Text region identification and enhancement during color copy

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a data image of a document, wherein the data image comprises at least one plane of data for each of cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink types;

classifying each of a plurality of rectangular regions of the data image as one of a text region, a color region, and a white region;

identifying boundaries between color regions and text regions; and

modifying the data image to designate a plurality of partial text regions, wherein each of the plurality of partial text regions receives a fractional text treatment, wherein the fractional text treatment is determined based on a distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the data image comprises:

converting a portion of color dots to black dots, wherein the portion is determined based on the fractional text treatment.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the portion of color dots converted to black dots is one-third when the distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries is one region.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the portion of color dots converted to black dots is two-thirds when the distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries is two regions.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

converting a portion of color dots adjacent to black dots into black dots, wherein the portion of color dots is determined based on the fractional text treatment.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the portion of color dots converted to black dots is one-third when the distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries is one region.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the portion of color dots converted to black dots is two-thirds when the distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries is two regions.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

removing a portion of color dots, wherein the portion is determined based on the fractional text treatment.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portion of color dots removed is one-third when the distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries is one region.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portion of color dots removed is two-thirds when the distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries is two regions.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying each of the plurality of rectangular regions comprises classifying each of the plurality of rectangular regions based on one or more of:

a number of ink dots within the rectangular region;

a type of ink dots within the rectangular region;

a number of ink dots in regions adjacent to the rectangular region being classified; and

a type of ink dots in regions adjacent to the rectangular region being classified.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rectangular regions is classified as having one of:

no dots of any ink type;

interspersed dots of any ink type;

mostly black dots; and

mostly color dots.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a rectangular region is classified as a text region when:

the rectangular region is classified as having mostly black dots; and

the rectangular region is horizontally adjacent to one of:

a rectangular region classified as having no dots of any ink type;

a rectangular region classified as having interspersed dots of any ink type; and

a rectangular region capable of being classified as a text region.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein a rectangular region is classified as a text region when:

the rectangular region is classified as having interspersed dots of any ink type; and

the rectangular region is horizontally adjacent to a rectangular region that is classified as having mostly black dots and that is capable of being classified as a text region.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a summary map that classifies each rectangular region as having one of:

no dots of any color;

black dots only; and

at least one color dot; and

providing the summary map to an ink jet formatter component to produce a copy of the document.

16. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable

instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a data image of a document, wherein the data image comprises at least one plane of data for each of cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink types;

classify each of a plurality of rectangular regions of the data image as one of a text region, a color region, and a white region;

identify boundaries between color regions and text regions; and

modify the data image to designate a plurality of partial text regions, wherein each of the plurality of partial text regions receives a fractional text treatment, wherein the fractional text treatment is determined based on a distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

convert a portion of color dots to black dots, wherein the portion is determined based on the fractional text treatment.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

convert a portion of color dots adjacent to black dots into black dots, wherein the portion of color dots is determined based on the fractional text treatment.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

remove a portion of color dots, wherein the portion is determined based on the fractional text treatment.

20. A system, comprising:

a receiving module to receive a data image of a document, wherein the data image comprises at least one plane of data for each of cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink types;

a classification module to classify each of a plurality of rectangular regions of the data image as one of a text region, a color region, and a white region;

a boundary identification module to identify boundaries between color regions and text regions; and

a modification module to modify the data image to designate a plurality of partial text regions, wherein each of the plurality of partial text regions receives a fractional text treatment, wherein the fractional text treatment is determined based on a distance of the partial text region from at least one of the identified boundaries.