Patent ID: 7379211

Claim:
An image processing method that puts input image data represented by multi-value pixels into gradation representation of dots having binary data of plural minute pixels while performing error diffusion processing, comprising: a first step that, when a dot is formed which corresponds to correction image data produced by adding correction data to multi-value image data of a multi-value target pixel, only in the case where the dot is to be formed so as to be adjacent to a dot formed for a proper adjacent multi-value pixel, forms the dot even if it has less than k (2 or greater integer) number of minute pixels, and in other cases, forms only a dot having k number of minute pixels or more; and a second step that calculates an error between a density of the correction image data and a density of the dot formed in the first step and uses the density error information as the correction data of peripheral multi-value pixels, wherein processing in the steps is sequentially performed for each of processing multi-value pixels.