Patent ID: 8511790

Claim:
An image processing method of processing data for printing an image on a unit area of a print medium using a printhead for discharging color inks including an ink containing black carbon as a color material, and a clear ink containing no color material, comprising: a conversion step of converting input image data into ink data corresponding to each of the color inks and the clear ink, wherein the ink data represents a use amount of each of the color inks and the clear ink in discharging the clear ink and one of the color inks to the unit area by the print head, wherein said input image data includes first image data to obtain, in said conversion step, first ink data for using the ink containing the black carbon, and second image data to obtain, in said conversion step, second ink data for not using the ink containing the black carbon, wherein, as a result of a conversion of said conversion step, the use amount of the clear ink in a case where the first ink data is converted from the first image data such that a first ink containing black carbon is discharged on the unit area becomes larger than the use amount of the clear ink in a case where the second ink data is converted from the second image data such that a second ink which is other than the first ink of the color inks is discharged on the unit area.