Post rip image rendering for image alignment
A method of printing an image comprising the steps of converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, identifying a first edge of a first character, identifying a second edge of a second character and, reassigning the digital value(s) pixel(s) adjacent to the first edge and/or the second edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
1 . A method of altering the appearance of characters in an input digital image when printed, the digital image being comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying a first edge of a first character;
identifying a second edge of a second character; and
reassigning the digital value(s) pixel(s) adjacent to the first edge and/or the second edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
2 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.
3 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.
4 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the reassigning step comprises providing a digital values of differing grey scales.
5 . A method of printing an image comprising the steps of:
converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information;
identifying a first edge of a first character;
identifying a second edge of a second character; and
reassigning the digital value(s) pixel(s) adjacent to the first edge and/or the second edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
6 . A method in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
7 . A method in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and the reassigning step comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
8 . A method in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the reassigning step comprises changing grey scale.
9 . An apparatus for altering the appearance of an input digital image when printed, the digital image being comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the apparatus comprising:
a rendering circuit for identifying a first edge of a first character;
identifying a second edge of a second character; and
reassigning the digital value(s) pixel(s) adjacent to the first edge and/or the second edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
10 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.
11 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.
12 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , wherein reassigning comprises decreasing the values.
13 . An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
a raster image processor for converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information;
a rendering circuit for identifying a first edge of a first character; identifying a second edge of a second character; and, reassigning the digital value(s) pixel(s) adjacent to the first edge and/or the second edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
14 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein converting comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and reassigning comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
15 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein converting comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and reassigning comprises reassigning the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
16 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 , wherein reassigning comprises changing grey scale of such pixels.
17 . A method of altering the appearance of characters in an input digital image when printed, the digital image being comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying a first edge of a first character; and
creating a second edge of a second character adjacent to the first edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
18 . A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.
19 . A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.
20 . A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the creating step comprises providing digital values of differing grey scales.
21 . A method of printing an image comprising the steps of: converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information;
identifying a first edge of a first character; and
creating a second edge of a second character adjacent to the first edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
22 . A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and the creating step comprises creating the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
23 . A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the converting step comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and the creating step comprises creating the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
24 . A method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein the creating step comprises differing grey scale.
25 . An apparatus for altering the appearance of an input digital image when printed, the digital image being comprised of an array of pixels and wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information, the apparatus comprising:
a rendering circuit for identifying a first edge of a first character;
creating a second edge of a second character adjacent to the first edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
26 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the digital image is a binary image.
27 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the digital image is a multi-bit image.
28 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 25 , wherein creating comprises decreasing the values.
29 . An apparatus for printing an image comprising:
a raster image processor for converting the image into a digital bitmap comprised of an array of pixels wherein each pixel is assigned a digital value representing marking information;
a rendering circuit for identifying a first edge of a first character and creating a second edge of a second character adjacent to the first edge in order for the first edge to appear contiguous with the second edge.
30 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 , wherein converting comprises converting the image to a binary digital bitmap and creating comprises providing the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
31 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 , wherein converting comprises converting the image to a multi-bit digital bitmap and creating comprises providing the binary digital values to multi-bit digital values.
32 . An apparatus in accordance with claim 29 , wherein creating comprises differing grey scale of such pixels.