A Survey of Electronic Techniques for Pictorial Image Reproduction

This paper is a tradeoff study of image processing algorithms that can be used to transform continuous tone and halftone pictorial image input into spatially encoded representations compatible with binary output processes. A large percentage of the electronic output marking processes utilize a binary mode of operation. The history and rationale for this are reviewed and thus the economic justification for the tradeoff is presented. A set of image quality and processing complexity metrics are then defined. Next, a set of algorithms including fixed and adaptive thresholding, orthographic pictorial fonts, electronic screening, ordered dither, and error diffusion are defined and evaluated relative to their ability to reproduce continuous tone input. Finally, these algorithms, along with random nucleated halftoning, the alias reducing image enhancement system (ARIES), and a new algorithm, selective halftone rescreening (SHARE), are defined and evaluated as to their ability to reproduce halftone pictorial input.

[1]  Julian R. Ullmann,et al.  Binarization using associative addressing , 1974, Pattern Recognit..

[2]  Manfred R. Schroeder,et al.  Images from computers , 1969, IEEE Spectrum.

[3]  F R Ruckdeschel,et al.  Characterizing halftone noise: a technique. , 1978, Applied optics.

[4]  E. H. Linfoot.  Quality Evaluations of Optical Systems , 1958 .

[5]  John F. Jarvis,et al.  A survey of techniques for the display of continuous tone pictures on bilevel displays , 1976 .

[6]  J. Jarvis,et al.  A New Technique for Displaying Continuous Tone Images on a Bilevel Display , 1976, IEEE Trans. Commun..

[7]  Jan P. Allebach,et al.  Aliasing and quantization in the efficient display of images , 1979 .

[8]  Paul G. Roetling.  Visual Performance And Image Coding , 1976, Other Conferences.

[9]  M. R. Bartz.  Optimizing a video preprocessor for OCR , 1969, IJCAI 1969.

[10]  Jan P. Allebach,et al.  Analysis of halftone dot profile and aliasing in the discrete binary representation of images , 1977 .

[11]  J. Limb.  Design of dither waveforms for quantized visual signals , 1969 .

[12]  P. Mertz,et al.  A theory of scanning and its relation to the characteristics of the transmitted signal in telephotography and television , 1934 .

[13]  Joan S. Weszka,et al.  A survey of threshold selection techniques , 1978 .

[14]  C. J. Bartleson.  Optimum Image Tone Reproduction , 1975 .

[15]  Ken Knowlton,et al.  Computer-produced grey scales , 1972, Comput. Graph. Image Process..

[16]  Murat Kunt.  Stastical Models and Information Measurements for Two-level Digital Facsimile , 1977, Inf. Control..

[17]  J. N. Denenberg.  Spectral moment estimators: A new approach to tone detection , 1976, The Bell System Technical Journal.

[18]  Philip Hamill.  Line printer modification for better gray level pictures , 1977 .

[19]  B. Prasada,et al.  Digital processing techniques for encoding of graphics , 1980, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[20]  S. Matsumoto,et al.  Analytic fidelity measures in the characterization of halftone processes , 1980 .

[21]  Paul G. Roetling.  Halftone method with edge enhancement and Moiré suppression , 1976 .

[22]  B. Lippel,et al.  The Effect of Dither on Luminance Quantization of Pictures , 1971 .

[23]  Otto H. Schade.  Image Gradation, Graininess and Sharpness in Television and Motion Picture Systems: Part I: Image Structure and Transfer Characteristics , 1951 .

[24]  Thomas H. Morrin,et al.  A Black-White Representation of a Gray-Scale Picture , 1974, IEEE Transactions on Computers.

[25]  I.E. Abdou,et al.  Quantitative design and evaluation of enhancement/thresholding edge detectors , 1979, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[26]  Paul G. Roetling,et al.  Fourier spectrum of halftone images , 1975 .

[27]  A H Robinson.  Multidimensional fourier transforms and image processing with finite scanning apertures. , 1973, Applied optics.