An interpolation approach in print quality enhancement feature determination

Abstract

Print quality enhancement (PQE) is a sophisticated form of image enhancement that is used to improve print quality. The benefits of PQE include reduced edge raggedness, control over boldness, and improvements to the appearance of patterns that are difficult to print. In general, the PQE algorithm is implemented by finding an array of data centered at the current pel to be printed, and comparing it with a set of stored patterns, resulting in a "feature number". A lookup table is used to convert the feature number to an exposure value or substitution kernel for the current pel being printed. The size of the lookup table (LUT) is often large. The Radial Basis Functions network was applied to interpolate the data and to find the most significant centers. It effectively reduced the size of the PQE LUT.