by using the plural images.

An information processing apparatus includes at least one memory device that stores a set of instructions, and at least one processor that executes the set of instructions. The set of instructions includes instructions to acquire color data from an application, set a generation method for generating gray image data from color data by selecting a method from a group including at least a first generation method and a second generation method different from the first generation method, generate PDL data of gray image data based on the acquired color data and the set generation method, and transmit the generated PDL data to a printing apparatus.

The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for an efficient and economical print quality setup for thermal printers. A thermal printhead of a thermal printer constitutes multiple printhead banks. The printhead banks may be controlled by strobe signals. While configuring print quality, each of the strobe signals may operate separately with different power causing the printhead banks to operate in different configurations while printing an identical pattern. As each the banks are operating in different configuration, they each print the identical pattern with a different print quality. One print quality may be selected from the different quality patterns printed by each printhead bank on a single printed label or media. The selected quality pattern corresponds to a quality factor. The method may reduce the time to select a configuration and may reduce the amount of usage of media or labels.

The present disclosure relates generally to encoding signals for spot colors. In one implementation a substitute spot color+CMY tint is selected to replace an original spot color. The CMY tint can be transformed to carry an encoded signal. Of course, other features, combinations and technology are described herein.

The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

A processing system includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains first read data of a sample image for image data included in user desired job data for image formation, searches job data stored in a storage section for data of a similar image to an image included in the obtained first read data to detect the data of the similar image, outputs a list of the detected data of the similar image, causes an image forming apparatus to form an image based on selected data selected from the data included in the list, obtains second read data of the formed image, and performs color adjustment on the selected data based on the first read data and the second read data.

A color conversion look-up table generating device of the present invention includes a converting unit configured to convert an actual color material value of a target grid point in the color conversion look-up table and an actual color material value of a neighbor grid point of the target grid point into virtual color material values, and a correcting unit that corrects the actual color material value of the target grid point on the basis of a virtual color material amount of the target grid point and a virtual color material amount of the neighbor grid point, wherein the virtual color material value is an output value of a virtual color material that absorbs only light of spectral reflectance in each of divided blocks in a case in which spectral reflectance of the actual color material is divided into n (n is an integer of 3 or more) blocks.