Image processing apparatus, method, and product for inspecting a target image by correcting a partial region adjacent another partial region based on differences between a reference image and the target image

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

one or more processors configured to: acquire first image data indicating a reference image as a target print result, and second image data indicating a target image to be inspected; and

inspect the target image by performing a correction on a second partial region adjacent to a first partial region to enhance the second partial region relative to a difference image representing a difference between the reference image and the target image based on the first image data and the second image data, the first partial region having a difference in between the reference image and the target image.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second partial region is in contact with the first partial region, or is located at a distance corresponding to a predetermined width from the first partial region.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , the one or more processors further configured to:

set the reference image; and

set a type of each of the first partial region and the second partial region,

wherein the one or more processors perform correction to enhance the difference image depending on the type.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,

wherein the one or more processors set sensitivities to detect the first partial region and the second partial region for the respective types, and

wherein the one or more processors perform the correction on the smaller partial region for the type to which the higher sensitivity is set.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors inspect the target image by correcting an enhanced difference image based on a smoothed difference image obtained by smoothing the difference image depending on the type, the enhanced difference image being enhanced relative to the difference image representing the difference between the reference image and the target image.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors inspect the target image based on a smoothed difference image obtained by smoothing the difference image depending on the type and an enhanced difference image enhanced relative to the difference image representing the difference between the reference image and the target image.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein in a case where the first partial region and the second partial region are at least two vertical-line partial regions, the one or more processors perform correction to enhance adjacent defects corresponding to the at least two vertical-line partial regions at a level equal to or higher than a single defect corresponding to a single vertical-line partial region.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors perform the correction using a first enhancing filter corresponding to the single defect and a second enhancing filter corresponding to the adjacent defects, the level at which the adjacent defects is enhanced by the first enhancing filter being lower than the level at which the single defect is enhanced by the first enhancing filter.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors perform the correction using a maximum value of a result of applying the first enhancing filter to the difference image and a maximum value of a result of applying the second enhancing filter to the difference image.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors perform the correction using a sum of a result of applying the first enhancing filter to the difference image and a result of applying the second enhancing filter to the difference image.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors correct the first enhancing filter and the second enhancing filter to have a size smaller than a predetermined value.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first enhancing filter and the second enhancing filter is a one-dimensional filter.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors perform an inspection by causing a display unit to display a region on which the correction has been performed.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors perform an inspection by informing a user of a region on which the correction has been performed.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method comprising:

acquiring first image data indicating a reference image as a target print result and second image data indicating a target image to be inspected; and

inspecting the target image by performing a correction on a second partial region adjacent to a first partial region to enhance the second partial region relative to a difference image representing a difference between the reference image and the target image based on the first image data and the second image data, the first partial region having a difference in between the reference image and the target image.

16. An image processing method comprising:

acquiring first image data indicating a reference image as a target print result and second image data indicating a target image to be inspected; and

inspecting the target image by performing a correction on a second partial region adjacent to a first partial region to enhance the second partial region relative to a difference image representing a difference between the reference image and the target image based on the first image data and the second image data, the first partial region having a difference in between the reference image and the target image.