Three-level Error Diffusion Method Based on Nonlinear Conversion of an Image

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new method of the three-level halftoning based on error diffusion method. In the proposed method, two nonlinear conversion images are generated from an original image, at first. Then, those continuous-tone images are converted to bi-levels using error diffusion method, and the resultant image represented only by three levels is obtained by averaging the binarized images. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by applying it to gradational and natural images.