Quad-interleaved Block Level Parallel Direct Binary Search Algorithm

Abstract

Direct Binary Search (DBS), as one of the three categories of halftoning, provides the best, visually pleasing halftoning quality. However, as a sequential algorithm, DBS is most computational complex so it always plays the role of offline algorithm for other halftoning categories (like tone dependent error diffusion, hybrid screen, etc.). Meanwhile, it is seldom directly works as a real-time/online solution for current commercial printers. In this paper, we would like to present a parallel version DBS with same image quality compared with original DBS, which can fit the current Same Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) system, like General-Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GP-GPU), and furthermore, there will be the potential that DBS can work on current multi-core system as real-time solution for halftoning.