Copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation method and image processing apparatus

Abstract

A combination of a latent-image pattern which forms a latent-image part and a background pattern that forms a background-image part is determined so that the latent-image part and background-image part have equal print densities. The determined latent-image pattern and background pattern, color information used to determine a color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, input image information as an image to be processed, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern basic information used to designate the latent-image part and background-image part, and camouflage region designation image information used to designate a camouflage region are input. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated on the basis of the input information.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An printing method comprising:
 printing sample images each of which includes a scattered dot pattern part and a concentrated dot pattern part in which dots are more concentrated than the scattered dot pattern, and has a density difference between the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part different from that of other sample images;   receiving identification information identifying one of the printed sample images from the user; and   printing on a sheet, an image of a document and an image which includes a scattered dot pattern part whose density corresponds to a density of the scattered dot pattern part of the sample image identified by the received identification information and a concentrated dot pattern part in which dots are more concentrated than the scattered dot pattern part and whose density corresponds to a density of the concentrated dot pattern part of the sample image identified by the received identification information.   
     
     
         3 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the printing of the images on the sheet includes:
 combining the image of the document and the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part, wherein the combined two images are printed on the sheet.   
     
     
         4 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein a density of a dot pattern part is dependent on a number of dots included in a unit area. 
     
     
         5 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sample images have substantially same densities of respective concentrated dot pattern parts and have different densities of respective scattered dot pattern parts. 
     
     
         6 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein a difference between a maximum density and a minimum density of the concentrated dot pattern parts of the printed sample images is less than a difference between a maximum density and a minimum density of the scattered dot pattern parts of the printed sample images. 
     
     
         7 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the receiving receives the identification information from the user, as identification information identifying one sample image in which a density difference between the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part is the least of the printed sample images. 
     
     
         8 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 a copy of the sheet is obtained by copying the sheet by a copier, and   a density difference between two parts on the copy which correspond to the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part on the sheet is greater than the density difference between the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part on the sheet.   
     
     
         9 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein, on the sheet, an area of the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part overlaps an area of the image of the document. 
     
     
         10 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sample images are printed on a sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the image of the document printed on the sheet and the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part printed on the sheet are different images. 
     
     
         12 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein a printing is performed by an electro photographic printing method. 
     
     
         13 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein an area size of each of the sample images is smaller than an area size of the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part printed on the sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The printing method according to  claim 2 , wherein the printing of the sample images is performed based on a print instruction received from the user, and the printing of the image of the document with the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part is performed based on another print instruction received from the user. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus which control a printer to print an image, comprising:
 a print controller which controls the printer to print sample images each of which includes a scattered dot pattern part and a concentrated dot pattern part in which dots are more concentrated than the scattered dot pattern, and has a density difference between the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part different from that of other sample images; and   a user interface which receives identification information identifying one of the printed sample images from the user,   wherein the print controller can further controls the printer to print on a sheet, an image of a document and an image which includes a scattered dot pattern part whose density corresponds to a density of the scattered dot pattern part of the sample image identified by the received identification information and a concentrated dot pattern part in which dots are more concentrated than the scattered dot pattern part and whose density corresponds to a density of the concentrated dot pattern part of the sample image identified by the received identification information.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein, in order to print the two images on the sheet, the print controller causes an image compositing of the image of the document and the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part, wherein the composited two images are printed on the sheet by the printer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein a density of a dot pattern part is dependent on a number of dots included in a unit area. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the sample images have substantially same densities of respective concentrated dot pattern parts and have different densities of respective scattered dot pattern parts. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein a difference between a maximum density and a minimum density of the concentrated dot pattern parts of the printed sample images is less than a difference between a maximum density and a minimum density of the scattered dot pattern parts of the printed sample images. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the user interface receives the identification information from the user, as identification information identifying one sample image in which a density difference between the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part is the least of the printed sample images. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 a copy of the sheet is obtained by copying the sheet by a copier, and   a density difference between two parts on the copy which correspond to the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part on the sheet is greater than the density difference between the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part on the sheet.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein, on the sheet, an area of the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part overlaps an area of the image of the document. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the sample images are printed on a sheet. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the image of the document printed on the sheet and the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part printed on the sheet are different images. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein a printing is performed by an electro photographic printing method. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein an area size of each of the sample images is smaller than an area size of the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part printed on the sheet. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the print controller:
 controls, based on a print instruction received from the user, the printer to print the sample images; and   controls, based on another print instruction received from the user, the printer to print the image of the document with the image which includes the scattered dot pattern part and the concentrated dot pattern part.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus includes a printer engine as the printer.