Methods and apparatus are provided to smooth a jagged outline of a reconstructed
text generated through any of a variety of systems, such as, for example, an image
scanner. Given the reconstructed text with a jagged outline, the methods smooth
the outline of the text first through location of horizontal and vertical edges,
and subsequent gray scale reconstruction of the edge ink level from a one-bit or
a low number of bits edge pattern. The methods then provide identification of the
local text outline pattern and corresponding ink level adjustment of the center
pixel. The methods produce text having very smooth horizontal and vertical edges.
The methods then smooth slanted edges, mend holes in the text, and remove isolated
pixels of ink.
