The invention relates to a system for sequentially analyzing each data point representing a digitized video line image and modifying the point to improve the quality of the image based upon an examination of surrounding data points. Specifically, data comprising a digitized scanned image with each point represented by a one bit digital signal is stored such that a matrix of data is continually supplied to a data multiplexer. The data multiplexer selects the portion of the matrix data to be compared to predetermined criteria to determine whether or not the data point being analyzed should be changed to improve the quality of the image.

Method of restoring black-and-white picture under aging phenomena includes ethylene alcohol wipe process proceeded to wipe a surface of photograph dry plate or negative film taken the black-and-white picture and preserved for a long term by ethylene alcohol and allow it to dry; silver mirror removal process proceeded to wipe and drop a silver part on the surface of image of the photograph dry plate or negative film by silver mirror removal liquid after the ethylene alcohol wipe process is proceeded; and tail end process proceeded such that the photograph dry plate or negative film removed the silver mirror in the removal process is washed in dear water by water or stream and it can be dried. Accordingly, the silver mirror part on the surface of the image on the photograph dry plate or negative film of the black-and-white picture under aging phenomena is removed, or a metallic uniting silver is disarranged, and the silver mirror part can be replaced with silver which makes original black, so that it is possible to restore it to the photograph dry plate or negative film that obtains an original black-and-white picture.

A gray scale image of a fingerprint composed of a field of pixels is converted to a binary image composed of a field of pixels by a technique which takes into account the directivity of the ridge and valley structure. Three intermediate binary images are developed, one by the use of a vertical filter, one by the use of a horizontal filter and a reference image by the use of a filter which is not directionally biased. Corresponding subfields around each pixel in each of the three images are compared. If the subfield for the vertically derived image is closer to that of the reference image then is the subfield for the horizontally derived image, then the binary value for the pixel from the vertically derived image is used in the final image; and vice versa. In this fashion, a fourth a final binary image is derived from a combination of the vertically derived image and horizontally derived image which includes the best imagery from each of those two intermediate images.

A method of generating supplemental lines for placement between adjacent lines of real data, such as adjacent lines of facsimile data, is disclosed. Supplemental lines are generated in a curvilinear fashion in order to smooth the transition between the adjacent lines of real data, and is of particular utility in facsimile devices and the like where the real data would otherwise be printed in a noncontiguous manner, that is, with gaps therebetween.

An image processing apparatus, for combining image and character data, has a character code buffer for receiving a decoded character signal and generating data presenting a designated character image portion in response a character read address signal, a character generator for converting the readout data to dot data, a character image memory for storing the dot data in a memory area in response to a character write address signal, an image buffer memory for receiving decoded image data and generating data representing a designated half tone image region in response to a half tone read address signal, processing circuit blocks for performing a series of predetermined operations for the readout data, and a half tone image memory for storing the processed data in response to a half tone write address signal.