Patent ID: 8531720

Claim:
A method of processing image data to obtain image data for printing a line pattern by discharging ink blots in an overlapping manner, each of the ink blots having a radius of r, the method comprising steps of: setting a permissible pitch range for a distance between adjacent ink blots; arranging image data for the line pattern in an x-y coordinate system having a plurality of coordinates; selecting a first base point that corresponds to one side of the image data for the line pattern; selecting a first determination point separated from the first base point in a direction parallel to the one side of the image data for the line pattern, the first determination point being separated from the one side of the image data for the line pattern; determining whether a distance between the first base point and the first determination point is within the permissible pitch range; storing a coordinate, among the plurality of coordinates, located at a shortest distance from the first determination point as print data when it is determined that the distance between the first base point and the first determination point is within the permissible pitch range, wherein the permissible pitch range ranges from a base pitch subtracted by a tolerance to the base pitch added with the tolerance; and when it is determined that the distance between the first base point and the first determination point is outside the permissible pitch range, relocating the first determination point in a direction parallel to the one side of the image data for the line pattern and determining whether the distance between the first base point and the relocated first determination point is within the permissible pitch range.