Patent ID: 7715053

Claim:
A printing method of printing on a printing medium, comprising: a dot data generating step of performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image to determine a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium, for generating dot data representing the determined status of dot formation; and a print image generating step using a printing device to form a dot on each of the print pixels for generating the print image according to the dot data, wherein the print image generating step includes the step of generating the print image by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups in a common print area, the plurality of pixel groups having a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups; a plurality of pixel groups having a physical commonality for the dot formation among the plurality of pixel groups constitute a pixel group family; and the halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of a first dot pattern, a second dot pattern, and a third dot pattern, the first dot pattern being formed on print pixels of the print image, the second dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, and the third dot pattern being formed on print pixels belonging to the pixel group family.