New Compression Module Developed by LEAD to Facilitate Optimal Compression of Images Comprised of Text and Color

Charlotte, NC (November 20, 2001) LEAD Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of toolkits designed to help software developers integrate imaging functionality into their applications, today announced the release of a new compression module. LEADTOOLS MRC (Mixed Raster Content) Module enhances LEADTOOLS file input/output functionality by adding support for raster color documents containing mixed image and text components.

Because standard compression schemes are geared towards an image being entirely text or color, the MRC model offers the advantage of using optimal compression for images that contain both text and color. This results in both high compression factors and high detail retention.

The MRC module breaks an image into three different layers: foreground, background, and mask. Each layer is compressed separately using the best type of compression for that data type and is later uncompressed and recombined to restore the original image.

The segmentation can be performed automatically with the option to optimize it manually or it can be done only manually. Compression can be specified for each area type. The compression for 1-bit black and white areas can be CCITT G3 1D, CCITT G4 2D, CCITT G4 or JBIG. The compression for color areas is JPEG or CMP.

Screen shot showing the MRC Module's automatic photo and text segmentation. Red rectangles specify the segments of text and picture areas that the MRC module has recognized.

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The MRC Module is sold as an add-on to the LEADTOOLS Document Imaging Line of developer toolkits. Full Document Imaging evaluation toolkits which include the MRC Module are available free of charge from LEAD's website http://www.leadtools.com

About LEAD Technologies, Inc.
Founded in 1990, LEAD grew out of years of research headed by Moe Daher to find a comprehensive compression standard for digital images. LEAD is now the world-leading supplier of imaging development toolkits, providing technology of the future, today. LEAD brings to the market the most innovative and technically superior products that provide the greatest possible value for its customers. LEAD's award winning imaging technology is chosen by Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Boeing, Xerox and thousands of other companies for use in their high volume applications and internal systems.