Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and printing apparatus

An image processing method comprising:

• obtaining image data;
• judging whether a barcode is included in the obtained image data for each piece of band data corresponding to a region printable by scanning a printing unit including a plurality of printing elements once, the barcode being formed of a region in which bars are arranged side-by-side in a direction in which the printing unit is scanned over a printing medium, wherein, in a case when a color printing element that applies a color printing material and a black printing element that applies a black printing material among the plurality of printing elements included in the printing unit are such that a length of the black printing element for use in printing in a direction crossing the scanning direction is longer than a length of the color printing element for use in printing in the direction crossing the scanning direction, the judging further judges whether to use only the black printing element in the scanning for completing printing the piece of band data;
• and
• determining that the number of times to perform scanning for completing printing the piece of band data judged as not including the barcode by the judgment unit is a first number of times, and that the number of times to perform scanning for completing printing the piece of band data judged as including the barcode by the judgment unit is a second number of times larger than the first number of times.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• an obtaining unit configured to obtain image data;
• a judgment unit configured to judge whether a barcode is included in the obtained image data for each piece of band data corresponding to a region printable by scanning a printing unit including a plurality of printing elements once, the barcode being formed of a region in which bars are arranged side-by-side in a direction in which the printing unit is scanned over a printing medium, wherein, in a case when a color printing element that applies a color printing material and a black printing element that applies a black printing material among the plurality of printing elements included in the printing unit are such that a length of the black printing element for use in printing in a direction crossing the scanning direction is longer than a length of the color printing element for use in printing in the direction crossing the scanning direction, the judgment unit further judges whether to use only the black printing element in the scanning for completing printing the piece of band data;
• and
• a determination unit configured to determine that the number of times to perform scanning for completing printing the piece of band data judged as not including the barcode by the judgment unit is a first number of times, and that the number of times to perform scanning for completing printing the piece of band data judged as including the barcode by the judgment unit is a second number of times greater than the first number of times, wherein, in a case when the judgment unit judges that only the black printing element will be used and that the barcode is not included, the determination unit determines that the first number of times is one time.