Adaptive inverse halftoning for scanned document images through multiresolution and multiscale analysis

Abstract

This paper describes an efficient algorithm for inverse halftoning of scanned document images to resolve problems with interference patterns such as moiré and graininess when the images are displayed or printed out. The algorithm is suitable for software implementation and useful for high quality printing or display of scanned document images delivered via networks from unknown scanners. A multi-resolution approach is used to achieve practical processing speed under software implementation. Through data-driven, adaptive, multi-scale processing, the algorithm can cope with a variety of input devices and requires no information on the halftoning method or properties (such as coefficients in dither matrices, filter coefficients of error diffusion kernels, screen angles, or dot frequencies). Effectiveness of the new algorithm is demonstrated through real examples of scanned document images, as well as quantitative evaluations with synthetic data.