Method and apparatus for generating image data

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein said second resolution is lower than said first resolution.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, wherein said support image data at said first resolution comprises colour image data, and wherein said support image data at said second resolution comprises the density image data.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, wherein said steps 1), 2), 3) and 4) are carried out in parallel.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1, wherein said support image data at said first resolution is saved as a plurality of data files, and when a first one of said data files has been saved and a boundary of said image has been determined in step 3), said image data is extracted from said first one of said data files.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined boundary determining algorithm locates a pixel in said support image data at said second resolution having a value higher than a predetermined threshold and performs an edge following algorithm starting from said located pixel.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1, wherein said image data is representative of a plurality of images, and wherein said scanning step comprises scanning said support to generate support image data at a first resolution comprising digital pixel data representative of said support and said plurality of images.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 8 wherein said support image data at said third resolution is generated by summing groups of pixel values of said support image data at said first resolution; and wherein said support image data at said second resolution is generated by summing groups of pixel values of said support image data at said third resolution.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 10 further comprising colour editing and/or spatially editing said prescan data.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 10, further comprising determining a boundary of a required image area within said boundary of said image in accordance with a second predetermined algorithm.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 12 wherein said second predetermined algorithm comprises (i) identifying a predominant colour at an edge of said image; (ii) identifying image data pixels having said predominant colour; (iii) identifying inner edge pixels of said pixels identified in step (ii); and (iv) interpolating a straight line through said inner edge pixels identified in step (iii).

Claim 17

A method according to claim 12 further comprising scanning said support within said boundary of said required image area to generate high resolution image data suitable for output to an output device at a resolution higher than said first and second resolutions.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 10, wherein said image data is representative of a plurality of images, and wherein said scanning step comprises scanning said support to generate support image data at a first resolution comprising digital pixel data representative of said support and said plurality of images.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 10, further comprising determining a boundary of a required image area within said boundary of said image determined in step 3), and carrying out the scanning in step 5) within said inner boundary.

Claim 20

Apparatus for generating image data comprising digital pixel data representative of an image on an input scanner support, the apparatus comprising 1) a scanner for scanning said support to generate support image data at a first resolution comprising digital pixel data representative of said support and said image; and a processor for 2) generating support image data at a second resolution from said support image data at said first resolution; 3) performing a predetermined boundary determining algorithm on said support image data at said second resolution to determine a boundary of said image; and 4) extracting said image data from said support image data at said first resolution by extracting said digital pixel data within said boundary of said image; wherein said support image data at said second resolution is generated by summing groups of pixel data values of said support image data at said first resolution; and wherein said support image data at said second resolution is generated by dividing each said group of pixel data values into a set of light pixel values and a set of dark pixel values, summing said set of light pixel values, and discarding said set of dark pixel values.

Claim 21

Apparatus for generating image data comprising digital pixel data representative of an image on an input scanner support, the apparatus comprising 1) a scanner for scanning said support to generate support image data at a first resolution comprising digital pixel data representative of said support and said image; and a processor for 2) generating support image data at a second resolution from said support image data at said first resolution; 3) performing a predetermined boundary determining algorithm on said support image data at said second resolution to determine a boundary of said image; and 4) extracting said image data from said support image data at said first resolution by extracting said digital pixel data within said boundary of said image; wherein said support image data at said second resolution is generated by summing groups of pixel data values of said support image data at said first resolution; and wherein said support image data at said second resolution is generated by dividing each said group of pixel data values into a set of light pixel values and a set of dark pixel values, summing said set of light pixel values, and discarding said set of dark pixel values.

Claim 22

An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said image data is representative of a plurality of images on an input scanner, and wherein said apparatus comprises a scanner for scanning said support to generate support image data at a first resolution comprising digital pixel data representative of said support and said plurality of images.