In an illustrative embodiment, watermark decoding reliability is increased, for images of watermarked objects captured at close distances, by reducing influence of pixel noise (e.g., shot noise). In the same or different embodiment, watermark decoding reliability is increased, for images of watermarked objects captured from far distances, by reducing image under-sampling. A particular implementation down-samples input imagery twice—a first time by a fixed factor, preparatory to performing an FFT, and a second time by a variable factor, preparatory to submitting the image for decoding, where the variable factor is determined using results from the FFT. A number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

An image processing apparatus which is capable of preventing decrease in user convenience with respect to enlarged display of a previewed image. The image processing apparatus generates preview images based on document data. Based on completion of generation of a first preview image based on the document data, a display device is caused to display a screen through which an instruction to start generation of a second preview image based on the document data can be issued.

In an example method, a first dot pattern of shadow dots and second dot pattern of highlight dots is generated. The first dot pattern and second dot pattern include information to be encoded across the image. The first dot pattern and the second dot pattern are mapped to a corresponding subset of the greyscale source pixels, the greyscale source pixels corresponding to an image to be printed. A value of a greyscale pixel in the subset of the greyscale source pixels is modified based on a predetermined threshold pixel value. The value of the greyscale pixel is set to a highlight dot value in response to detecting that the predetermined threshold pixel value is exceeded or set to a shadow dot value in response to detecting that the predetermined threshold value is not exceeded. The image including the subset of pixels with modified values is printed.

A graphical indicator comprising a plurality of first header blocks, a plurality of second header blocks and a plurality of data blocks for forming an indicator matrix is provided. Each of the first and second header blocks has a header graphical micro-unit, and each of the data blocks has a data graphical micro-unit. An array area is formed by the second header blocks and the data blocks. A first virtual line and a second virtual line are respectively formed by virtual centers of the first and second header blocks, and an included angle between the first and second virtual lines is less than 90 degrees.

In an example method, a first dot pattern of shadow dots and second dot pattern of highlight dots is generated. The first dot pattern and second dot pattern include information to be encoded across the image. The first dot pattern and the second dot pattern are mapped to a corresponding subset of the greyscale source pixels, the greyscale source pixels corresponding to an image to be printed. A value of a greyscale pixel in the subset of the greyscale source pixels is modified based on a predetermined threshold pixel value. The value of the greyscale pixel is set to a highlight dot value in response to detecting that the predetermined threshold pixel value is exceeded or set to a shadow dot value in response to detecting that the predetermined threshold value is not exceeded. The image including the subset of pixels with modified values is printed.

The disclosed systems, structures, and methods are directed to a digital watermarking system comprising: a data separator configured to receive a digital data file and segregate the digital data file into a message component and a data component, in which the message component includes a message, and the data component includes a data file; a message pipeline configured to process the message; a data pipeline configured to process the data file; a watermark pipeline configured to embed the processed message file onto the processed data file; and an inverse process pipeline configured to inverse the process applied by the data pipeline while processing the data file and generate a watermarked data file.

In an example method, a set of source pixels corresponding to an image to be printed and a dot pattern of pixels including information to be encoded across the image are received. The dot pattern of pixels is mapped to a corresponding subset of the source pixels. A value of a clipping channel color in the subset of the source pixels is modified based on an original value of the clipping channel color for each pixel in the subset. The clipping channel color is used to detect the dot pattern of pixels. The image including the subset of pixels with modified clipping channel colors is printed.

An image processing apparatus includes a unit that acquires image data of a target image which is a target of image processing, a unit that acquires a display image showing a target image state, and a unit that performs image processing corresponding to the target image state with respect to the image data of the target image, based on the acquired display image.

An object of the present disclosure is to reduce the load of a user in a case where multiplexed information is embedded in an image. One embodiment of the present invention is an image processing apparatus having: a recognition unit configured to recognize an object within an image; a selection unit configured to select additional information corresponding to an object recognized by the recognition unit from among additional information stored in a storage unit; and a layout unit configured to lay out the additional information so that at least a part of an area in which additional information selected by the selection unit is embedded overlaps an area of an object recognized by the recognition unit.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, an image reading portion, an analysis processing portion, a generation processing portion, and a printing processing portion. The image forming portion forms an image on a paper sheet. The image reading portion reads a first image from a printed side of a used paper sheet supplied from a sheet feed portion. The analysis processing portion analyzes content of the first image read by the image reading portion. The generation processing portion generates, based on the content of the first image analyzed by the analysis processing portion, a second image that degrades visibility of the first image when the second image is superimposed on the first image. The printing processing portion causes the image forming portion to execute a printing process such that the second image generated by the generation processing portion is superimposed on the first image on the printed side.