Back to articles
Articles
Volume: 20 | Article ID: art00074_1
Image
A Dot Placement Approach to Stochastic Screening Using Bitmasks
  DOI :  10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2004.20.1.art00074_1  Published OnlineJanuary 2004
Abstract

FM or stochastic screening is a popular approach to halftoning for many applications. The error diffusion algorithm delivers extremely good screen quality but at the price of a computationally-intensive runtime process. Point processes, using either dither arrays or bitmask sets, have efficient runtime requirements but often produce halftones of much lower quality. The generation of such screens usually involves starting with a random pattern and applying some simulated annealing process to gradually improve its characteristics. This paper proposes a method for generating stochastic patterns that employs a dot placement algorithm in which each dot is placed in a position “appropriate” for producing good stochastic output. The algorithm is then enhanced by applying a smoothing step at the end of each halftone pattern generation to adjust any dots that, due to the placement of later dots, are now in sub-optimal positions. Although the algorithm can be used to produce dither arrays, it is primarily aimed at generating bitmasks where the additional degree pattern freedom is exploited to improve pattern smoothness. The algorithm also permits second order stochastic patterns for use with imprecise print devices such as electro-photographic printers.

Subject Areas :
Views 3
Downloads 0
 articleview.views 3
 articleview.downloads 0
  Cite this article 

Mike Woods, "A Dot Placement Approach to Stochastic Screening Using Bitmasksin Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies (NIP20),  2004,  pp 328 - 332,  https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2004.20.1.art00074_1

 Copy citation
  Copyright statement 
Copyright © Society for Imaging Science and Technology 2004
72010410
NIP & Digital Fabrication Conference
nip digi fabric conf
2169-4451
Society of Imaging Science and Technology
7003 Kilworth Lane, Springfield, VA 22151, USA