Programmable gray scale halftoner with object oriented resolution capability

The present invention relates to the art of halftoning and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for enabling programmable gray scale halftoning with object oriented resolution capability. It finds particular application in conjunction with digital printers, and will be described with reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the present invention is also applicable to other devices and uses including any application where digital imaging is performed. A method and programmable gray scale halftoner with object oriented resolution capability apparatus are provided for selecting a resolution and gray level range to deliver halftone value data to an associated laser output device. The apparatus includes an input buffer adapted to receive a first group of n pixel data values, each having a resolution object tag associated therewith. A mapping circuit maps the first group of pixel data values to a first one of a plurality of resolution object tags. A first configurable gray scale halftone generator is adapted to generate n halftone values in a range of from 0-8 Bit Gray level modes, each of the n halftone values being associated with a single pixel data value among the first group of pixel data values. Second and third configurable gray scale halftone generators are each respectively adapted to generate n/2 and a single halftone value in a range of from 0-8 Bit Gray level modes. The single halftone value is an average pixel data value among the first group of pixel data values and the n/2 halftone values are multiple average values. A select circuit selects one of the halftone values from the set of gray scale halftone generators based on the first one of the plurality of resolution settings. An output signal line delivers the selected halftone value for use by an associated laser output device.