Patent ID: 6731398
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A printer having a print head that enables creation of at least two variable-size dots, that is, a larger-size dot and a smaller-size dot, said printer driving said print head and carrying out both main scan and sub-scan to print an image, said printer comprising:a contour pixel extraction unit that extracts contour pixels based on image data, the contour pixels representing the contour of a shape included in the image; a dot creation decision unit that determines creation or non-creation of each of the at least two variable-size dots with regard to each pixel based on the image data, and allocates the smaller-size dot to each of the contour pixels extracted by said contour pixel extraction unit; and a dot creation unit that actually creates the at least two variable-size dots, based on results of the determination and the allocation with regard to the respective pixels by said dot creation decision unit.