Patent attributes
This invention provides a printing method of printing on a print medium. The method includes: 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 a print image according to the dot data. 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 have a physical difference each other at the dot formation, the dot formation being performed with respect to each of the pixel groups. The halftone process is configured to give specified characteristics to all of dot patterns formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, and to equalize numbers of dots formed on print pixels belonging to each of the plurality of pixel groups, for each of the input tone values.