This paper describes a novel adaptive-hierarchical-filtering technique to achieve high-quality magazine image reproduction on computer peripherals such as color copier, or scanner plus printer. Commercial magazine images are halftoned images. Unacceptable noises and moire distortion may result when halftone images are copied (i.e., scanned and printed). In this paper, we analyze moire patterns formation characterized by the following factors: Moire patterns formation depends on the following factors: (1) halftone screen frequency, how many lines per inch (i.e., lpi) (2) scan frequency, how many dot per inch, (dpi) (3) screen angle which is the screen orientation against the scan direction, (4) scanner aperture (i.e., scanner characteristics), (5) halftoning and printing mechanisms, (6) viewing conditions. Error diffusion tends to randomize the moire patterns, and cluster-dot or line screen show more moire distortion. We developed a set of variable- length low-pass filters that have a nice inheritance of canceling aliased low frequency components (moire distortion). High pass filtering is also applied to sharpen image edges. A hierarchical filter classifier was developed to determine that an edge is either a global true edge (for sharpening enhancement) or a local halftone's micro-structural edge (for LPF for moire reduction). Depending on the classifier, adaptive LPF is applied to achieve the smooth transition between sharp edges and smooth halftone regions. Thus, we achieve overall high-quality output images. Experimental results have been shown the effectiveness of the presented technique that works well on wide combinations of above- mentioned 6 factors for high-quality magazine image reproduction.

Date Published: 2 June 2000
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 3959, Human Vision and Electronic Imaging V, (2 June 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.387196

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3959:
Human Vision and Electronic Imaging V
Bernice E. Rogowitz; Thrasyvoulos N. Pappas, Editor(s)