Method and system for processing image data stored in RGB form

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 in which the flat tone generating operation is performed on color separation data Y, M, C and K which are obtained by converting the color component data B, G and R.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 in which the layout operation is performed on the color component data B, G and R.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1 comprising the further step of adding specified codes to said color component data for controlling the flat tone generating operation and for specifying halftone dot percentages to be used in said flat tone generating operation.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1 in which the step of performing said flat tone generating operation includes the steps of using flat tone area designation data to designate an area in which a flat tone it to be generated, using color data indicative of a desired color to generate the desired color in the flat tone area, and using halftone data indicative of a desired halftone dot pecentage to generate the desired halftone dot percentage in the flat tone area, said area designation data, said color data, and said halftone data being stored in a memory.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 6 further comprising a converting means to convert the color component data B, G and R stored in at least one of the memories into color separation data Y, M, C and K before the layout operation is performed.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 7 in which said converting means is operable for converting color component data B, G and R read from said secondary memory into color separation data Y, M, C and K for output.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 8 wherein said flat tone generating means comprises: (a) a decoder means for decoding a flat tone generation operation specifying code for designating a flat tone generation operation and halftone dot percentage codes for designating halftone dot percentages, said flat tone generation operation specifying code and said halftone dot percentage codes being contained in the color component data B, G and R stored in said secondary memory; (b) a look-up-table memory which outputs a halftone dot signal corresponding to said halftone dot percentage codes decoded by said decoder means; and (c) a switching means which switches between an output of said converting means and an output of said look-up-table memory responsive to said flat tone generation operation specifying code decoded by said decoder.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 7 further comprising: (a) a mmeory storing data corresponding to coordinates of a start and an end point of a flat tone area to be generated on a recording drum, a desired color to be generated therein, and halftone dot percentages therefor, (b) an address counter means for outputting signals corresponding to coordinates on the recording drum, (c) a coincidence circuit which detects coincidence between said coordinates stored in said memory and the signals output from the address counter means, (d) a look-up-table memory which outputs data corresponding to said halftone dot percentages from a time that said coincidence circuit detects coincidence between a coordinate on the drum and the coordinate of the start point of the flat tone area to a time that said coincidence circuit detects coincidence between a coordinate on the drum and the coordinate of the end point of the flat tone area, and (e) a switching means which switches between an output of said look-up-table memory and an output of said converting means responsive to an output from said coincidence circuit.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 6 further comprising a means for transferring the color component data B, G and R directly to a layout operation means.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 12 wherein said incorporating step includes the steps of incorporating a first predetermined code in at least one of said B, G and R data of identify a flat tone reproducing operation, and incorporating in others of said B, G and R data other predetermined codes specifying halftone dot data for four color separation colors.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 13 including the further steps of: (a) decoding said at least one of said B, G and R data to detect said first predetermined code identifying a flat tone reproducing operation, (b) when said first predetermined code identifying a flat tone reproducing operation is not detected, converting said B, G and R data to Y, M, C and K data to control said recording module, (c) when said first predetermined code identifying a flat tone reproducing operation is detected, blocking conversion of said B, G and R data to Y, M, C and K data and generating a flat tone indicating signal, and (d) outputting halftone dot data for said four color separation colors in accordance with said other predetermined codes specifying halftone dot data incorpoated in said others of said B, G and R data when said first predetermined code identifying a flat tone reproducing operation is detected.