US Patent 7681974 Recording apparatus and method

A recording apparatus detects a leading edge of a recording material to be transported in a sub-scanning direction, and performs recording on a recording region of the recording material with reference to the leading edge. When a margin is formed at least at a leading end of the recording material, recording is performed on the recording region with reference to a center leading edge of the recording material. When a margin is not formed at least at the leading end of the recording material, recording is performed on the recording region with reference to one of right and left leading edges of the recording material that precedes in the sub-scanning direction.