Shadow-added image formation device

Claim 1

A shadow-added image formation device, com­prising : photoelectric converting means (101) scanning an original image in horizontal and vertical directions for converting every pixel into an electric signal ; A/D-converting means (102) for A/D-converting an output of said photoelectric means (101) ; signal converting means (103) for converting an output of said A/D-converting means (102) into a binary serial signal representing white and black pixels ; detecting means (104) for detecting an area to which shadow can be added from the output of said signal converting means (103), the output changing from a black pixel signal to a white pixel signal and thereafter changing from the white pixel signal into the black pixel signal ; shadow signal formation means (105) for out-­putting a shadow signal which is an alternate combination of a predetermined number of serial white pixel signals with a predetermined number of serial black pixel signals ; setting means (106) for setting a shadow area which is added after the signal outputted by said signal converting means (103) changes from the black pixel signal to the white pixel signal ; adding means (107) for adding the shadow signal to smaller one of the area to which shadow can be added and the shadow area set in advance, corresponding to the signal outputted by said signal converting means (103) ; and reproducing means (108) for reproducing an image from the binary serial signal to which the shadow signal has been added.