A method for optimal discrete rendering of images is disclosed. The present invention provides a technique for efficiently converting an original sampled image into a bitmap suitable for a specific output device. The method includes explicit printer and perception effects, and employs local permutations of bits, to find optimal bit settings. A continuous-tone image is first sampled to form a sampled image (12), through which a series of swaths are defined. For each swath (14i) in turn, an iterative procedure examines a column of bits (16) at a time, determining which configuration of the column of bits yields a minimal local difference value between the trial bitmap and the sampled image. While holding the rest of the trial bitmap constant, the column of bits is permuted and the difference value calculated, for each configuration of the column's look-ahead bits (22). To determine the difference values, local printer (17a) and perception (17b) models calculate effects between bits, while a local comparison model calculates the difference between the trial bitmap and the sampled image. The printable bitmap resulting from the methods of the present invention can be displayed by the output device to provide a faithful duplication of the original image. IMAGE
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