Patent ID: 7387355

Claim:
A printing method of printing on a printing medium, comprising: a dot data generating step of performing a halftone process on image data representing a input tone value of each of pixels constituting an original image, for generating dot data representing a status of dot formation on each of print pixels of a print image to be formed on the print medium; and a print image generating step of forming a dot on each of the print pixels for generating the print image according to the dot data, wherein the halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of dot patterns formed on printing pixels belonging to each of a plurality of basic pixel groups constituting the print image, the print image generating step includes the step of generating the print image by mutually combining dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of a plurality of pixel groups in a common print area, the plurality of pixel groups having a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups; and the plurality of pixel groups consists of a pixel group that is a combination of a plurality of specific basic pixel groups among the plurality of basic pixel groups, and a pixel group other than the specific basic pixel groups among the plurality of basic pixel groups.