Patent ID: 7116842

Claim:
An image processing method for 1) inputting an original image for displaying in a matrix form, and for 2) performing pixel number conversion, on the original image, at a predetermined pixel number conversion rate in at least one of a column direction and a row direction which has been specified, the image processing method further comprising: a first interpolation step of outputting a converted image corresponding to an original image at a predetermined pixel number conversion rate, and a second interpolation step of outputting a pixel in the converted image by performing a pattern matching on the pixel in the converted image using a predetermined conversion table; and a selecting step of selecting between the output at the first interpolating step and the output at the second interpolating step; a character judging step of judging whether each of a plurality of areas making up the original image is a character part or not, wherein for an area judged to be a character part in the character judging step, a first pixel number conversion method is selected for performing the pixel number conversion so that lines with a same line-width in the original image is converted into lines with a same line-width, and for an area not judged to be a character part in the character judging step, a second pixel number conversion method is selected for performing the pixel number conversion so that a barycenter in the original image is maintained after the pixel number conversion.