Image processing apparatus

Abstract

There is provided an image processing apparatus where in an additional image storage unit 3, a color additional image is stored into a color image storage unit 4, and a black/white additional image is stored into a black/white image storage unit 5. A color judging unit 2 judges as to whether an input image corresponds to a color image, or a black/white image every page thereof. Based upon the judgment result of the color judging unit 2, an image synthesizing unit 6 adds the color additional image stored in the color image storage unit 4 to the input image when the input image is the color image, and adds the black/white additional image stored in the black/white image storage unit 5 in the input image when the input image is the black/white image. Then, the image synthesizing unit 6 outputs the resulting image synthesized with the additional image. When the input image is the black/white image, the black/white additional image is added to this input image charge amount for the black/white image can be determined.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
 an image storage memory that stores one or more additional images; 
 a judging unit that judges a characteristic plurality of characteristics of an input image; and 
 a synthesizing unit that selects the a plurality of additional image images from the image stored additional images in the storage memory based on the characteristic plurality of characteristics of the input image judged by the judging unit and adds the selected plurality of additional image images to the input image, 
 wherein at least one image of the selected plurality of additional images is added to the input image with respect to each characteristic of the plurality of characteristics. 
 
     
     
       2. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said image storage memory stores for each stored additional image both a color additional image and a black/white additional image as said stored additional image;
 wherein said judging unit judges whether said input image corresponds to a color input image, or a black/white input image; and 
 wherein said synthesizing unit adds said color additional image to said input image when said judging unit judges that said input image is the color input image, and also adds said black/white additional image to said input image when said judging unit judges that said input image is the black/white image. 
 
     
     
       3. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image converter that converts a characteristic of an additional image; and   wherein when an additional image corresponding to the characteristic of said input image is not stored into said image storage memory, said image converter converts the additional image stored in said image storage memory into an additional image having a characteristic in response to the characteristic of said input image.   
     
     
       4. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said image storage memory stores a color additional image as said additional image;
 wherein said image converter converts the color additional image stored in said image storage memory into a black/white additional image; and   wherein when said judging unit judges that said input image is a color image, said synthesizing unit adds the color additional image stored in said image storage memory to said input image, whereas when said judging unit judges that said input image is a black/white image, said synthesizing unit adds said black/white additional image converted by said image converter to said input image.   
     
     
       5. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when an additional image corresponding to the characteristic of said input image is not stored into said image storage memory, said synthesizing unit issues such an instruction that the additional image stored in said image storage memory is outputted while having a characteristic corresponding to the characteristic of said input image; and also adds said additional image to said input image. 
     
     
       6. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said image storage memory stores a color additional image as said additional image; and
 wherein when said judging unit judges that said input image is a black/white image, said synthesizing unit adds the color additional image stored in the image storage memory to said input image in connection with a command for outputting the color additional image as a black/white image.   
     
     
       7. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a charging unit to calculate a charge amount in response to a characteristic of an output image.   
     
     
       8. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein when said judging unit judges that the characteristic of said input image is the characteristic of the black/white image, said charging unit calculates the charge amount for the black/white image, assuming that the characteristic of said output image corresponds to the characteristic of the black/white image. 
     
     
       9. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said synthesizing unit is capable of selectively determining as to whether or not said additional image is added to the input image; and said charging unit is capable of varying a charge amount, depending upon such a fact as to whether or not said additional image is added to the input image. 
     
     
       10. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a charging unit for calculating a charge amount in accordance with the characteristic plurality of characteristics of said input image which is that are judged by said judging unit. 
 
     
     
       11. An image processing method comprising:
 storing one or more additional images;   judging a characteristic of an input image; and   selecting the additional image based on the characteristic of the input image; and   adding the additional image to the input image.   
     
     
       12. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein both a color additional image and a black/white additional image are stored as said additional image;
 wherein said judging the characteristic of the input image includes judging whether said input image corresponds to a color input image, or a black/white input image; and   wherein said color additional image is added to said input image when said input image is judged as the color input image, and also adds said black/white additional image to said input image when said input image is judged as the black/white image.   
     
     
       13. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 converting a characteristic of an additional image; and   wherein when an additional image corresponding to the characteristic of said input image is not being stored, the additional image that is stored is converted into an additional image having a characteristic in response to the characteristic of said input image.   
     
     
       14. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a color additional image is stored as said additional image;
 wherein the color additional image that is stored is converted into a black/white additional image; and   wherein when said input image is judged as a color image, the color additional image that is stored is added to said input image, whereas when said input image is judged as a black/white image, said black/white additional image is added to said input image.   
     
     
       15. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein when an additional image corresponding to the characteristic of said input image is not being stored, the additional image that is stored is outputted while having a characteristic corresponding to the characteristic of said input image; and said outputted additional image is added to said input image. 
     
     
       16. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein a color additional image is stored as said additional image; and
 wherein when said input image is judged as a black/white image, the color additional image is added to said input image in connection with a command for outputting the color additional image as a black/white image.   
     
     
       17. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 calculating a charge amount in response to a characteristic of an output image.   
     
     
       18. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein when the characteristic of said input image is judged as the characteristic of the black/white image, the charge amount is calculated for the black/white image, assuming that the characteristic of said output image corresponds to the characteristic of the black/white image. 
     
     
       19. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said adding an additional image includes selectively determining as to whether or not said additional image is added to the input image; and said calculating a charge amount includes varying a charge amount, depending upon such a fact as to whether or not said additional image is added to the input image. 
     
     
       20. The image processing method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 calculating a charge amount in accordance with the characteristic of said input image as judged.   
     
     
       21. An image processing apparatus comprising:
 an image storage memory that stores additional images;   a judging unit that judges a plurality of characteristics of an input image; and   a synthesizing unit that selects one or more additional images from the additional images stored in the image storage memory based on the plurality of characteristics of the input image judged by the judging unit and adds the one or more additional images to the input image,   wherein the one or more additional images is added to the input image with respect to each of the plurality of characteristics.   
     
     
       22. An image processing apparatus comprising:
 an image storage memory that stores additional images;   a judging unit that judges one or more characteristics of an input image; and   a synthesizing unit that selects a plurality of additional images from the additional images stored in the image storage memory based on the one or more characteristics of the input image judged by the judging unit and adds the plurality of additional images to the input image,   wherein the plurality of additional images are added to the input image with respect to the one or more characteristics.   
     
     
       23. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
 an image converter configured to convert a characteristic of an additional image among the additional images; and   wherein when the image storage memory does not contain among the additional images an additional image corresponding to a characteristic among the plurality of characteristics of said input image, said image converter converts an additional image among the additional images stored in said image storage memory into an additional image having a characteristic in response to one of the characteristics of said input image.