Patent ID: 6985260

Claim:
An image processing apparatus capable of drawing a gradient fill object defined by at least two apexes each having coordinate data and gray level value, said gradient fill object being described as a print object capable of being interpreted by the image processing apparatus, comprising: detection means for detecting whether or not an object is a gradient fill object having gradation in a horizontal or vertical direction, by interpreting the print object; pixel count detection means for detecting, by interpreting the print object, a number of pixels which have substantially the same gray level value and are consecutively present in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gradation detected by said detection means; drawing means for drawing at least one pixel for different gray level values in the direction of gradation, based on the coordinate data and gray level value of the gradient fill object; and replication means for replicating, in the direction perpendicular to the direction of gradation, the pixels drawn by said drawing means in a number equal to the number of pixels detected by said pixel count detection means, wherein said replication means divides the pixels which have gradation and are consecutively present in the same row or same column into a plurality of pixel groups each including an equal number of pixels, and, in each pixel group belonging to the plurality of pixel groups, draws a first pixel belonging to each respective pixel group at a gray level value and replicates the gray level value of the first pixel for all pixels belonging to each respective pixel group.