Patent ID: 7377606

Claim:
A printing method for printing images by printing dots on a print medium, comprising: (a) selecting a printing mode; and (b) printing the images according to the selected mode; wherein: the step (b) includes: executing main scanning by moving at least one of a dot printing head and a print medium; and executing sub-scanning by moving the print medium in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the main scanning between the main scannings, and the step (a) includes selecting one of: a first printing mode wherein, in the first printing mode, a relatively large image in a direction of the sub-scanning is printed based on first image data, and a relatively large number of dot-forming elements are used to form dots and a sub-scanning with a relatively large average feed are executed, and a second printing mode wherein, in the second printing mode, a plurality of relatively small images in the direction of the sub-scanning are printed based on second image data, and a relatively small number of dot-forming elements are used to form dots and a sub-scanning with a relatively small average feed are executed.