The properties of conventional, ordered dot-pattern generation techniques for bi-level halftone representation are examined and compared with the properties of error-diffusion based, disordered dot-pattern generation algorithms. The various processing steps necessary for the adaptation of the disordered halftone pattern-generation technique to digital image hardcopy reproduction with non-ideal computer-output printing devices are described. It includes procedures for spatial distribution of thresholding errors, suppression of dot-density artifacts and compensation for dot overlap. These procedures represent the core of the MuItiple-Error Correction Computation Algorithm called MECCA, the objective of which is to linearize the non-ideal printing process in order to minimize the loss or shift of tonal gradations. Finally, the performance of MECCA is compared with a conventional digital screening technique and the various reproduction-quality versus computational-complexity trade-offs are discussed.
By: P. Stucki
Published in: RZ1060 in 1981
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